Cockpit to Cruiser

An apartment below the water-line in a vessel of war in which the wounded receive surgical care.

The national ensign. In port, colors are made at 8 a. m. and hauled down at sunset. When at sea, colors are shown upon falling in with another vessel. When colors are half-masted it is a symbol of mourning. When absent from ship, boats keep their colors flying from a pole in the stern.

The title of an officer commanding a navy yard or station, or the chief officer of a navy.

The title of the commanding officer of a naval academy.

A rank next below that of captain, and next above that of lieutenant-commander.

The President of the United States is commander-in-chief of the army and navy. This title is also applied to the flag officer of a fleet.

A document investing one with authority, issued by the President or sovereign, and by which an officer is constituted. A vessel is put in commission by hoisting the ensign and the pennant of the commanding officer, and reading to the ship's company the order authorizing said officer to assume command.

An officer who holds a commission issued to him by the President or sovereign.

A Non-Commissioned or Petty Officer is made by military authority.

The rank next below that of rear admiral, and next above that of captain.

A shell used against unarmored vessels.

A device to check the revolutions of a gun mounted on a cone stand.

A name derived from the peculiar shape of the mount of all rapid-fire guns.

A small, strong metal house, raised above the deck and furnished with peep-holes, in which the commanding officer is stationed, and from which place he directs the movements of the ship during an engagement.

An officer who designs and superintends the building and repairing of men-o'-war. Constructors in the U. S. Navy have the respective relative ranks of rear admiral, captain, commander, lieutenant, and lieutenant, junior grade.

A torpedo which is exploded by coming in contact with an object.

(See Torpedo.)

A French sloop-of-war carrying from 20 to 32 guns.

A court composed of military or naval officers for the purpose of trying offenders.

A seaman who steers and has charge of a boat in the absence of a line officer. In a single-banked boat he pulls the stroke oar when an officer is present; but in a double-banked boat his duty is to steer, sitting in the coxswain's box.

The space contained between the backboard of the boat and the stern.

Another name for a cage mount.

A fast modern man-o'-war, and designed to prey upon an enemy's commerce.