officer normally tries to equalize the endurance of the various types of stores. The storerooms are not necessarily loaded to maximum capacity, since endurance limitations are set by various commands. These limitations are expressed as the actual number of days of endurance and are applied to individual items rather than to types of stores. For example, if the supply officer wants to stock the storerooms at a 90-day endurance level, one requisition for a 90-day supply of general stores cannot be sub- mitted. Each item must be reviewed to determine a sufficient quantity to last the ship for 90 days. Another factor supply personnel must consider is the total weight limitation of stores that may be brought aboard. Each ship is allowed a specific weight limitation so that it can maintain proper stability and buoyancy. When the desired number of days of endurance has been reached for a type of store, then that endurance is converted into quantities of individual items. AVAILABLE SPACE.  —The amount of storage space available for an item is an obvious limiting factor. You cannot stow 100 cubic feet of material in a 50-cubic-foot space. For this reason, some extremely bulky items may have to be carried in a quantity less than the desired level and reordered frequently. On the other hand, items of low cost and low bulk may be carried at  a  high  level  to  reduce  the  time  spent  in ordering and stowing. PERISHABILITY. —Highly perishable items may also be stocked at a lower level than other- wise desired so that deterioration is kept to a minimum. SHIP’S EXPERIENCE. —The most accurate guide in the determination of requirements is past stock records. You adjust the figures obtained from past usage to cover a specified period in the future. For example, a 3-month endurance rate is computed as follows: Fast-moving items—multiply the past month’s usage by 3. Slow-moving items—divide the past 6 months’ usage by 2. ALLOWANCE LISTS, INITIAL OUTFIT- TING LISTS, AND USAGE DATA TABLES. – Allowance lists, initial outfitting lists, and usage data tables are prepared to help supply officers of  new  or  recommissioned  ships  determine quantities of supplies to stock. Since these ships have no prior usage to rely on, these lists and tables help you and the supply department determine requirements for consumable supplies, subsistence, and ship’s store stock. These lists provide  restrictive  controls  on  the  types  and quantities of equipage allowed and serve as guides for types and quantities of supplies required. Allowance lists as used here do not include the COSAL Stock Number Sequence List—Storeroom Item (SNSL—SRI) for repair parts. SHIP’S OPERATIONS. —Operating factors may require the review of stock records and the reevaluation of the requirements for some or all items stocked. These factors are the expected length of a cruise, type of operation (combat or training), expected climate during the operation, and available supply support. If the length of a cruise is less than the normal endurance load, no major adjustment is necessary. However, if the operation is expected to last longer,  the  ship’s  stock  of  fast-moving  and essential items is reviewed to determine if an increase is needed. A ship rescheduled from a hot or temperate climate  to  an  arctic  climate  should  review materials needed for cold-weather operations. An important factor to consider when the ship is preparing for deployment is the availability of supply support during the cruise. Will your ship be operating independently? Will it be in the company of similar ships? Can your ship obtain materials from mobile logistic support ships or ashore activities? All of these questions must be answered before you can determine the division or department requirements. You will usually find this information in the operations orders. ADVICE OF DEPARTMENTS. —Your depart- ment may require special material or an item in a greater quantity than is usually stocked in the storeroom. For example, electrical fittings are replaced periodically for general station or ship’s maintenance. Average usage of these fittings may be 16 per month. By using the formula described, 4-8