Working in the Fo'c'sle

The aircraft carrier Intrepid had two anchors. The process of anchoring was dirty, deafening and dangerous. Each anchor weighed about 15 tons (13.6 metric tons) and was attached to 1,000 feet (305 meters) of chain. Getting caught in a descending chain could mean injury or death.

This photograph shows two sailors at work in the fo'c'sle on board Intrepid. One sailor prepares to strike a hook that holds the anchor chain, part of the process of dropping anchor. Behind the second sailor is a graphic that shows the length of each anchor chain.