The  primary  value  of  underway  replenishment is realized during wartime, since it enables a com- bat ship to remain at sea for an indefinite period of time. It also has peacetime advantages, as do most maneuvers developed to enhance combat ef- ficiency. It provides valuable training of person- nel  in  the  complex  procedures  of  supplying  several vessels simultaneously while they are proceeding at reasonable speed. Thus, in general, underway replenishment  serves  a  dual  purpose—provides ships with materials needed in any event and trains the crews of discharging and receiving ships in the procedures essential in wartime in which fuels and stores are transferred at sea. Senior SKs play important parts in underway replenishment.   They   work   closely   with   other senior  petty  officers  and  most  of  the  officers  of the  supply  department  in  planning  the  replenish- ment procedures and in supervising the work in progress. It is principally with regard to planning that the background and knowledge of the SK1 and SKC are essential. In this respect, the func- tion  of  the  senior  petty  officer  differs  from  that of  the  lower-rated  enlisted  personnel  involved, since  the  latter  seldom  participate  in  planning and rarely have an opportunity to take a broad and  comprehensive  view  of  the  operation  as  a whole. This  chapter  focuses  your  attention  on  the essential  elements  in  planning  and  executing replenishment  on  board  a  typical  ship  (an  aircraft carrier) when receiving supplies at sea. No effort is made here to provide a complete outline or to list all the numerous steps in detailed form, since the procedures of receiving stores underway are not standardized to the point that an acceptable blueprint can be furnished from outside. Rather, in the following pages, emphasis is placed on the factors  that  must  be  considered  in  formulating local  plans  for  efficient  functioning  under  local conditions.  These  factors  include  the  coordina- tion  of  various  departments,  the  stations  to  be manned,  the  amount  of  stores  anticipated,  the personnel  and  equipment  needed,  and  the  special procedures and safety precautions normally used during  replenishment  operations. When  all  necessary  factors  have  been  con- sidered  and  all  essential  planning  has  been executed skillfully, the underway replenishment operation is a splendid and impressive spectacle featuring  teamwork,  speed,  and  precision.  On  the other  hand,  when  the  operation  goes  wrong because  of  inadequate  planning  or  from  other causes, the situation can become a nightmare of confusion in a matter of minutes, and the resulting knots  of  disorder  may  require  many  hours  of  hard work  to  untangle. TYPES  OF  STORES  ANTICIPATED The number of stations that must be manned and used depends to a considerable degree upon the amount and kind of stores anticipated. A few days  before  replenishment,  the  transferring  ships notify the recipients as to the nature and amount of stores to be transferred. The figures given are in  most  cases  loose  approximations  and  can  be used  as  rough  estimates  for  planning  purposes. A  safe  rule  of  thumb  is  to  plan  for  a  one-third excess  over  the  tonnage  expected,  and  planners should assume that at least some of every category of material is to be received. A replenishment plan must  be  sufficiently  flexible  to  make  sure  its usefulness  is  not  destroyed  by  sudden,  unexpected changes  in  quantities  and  types  of  stores  received. Personnel must be on hand to handle all types of material  at  once. Especially  important  is  a  knowledge  of  the quantity  and  type  of  dangerous  and  semisafe material   to   be   received.   Adequate   flammable storage space must exist to accommodate all such material  to  be  received.  Special  procedures  should be setup so that this material can be taken directly from the receiving station to the paint and flam- mable liquid storeroom and not be allowed to ac- cumulate on deck. An inspection should be made of the paint and flammable liquid storerooms to make  sure  they  are  in  readiness  to  receive  the material without any great amount of time con- sumed  in  rearrangement  of  stock. Each type of stores is handled in a slightly dif- ferent manner and is sent to different storage loca- tions. Plans for the replenishment must take the peculiar  characteristics  of  all  types  into  considera- tion.   Some   of   the   most   important   aspects   of handling each category are discussed in the follow- ing paragraphs. General  Stores General  stores  received  during  replenishment normally  include  the  so-called  HULL  items.  There are  enormous  amounts  of  bulky  materials  such as rags, toilet paper, brooms, swabs, and paint, all of which are difficult to handle. Many of the items  are  almost  impossible  to  handle  mechan- ically. Sorting and checking must be done under your  supervision  with  junior  SKs  and  strikers assisting and directing the actual movement into storerooms. 7-8