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THE HOME OF NAVAL RESERVISTS IN WESTERN VISAYAS

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 Chapter 1
Ship’s Organization

PN Ranks, Rates, Ratings, Uniforms and Insignias

Naval Customs and Traditions

Naval Terms and Phraseologies

Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels

Ship Type and Characteristics

 Ship’s organization
Commanding Officer

CMAA

Executive Officer

Deck and Damage

Mess Supply Engineering Operations
Gunnery Control
Department Department Department Department
Department Department

Other
Departments
 Ship’s organization

The Commanding
Officer:
1. A line officer who, by virtue of his training
and experience is assigned by the FOIC, PN
with a responsibility to command a ship.
2. No matter what his rank is, he is called
“Captain”
3. He is charge with absolute responsibility for
the safety, well being and efficient operation
of his command.
4. His specific duties, responsibilities and
authority are set forth in the AFP and PN
regulations, customs and traditions of naval
service.
 Ship’s organization

The Executive
Officer:
1. Designated second in command of the ship.
2. In the absence of the CO, he becomes the acting
CO a n d h e m u st b e p re p a re d to a s s u m e
command.
3. Primarily responsible for the administration of
the ship and personnel, overall training, daily
routine, and the maintenance of good order and
discipline in the entire command.
4. The entire department heads report to him for
all matters pertaining to the internal
administration of the command.
 Ship’s organization
Operations Officer:
1. Responsible under the Commanding Officer for the collection,
evaluation and dissemination of combat and operational
information required for the assigned mission and tasks of the
ship.
2. The following officers, if assigned or designated, whose duties
are indicated, reports to the Operations Officer:
a. Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer - He is responsible
for the collection and dissemination of combat and operational
information; operation, care and maintenance of equipment
CIC equipment except those assigned to other officers; training
of CIC personnel; and, control of aircraft, when assigned.
b. Communications Officer - He is responsible for supervising
the receipt, transmission and routing of ship's messages;
operation an d m ai nte n an c e o f v i s u al an d e l e c t ro n i c
communications equipment; proper handling and control of all
registered publications; and, the maintenance of
communications security which includes crypto, transmission
and physical security.
 Ship’s organization
Engineering Officer:
1. Responsible to the Commanding Officer for the
operation, care and maintenance of all propulsion and
auxiliary equipment; the control of damage; and the
accomplishment of repairs.
2. The following officers, if assigned or designated,
whose duties are indicated, reports to the Engineering
Officer:
a. Damage Control Officer - He is responsible for
prevention and control of damage including control of
stability, list and trim; placing the ship in proper
condition of closure as ordered by the CO;
coordination and supervision of compartment tests b. Repair Officer - He is responsible
for tightness; maintenance of bills for control of for planning, scheduling,
stability; posting of correct compartment check-off accomplishing and inspecting works
list; training of ship's personnel in damage control to ensure its timely and satisfactory
including fire fighting, and emergency repairs; and, completion; establishment of an
operation, care and maintenance of auxiliary adequate job order system; and,
machinery piping and drainage systems, shop repair preparation of estimated funds
facilities and the repair of hull and boats. required for work to be performed.
 Ship’s organization
Deck Officer (First
Lieutenant):
1. He is responsible for the preservation and
cleanliness of the exterior of the ship except
that part assigned to another department;
operation, care and maintenance of the ground
tackle, mooring lines and related equipment,
ship's boats, except boat machinery, and of the
life rafts and other lifesaving equipment;
towing gears and equipment, rigging, gangways,
fueling and provisioning at sea gears and other
deck appurtenances
2. He is also responsible for the preservation of
e qu i pm e nt re l ate d to d e c k s e a m a n s h i p
including those involved in loading and
unloading operations; planning and execution 3. He supervises loading, unloading and
of deck seamanship evolutions and operations stowage of cargo; and, supervising
including anchoring, mooring, fueling and operation of paint, sail and
replenishment at sea; boatswain's lockers as well as garbage
disposal.
 Ship’s organization

Gunnery Officer:

1. He is responsible for the conduct of gunfire; operation,

care and m ai nte n an c e o f al l gu n s i n c l u d i n g
designation and fire control equipment and
associated ordnance; and, training of gunnery
personnel and gun crews.
2. If no other officer is assigned or designated, the
Deck/Gunnery Officer performs the following
collateral duties:

a. Cargo Officer
b. Special Service Officer
c. Athletic Officer
 Ship’s organization

Mess and Supply

Officer:
In large ships, the Mess and Supply Department maybe
organized separately and would have officers assigned to
perform each function. The Mess and Supply Officer is
responsible to the Commanding Officer for procuring,
receiving, storing, issuing, shipping, transferring,
accounting and while in his custody, maintaining all stores,
provisions and equipment of the command.
 Ship’s organization
Chief Master-at-Arms
(CMAA):
1. Assists the OOD in the execution of ship's routine
including responsibility for crew turning out promptly at
all hands evolutions and reveille, supervising the control
of standing lights, maintaining silence after taps,
handling of liberty parties leaving the ship or returning
aboard and in the processing of all newly reported
personnel;
2. Supervises extra duty men and men performing
punishments, the rigging and unrigging for church,
movies and other special functions and the preparation
of delinquency reports; maintains a lucky bag; furnishes
escorts for the CO, EXO and visitors as directed; renders
8 o'clock reports if not designated to BMW or DPOW;
3. Ensures the safety and welfare of prisoners at the brig,
frequent inspections of the ship, that ship's regulations
and instructions pertaining visitors are adhered to and
the presence of masters-at-arms at all mess lines, pay
lines, store lines, captain's masts and courts-martial, at
scenes of emergencies and other official gathering of
personnel.
 PHILIPPINE NAVY ranks, rates,
ratings AND INSIGNIAs
Terminologies
Rating – is a term used in the Navy to identify an occupational specialty that is
based on aptitude, training, experience, knowledge and skills of an individual.

