Chain Locker aka Windlass

The windlass was the mechanical system used to raise and lower the ship's anchors, while the chain locker was the specialized compartment where the massive anchor chains were stored when not deployed. On a vessel of Midway's size, these chains were enormous. Each link could weigh around 120 pounds, with a complete anchor chain weighing over 30 tons. The chain locker was designed to allow the chain to self-stack as retrieved, preventing dangerous tangles. Sailors assigned to manage the anchor system were called "chain dogs." Working in the chain locker was considered one of the more physically demanding and noisy assignments aboard ship.