Royal Navy
The Watch System
Royal Navy — The Watch System — United Kingdom
| WATCH | TIME | AM/PM | BELLS (per 30 mins) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 20:00 - 24:00 | 08:00 pm - 12:00 am (midnight) | 8 |
| Middle | 24:00 - 04:00 | 12:00 am - 04:00 am | 8 |
| Morning | 04:00 - 08:00 | 04:00 am - 08:00 am | 8 |
| Forenoon | 08:00 - 12:00 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm (midday) | 8 |
| Afternoon | 12:00 - 16:00 | 12:00 pm - 04:00 pm | 8 |
| First Dog | 16:00 - 18:00 | 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm | 4 |
| Last Dog | 18:00 - 20:00 | 06:00 pm - 08:00 pm | 4 |
The traditional Royal Navy watch system was a method of assigning sailors to regular periods of duty aboard ship, in order to safely operate the ship at all times. Watches spanned a 24 hour period, even at port. The ship's bell was rung every 30 minutes, timed with a 30 minute hourglass, which is subsequently rolled over at expiration. For ease of counting, the bell ring pattern was always a maximum of two sharp rings, followed by a pause if more are required, the odd number rung last.
THE DOG WATCH
An odd number of watches allows a crew to rotate and serve all watches. In addition, both watches may then eat their evening meal at the traditional time. The reason for the naming of the watch is not clear. Following are some claims:
- "Dogwatch" is a direct translation from either German or Dutch of a similar term.
- It is the time when, on land, all but the dogs were asleep.
- Sirius, the "Dog Star", is the first star that can be seen at night (Northern Hemisphere, winter).
- a sailor tasked with only a half watch was said to be "dodging the watch" (shortened to dog).
- a sailor not assigned to the watch, sleeping, would only get only a "dog sleep".
- Theodore Hook, 19th century humourist, coined a pun that the dog watch is so named because it is "cur-tailed", meaning "curtailed" or shortened.
Did You Know?
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AM stands for "ante meridiem", from Latin to mean "before midday".
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PM stands for "post meridiem", from Latin to mean "after midday".
-
O'clock is short for "of the clock" or "according to the clock".
SHIPS OF WAR — MURKY WATERS (Book One)
1791 — England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied...
England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife's edge. Brittana rules the...
About "Ships of War" — a Naval Adventure Fiction Series
The traditional Watch System of the Royal Navy is an integral part of any ship of war in the age of sail. The timing of such often mentioned the naval adventure fiction series "Ships of War" by Bradley John. Whether it be a landsman or a jack, you too will be confronted (hopefully not confounded) by the nautical clock. The sailors of the time simply had to know their job, but for the readers, there is a handy glossary when you're not sure. In any case, you will find plenty of landsmen aboard ship and the terms subtly explained as you read along.
The first instalment of the series is set in England in 1791, titled "Ships of War — Murky Waters". The reigning monarch of England is George III. Louis XVI is the monarch of France, but he is not exactly reigning, his authority somewhat diminished within the rising revolution. War is nigh and eventually is declared by France on 1 February 1793 (following the execution of Louis XVI on 21 January 1793).
Bradley John's series commences in 1791 in the prelude to war. It seems a solution must be found by the English Admiralty to resolve the piracy preying upon their merchant shipping. In doing so, they select a complete unknown, someone wholly dispensable, in particular, an unknown officer who had served under one Captain Horatio Nelson.