CHAPTER I DUTIES OF THE OFFICER OF THE WATCH SECTION 1. GENERAL DUTIES 1. The officer of the watch is in charge of a ship's watch section. Ship personnel, except those to whom the officer of the watch is subordinate, must obey all orders of the watch officer. 2. The following personnel are subordinate to the officer of the watch: a) personnel of command posts and battle stations in a condition of readiness, personnel engaged in matters relating to handling of the ship, lookout and the use of weapons; b) the watch detail, duty sections and guard detail (except for the Officer of the Deck). 3. The officer of the watch shall: a) in carrying out his duties be guided by station bills and other instructions concerning combat operations and the daily routine of the ship; b) maintain the designated condition of readiness of the ship; c) take charge of the ship's watch section and see to it that personnel carry out their routine duties, and make sure that signalmen and other lookouts stand a vigilant watch; d) take responsibility for the safety of the ship and take measures to prevent accidents; e) be familiar with the condition of visual communications and lookout equipment, learn how to use it, and properly employ recognition signals; f) sound alarms (on order or by acting independently); g) take responsibility for proper operation of machinery and equipment on the upper deck; h) make sure that rescue equipment is in a constant state of readiness; i) demand that all personnel observe ship regulations, wear the prescribed uniform, and maintain order and cleanliness on the upper deck and on the sides of the ship; j) issue orders and sound alarms in connection with the ship's routine and see to it that they are carried out; k) salute officials arriving aboard ship, and render proper salutes when meeting and passing other vessels; 1) maintain a rough deck log during the watch and, after being relieved of the watch, sign all entries made in this log. 4. The officer of the watch must be able to direct damage control operations. In event of fire or flooding of a compartment (or space) he immediately sounds the alarm and takes damage control measures, reporting this to the Commanding Officer of the ship and the Officer of the Deck. 5. The officer of the watch must know what measures to take in event of cooler weather, the approach of tropical cyclones (typhoons, hurricanes) and detection of fog. If the need arises, the officer of the watch has the right, both day and night, to ask the Commanding Officer (or Executive Officer) for permission to go aloft. This permission is requested in the following manner: "Comrade Captain Second Rank, permission is requested to go aloft." In any unanticipated event or situation, when the officer of the watch is in doubt or when there is a need for assistance, advice or the presence of the Commanding Officer (or Executive Officer), he must immediately ask him to go aloft. In urgent, extreme circumstances, the officer of the watch must act independently, informing the Commanding Officer and others concerned of the situation involved as soon as possible. 6. The officer of the watch must not be distracted by any extraneous activities not related to the fulfillment of his duties. 7. The officer of the watch must be equipped with binoculars, whistle and megaphone. Moreover he must also have a pencil and notebook. 8. In event of alarm, the officer of the watch turns over his duties to the Executive Officer and takes his station according to the station bill. 9. Upon being relieved of the watch, the officer of the watch shall provide information concerning: a) the designated condition of readiness of the ship; b) the ship's position (by locality [sic] and chart); c) recognition signals; d) operating machinery; e) the condition and mode of operation of lookout equipment; f) the position of the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer as well as the Commanding Officer of the formation and the Chief of Staff; g) orders and instructions issued by the Commanding Officer of the ship or the Commanding Officer of the formation for the watch; h) exercises, drills and activities conducted aboard ship; i) atomic defense equipment; j) time of the last battery ventilation. 10. The officer of the watch (Officer of the Day) may issue orders affecting all personnel of the ship or subdivisions on the PA system. In issuing a command over the PA system, account must be taken of the immediate situation, and orders should not be given which might reveal the force organization and/or the activity of the ship. The PA system may be used by the following: the Commanding Officer of the ship, the Executive Officer, the head of the political department, officer of the watch (Officer of the Deck), the officer on duty below decks and the head of the electrical department of a submarine. SECTION 2. DUTIES UNDERWAY 11. The officer of the watch under way is subordinate to the Commanding Officer of the ship, or to the Executive Officer if the latter, replacing the Commanding Officer, is in the main control room. No one, aside from the aforementioned and their immediate superiors, may interfere with the orders of the officer of the watch. 12. The officer of the watch is directly subordinate to the Commanding Officer or the Executive Officer in questions related to maneuvering, the use of weapons in event of sudden encounters with the enemy, evasion of attacks by submarines, aircraft and torpedo boats, and also evasion of detected torpedoes and mines. 13. The officer of the watch shall: a) see that the prescribed course, speed, station of the ship in order, depth and operating conditions and propulsion of a submarine are precisely maintained; position; b) observe plotting of the ship's course, periodically determining its c) observe the change in bearing in meeting warships; d) observe proper operation of running lights and, in navigating without lights, observe complete darkening of the ship; e) take measures to eliminate emission of smoke, sparks and flames from the stacks if they occur; f) supervise hoisting of signals whenever there is a change in course, speed and maneuvering; g) report to the Commanding Officer (or Executive Officer) on everything observed which could affect the safety of navigation or fulfillment of the assigned task, as well as changes in situation and conditions; h) alert the head of the electrical department one-half hour prior to arrival of the ship at its destination (anchorage, narrows, etc.), and in other cases when deemed necessary. 14. The Commanding Officer sets the course and speed of the ship through the officer of the watch. The officer of the watch may, without permission from the Commanding Officer, change the course and speed whenever the safety of the ship is threatened; for example, to avoid colliding with another ship upon detection of a sudden navigation hazard, in order to evade sudden attacks by the enemy, and also to rescue a man overboard. |