combat and operational information and conducting electronic warfare. Other tasks involve gathering and analyzing intelligence information, repairing electronic equipment, controlling aircraft, and forecasting weather. The operations department is usually in charge of all the radar, sonar, and communications equipment on the ship. The combat information center (CIC) is part of the operations department. Supply Department The supply department has many responsibilities. Some of these are— Operating the general mess, including preparing and serving food. Operating  the  ship’s  store,  which  provides personal articles for the ship’s crew. Managing  the  clothing  and  small  stores  issue room,  where  crew  members  may  buy  uniform items. Maintaining the pay records of the crew (done by the disbursing office). Ordering and receiving general stores, supplies, spare parts, and equipment for the ship. In fact, just about everything that comes aboard the ship, other  than  people,  is  ordered  by  the  supply department. Engineering Department The  engineering  department,  under  the  engineer officer,  is  responsible  for  the  operation,  care,  and maintenance   of   all   propulsion   and   auxiliary machinery. It is responsible for the control of damage ^{resulting from}fire, explosion, collision, and so forth. The  engineering  department  provides  power,  light, ventilation,  heat,  refrigeration,  compressed  air,  and freshwater  throughout  the  ship.  The  engineer  officer may  have  several  assistants,  such  as  the  main propulsion assistant, the damage control assistant, and the electrical officer. Weapons/Deck/Combat Systems Department The  fifth  department  of  ship’s  administrative organization varies. Some of the departments are listed below. 1.   Surface combatants (ships) using ordnance (gun batteries, torpedoes, missiles, and so forth) have a weapons department, headed by a weapons officer. 2.   Surface  combatants  (ships)  with  complex combat systems and some classes of submarines have combat systems departments, headed by combat systems officers. 3.   Ships  with  offensive  capabilities  unrelated  to ordnance have a deck department, headed by the first lieutenant. 4.   Aircraft  carriers  and  some  other  ships  have  a weapons  or  combat  systems  department  in addition to a deck department. In ships that have a weapons department or combat systems department, the weapons or combat systems officer is responsible for— The  operation,  care,  and  maintenance  of  the ship’s  armament  and  the  weapons  fire-control equipment. The care, handling, stowage, accountability, and issue of ammunition and pyrotechnics. The maintenance of magazines and the external security of the ship. If  the  ship  doesn’t  have  an  air  department  the weapons department is responsible for —The launch and recovery of assigned aircraft If the ship doesn’t have a deck department, the weapons department is responsible for —The  preservation  and  cleanliness  of  the external areas of the ship not assigned to other departments. —The   operation   of   the   paint,   sail,   and boatswains’  lockers   and   inspection   and maintenance of survival equipment. 6-8 Student Notes: