Refuel was dangerous, and if you were at the front of the line dirty. The rags on the lower right was to wipe off spilled oil.

The Hugh Purvis used a form of crude oil, not diesel, like the destroyer escorts, and todays more modern ships. The oil was forced into fire boxes under high pressure, and burned to convert water into steam. Steam turned the turbines that were geared to turn the main drive shafts to the ship's screws.

Commodore Donald G.Dockum once told me that the Hugh Purvis was the fastest destroyer on the east coast, with a top speed of around 40 knots.

made with personal camera