FORESTRY – 14

Serial Waves, Volume 1, Issue 8, 11 September 1940, Page 2

FORESTRY - 14

To us of the 14th forestry, this sea journey comes as part of the usual routine ofi military life: travel is in our bones* ’Uay back when we were suddenly called toge from all the darkest corners of N Z (and some of the worst pubs) we were immediate]; thrust into tents - no doubt to make us feel at home- but soon we started on a long series of technical manoeuvres* On the occasion of our first inoculation, with the injunction of the M 0 to go home and keep warm in bed still echoing in our ears, tfe fell back (in persistent rain) to prepared positions in a hut* ‘Those who did not actually go to hospital fell back a bit further to another hut soon afterwards, and week after our first evacuation we retook the tent lines, fighting all that night J the rain, which made intensive aerial attacks, and scored some nice hits through th holes in the canvas* •

Encouraged by the success of these campaigns (scarcely 40 of our complement being i hospital) the authorities decided that we were fit for bigger things, and an pnslai was made on the Trentham Grandstands* Despite the loss of a fair quantity of equip these were occupied by the evening; the men sleeping, as the Routine Order so aptly expressed it, ’’like sardines”* A further sally by some who had missed the first os slaught, quickly reduced the Kiosk to a shambles, and coal, generously supplied ty hospital authorities, constantly (if stealthily) made its way (by night) to the fur It was after this period of successes that we dispersed to our various homes bearin the mysterious insignia of our Unit, and the more obvious sweepings of the bullring Upon return a memorable occasion was brought about by a concerted movement upon the cook (conducted a la Mahatma Ghandi) the question of who called the sausage-curxyil stew-merchant a cook was raised, and a decisive fall was awarded to the messees.

Having thus made Trentham too hot to hold us, and thirsting for greater fields of' we jumped aboard this lugger and asked the Captain to take us anywhere he knew the: was a good war on, and we would be players© He forthwith rang up some other ships knew, to make a party of it, and here we are, in Owen Jones’s locker, travelling a travelling; and be damned if I can tell you where©

The latest addition to the names of psychopathic ills is ergophobia - a condition 1 being allergic to work - This has long been known to military gentlemen, but under less scientific title of ”Swinging the lead”*

Tomorrow - Special Sports Edition of ” SERIAL UAVES” - Don’t miss it J

Edited "by John Dory, printed. & published by Pte Davy Jones, at the Neptune Press? for Units of 3rd Echelon, 2 N Z E P 5

In response to the many questions 'asked- by-all ranks -of~'the Nev; Zealanders whose company aboard we are enjoying for a brief space of tine the following particulars it is hoped will be of interest • ’ Built by the Fairfield Ship Building and Engineering Coy of Glasgow ,to tho order of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Co for their Transpacific Service, the keel was laid in 1929 and H M T 12 was completed in 1950. The length overall is 666 feet, length between perpendiulars is 644 feet. The moulded breadth is 83 feet 6 inches and the breadth on the Promenade Beck is 87 feet 7 inches • The gross tonnage 26032 0 28 tons and the displacement at load line is 30,575 tons . The height of the foremast from load line is 190 feet, main mast 192 feet and the weight is 26 tons, you can reach the lower Crow’s nest by ladder inside the fore mast • Old sailing ship men will be disgusted to know that the Crow’s nest is fitted with a steam radiator • The bow anchors weigh 7 .tons each and the total weight of the two anchors and cables is 137 tons . There arc 26 Lifeboats two of which are motor boats fitted with wireless sets . The height of the for’rad funnel from the sun deck is 56 feet, middle and after funnels 58 feet 6 inches and tho diameter fore and aft is 26 feet • The after funnel is a dummy wfich contains a number of exhaust fans, truncking, hot water tank and lift machinery for the engine room • There are 12 water tight bulkheads, the double bottom of the ship is divided into 40 compartments or tanks • Some of these tanks arc filled with fresh or salt water, others with oil fuel or salt water « when we left Fremantle we had 3700 tons of fresh water on board and over 4000 tons of oil fuel • Approximately 250 tons of fresh water arc consumed daily and oil fuel consumption varies according to speed, at present it is about 140 tons daily. Besides having a double bottom the ship is double sided up to D Deck from just forward of the Bridge to the after end of the Tourist Promenade Deck and this space is subdivided into 46 tanks for fresh water and oil fuel storage • H M T 12, is a twin screw ship and each set of main engines consists of High, Intermediate and Low Pressure Parsons Turbines • On the end of each turbine shaft, is a double helical or herringbone pinion, which meshes into a main gear wheel 13 feet 6 inches in diameter and weighing over 59 tons . This gear wheel is bolted to the propeller shaft direct and the turbines make 12.4 revolutions to 1 rcvoultion of the propellor .The Tunnel Shafting is 21-J- inches diameter the tail end shaft, that is the length that car - es the propeller, is 23 3/16 inches diameter • The total, weight of the propeller shafting for each engine is 154 tons • To transmit orders from the Bridge to the Engine Room a triple tone telegraph for each engine is fitted and after "Stand By"Engincs followed the next order,"Slow Astern" Port and Starboard Engines, sufficient steam had to be admitted through the manoeuvering valves to set in motion the total weight of 575 tons of mining punts before the propellers commenced to revolve and you set out on your great adventure from Wellington • The propellers are solid bronze, casting weight being 25 tons and the finished weight 20 tons . They wore the largest solid propellers at the time that they were made, being 20 feet in diameter and each revolution drives the ship ahead 20 feet • At full speed the engines develop about 30,000 tons horse power, the propellers turn about 120 revolutions per minute and the ship travels about 22 to 23 knots depending on weather conditions . A nautical mile is 6080 feet, a land mile 5280 fefet . Steam to drive the ■main engines is supplied by 6 Yarrow Watertube Boilers of the fire drum typo . The steam pressure is 425 lbs per square inch and is superheated to 750 degrees farenheit, when you think that your kettle boils at 212 d. f. you will realise that 750 degrees is a high temperature to deal v/ith and so all parts in contact with this steam arc made of . special heat resisting metals • To give you some idea of the size of each boiler furnace, six tables of Bridge could easily be arranged in the furnace and still leave room to walk around the players . Each furnace has 6 burners through which the oil fuel is sprayed at about 110 lbs pressure . There are sufficient bricks in each boiler to build a. fair sized house •'’.Then steaming at full speed those 6 boilers are evaporating about 250,000 lbs of water an hour 0 The steam after pa.ssing through the engines exhausts into 2 condensers containing 6,220, tubes 13 feet 6 inches long and J inch diameter through •Jtech sea water is being pumped at the rate of 15,000 gallons per minute « The exhaust steam striking these tubes condenses to water which is reheated and. pumped back into the boilers . There are 2 Scotch or fire tube boilers only one of which is in use at a time to supply steam to Hydraulic pumps, oil fuel pumps and other auxiliary machinery, also steam to the Laundry Galleys, ships heating system and. distilled water for the Water tube boilers .There are 22 Watertight doors .operated at 800 lbs hydraulic pressure and they can be closed individually or all together, and. every day at sea they are tested at 10 am, if you listen about that time on defck you will hear_pumerous small bells ringing as the doors slowly close . Should, we run short of fresh water, we have 2 Evaporators capable of converting 100 tons of &alt water to fresh water per day but it is not very palatable and. so, care in tho use of supplies wo have aboard should be exccrcised .

