Ship Terminology

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Ship Terminology

Three linear motions


Surge (x axis). Lengthwise. Propulsion and drag act along this axis. Surfing is an example of surge caused by a wave. Sway (y axis). Sideways. Generally a minor movement in a large vessel. Wave and wind loads could contribute to this motion. eave (! axis). "p and down. Wave motion causing the whole ship to rise and fall.

Three rotational motions


#oll ($round x). %he most significant stability criterion & capsi!e. 'aused by waves( wind and can be induced by yaw. Pitch ($round y). $ roc)ing motion between bow and stern. *ostly wave induced. +aw ($round !). %his is what the rudder is supposed to do. #udder corrections for course )eeping illustrate that wind and waves can cause yawing motions. Ship Geometry ,. Length -etween Perpendiculars (L-P or L). %he distance between forward and aft perpendiculars. /. -eam (-). %he breadth of the ship at the widest point. *olded beam is measured amidships or at the widest section from the inside surface of the shell plating. 0. 1raft (%). %he depth from waterline to the deepest part of the ship. 2. 1epth (1). %otal depth from bottom to the top watertight dec). 1epth 3 freeboard 4 draft.

5. Length 6verall (L6$). %he extreme length of the ship. 7. Length on Waterline (LWL). %his is the length at the waterline in the ship8s design loaded condition. 9. :reeboard (:). 1istance between the waterline and the uppermost watertight dec). ;. Sheer. %he rise of a dec) & usually toward bow and stern. Sheer increases freeboard( and helps )eep the vessel from shipping water in rough seas & particularly at the bow. <. 'amber. %he convex upwards curve of a dec). $lso called round up( round down( or round of beam( usually around one&fiftieth of the beam. =ot all ships have cambered dec)s> ships with cambered weather dec)s and flat internal dec)s are not uncommon. ,?. %umblehome. @nward slope of hull sides above the waterline & the opposite of flare. %umblehome was a usual feature in sailing ships and many ships built before ,<2?. 6nly seen on tugs and icebrea)ing vessels( sometimes used to reduce topside weight( and for reducing radar cross sections. ,,. :lare. %he outward curvature of the hull surface above the waterline( i.e.( the opposite of tumblehome. @ncreases buoyancy when immersed. :laring bows are often fitted to help )eep the forward dec)s dry and to prevent Anose&divingA in head seas. ,/. 1eadrise. #ise of the bottom from baseline to molded breadth measureed amidships. $lso called Arise of floorA or Arise of bottomA. :ull&bodied ships( such as cargo ships and tan)ers( have little or no deadrise( while fine&lined ships have much greater deadrise along with a large bilge radius. ,0. #a)e. Slope of profile lines & esp ra)e of stem (angle between the stem and vertical) ,2. 'ut&up. When a )eel departs from a straight line at a sharp bend( or )nuc)le( the sloping portion is called a cut&up. igh&speed combatants usually have a long cut&up aft (extending ,0 to ,9 percent of LWL) to enhance propeller performance and maneuverability. Hydrostatics ,. 1isplacement Bolume (B). %he volume of the underwater hull at any given waterline. /. 1isplacement (W). %he weight of water of the displaced volume of the ship( which eCuals the weight of the ship and cargo. 0. -uoyancy. %he upward push of water pressure( eCual to the weight of the volume of water the ship displaces (W). 2. #eserve -uoyancy. %he watertight volume between the waterline and the uppermost continuous watertight dec). 5. *oment of @nertia (@). $lso called the Second *oment of $rea unless specified otherwise. @t is proportional to bending strength. 7. %onnage. 'argo capacity of a merchant ship( measured by volume. 9. %rim. Longitudinal tilt. Stern draft & bow draft

