Chapter  2—ADMINISTRATION,  SUPERVISION,  AND  TRAINING OPERATIONAL READINESS INSPECTION Battle  Problems The operational readiness inspection is con- ducted to ensure that the ship is ready and able to perform the operations which might be required of it in time of war. This inspection consists of the conduct of a battle problem and of other operational exercises. A great deal of emphasis is placed on AA and sur- face  gunnery,  damage  control,  engineering  casu- alty  control,  and  other  appropriate  exercises. Various drills are held and observed, and the ship is operated at full power for a brief period of time. In  this  discussion  we  will  consider  the  battle problem from the viewpoint of the observer, and present   some   general   information   on   the requirements  and  duties  of  a  member  of  the engineering  department  observing  party.  The knowledge  of  the  viewpoint  and  duties  of  an observer should help you prepare yourself and your  personnel  for  a  battle  problem  and  other appropriate   exercises. The overall criteria of performance include: 1. Can the ship as a whole carry out her opera- tional functions? P R E P A R A T I O N    O F    A    B A T T L E PROBLEM.—The degree of perfection achieved in any battle problem is reflected in the skills and applications of those who prepare it. A great deal depends upon the experience of officers and chief petty officers. 2. Is the ship’s company well trained, well in- structed, competent, and skillful in all phases of the  evolutions? 3. Is the ship’s company stationed in accord- ance with the ship’s Battle Bill, and does the Battle Bill  meet  wartime  requirements? * Observing Party The  primary  purpose  of  a  shipboard  battle problem is to provide a medium for testing and evaluating  the  ability  of  all  divisions  of  the engineering department to function together as a team in simulated combat operations. Battle problems are the most profitable and significant  of  all  peacetime  training  experience, since  they  demonstrate  a  department’s  readiness for  combat.  The  degree  of  realism  of  this  test determines their value: the more nearly it approx- imates actual battle conditions, the more valuable it is. The personnel and organization of the opera- tional  readiness  observing  party  are  similar  to those  of  the  administrative  inspection  party. However, more personnel are usually required for the  operational  readiness  observing  party.  These additional personnel are very often chiefs and first class petty officers. Another element in the conduct of a battle problem  which  significantly  increases  the  value of these tests to the ship’s company is the element of surprise. CONDUCT OF A BATTLE PROBLEM.— Before a battle problem is to be conducted, the ship is furnished specific information such as that listed  below: The observing party members are briefed in advance of the scheduled exercises and about the drills that are to be conducted. They must have sufficient training and experience so that they can properly evaluate the exercises and drills that are to be held. Each observer is usually assigned to a specific station, and should be well qualified in the  procedure  of  conducting  drills  and  exercises for that station. That each observer be familiar with the type of ship to be inspected is also highly desirable. 1. Authority for conducting the inspection. 2. Time of boarding of the inspecting party. 3. Time the ship is to get underway. 4. Time for setting the first material readiness condition. 5. Time for conducting the inspection to zero problem time conditions. 6. Zero problem time. 7. End of problem time. 8. Time of critique. 2-43