I was a fire controlman FTG2 aboard LST 1180 assigned to the Gunnery Division.
She had two 3"/50 enclosed twin mounts.
The left barrle of each mount had a radar dish on it.
It was my job to keep the radars and other fire control equipment in operation and repair.
Like the gunners, we had PMS to keep us busy. (Preventave Maintenance System) which had daily, weekly and other jobs to do.
One Sunday morning I was awake early way before breakfast so I decided to do some of my PMS ahead of schedule.
One in particular was checking the rubber diaphram on the air compressor that drove the gyros on the gun sights. (much like the ones on our 40mm mounts)
The PMS card told you how to do it. Remove a cover to a crawl space below the gun director. This required removing about 30 nuts and bolts to remove the cover. Crawl inside a cramped space, remove the compressor head and check the diaphram for tears or wear. After the job was complted the last step was to light off the gun director, make sure the pressure was correct and check the gyros for proper speed and operation.
I was busy checking when I heard someone clear their throat. That someone said "excuse me sailor?"
I looked down to see a very sleepy Captain looking up at me. He ask what I was doing.
I explained I was doing some PMS. He poltely reminded me it was not even 0600 yet, the sun had not been up very long, it was Sunday and a work holiday and did I remember that that noisy compressor was mounted on what was the overhead of the Captain's cabin, right above his rack?
What a way to start the day.
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