Velocity to Yeoman

Swiftness; rapidity; rate of motion.

Final Velocity. (See Remaining Velocity.

Initial Velocity. The velocity with which a projectile issues from the mouth of a cannon. This is also known as Muzzle Velocity.

Remaining Velocity. The velocity of a projectile at the extreme range of the gun.

Striking Velocity. (See Terminal Velocity.)

Terminal Velocity. The velocity of the projectile at the point of striking. This is generally known as striking velocity.

The small hole in the after part of a muzzle-loading cannon, through which fire is communicated to the charge. In a breech-loading gun it is the hole passing through the stem of the mushroom which passes through the breech plug to the rear of the charge.

An instrument for clearing the vent when obstructed with caked powder, or fragment of metal from a primer.

A stopper of leather for closing the vent of a gun when it is not in use.

An officer next higher than a rear admiral, and next lower than an admiral. (See Admiral.)

The simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms, such as muskets.

A mass of oakum or other loose substance, rammed into a gun after the projectile has been inserted, so as to keep the latter pressed against the charge.

Grommet Wads. Rough grommets of rope.

Junk Wads. Junk laid up in a coil.

Selvagee Wads. Rope yarn marled together to form a strop.

The apartment in which the higher commissioned officers live. (See Mess.)

The space contained between the staterooms in the wardroom. In this space is placed the wardroom dining-table.

(See Mess.)

An officer warranted by the President of the United States. Warrant officers in the U. S. Navy are: gunner, boatswain, carpenter, and sailmaker, and are promoted from seamen and carpenter's mates in the service, or, in the two latter cases, they may be appointed from ship carpenters and sailmakers in civil life.

A list of the crew, showing the division of the watches.

A gun once fired in the service at 8 p. m., when the first anchor watch was set.

A line officer generally below the rank of lieutenant-commander who, while on duty, is the authorized representative of the commanding officer, and is subject only to his authority. While on duty a watch officer is known as the officer of the deck. (See Officer of the Deck.)

A screw plug in a time-fuze which prevents the water from extinguishing the latter.

A hollow projectile filled with water, and which contains an explosive charge of gun cotton in a cylinder which is surrounded by the water.

Petty officers of the second class, belonging to the Engineer's Department, whose duty it is to observe the height of water in the boilers and keep the engineer on watch advised as to same.

(See Torpedo.)

(See Squadron.)

A system of signaling all the letters of the alphabet by waving a flag in the daytime and a lantern at night. By these means messages may be communicated from ship to ship or between a ship and the shore.

The difference between the diameter of a projectile and that of the bore of the cannon.

(See Engineers, Equipment, Paymasters and Ship's Yeoman.)