2.3 Watches and Bells
/ TIME
1 period (45 minutes)
WHAT TEACHING METHOD IS SUITABLE FOR THIS PERIOD?
The Presentation and/or Guided Discovery approaches are the ideal teaching methods for this lesson.
WHAT MATERIAL DO I NEED? / WHAT MATERIAL DO THE CADETS NEED?
1. A Bell or chiming device
2. Watch System – overhead slide / 1. The Watch System – handout
2. Navy League of Canada Cadet Workbook, Publication NL 221e/f
WHAT SHOULD THE CADET BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE END OF THE PERIOD? / WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CADE CADETS IN THIS PERIOD?
The cadet shall demonstrate:
1. the timings for the different watches
2. the number of bells associated with each watch / The main teaching points are:
1. the watch system, to include the different watches and how they relate to the 24 hour clock
2. the procedure for bell ringing during watch turnovers.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT? / Cadets will learn about the bells associated with the 24 hour watch system.
WHY? / Since we conduct training in a naval environment, cadets should the meaning associated with the striking of the ships bell.
EXPECTATIONS / At the end of this period, cadets should have an understanding how to operate the ships bell for the purpose of timing watches.
TEACHING POINTS
Bells and Watches [1]
A ship's bell is usually made of brass, and often has the ship's name engraved or cast on it. The ship's cook (or his/her staff) traditionally has the job of shining the ship's bell.
Strikes of a ship's bell are used to indicate the hour aboard a ship and thereby to regulate the sailors' duty watches.
Unlike civil clock bells, the strikes of the bell do not accord to the number of the hour. Instead, there are eight bells, one for each half-hour of a four-hour watch. Bells would be struck every half-hour, and in a pattern of pairs for easier counting, with any odd bells at the end of the sequence.
The classical system was:
Number of bells / Bell Pattern / Middlewatch / Morning
watch / Forenoon
watch / Afternoon
watch / First
dog
watch / Last
dog
watch / First
watch
One bell / . / 0:30 / 4:30 / 8:30 / 12:30 / 16:30 / 18:30* / 20:30
Two bells / .. / 1:00 / 5:00 / 9:00 / 13:00 / 17:00 / 19:00* / 21:00
Three bells / .. . / 1:30 / 5:30 / 9:30 / 13:30 / 17:30 / 19:30* / 21:30
Four bells / .. .. / 2:00 / 6:00 / 10:00 / 14:00 / 18:00 / 22:00
Five bells / .. .. . / 2:30 / 6:30 / 10:30 / 14:30 / 18:30 / 22:30
Six bells / ...... / 3:00 / 7:00 / 11:00 / 15:00 / 19:00 / 23:00
Seven bells / ...... / 3:30 / 7:30 / 11:30 / 15:30 / 19:30 / 23:30
Eight bells / ...... / 4:00 / 8:00 / 12:00 / 16:00 / 20:00 / 0:00
*British usage after the Nore mutiny.
[1] Downloaded from “http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/” on 09 February 2011.
CONCLUSIONSummarize the main points and allow time for the completions of the exercises.
HOW SHOULD THE CADETS BE TESTED?
The performance required for promotion to Able Cadet includes the cadet to demonstrate the ability to convert from one type of clock to another. A group activity, such as a friendly competition between members of the class, should assist the confirmation process.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
There are many different watch systems currently in use in different navies world wide.