Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913 - Instructions to Lieutenants and Sub-lieutenants

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Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913

Chapter XIV

Instructions to Lieutenants and Sub-lieutenants

     SECTION     

 

     PAGE     
I. Lieutenant 182
II. Sub-Lieutenant, &c.       185

SECTION I. LIEUTENANT.

617. Preservation of Order, &e.-He is to see that all on board subordinate. to him perform their duties with diligence and propriety. He is to check all profane swearing, and improper or obscene language; and all disturbances, noise, or confusion.

618. In time of Action, he will take care that all the officers and men under his command are at their quarters, and do their duty with spirit and alacrity ; and that, so far as practicable, all the regulations laid down in the latest Manual of Gunnery and in any subsequent additions, are strictly observed.

619. When Officer of the Watch, he is responsible for the safety of the ship, subject, however, to any special orders he may have received from his Captain.

2. Keeping Station.-On every occasion before taking charge of a watch, when the ship is in a squadron, he will see that she is in her station ; if out of station, he will not take charge until the Captain has been informed and his order received to take charge. In every such case the bearings and distance of the next ahead and of the Flag, are to be noted in the log book. (See also Clause 6.)

3. Approaching Land.-At all times when at sea, so far as practicable, he will keep himself informed of the position of the ship. When approaching land or in pilot water he is to ascertain whether land or lights are in sight, and if not whether any are likely to be seen, and all other particulars which may be of use in keeping the ship out of danger; also that the anchors and cables are clear.

4. General Duties.-After taking charge of the watch, he is to be constantly on deck until properly relieved ; he is to see that the watch are alert and attentive to their duties ; that every necessary precaution is taken to prevent accident ; that when approaching land or pilot water, soundings are obtained with sufficient frequency ; and that the ship is as perfectly prepared for battle as circumstances admit. He is to be careful that the ship is properly steered, and that a correct account is kept of her way by the use of the log, and that the notations necessary for navigation are made in the deck log, together with every other occurrence worthy of notice, and all accidents occasioning loss of stores. He is to be careful, if not in a flag ship, that all signals are recorded as the Captain may direct. At the end of the watch he is to sign the deck log book, properly filled up, with his initials ; and when the occurrences of the day have been entered in the ship's log book, he will in the same manner place his initials at the end of each watch, in proof that the entries are correct.

5. Subordinate Officers, Night Watches and Lifeboats.-He is to see that the Sub-Lieutenants and subordinate officers are constantly at their posts, and attentive to their duties; when he takes charge at night, and at any other time he may think necessary, he will muster the watch, and the lifeboats'

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crew; and he will satisfy himself that the lifeboats are ready for lowering, that a compass, lantern, and Very's lights are in each of them, and that the boxes supplied for the stern and quarter boats are in them, or at hand.

6. Keeping Station.-He is to be extremely careful to keep station with other ships and is to report at once to the Captain if unable to do so.

7. Signals.-He will take care that a good look-out is kept for all signals, whether general or to the ship ; that none are answered until made out and understood ; that during the night the flashing apparatus, lanterns, and everything else necessary for making signals are in good order, and ready for instant use, including the signal guns ; and that at sea none but the authorised lights of the ship are visible.

Signal Books.-Signal books, when kept on deck, are to be under the charge of the Officer of the Watch, who is to satisfy himself, on relieving the deck, and on being relieved, that they are in the box provided for that purpose.

8. He is not to make any signal either by day or by night, without authority from the Captain, except to warn ships of immediate danger.

9. Fog.-During a fog he is to be most attentive that the " Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea " referred to in Article 1041 and in the Signal Manual are very carefully observed.

10. Important Occurrences.-He is to inform the Captain, or cause him to be informed, of all strange vessels seen ; of all signals made ; of all changes of rate of speed made by the leader of the squadron or fleet, if in company with other ships ; and in general of all occurrences worthy of notice.

