Glossary for US Battleship Development

GLOSSARY

Aboard

Accomdation Ladder - A ladder suspended over the side of a ship to facilitate boarding from small boats.

Aft - The rear portion of the ship.

Aloft - Any location above the highest deck of a ship.

Amidships - The middle section of the ship.

Anchorage - An area designated for the anchoring of ships.

Armored Belt - An area of vertical steel plating that covers a ships vital spaces, such as engineering and weapons magazines.

Armored Deck - Deck, below the main deck, that provides additional protection to a ships vital spaces, such as engineering and weapons magazines.

Armament - All the weapons of a ship.

Astern - Directly behind the ship.

BB - Designation for a Battleship

Barbette - A cylindrical heavily armored column that serves as support for the turreted guns. Protects ammunition handling equipment.

Battle Dressing Station - A makeshift, temporary medical space used for treating wounded crew members during battle.

Battle Ensign - A large American flag that is hoisted right before battle.

Beam - The extreme breadth of a ship.

Binnacle - A stand for a magnetic compass.

Bogie - Unidentified plane.

Bow - The very front of the ship.

Bridge - Location on the ship that serves as a command and control station.

Brig - A compartment that serves as a jail aboard the ship. Where confined sailors or marines are issued rations of bread and water.

Broadside - Simultaneous firing of all guns to one side at a target.

Bulkhead - Vertical plating (walls) that divides the ship into various spaces or compartments.

CA - Heavy Cruiser.

Caliber - The length of a gun divided by the diameter.

CAP - Combat Air Patrol

Casemate - Armored compartment for a gun and the guncrew.

Chart - A map that contains navigation information.

Charthouse - Space where charts are stored, maintained and examined.

CL - Light Cruiser.

Colors - The national flag.

Commissioning Pennent - A small version of the American flag that displays seven stars and one red and one white strip. Identifies the ship as a commissioned American warship.

Conn - See Bridge.

Course - Ship's desired direction of movement.

CV - Aircraft Carrier

CVE - Escort Aircraft Carrier

CVL - Light Aircraft Carrier, built on a converted light cruiser hull

Division - Shipboard sub-organization of crewmembers that perform the same duty or work in the same spaces.

Deck - Horizontal plating or wooden planks that form layers on the ship (floors).

DD - Destroyer

Draft - Vertical distance from the waterline to the keel.

Dress ship - Display of flags including signal flags in honor of a person or special event.

Ensign - the national flag; lowest officer rank.

Executive Officer - Second in command of the ship (XO).

Fantail - After end of the main deck.

Fathom - Unit of depth equal to six feet.

Flag officer - Officer with a rank of Commodore or above.

Flagstaff - Vertical staff located at the rear of the ship where the ensign is hoisted.

Fleet - An organization of ships under one commander, usually a full admiral.

Forecastle - Forward section of the main deck. Actually pronounced foc'sle.

Foremast - First mast closest to the bow.

Galley - Place on a ship where meals are prepared.

Gedunk - Dish of ice cream or a milk shake.

GQ - General Quarters, man your battle stations.

Helm - Mechanical equipment used to turn the rudder.

Jack - Starred blue flag that represents the blue field on the American flag.

Jackstaff - Vertical staff located on the forecastle where the Jack is hoisted.

JOD - Junior Officer of the Deck

Knot - Nautical measurement of speed equal to 1.15 miles per hour on land.

Launch - A powerboat usually over 30 feet long.

Liberty - Shore leave

List - Lean of a ship either port of starboard.

Magazine - Space dedicated to the stowage of ammunition and powder.

Main deck - The uppermost complete deck.

Mainmast - Second mast aft from the bow.

Neptune - Refers to King Neptune, ruler of the Raging Main

OD - Officer of the Deck.

Overhead - The horizontal surface that forms the top of a interior compartment of a ship, ie a "ceiling" but never called a ceiling on a vessel or ship.

Pilothouse - Enclosure on the bridge containing the steering controls.

Pogey Bait - Candy

Port - The left side of the ship when facing the bow. Inditified by the color red on running lights.

Pollywog - A person that has never crossed the equator.

Quarterdeck - An area of the ship designated by the Commanding Officer where official and ceremonial functions are carried out when the ship is in port.

Quarters - Stations for crewmembers for shipboard evolutions.

Radio Shack - A room or space on the ship where radio equipment is located.

Running Light - Illuminated navigational markings on a ship that aid in identifying a ships heading in order to prevent collisions at sea. Red indicates Port (left), Green indicates Starboard (right).