Now"lets turn to the electricalJnsixillaiion - There arc two 600 kilo~watt Turbo generators and four 300 kilo watt Diesal generators or sufficient electrical power for the needs of a small town . 22,000 lamps were required to fill all the sockets fitted, there are 300 electric motors ranging in size from jto 130 horse power • 300 cabin fans were fitted to say nothing of such things - ’as ladies curling tongs and other equipment too numerous to mention. The Galley is a big power consumer, all the ranges being electric and there are many small machines ,for various jobs that go with the preparcation of food • The switchboard room is one of the finest afloat both in layout and equipment « Now lets take a look around the Navigating Bridge# As soon as you climb the ladder leading up to the Bridge, you sec two brass standards, one is the Engine Telegraphs the other, the Telegraphs loading to the Po’cstle and After Decking Bridge* Inside the Wheel House there arc a number of Navyphonos (Telephones to you) communicating with. all parts of the Ship# There are two Steering wheels and complete telemeter systems which operate the electric hydraulic pumps for working the 49 ton rudder which can be moved from Hard a Starboard to Hard a Port in a few seconds . There’s the fire detecting cabinet which not only warns the Officer in charge when a fire starts but indicates location of the fire. This cabinet is fitted in conjunction with the Sax Rich Extinguishing System. There’s also another cabinet with location indicators and alarms . in connection with the alarms placed throughout the Ship# Gyro and Standard Compasses arc fitted • There’s a course indicator which records on a chart the Ship’s steering. ’Then the 'watertight doors are closed from the Bridge each morning, a small lamp lights up, on a plan model of the Slip, as each door closes o The navigation lights have their indicator also and in peace time, should one of the lights fail this indicator instantly reveals it . Kent Clear View Screens are fitted in the We el House so that in the worst rain or snow storms the view ahead is not obliterated, A very interesting instrument is the Echo Sounding Machine which when in use, gives a very accurate measurement of the depth of water under the Ship • Briefly this is how it works - a high voltage current strikes a blow on a series of plates enclosed in a cylinder which is welded inside the bottom of the Ship . This note travels down to the bed of the ocean and rebounding, comes up again to be picked up by another cylinder also in the bottom of the Ship* This echo is carried back to the recording instrument on the Bridge in the form of a ’weak electric current • This current leads to a pen which marks a slowly revolving chart graduated off in fathoms ( 6 feet )# It depends on the depth 'of water how many soundings per minute con be obtained, and varies from 45 for deep water to 260 in shallow water . The chart itself becomes very interesting after it has r been in use awhile, because like a relief map, it clearly shows hills and valleys, plains and plateau:' forming the bed. of the ocean • Tireless plays a. very important part in the navigation of a ship so lets peep into the wireless room - A very formidable array of mysterious looking instruments and gadgets await you . There’s the Direction Finding gear, which is so valuable an aid to navigation, long and short wave sending receiving sets, a gyro repeater and many other mysterious gadgets that are used in the course of a voyage . In times of peace a business man travelling aboard can be in constant touch with all the inportant cities of the world. Ever wonder how much paint a ship this size requires ? Kero are the figures for the exterior only, 2,100 gallons of paint & 38 gallons of varnish • You can about treble these figures for the Ship’s interior . * There arc about miles of fresh water and 5-J- miles of salt 'water pipes in the Ship, 5200 taps of various sizes and it takes over 100 tons of water to fill the Ist Class Swimming Pool a Lets call on the Chief Steward and have a yarn to him - He and his assistants are responsible for ordering, receiving on the dock, loading aboard, safe stowage and keeping in good condition an incredible amount of provisions of all kinds • To mention only a few figures will give you some idea of the enormous quantities of foodstuffs and. stores on board under the care of the Catering Department leaving Tellington . All kinds of meats totalled 50 tons, Poultry tons, Fish 2 tons, Dairy Produce 14§Vegetables 14-g- tons, Potatoes 45 tons, Rice 73 tons, Sugar 7 tons, Cocoa 400 lbs, Coffee 1200 lbs, Tea 5100 lbs and. this is interesting also, 539,000 bottles of Beer, 996/000 Cigarettes2,ooo lbs of tobacco to say nothing of Sauces, Essences, Pickles etc* As the Ship endeavours to satisfy even the most fastidious passenger, small quantities of rare foods arc stocked and very rarely does the passenger ask for something the Catering Department is unable to produce . The Laundry is also under the Chief Steward’s control and, on a single round i voyage to the Orient and back to Vancouver 238,931 pieces of laundry have been handled. ’ besides the private linen of passengers and crew . ■ , Lets call at the Purser’s Office now for information and this what we are told - k The full crew numbers about 600# In peace time the Ship has accomodation for 300 First Class,. 160 Tourist and 700 Third Class passengers .Passports, tickets, information, mail,train reservations, transferring other ships,stop overs, money exchange,custom declarations, safe deposit of money and valuables, adjusting berthing difficulties arc all cared for on behalf of the passengers# Crew wage accounts, stowage of cargo plans, charges on excess baggage, all the Ship’s' financial business and many other tasks fall to this office .

