Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913 - Instructions to a Flag Officer or a Commodore of the First Class not Commanding-in-Chief

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Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913

Chapter XI

Instructions to a Flag Officer or a Commodore of the First Class not Commanding-in-Chief

516. General Duties.- He is to superintend, with great attention, all the ships of the division of the fleet or of the squadron which is put under his directions ; he is to see that their crews are properly disciplined ; that all orders and regulations are punctually attended to and obeyed; and that the coal, stores, provisions, and water are kept as complete, and the ships in every respect as fit for service, as circumstances will admit.

517. Reports, &c., from Division.- He is to receive all reports of the state of the ships and of their defects, applications for repairs or refitting, demands for stores or provisions, and representations of the state of their crews or of the misconduct of their officers or men, as being responsible to the Commander-in-Chief for the good order, discipline, and efficiency of the division or squadron which he commands.

518. Keeping Station.- When at sea, he is to be particularly attentive in observing that the ship which carries his flag, and all the division or squadron under his orders, preserve very correctly their station in whatever order or formation the fleet may be ; when any evolution is being performed, he is to be attentive to the manner in which the ships under his direction carry it out, always correcting immediately, by signal or otherwise, as he shall think fit, every apparent want of activity and exertion, and every mistake or appearance of neglect.

519. Mistakes of Ships in other Divisions.- He may correct, by signal or otherwise, the mistake or negligence of a ship in another division or sub-division, whenever it is probable that, from their relative situations, the ship cannot be distinctly seen by the officer commanding the division to which she belongs; or whenever, being in the presence of an enemy, the officer commanding the division or sub-division whatever may be his situation, does not himself immediately correct such mistake or negligence.

520. Conduct of Ships in Battle.- When in battle, he is to observe the conduct of every ship near him, whether of the division he commands or not; at the end of the battle he is to report his observations to the Commander-in-Chief, so that the conduct of every officer may be represented as he shall really deserve. Should he observe any ship evidently avoiding battle, or not doing her duty properly, he is immediately to make such signal to her, or to take such steps, as the case may appear to him to require, for ensuring her more efficient co-operation; and he is to report, without loss of time, to the Commander-in-Chief any case of this nature in which he shall have so interfered.

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