Berth to Breech Sight

The sleeping-place between decks allotted to a seaman. To berth a ship's company is to assign each member of the crew a certain number, which will be found tacked over the hammock-hook below decks.

The deck below the gun deck; the upper deck of a man-o'-war is called the spar deck.

Sick men have their names recorded on a list which is sent to the officer of the deck by the surgeon, and are excused from duty. This list of names is called the Binnacle List. (See Sick List.)

The names of men recorded for punishment.

A name for a man-o'-war's man.

Certain members of the ship's company detailed to board the enemy's vessel.

As applied to a naval engagement, to enter the enemy's vessel with hostile purpose.

A strong meshwork, the lower edge of which is made fast to the rail, and the upper part triced up by whips, and employed to prevent boarders from entering upon the ship's deck.

A lance having a steel head, and used in repelling an attack by boarders.

(See Torpedo.)

A warrant officer whose duty it is to care for the rigging, anchors and cables; to see that his mates get the men quickly on deck after the word has been passed, and to note that their work is performed quickly and well; to observe that the boats and booms are properly secured; to square the yards, and in fact to keep the vessel looking ship-shape and trim so far as masts, spars, sails and rigging are concerned.

The chief petty officer of the watch, who, in the absence of the boatswain, repeats the orders of the officer of the deck and observes that the same are executed by the men.

A hollow shell of iron filled with an explosive substance so arranged that the shell is blown to pieces a certain number of seconds after it is fired, or upon coming in contact with an object.

A mortar platform.

A mortar vessel.

(See Bomb.)

A mortar boat.

Guns situated so as to fire through the bow ports, or sharp on either bow from the main deckyu8.

That section of a gun which is abaft the chamber--the aftermost part of the gun.

The hinged shape of metal in a breech-loading gun which closes the breech and receives the thrust of the charge when the gun is fired.

The rope which is rove through the cascabel of a muzzle-loading gun and secured to each side of the port, so as to limit the recoil.

Bolts in the ship's side by which the two ends of the breeching are secured.

A gun which is charged at the breech instead of the muzzle.

The mechanism which opens and closes the breech.

The cylindrical shape of steel which fits into and closes the breech of the gun, on the principle of the tompion.

(See Sight.)