11. Changing Course.-He is never to change the course without directions. from the Captain, unless to avoid immediate danger.

12. Look-out Men.-During the day, when the weather permits, he is to keep look-out men at the mast-head, and during the night, in their proper stations; he will frequently caution them to be on the alert, and cause them to be visited ; he will take care at all times to have them sufficiently frequently relieved.

13. Meeting Strange Vessel at Night.-If during war a strange vessel is seen in the night, he is to send to inform the Captain whilst he makes such immediate preparations for action as the circumstances may require.

14. Rounds.-During the night he is to be careful that the police of the watch go the rounds, and visit every part of the ship each half-hour, to see that there are no irregularities, no unauthorised lights burning, and no unauthorised smoking, and that they report to him the result ; he will also cause a Sub-Lieutenant or Midshipman of the watch to go the rounds frequently :during each night watch.

15. He will take care

  1. Reports from Carpenter.-That the Carpenter or one of his mates sounds the well and looks to all the ports which should be barred, at least twice in each watch; and whenever water ballast is admitted into the ballast compartments, that the Carpenter himself reports the state of the water at 8 a.m., and in the 6 to 8 watch ;
  2. Gunner.-That the Gunner or one of his mates examines and reports to him at least once in each watch whether the guns are properly secured;
  3. Boatswain.-That the Boatswain examines the state of the rigging, boats' falls and derrick purchases, and the Carpenter that of the masts, yards, davits, derricks, &c., as necessary, and that they report to him the result.

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16. Instruction of Subordinates.-He is to take pains to instruct the Midshipmen and the men of the watch, in their respective duties, pointing out any mistakes that may have been made in the discharge of them, and how they should be avoided in future.

17. In Harbour, he is to see that the routine duties are carried out on deck; that a careful look-out is kept on all boats under sail; that boat Midshipmen always sail their boats when it is possible to do so, to accelerate the duty on which they are employed ; and should the ship be anchored in a tide-way, that a buoy is always ready to be veered astern.

18. Hawse.-When the ship is moored, should the hawse become foul, he is immediately to report to the Captain, and cause the Navigating Officer to be informed as well. See 1033, clause 3.

19. Information to Relief.-In giving up charge of the watch, he is to be careful to inform his relief of aft the orders, whether conveyed by signal or otherwise, which remain unexecuted. If in company with other ships, he is to point out the position of the Commander-in-Chief, of the officer commanding the division to which the ship belongs, and of the ships generally ; he is to inform his relief under what steam they were when last ascertained; whether the ship is coming up or dropping astern ; and generally he is to give him all information that may serve to enable him to keep station and out of danger.

620. As Officer of Division.-He is to be particularly attentive to the division of seamen put under him, keeping a. list of their names, ratings and conduct ; he is to see that the subordinate officers in charge of sub-divisions are constant in their attention to their men, and he is to encourage them to perform their duty with strictness, but in the spirit of kindliness and thoughtfulness for the comfort of their men, checking them whenever he may observe any tendency to undue harshness or irritating language.

2. Cleanliness.-He is to see that his men are at all times as clean as the duties of the ship will allow, and particularly that they keep their persons clean, and that they are properly dressed. He is to take opportunities of examining those who may be habitually careless or dirty; and to adopt such measures for correcting them, and leading them into better habits, as may be necessary and proper.

3. Clothing and Bedding.-He is to see that all clothing and bedding is properly marked, and that accurate lists on form S. 264 are kept of the clothing and bedding in the possession of every man in his division; should he find that any of them have improperly sold or made away with any of their clothes or effects, he is to report the same to the Captain. With the Captain's approval, when clothing is being inspected, he will take only a few bags at a time, so that it shall not be necessary to detain the whole of the division during the operation.

Medals are to be produced at inspections, and any cases of missing medals are to be reported to the Captain.

