The Gunnery Department
Gunnery Officers
Creed H. Boucher, Lieut., U.S.N.; assigned, August 3, 1917; detached, April 20, 1918.
Arnold H. Bateman, Lieut., U.S.N.; assigned, April 20, 1918; detached, October 27, 1918.
Charles K. Osborne, Lieut. Comdr., U.S.N.; assigned, October 27, 1918; detached, April 3, 1919.
Assistant Gunnery Officers
William E. Malloy, Lieut., U.S.N.; assigned, October 8, 1917.
(Lieut. Malloy was detached as assistant Gunnery Officer in order to take over the duties of First Lieutenant of the ship.)
Ship’s Gunners
Arthur B. Dorsey, Lieut., U.S.N.; assigned, July 30, 1917; detached, January 22, 1919.
John T. Swift, Lieut., U.S.N.; assigned, January 22, 1919; detached, March 6, 1919.
James F. Williams, Gunner, U.S.N.; assigned, January 20, 1919.
(Gunner Williams served on board as a Chief Gunner’s Mate from August, 1917, until he was made Gunner in January, 1919.)
Lieut. Boucher, Lieut. Malloy and Lieut. Dorsey, were the officers in charge of the installation of the battery, fire control system, etc., the training of gun crews and lookouts, and in fact all the numerous details required to have the ship in readiness for sea and action when she cleared the net in New York Harbor. Great credit is due these officers and the men of their department for the excellent manner in which this work was carried out. Much credit is also due the officers and men who succeeded them for the excellent manner in which they maintained the high standard of efficiency that had been set for them.
There were also six Chief Gunner’s Mates and seven gunner’s mates of lower ratings attached to the ship during her voyages across the Atlantic.
No technical discussion of ordnance and gunnery will be attempted in these pages, just a general description of guns, fire control systems, etc., and their method of operation.