;. List( eel( and #oll. $ngular transverse inclinations. List describes a static inclination such as list due to side damage. eel describes a temporary inclination generally involving motion( such as wind or turning( while roll indicates periodic inclination from side to side such as wave action. <. 'enter of Gravity (G). %he center of all mass of the ship( acting vertically downward. ,?. 'enter of -uoyancy (-). %he geometric center of the submerged hull( acting vertically upward. ,,. *etacenter (*). When the ship is inclined at small angles( the metacenter is the intersection of the buoyant force with the ship centreline. @f the metacenter is above the center of gravity then the ship is stable. ,/. 'enter of :lotation (:). %he geometric center of the waterline plane( about which the ship trims fore&and&aft. Terminology $:%. %oward the stern of the boat. $G#6"=1. %ouching or fast to the bottom. $*@1S @PS. @n or toward the center of the boat. -D$* SD$. Sea coming on the side of the ship. -D$#@=G. %he direction of an obEect expressed either as a true bearing as shown on the chart( or as a bearing relative to the heading of the boat. -@LGD. %he interior of the hull below the floor boards. -6W. %he forward part of a boat. -#6$' . %he action of turning a vessel broadside to the waves. -#6$1S@1D. Presenting the side of the ship -#@1GD. %he location from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled. A'ontrol StationA is really a more appropriate term for small craft. -"LF D$1. $ vertical partition separating compartments. '$PS@GD. %o turn over. 1@SPL$'D*D=%. %he weight of water displaced by a floating vessel( thus( a boat8s weight. 1#$:%. %he depth of water a boat draws. :$% 6*. Six feet. :6LL6W@=G SD$. Sea coming on the stern. G$=GW$+. %he area of a ship8s side where people board and disembar). D$1@=G. %he direction in which a vessel8s bow points at any given time. D$1W$+. %he forward motion of a boat. 6pposite of sternway. DDL. 'onstant roll angle & such as caused by a side wind or turning of the vessel. DL*. %he wheel or tiller controlling the rudder. "LL. %he main body of a vessel. FDDL. %he centerline of a boat running fore and aft> the bac)bone of a vessel. F=6%. $ measure of speed eCual to one nautical mile (7?97 feet) per hour. LDD. %he side sheltered from the wind. LDDW$#1. %he direction away from the wind. 6pposite of windward. LDDW$+. %he sideways movement of the boat caused by either wind or current.

*$#@=D D=G@=DD#@=G. Propulsion and systems within the ship. (Pumps( power generation( air H water systems etc) *@1S @P. $pproximately in the location eCually distant from the bow and stern. =$"%@'$L *@LD. 6ne minute of latitude> approximately 7?97 feet. about ,I; longer than the statute mile of 5/;? feet. =$B$L $#' @%D'%"#D. Ship design. especially hull design( overall layout with attention to stability( sea)eeping and strength. P6#%. %he left side of a boat loo)ing forward. J"$#%D#. %he sides of a boat aft of amidships. J"$#%D#@=G SD$. Sea coming on a boat8s Cuarter. SD$W6#% +. $ boat or a boat8s gear able to meet the usual sea conditions. S6"=1@=G. $ measurement of the depth of water. S%$#-6$#1. %he right side of a boat when loo)ing forward. S%D*. %he forward most part of the bow. S%D#=. %he after part of the boat. W$FD. *oving waves( trac) or path that a boat leaves behind it( when moving across the waters. W$%D#L@=D. $ line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a boat sin)s when it is properly trimmed W$+. *ovement of a vessel through the water such as headway( sternway or leeway. W@=1W$#1. %oward the direction from which the wind is coming. +$W. %o swing or steer off course( as when running with a Cuartering sea.

Naval Terminology
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on October 4th, 2010 Summary of naval terminology from FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels, U S !avy "e#artment, Se#tember 1$4%&

ABAFT K K K behind> toward stern from. ABEAM K K K at right angles to the )eel. AMIDSHIPS K K K the middle portion of a vessel. ARMOR K K K steel plating designed to defeat shells( bombs( or underwater explosion. ARMOR BELT K K K band of armor extending along a shipLs sides above and below water&line. ATHWART K K K across> from side to side> traversly. BEAM K K K extreme width of ship. BILGE K K K curved part of shipLs hall where sides and flat bottom meet. BLISTER K K K a bulge built into a shipLs side as a protection against torpedoes. BOOM K K K a free&swinging spar used to secure boats or to handle cargo( boats or aircraft. BREAK K K K the point at which upper dec)s are discontinued. BRIDGE K K K raised forward platform from which ship is conned and navigated. BULKHEAD K K K transverse or longitudinal partitions subdividing the interior of a ship. BULWARKS K K K light plating or wooden extension of shipLs sides above upper dec). CASEMATE K K K armored gun mount built into the sides or superstructure of a ship. CLASS K K K vessels of the same type built to a common basic design. COMBINED OPERATIONS K K K Eoint operations conducted by nonhomogeneous forces or forces of different services andIor nationalities. COMPANIONWAY K K K hatchway providing access from one dec) to another. COMPARTMENTATION K K K subdivision of a shipLs hull by means of transverse andIor longitudinal bul)heads. CONNING TOWER K K K armored ship control station. @n submarines( the main dec) structure. COUNTER K K K side of a vesselLs Cuarter. COWL K K K a smo)e baffle located on top of a funnel> opening of a ventilator. DAMAGE CONTROL K K K comprehensive term for all means of mitigating or offsetting effects of damage aboard ship. DEPTH CHARGE K K K explosive device proEected or dropped from air or surface craft> detonated at predetermined depths by a hydrostatic mechanism. DISPLACEMENT K K K the weight of water displaced by a ship.

