The Engine Room

Engineering crew members on watch at the main controls.

Courtesy of crew member Jack Surre, 1957-1959, Machinist Mate 3rd Class.

Quick Facts

Location:

USS CASSIN YOUNG

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

The largest and perhaps the most vital department of the ship worked largely hidden below the main decks. These emergency override valves and the small hatches straight down below the main deck are the only hints to wehre engineering is located. Spanning across four separate spaces down below, one third of the entire crew aboard the ship was solely dedicated to servicing and operating the ship's boilers, engines, and auxiliary equipment on a 24-hour basis. In the two fire rooms, Watertenders (later, Boiler Tenders) controlled the burning of fuel oil to generate steam in the boilers. Each room supplied steam to a corresponding engine room. In engine rooms, Machinist's Mates handled the steam across turbines to propel the ship at the speed ordered from up on the bridge. Other auxiliary equipment, from pumps to electrical generators, were also driven by the steam. All of this equipment was absolutely vital to keep the ship operational.