The sailors in the Navy could tell the time by using the ships bell.
The day is divided into seven periods called Watches.
The day starts at midnight and the time is recorded in four figures,
of which the first two denote the hour and the last two the minute.
The following table shows the
difference in the recording of time by naval and civilian methods.
Watch (24 hr clock) |
12 hour clock |
Middle 0000-0400 (Midwatch) |
Midnight to 4 am
|
Morning 0400-0800 |
4 am to 8 am |
Forenoon 0800-1200 |
8 am to Noon |
Afternoon 1200-1600 |
Noon to 4 pm |
First Dog 1600-1800 |
4 pm to 6 pm |
Last Dog 1800-2000 (Second Dog) |
6 pm to 8 pm |
First 2000-2400 (Nightwatch) |
8 pm to Midnight |
The purpose
of dividing the period between 1600 and 2000 into two “dog watches”
is to provide
an odd
number of watches in the 24 hour day so that the port and starboard watches
will keep
a different
watch each day. The seaman, unlike the
civilian, does not speak of the morning,
afternoon,
and evening, but of the morning, forenoon, afternoon and Dog watches.
Striking
the Ship’s
The time is
indicated by striking the hours and half-hours on the ship’s bell
throughout each watch,
in accordance with the table below so the time
indicated is called “one bell,” “two bells,” etc,
according
to the number of times the bell is struck.
First half hour |
One bell |
First hour |
Two bells |
First hour and a half |
Three bells |
Second hour |
Four bells |
Second half-hour and a half |
Five bells |
Third hour |
Six bells |
Third hour and a half |
Seven bells |
Fourth hour |
Eight bells |
This
sequence is repeated in each watch, with the exception of the last Dog Watch;
seven bells,
for example, can therefore indicate 0330,
0730, 1130, 1530, or 2330, and so when quoting the
time
by this method the name of the watch is added; 1030, for example, is described
as
“five
bells in the forenoon .” Time in the last Dog Watch is marked as
follows:- 1830 by one bell,
1900
by two bells, 1930 three bells and 2000 by eight bells.
Another
time the Ship’s
eight
bells for the old year and eight bells for the new year.