Home                                   The following is a list of Columbia's DIVISIONS           provided by Bob Kratz & Rich Gary   
                                                     Note: List is incomplete at this time

                                                                                                                
                                                                The ship had five departments

                                                                               GUNNERY DEPARTMENT

 1st Division picture      The 1st Division was responsible for 6 inch turrets numbers 1 & 2. They were also responsible
                                    for the upkeep of the forward part of the ship.

2nd Division picture     The 2nd Division was responsible for 6 inch turrets number 3 & 4 (which were aft).
                                     They were also responsible for the upkeep of the aft part of the ship.
                                     In addition they operated and maintained the catapults used to launch our search aircraft.

3rd Division picture     The 3rd Division was responsible for 5 inch gun mounts number 51, 52 & 53. They were also
                                      responsible for upkeep of half of the middle of the ship.

4th Division picture       The 4th Division was responsible for 5 inch gun mounts number 54, 55 & 56. They were also
                                       responsible for upkeep of the other half of the middle of the ship.

 5th Division picture  The 5th Division was responsible for 40mm gun mounts number 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49 & 50 and
                                    10 20mm guns. In addition they were responsiable for the upkeep of the boat deck.

Original Marine Detachment aboard Columbia       Roster of  original Marine Detachment aboard Columbia
 List of Marines that served aboard Columbia        List from page 86, Battle History of USS Columbia

6th Division picture (Marines) on stern                   40 Marines on stern (poor quality)
6th Division picture (Marines)                               The 6th Division was manned by the Marine detachment (35-40 men).
                                                             They were responsible for 40 mm gun mounts number 45 & 46 and some gun directors.
                                             

F Division picture                                    The F Division was responsible for all the Gun Fire Control Systems, Gun Directors
                                                                  and the Main Battery Gun Plotting Rooms for the 6 inch guns.
F Division on the quarterdeck

                                                                                       ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

  A Division             A Division was called the Auxiliary Division. They operated and maintained the evaporators which
                                made fresh water from sea water. Columbia had the reputation for making more fresh water than any
                                 other ship in Cruiser Division 12. The men rarely had to take salt water showers.

B Division   NEW  Dec. 2018    B Division was responsible for the two fire rooms (fore & aft). They made the steam that
                                                     powered the four turbines that drove the ship's four screws.
 List of men    NEW                    Steam also powered the four turbines that drove the four electrical generators. B Division
                                                     was also responsible for operating and maintaining the electrical generator turbines.

M Division             M Division was responsible for operating and maintaining the equipment in the two engine rooms.
                                There were two steam turbines for each engine room.
The turbines drove the four props.
M Division 1945  

R Divison on stern          R Division was responsible for the damage control stations, fire fighting and shipfitter shop which repaired
                                          and replaced various equipment throughout the ship.


E Division picture           E Division was responsible for generating the electricity that powered equipment throughout the ship.
                                         They also
maintained the lighting equipment.
                                         In addition they maintained the sound powered 
telephones and the dial telephone system.

                                                                                


C Division picture       C Division was responsible for the radio rooms and radar shacks. They also provided a signal man.

                                                                                           SUPPLY DEPARTMENT

S Division picture        S Division was responsible for cooking, baking and food store rooms. They ran all the food handling,
                                         barber shop and ship's store.

                                                                                            AIR DEPARTMENT

V Division picture          V Division was responsible for maint
aining the search aircraft. The pilots were attached to the V Division.

                                                                                             OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
L Division on stern                    L Division provided the ship lookouts, so vital for the safety of the ship.
L Division on quarter deck        L Division function unknown
                                       
                                                N Division  was responsible for the ship's bridge. They manned the ship's wheel and provided the
                                                navigation to get the ship from place to place. No picture.


                                                                                                       UNIDENTIFED DIVISION PICTURES
         

Unknown Division u2                               Unknown Division u2....names unknown

Unknown Division u3                             Division u3  has been ID as B Division, Dec. 2018 names unknown 

22 Men and three Officers                      22 Men and three Officers.....names unknown

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