Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: New to the Age of Sail: The Royal Navy's time keeping system - watches and bells

  1. #1
    Ordinary Seaman
    United States

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Boise Idaho
    Log Entries
    26
    Name
    Leif

    Default New to the Age of Sail: The Royal Navy's time keeping system - watches and bells

    Hi,
    Occasionally I read a passage in which the author describes a number of bells being struck. As I didn't know how the time keeping system worked exactly, I figured I'd look it up and share it here. Many of the more experienced/knowledgeable participants here will likely know all this and or have something more to add to this topic, but if you're 'New to the Age of Sail' I hope this helps you as it did me.

    Watches:
    The day and night are divided into 7 periods know as watches and are as follows:
    12 midnight to 4am - middle watch
    4am to 8am - morning watch
    8am to 12 noon - forenoon watch
    12 noon to 4pm - afternoon watch
    4pm to 6pm - first dog watch
    6pm to 8pm - last dog watch
    8pm to 12 midnight - first watch

    12 noon is determined by the noon sighting using a sextant. The half hour periods were kept by a 30 minute sand glass.

    The ship's bell is struck every half hour aboard a sailing ship of the royal navy.
    0:30 into the watch - 1 bell
    1:00 into the watch - 2 bells
    1:30 into the watch - 3 bells
    2:00 into the watch - 4 bells (end of first dog watch)
    2:30 into the watch - 5 bells (beginning of last dog watch)
    3:00 into the watch - 6 bells
    3:30 into the watch - 7 bells
    4:00 into the watch - 8 bells (So this occurs at 4am, 8am noon, 4pm, 8pm, and midnight)

    Thus as one reads a novel and the author reveals n number of bells being struck without also providing the name of the watch in which it is occurring one may not know what time it is. In my reading experience the author usually provides other references (e.g. Lunchtime) to clue the reader in. However, lunch isn't always served at 4 bells in every watch of the day.

    Enjoy
    Leif

  2. #2

    Default

    Welcome to the Anchorage Leif. Glad to see you're jumping right in with a very informative first post. I'm looking forward to your future posts.

  3. #3
    Retired Admiral of the Fleet
    Admiral
    United States

    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Chicago/Bloomington IL
    Log Entries
    5,095
    Name
    Eric

    Default

    Great info, Leif. Thanks.

  4. #4

    Default

    Great posting Leif!

  5. #5
    2nd Lieutenant
    Germany

    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Nordrhein-Westfalen
    Log Entries
    727
    Name
    Ulrich

    Default

    Thank you, very interesting

  6. #6

    Default

    So I post this in the (German time) forenoon watch.

    Good information, Leif.

  7. #7
    2nd Lieutenant
    Germany

    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Nordrhein-Westfalen
    Log Entries
    727
    Name
    Ulrich

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Comte de Brueys View Post
    So I post this in the (German time) forenoon watch.

    Good information, Leif.
    That`s a good idea.
    I will see...

  8. #8
    Master & Commander
    United States

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Washington
    Log Entries
    1,601
    Name
    Paul

    Default

    After the Nore mutiny of 1797, Royal Navy vessels no longer rang five bells on the last dog watch, as that had been the signal to begin the mutiny.
    Last edited by Cmmdre; 06-30-2013 at 12:26.

  9. #9
    Midshipman
    Brazil

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Rio de Janeiro
    Log Entries
    102
    Name
    Carlos

    Default

    Very interesting information Leif !

  10. #10
    Admiral. R.I.P.
    Admiral
    UK

    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Norfolk
    Log Entries
    6,691
    Name
    David

    Default

    Thank you for this information, Leif.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •