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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to United States Destroyer Flotillas, Queenstown

U. S. NAVAL FORCES OPERATING IN EUROPEAN WATERS,

DESTROYER FLOTILLAS,

U.S.S. MELVILLE, FLAGSHIP .

BASE SIX,          

August 23, 1918.   

From:     Force Commander.

To:       U.S. Destroyer Flotillas, Base Six.

Subject:  Refit Periods.

     1. The following policy in regard to refits as given in Force Commander’s circular letter D-46-4 of 20 November 1917,1 is repeated for the information of the Force:

 “Owing to the imperative necessity for keeping ships in service for the maximum time possible, the period of refit for United States Destroyers is limited to fifteen (15) days inclusive of Sundays, the day of arrival and day of leaving Dockyard being included in these fifteen days. In order that this period be not exceeded, the following procedure is established and no departure therefrom is authorized except by authority of the Force Commander:-

(a) The work undertaken will th be that authorized by the Force Commander, prior to the vessel’s arrival at the   Dockyard, and no other.

(b)  Urgent repairs which become necessary during the prosecution of authorized work may be undertaken by      authority of the S.O.P.|2|

(c)  No alterations of any kind will be undertaken without the approval of the Force Commander.

(d)  Upon arrival of a vessel at the Dockyard, the     Commanding Officer will arrange for an inspection of    the ship by a representation or representatives of    Messrs. Cammel Lairds|3| with a view to determining    whether or not the work can be completed in the    regular period. As soon as this is decided, the      Commanding Officer will inform MELVILLE by wire, whether or not the work can be completed in the    regular period. Should it appear that any item or items cannot be finished, full information concerning     these items and the time estimated for their      completion is to be given in the telegram and ,   pending the receipt of any answer from the Force    Commander, work on these items will not be started.

Destroyers will fuel to capacity before proceeding to their port of refit unless necessary work in connection with fuel tanks renders it inadvisable to do so.”

J.R.POINSETT PRINGLE,        

By direction.           

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Document identifier at top: “1. –C-1.”

Footnote 1: Sims’ circular letter has not been found.

Footnote 2: That is, Senior Officer Present (Pringle).

Footnote 3: A British shipyard in Liverpool, which had the contract for repairing American destroyers at Queenstown.

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