On tha,light or side, Dances, Concerts, Rictnre^hca J r s^JMngo 7 HoMA>qq.. Sports and we must not forgot' the wonderful Childrens Parties oil organized by the Chief Purser, and now there’s a war on, many Army and Navy non receive assistance in their duties from the same office . We will walk along ”A" Dock to the Ship’s Medical Dept • There’s a Consulting Room and Surgery fitted with up to date equipment, including adjustable operating table with a shadowlcss high power lamp overhead, Sterilizers and medicine cabinets containing fearsome looking bottles and things • Our good friend Dr Me Kenzie is Ship’s Medical Officer ably assisted by two Canadian Nurses and a Hospital Orderly « Since commencing her maiden voyage 14th June 1930 from Liverpool, H M T 12 completed a total distance of 1,030,603 miles on her arrival at Fremantle 4th September 1940 0 Of that distance 55,885 miles is the distance steamed in service of King and Empire and, she is willing and eager to go,where-er her services are required in the cause of free men, Perhaos you would like to know a few records she has made as Blue Ribbon Ship of the Pacific and here they are - Leaving Yokohama at 3-00 pm 9th April 1931 she arrived at Victoria. British Columbia. 6-48 pm 16th April, 7 days 20 hours 16 minutes for a distance of 4200 miles at an average speed of 22, 27 knots . Left Yokohama 10th April 1938 arrived Honolulu 15th April distance 3383 miles, time 6 days 8 hours 33 minutes, average speed 276 knots .The fastest trip open sea - Left Honolulu 'l-46 pm 15th March 1933, arrived Victoria. B C 3-19 am 20th March, distance 2329 miles, time 4 days, 8 hours, 3 minutes* Average speed 22.38 knots » The fastest days run was made on the 10th May 1936, when H MT 12 steamed 54-4 miles in 23 hours, 20 minutes at an average speed of 23,31 knots, and the horse power developed was 28,899 . The 80 mile trip from Victoria, to Vancouver has been . accomplished in 3 hours, 19 minutes - homeward bound - 0 Thanks arc due to Mr Shaw, Chief Engineer ,Mr Goddard, Chief Officer, Mr Moes, Chief Purser and Mr Crowsen, Chief Steward for making available many valuable records and for the helpful suggestions offered, from which this article was written . Before closing here’s just one more item of interest - It takes 100 tons weight to sink this ship 1 inch and here is a problem for you to solve - If 100 tons is required to sink this ship 1 inch, how many inches did she sink when 2650 New Zealanders in marching equipment embarked at Wellington •

Signed YARDARM