What are the first two steps in handling battle damage?

The first two steps in handling battle damage are putting out fires and controlling flooding. Addressing fires is critical as they can escalate quickly and endanger personnel and the integrity of the ship. Fires can spread, leading to further chaos and damage if not extinguished immediately.

Controlling flooding is equally essential, as water intrusion can compromise the vessel's buoyancy and stability. If flooding is not managed swiftly, the ship may become unmanageable or even capsize. Therefore, these two actions are prioritized to preserve life and protect the ship's operational capabilities before addressing other damage control measures.

Other options such as securing electrical circuits or isolating broken pipelines come into play later in the damage control process, once immediate threats such as fires and flooding have been dealt with.