4. Men Joining.-On the arrival on board of men transferred from another ship, their kits are at once to be placed under the charge of an officer of a division, who is to verify their state and enter them on his division list. See 850 (Regulation Kit).

5. Requisitions for Clothing.-When initialling the clothing issue notes (Article 1743) for men of his division, he is to satisfy himself that they do not demand any articles that are not necessary for their use and comfort.

6. Recommendations for Advancement, &c.-He is to submit to the Captain and to the Executive Officer the names of such men as from zeal and ability in the discharge of their duties may be worthy of advancement, and he is to

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encourage and bring forward those who are specially desirous of improving themselves in the knowledge of their duties.

Good Conduct and Misconduct.-He is also to submit the name of any man who by good conduct is, in his opinion, deserving of reward or special indulgence ; and, on the other hand, he is to report any man who by his conduct, either on shore or on board, is unworthy of those indulgences, or of being retained in the first-class for leave.

7. Claims for Medals, Badges, &c.-He is to ascertain whether any of the men of his division have claims for medals, clasps, good conduct badges, or arrears of pay or prize money, arising out of service in their present or former ships, and he is to give them his advice and assistance in bringing their claims forward and establishing them in the proper quarter, keeping notes of them as necessary. He is to explain the facilities afforded to them of lodging their money for safe custody by placing it in the savings banks, or of remitting it; and he is to assist them with his advice, when asked, as to the disposal of it.

8. Service Certificate.-He is to see that such men as desire it are furnished with a copy of their service certificates on form S. 537.

621. Officer of the Guard, or Boarding Officer.-When he is Officer of the Guard, or Boarding Officer, he will attend to the directions relative to those duties contained in the boarding book (form S, 554), and, when required to do so, he will make his report on form S. 555 (Report of Guard).

622. Instruments.-He is to provide himself with a sextant, telescope, and such other instruments and books, not supplied at the public expense, as are necessary for the purposes of navigation; their condition will be ascertained and reported on at inspections.

2. Reckoning and Collision Regulations.-He is to comply with Article 327, as to keeping a reckoning, and he will make himself thoroughly acquainted with the regulations for preventing collisions laid down in Chapter XXIX.

623. Officer Acting as Lieutenant.-The instructions in this Chapter are to be observed respectively by all officers, of whatever rank, who, under the authority of the Captain, may be called upon to perform duties usually assigned to Lieutenants.

SECTION II. SUB-LIEUTENANT, &c.

624. General Duties.-A Sub-Lieutenant is to be attentive to his duties, and zealous in carrying into effect the several orders and directions he may from time to time receive from the Captain or from other his superior officers.

2. Inferiors.-So far as is practicable, he is to see that all the subordinate officers, and all others of inferior rank to himself properly perform the duties required of them.

3. Mess Duties.-He is at all times to assist in preserving order and regularity in his mess, and when he is senior member he is to take care that any directions the Captain may give as to the expenses of the mess are adhered to.

4. When keeping Watch he is to see that the men do their duty, especially when they are employed on duties requiring attention and vigilance. When the hands are on deck he is to take care that men employed at his station obey orders with silence and alacrity.

5. Journal.-A Sub-Lieutenant is to keep a log book or a journal, which is to contain professional observations on the various places visited in the course of service, and the usual astronomical and other observations, also the daily position of the ship, and the winds, currents, and other like particulars.

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The log book or journal should contain track charts, as well as plans and sketches of harbours, and all other information likely to be useful in the future in navigating, or to His Majesty's Service.

He is to produce the log book or journal to the Captain whenever required.

6. Midshipman's Journal.-A journal (form S. 519) is to be kept by each Midshipman during the whole time of his service as such, and is to be produced at the examination for the rank of Lieutenant. [See Article 270, and Appendix X., Part II. (13).]

7. Instruments.-Every Sub-Lieutenant and every Midshipman is to provide himself with a sextant and a telescope, the condition of which is to be reported on at inspections and at other appointed times.

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