Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve Fleet at Penarth Dock

This done, the tanks are washed down with a detergent supplied through small hoses from a storage tank in the T.C.V. The pump for this system builds up the detergent pressure to 140 lb. per sq. in. and a heat exchanger in the same system heats it to 130°F. Four suction hoses and four detergent hoses can be used at the same time, one of each to a tank. One stoker mechanic mans each hose. The airstream which engulfs the residue, or sludge, and used detergent gives the tank operators an adequate supply of fresh air, thus overcoming the peril of "oxygen lack" and heat exhaustion.

The suction hoses discharge into vacuum tanks in the suction line and when full, can be isolated in turn and run down into a sludge tank. A suction is taken from this tank and discharged to a separator and this in turn discharges the detergent to its storage tank for re-use. The oil remaining, now purified sufficiently for use, is discharged by the separator to the T.C.V.'s fuel tanks. This oil is used in the T.C.V.'s furnace, the boiler of which provides steam for the operation of the tank cleaning installation and for her main machinery. Thus these ships are self-supporting for fuel and indeed return considerable quantities of usable oil to the fuelling depots.

Engineering - This leaves the engine room department a clear field to get on with the important task of preserving the engines and machinery. If machinery is not operated, it quickly deteriorates and the ideal would be to operate all the machinery every day. This is obviously impossible, so a compromise is made.

All running machinery is taken to pieces and all moving parts thoroughly cleaned and coated with preservative oil, to prevent rust from forming. After reassembly, the machine is moved by hand, or whenever possible by power, once a week to make sure that no rust has formed. A stiffness in operation would indicate this at once.

"Standing" machinery, like boilers, condensers, and evaporators, etc., are first thoroughly cleaned and then preserved by the use of a special compound or oil depending upon the equipment concerned.

Pipe systems need different treatment; one cannot get at the insides to scrape and preserve, but in this case valves are thoroughly cleaned and the system drained and kept empty.

Ships are refitted at regular intervals, when all the little defects, which have been carefully noted as ships are inspected, are put right. Trials are carried our after refit, and the machinery again preserved.