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anticipated danger. Navy ships observe the
following conditions of readiness:
CONDITION I—The maximum state of
readiness for battle, with the entire crew
at battle stations prepared for imminent
action. This condition, also called general
quarters (GQ), is often set for drills as well.
CONDITION IAS—A variation of
CONDITION I designed to meet the threat
of submarine attack.
CONDITION IE—Provides temporary
relaxation of CONDITION I to enable
personnel to rest on stations and to permit
designated personnel to draw and distri-
bute action meals at their action stations.
CONDITION II—A special watch
applicable to gunfire support ships for
situations such as extended periods of
shore bombardment.
CONDITION III—The normal wartime
cruising condition when surprise attack is
possible. Part of the armament is manned
and ready for immediate action.
CONDITION IV—Provides effective ship
and aircraft control during peacetime
cruising.
CONDITION V—Under this condition the
ship is in port with no armament manned.
WATCH, QUARTER, AND
STATION BILL
Each division officer is responsible for
maintaining a watch, quarter, and station bill
based on the ship’s battle bill and the Standard
Organization and Regulations of the U. S. Navy.
The watch, quarter, and station bill shows each
person’s name, rate, billet number, and bunk
number. In addition, it shows each person’s battle
station; watches during Conditions I, II, and III;
station or duty assignments in case of an
emergency, such as fire or man overboard; at-sea
and in-port watch stations; and the cleaning
station.
LOGS
Each ship in commission maintains a ship’s
deck log and an engineering log. Each ship also
maintains an engineer’s bell book as an adjunct
to those logs.
Persons who keep the logs make no erasures
in these records. Only those persons required to
sign the record for the watch may make
corrections, additions, or changes. Persons who
keep the logs make changes requested by
commanding officers only if the persons consider
them correct; otherwise, commanding officers
enter over the persons’ signature such remarks as
they deem appropriate.
Ship’s Deck Log
The ship’s deck log is a complete daily record,
by watches. It contains a description of every
circumstance and occurrence of importance or
interest about the crew and the operation and
safety of the ship. It also contains a description
of any circumstance or occurrence of possible
historical value. The navigator has overall
responsibility for preparation and care of the
ship’s deck log. The type of information noted
in the log includes data such as the ship’s
operating orders; its courses, speeds, and
positions; and the state of the sea and weather.
It also includes information about damage or
accidents to the ship or its cargo, deaths or injuries
to personnel, and changes in the status of ship’s
personnel or passengers. The log also contains
records of meetings or adjourning of courts-
martial and other formal boards. The log contains
reports of all routine inspections, which serves as
a record of whether or not such inspections were
made. OPNAVINST 3100.7B prescribes the
manner and form in which the navigator should
prepare the log.
The ship’s deck log serves as a chronological
record of the events occurring during each watch.
It provides necessary information to the
commanding officer and ultimately serves as a
historical document. Accuracy in describing
events recorded in a ship’s deck log is essential.
Such entries often constitute important legal
evidence in judicial and administrative fact-
finding proceedings arising from incidents
involving the ship or its personnel.
Engineering Log
The engineering log is a daily record, by
watches, of important events and data about the
engineering department and the operation of the
ship’s propulsion plant. The Commander, Naval
Sea Systems Command, prescribes the manner
and form of preparation of the log.
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