FANTAIL K K K after section of the main dec). FORE K K K that part of a ship lying between bow and midship section. FORE AND AFT K K K lengthwise of a ship. FORECASTLE K K K dec)> a forward upper dec) extending to bow. FREEBOARD K K K height of a shipLs sides from waterline to a weather dec). FLYING BRIDGE K K K a light self&supporting structure extruding from side of shipLs bridge. GUN HOUSE K K K a lightly protected( rotating mount for guns of lesser calibre. GUN SHIELD K K K any protection for gun crews which does not completely enclose mouut. GUNWALE K K K upper edge of a vesselLs or boatLs side. HALYARDS K K K light lines used in hoisting signals( flags( etc. HATCH K K K opening in a dec). HAWSE PIPES K K K tubes leading anchor chains from dec) down and forward through bow plating. HELM K K K the mechanism for operating the shipLs rudder. HULL K K K main body of a vessel exclusive of elements of superstructure. ISLAND K K K a free&standing section of a shipLs superstructure. 6n aircraft carriers( the shipLs superstructure. KEEL K K K center line strength member running fore and aft along the bottom of a ship. KNOT K K K a unit of speed( eCualling one nautical mile (7(?;?./? feet) per hour. LIST K K K traverse inclination of a vessel. MAIN BATTERY K K K the heaviest calibre gun armament carried by a naval vessel. MAIN DECK K K K a shipLs highest continuous dec). MINE K K K a device containing high explosive charge( free&floating or anchored at fixed depth( or resting on bottom> detonated by contact( or by electrical or magnetic impulse. MULTIPLE MAST K K K an exposed mast having one or more supporting elements. PEAK (fore and aft K K K compartment at the extreme bow or stern of vessel below dec)sM usually a tan). PORT K K K left hand side of a vessel when loo)ing towards bow> an opening. !UARTER K K K that portion of a vesselLs side near the stern. !UARTER DECK K K K part of upper dec) reserved for officers> also the dec) near the stern. RADIO DIRECTION FINDER K K K device for determining direction of source of radio impulses. RAKE K K K fore and aft inclination from vertical. RANGEFINDER K K K optical instrument for determining distance to a target or other obEect. RECIPROCATING ENGINE K K K a steam actuated piston engine as distinguished from a turbine. RIGGING K K K collective term for ropes and chains employed to support masts( yards( and booms of vessel. SECONDARY BATTERY K K K the gun armament next in calibre to main battery. SHEER K K K longitudinal upward or downward curvature of dec) or gunwale. SHEER LINE K K K line formed by intersection of dec) and sides of a ship. SPLINTER SCREEN K K K light armor shields for protection of crew. STACK K K K exposed upta)e from shipLs boilers> funnel. STARBOARD K K K the right hand side of a vessel when loo)ing towards bow. STEM K K K extreme forward line of bow.

STERN POST K K K the main vertical post in the stern frame upon which the rudder is hung. SUPERSTRUCTURE K K K any structure built above a shipLs hull. TASK FORCE K K K a naval force organi!ed to carry out a specific mission. TURRET K K K a rotating mount enclosed by armor for guns of large calibre. TWIN TURRET K K K a turret housing two guns. TYPE K K K all vessels built or converted for the same purpose. WEATHER DECK K K K any dec) exposed to weather. WELL K K K a lateral opening in a shipLs hull or superstructure.

A Glossary of Terms

' ATHWARTSHIPS Across the ship from side to side.

' BEAM. The maximum width of a vessel. ABEAM mea s at ri!ht a !les to the ship"s side a d #$ THE P#RT %or STARB#AR&' BEAM mea s that somethi ! %a other ship( la d etc.' is o that li e. ABA)T THE BEAM mea s that is o the ster side of that li e a d )#RWAR& #) THE BEAM that it is o the *ow side of the li e. % ote forward is pro ou ced "forrard"'

' B#W or B#WS. The fro t of a vessel. The sharp or rou ded part that cuts throu!h the water. A +thi ! which is withi ,- de!rees of strai!ht ahead is said to *e o the P#RT %or STARB#AR&' B#W. )I$E #$ THE %P or S' B#W would refer to somethi ! ot .uite strai!ht ahead. B#W /HASER !u s fire strai!ht ahead duri ! a sea chase.

' BR#A&SI&E. The ma0orit+ of !u s i a warship were mou ted o o e or more dec1s a d faced sidewa+s out of the ship throu!h 23$ P#RTS cut i the side of the ship. The simulta eous dischar!e of all the !u s o o e side of a ship is referred to as a *roadside( a d could i volve 4555 l* of iro *ei ! fired a!ai st a oppo e t from ver+ short ra !e.

' /ATHEA&. Beams pro0ecti ! o either side of the forcastle ear the *ow to secure the a chor after it was hoisted out of the water. A a chor thus secured was /ATTE&.

