SMOKING LAMP
The exact date and origin of the smoking lamp has been lost. However, it probably came
into use during the 16th Century when seamen began smoking on board vessels. The smoking
lamp was a safety measure. It was devised mainly to keep the fire hazard away from highly
combustible woodwork and gunpowder. Most navies established regulations restricting
smoking to certain areas. Usually, the lamp was located in the forecastle or the area
directly surrounding the galley indicting that smoking was permitted in this area. Even
after the invention of matches in the 1830s, the lamp was an item of convenience to the
smoker. When particularly hazardous operations or work required that smoking be curtailed,
the unlighted lamp relayed the message. "The smoking lamp is lighted" or
"the smoking lamp is out' were the expressions indicating that smoking was permitted
or forbidden.
The smoking lamp has survived only as a figure of speech. When the officer of the deck
says "the smoking lamp is out" before drills, refueling or taking ammunition,
that is the Navy's way of saying "cease smoking." |
Forward #1 and #2 = 3'' Gun Mount's
Starboard 20 mm Gun Mount's. Aft are 2 Single 40 MM Mounts
# 2 Gun Mount 3''
Two Gunners on 20 mm
After 3'' Gun Mount -Top left is 1.1Quad mount.
Depth Charge Racks
Depth Charge
Depth Charge
Depth Charge -1957-58
Laying Smoke Screen -1957-58
Depth Charge Racks-1958
Near Jima Islands
Tidwell and Blessitt Setting Primers on
the Depth Charges-1958
Blessitt Ready to Pull Lanyard to
Fire the K Gun-1958
Depth Charge in Air-1958
Depth Charge Hits Water-1958
Depth Charge Explodes -Set at 50 Ft.
That one Shock Hell Out of the SNIPES
USS Wiseman Bombarding the Korean coast |
