FO’C’SLE

Intrepid crosses the Atlantic Ocean in the 1950s. Men weave through the fo’c’sle’s passageways. Boatswain’s mates inspect and paint anchor chains. Officers collapse onto their bunks after a watch. Steward’s mates clean and tidy the officers’ staterooms. Other sailors sprawl on catwalks, watching Intrepid’s bow slice through the waves.

Sailors relaxing and working in the fo’c’sle. (USS Intrepid Cruise Books, 1967 and 1972–1973)

Raised platforms once rose above the bows of old sailing ships. Archers perched atop this “forecastle,” shortened to fo’c’sle. Sailors often slept within the fo’c’sle’s fortified walls. Wooden warships are long gone, but the name fo’c’sle still describes a forward deck on modern vessels. This area is Intrepid’s fo’c’sle. As on older ships, part of Intrepid’s fo’c’sle housed members of the Sailors near the anchor chains in Intrepid’s fo’c’sle, 1944. crew. Officers slept in these staterooms. Farther forward, massive (National Archives and Records Administration) anchor chains stretched across the deck. A team of sailors ensured that the fo’c’sle—and all equipment—was shipshape. Other sailors escaped to the fo’c’sle for breezes and quiet. ANCHORING INTREPID April 28, 1971. Intrepid reaches Lisbon for a port-of-call visit. Boatswain’s mates await orders from the bridge. “Stand by.” A turn of the wheel releases the brake. “Let go.” The crash of a sledgehammer opens hooks holding anchor to deck. A steel chain thunders past. Dust fills the room. The anchor grabs the ocean floor. The crew is one step closer to the sights of Portugal.

Sailors release a hook on the anchor chain, post-1965. (Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. P00.2013.01.322)

Sailors used the equipment in this space to raise and lower Intrepid’s anchors. Wheels controlled the windlasses, which heaved up the anchors. Stoppers held the chains to the deck. Anchoring Intrepid was dirty, deafening and dangerous. Each anchor weighed about 15 tons (13.6 metric tons) and was attached

A shipyard worker rests on Intrepid’s anchor, to 1,000 feet (305 meters) of chain. Getting caught in a descending Philadelphia Navy Yard, 1969. chain could mean injury or death. (Naval History and Heritage Command) Anchoring did not happen often—in many ports, Intrepid could tie up to a pier. When the anchors were still, crew members used the fo’c’sle for sporting events, religious services, performances or simply relaxing. INTREPID’S SAIL

“She was like a giant 0005 hours. February 17, 1944. pendulum, swinging Near Truk Atoll, Micronesia. back and forth. She had a tendency to Just after midnight, a Japanese torpedo tore weathercock into the through the stern of the ship, jamming the wind… turned her rudder. Intrepid trembled. Eleven men perished. bow toward Tokyo. Intrepid lost all steering control. Crew members But right then I wasn’t tried to regain a steady course by varying interested in going propeller speeds. Still, they struggled to that direction.” maneuver the wounded ship. Captain Thomas Sprague, Commanding Officer, 1943–1944 Enterprising crew members had an idea. They stretched a hastily made canvas sail across this area, which had no exterior walls back then. The sail created wind resistance, helping Intrepid stay on course. Intrepid limped to Pearl Harbor and then San Francisco for repairs. Four months later, Intrepid headed back to combat.

The sail that helped keep Intrepid on course, February 1944. (Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. P00.2012.01.27) BOATSWAIN’S MATE

“You probably know Lifting anchor, inspecting the chain, maintaining that you’re not letting small boats, standing watch, scraping and yourself in for a soft painting. Many demanding tasks kept the life under hatches. boatswain’s mates—called “boats”—of When the wind is Intrepid’s First Division busy around the clock. howling topside, you’ll be there. When the Many men in the First Division had specialized green seas are coming roles. Some sailors operated the officer’s gig, over and something a motorboat, ferrying officers to shore for port breaks loose, they’ll visits. Others qualified as helmsmen, steering pass the word for you the ship from the bridge. Still others raised ... In winter or summer, and lowered the ship’s anchors. in daylight or dark, in fair weather or foul, when the gang hits the deck—there you’ll be.” Boatswain’s Mate 3 & 2, U.S. Navy training manual, 1948

Boatswain’s mates rig lines. (USS Intrepid Cruise Book, 1962) SAILOR ART Look around the room for paintings of an early American flag, a shield and the animated character Road Runner. Sailors used Intrepid as a canvas to express their feelings and creativity. Some of their artwork, which most likely dates from the 1970s, survives today. You’ll find additional sailor art in the junior officer bunkroom. HURRICANE BOW During World War II, this space had no exterior walls. A sailor standing here could see—and feel—waves and weather. The open fo’c’sle left Intrepid vulnerable to damage. Storm winds and surging seas tore through this area, threatening the flight deck above. Intrepid escaped unscathed, but other ships were less lucky. In the 1950s, the U.S. Navy began refitting ships like Intrepid with enclosed “hurricane bows.” Workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard installed these steel walls in 1956–1957.