' &E/6S. The hori7o tal levels which divide a ship. The lowest level was the #R8#P &E/6 . # a warship with three dec1s the 8#WER &E/6 came ext a d the heaviest !u s were mou ted here( firi ! throu!h the lowest li e of !u 9ports. The ma0orit+ of the seame lived o the lower dec1. A*ove this the MI&&8E &E/6 with the medium si7ed !u s a d the the MAI$ or SPAR &E/6 with the li!htest !u s. I the ster there were partial dec1s a*ove the Mai dec1. These were the :3ARTER &E/6( reserved for officers( a d the P##P &E/6 where the ship was steered. Three la ter s were mou ted o the poop. A other partial dec1 was the )#RE/AST8E %pro ou ced fo"c"sle' i the fore part of the ship. The part of the mai dec1 i *etwee was the WAIST. Below the #rlop was the hold i which the provisio s re.uired *+ all the crew %more tha ;55 me o a 4st Rate ship' for six mo ths or more could *e stored.

' )#RE a d A)T. Ru

i ! from *ow to ster as disti ct from athwartships.

' 6EE8. The lowest fore a d aft tim*er o which the whole framewor1 of the ship is *uilt. A*ove it is the 6EE8S#$( a li e of tim*ers which secure the 1eel to the upper framewor1. This framewor1 co sists of the RIBS which rise upward a d outward to form the s1eleto of the ship to which the pla 1i ! is faste ed.

' P#RT < STARB#AR&. 8oo1i ! towards the *ow the left ha d side of a vessel is the P#RT side a d the ri!ht ha d side is the STARB#AR& side. 3 til the ame was cha !ed i the middle of the i etee th ce tur+ to avoid co fusio ( the port side was 1 ow as the 8ARB#AR& side. The ames pro*a*l+ derive from "Steer9*oard"( a lar!e oar o the star*oard .uarter which was used to steer a vessel *efore the rudder arrived( a d "8oad9*oard"( the opposite side which was a!ai st the .ua+ for loadi ! car!o. The color of the avi!atio li!ht o the port side is red a d( o the star*oard side( !ree . Port is also associated with "eve " a d star*oard with "odd"( si ce i a ship"s *oat 1 ow as a whaler there are two oars o the port side a d three o the star*oard

' STER$. The rear e d of a ship. ASTER$ mea s *ehi d the ship. The two sides of the ster withi ,- de!rees of dead aster are referred to as the :3ARTERS. Thus a other ship ot directl+ aster could *e descri*ed as o the P#RT %or STARB#AR&'

.uarter. To 2# ASTER$ is to !o *ac1wards. It is used i com*i atio s such as STER$9/HASER( that is !u s that poi t aster to fire at ships chasi ! +ou.

' T#$$A2E. Either the capacit+ or the wei!ht of a ship. A fi!ure for to a!e is completel+ mea i !less u less o e 1 ows which s+stem of measureme t is used. The term derives from "tu "( a cas1 of wi e( a d a ships B3RTHE$ or B3R&E$ was the um*er of tu s she could carr+. This was also 1 ow as B3I8&ER"S MEAS3REME$T or *m. The fi!ure .uoted for most ships up u til the 4;=5"s will *e *m( a d ca *e calculated from (L - 3/5B) x B x 1/2B m = ----------------------!" Warships are ow measured i &ISP8A/EME$T T#$$A2E( the wei!ht of the water displaced *+ the ship whe she is full+ read+ for sea. where L = length in feet B = eam in feet

' T#P. The T#P or )I2HTI$2 T#P. A platform at the head of the lower masts where sharpshooters were statio ed duri ! *attle to fire dow o the dec1s of e em+ ships. A private *attle ofte developed *etwee the fi!hti ! tops of opposi ! ships.

' T#PSI&ES. the ship"s sides a*ove the water li e.

' WA8ES. Stre !the i ! pieces of wood formi ! protective *a ds arou d the hull. The lower wale is i dicated o the drawi !. The upper ed!e of the side of a ship or *oat is called the 23$WA8E( pro ou ced "!u el".

' WEATHER < 8EE SI&E. The WEATHER SI&E is the wi dward side( the side from which the wi d is *lowi !( a d the 8EE SI&E is the sheltered side. The weather side of the :uarter dec1 *ei ! hi!her *ecause of the ship"s heel was reserved for se ior officers( the midshipme 1ept to the lee side. The Weather side was alwa+s sou!ht i aval *attles *ecause to have the WEATHER 2A2E mea t havi ! a advata !e over a oppo e t si ce o e could choose the mome t of attac1 a!ai st ships to 8EEWAR&.

The copious amou ts of smo1e produced *+ ca o fire was *low to leeward o*scuri ! the e em+"s visio . A WEATHER SH#RE lies to wi dward a d is safe( whereas a ship is *low towards a 8EE SH#RE a d it is ver+ da !erous.

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