A
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.
B
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.
C
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
D
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.
E
Ensign - the national flag; lowest officer rank.
Executive Officer - Second in command of the ship (XO).
F
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.
G
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.
H
Helm - Mechanical equipment used to turn the rudder.
J
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
K
Knot - Nautical measurement of speed equal to 1.15 miles per hour on land.
L
Launch - A powerboat usually over 30 feet long.
Liberty - Shore leave
List - Lean of a ship either port of starboard.
M
Magazine - Space dedicated to the stowage of ammunition and powder.
Main deck - The uppermost complete deck.
Mainmast - Second mast aft from the bow.
N
Neptune - Refers to King Neptune, ruler of the Raging Main
O
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.
P
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.
Q
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.
R
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).
S
Scullery - Space where eating utensils are washed.
Shellback - A person who has crossed the equator.
Ship's Company - A crewmembers permanently assigned to the ship.
Skipper - Captain of the Ship
Skunk - Unidentified surface ship
Starboard - The right side of the ship when facing the bow. Indetified by the color green on running lights.
Stern - The rear most part of the ship.
Superstructure - Structures above the main deck.
T
Task Force - Sub-division of a Fleet, usually the active fighting ships, usually commanded by a flag rank.
Task Group - Sub-division of a Task Force, usually commanded by a Rear Admiral.
Topside - Refers to the weather decks, maindeck and above.
U
USS - United States Ship
V
VE Day - Victory in Europe Day
VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day
W
Wardroom - Officers messing area
Weatherdeck - Any deck located where it is exposed to the elements
X
Y
Z
Last Updated 28 October 1999