Rate – is the term used to identify the level of achievement and experties within
the individual’s rating. Rate may also be called paygrade within a rating.

Rank – is the combined rate and rating of an individual.

Unrated/Non-rated/Unclassified – a term used to identify an individual who has

not yet been classified for a particular rating. His rank would carry an initial (UN).
Ex: ASN(UN)

Striker – a term that applies to an individual in the paygrade E1 to E3.

Petty Officer – a term that applies to an individual in the paygrade E4 to E7

AFP officers ranks and insignia
AFP enlisted ranks and insignia
 PN enlisted rating structure

BM - Boatswain’s Mate
BMs train and supervise personnel in all activities relating to marlinespike, deck
and boat seamanship, and the maintenance of the ship’s external structure and deck
equipment. They act as petty officers in charge of small craft and may perform duties as
master-at arms, serve in or take charge of gun crews and damage control parties.

GM - Gunner’s Mate
Navy GMs operate, maintain and repair all gunnery equipment, guided-missile
launching systems, rocket launchers, guns, gun mounts, turrets, projectors and
associated equipment. They make detailed casualty analyses and repairs of electrical,
electronic, hydraulic and mechanical systems. They also test and inspect ammunition,
missiles and their ordnance components. GMs train and supervise personnel in the
handling and stowage of ammunition, missiles and assigned ordnance equipment.

QM - Quartermaster
QMs assist the navigator and officer of the deck (OOD), steer the ship, take radar
bearings and ranges, make depth soundings and celestial observations, plot courses and
command small craft. Additionally, they maintain charts, navigational aids and
oceanographic publications and records for the ship’s log. reports. They maintain files
and service records.
 PN enlisted rating structure
ET - Electronics Technician
ETs are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages,
detect enemy planes and ships, and determine target distances. They must maintain,
repair, calibrate, tune and adjust all electronic equipment used for communications,
detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation and electronic
countermeasures.

DK - Disbursing Clerk
DKs maintain the financial records of Navy personnel. They prepare payrolls,
determine transportation entitlements, compute travel allowances and process claims
for reimbursement of travel expenses. DKs also process vouchers for receiving and
spending public money and ensure accounting data is accurate. They maintain fiscal
records and prepare financial reports and returns.

SK - Storekeeper
SKs are the Navy’s supply clerks. They see that needed supplies are available
including everything from clothing and machine parts to forms and food. SKs have
duties as civilian warehousemen, purchasing agents, stock clerks and supervisors, retail
sales clerks, store managers, inventory clerks, buyers, parts clerks, bookkeepers and
even fork lift operators.
 PN enlisted rating structure
YN - Yeoman
YNs perform secretarial and clerical work. They deal with visitors, telephone calls
and incoming mail. YNs organize files and operate copy machines and order and
distribute supplies. They write and type business and social letters, notices, directives,
forms and reports. They maintain files and service records.

DT - Dental Technician
Navy dentists, like many civilian ones, are assisted by dental technicians. DTs have a
variety of “chairside,” laboratory and administrative duties. Some are qualified in
making and fitting artificial teeth; dental X-ray techniques; clinical laboratory required.

HM - Hospital Corpsman
HMs assist medical professionals in providing health care to service people and
their families. They serve as pharmacists, medical technicians, food service personnel,
nurse’s aids, physician’s or dentist’s assistants, battlefield medics, X-ray technicians and
more. An HM’s work falls into several categories: first aid and minor surgery, patient
transportation, patient care, prescriptions and laboratory work, food service inspections
and clerical duties.
 PN enlisted rating structure

EM - Electrician’s Mate
The operation and repair of a ship’s or station’s electrical power plant and electrical
equipment is the responsibility of EMs. They also maintain and repair power and lighting
circuits, distribution switchboards, generators, motors and other electrical equipment.

EN - Engineman
Internal combustion engines, diesel or gasoline, must be kept in good order. This is
the responsibility of ENs. They also maintain refrigeration, air-conditioning, distilling-
plant engines and compressors.

MR - Machinery Repairman
MRs are skilled machine tool operators. They make replacement parts and repair or
overhaul a ship’s engine auxiliary equipment, such as evaporators, air compressors and
pumps. They repair deck equipment, including winches and hoists, condensers and heat
exchange devices. Shipboard MRs frequently operate main propulsion machinery,
besides performing machine shop and repair duties
 PN enlisted rating structure
BU - Builder
Navy builders are like civilian construction workers. They are skilled carpenters,
plasterers, roofers, cement finishers, asphalt workers, masons, painters, bricklayers,
sawmill operators or cabinetmakers. BUs build and repair all types of structures
including: piers, bridges, towers, underwater installations, schools, offices, houses and
other buildings.

PH - Photographer’s Mate
PHs photograph actual and simulated battle operations and make photo records of
historic and newsworthy events for the Navy. They expose and process light-sensitive
negatives and positives, maintain cameras, related equipment, photo files and records
and perform other photographic services for the Navy.

AD - Aviation Machinist’s Mate

Usually, ADs are assigned to billets concerned with maintaining turbo-jet aircraft
engines and associated equipment or to any one of several types of aircraft
maintenance activities. ADs maintain, service, adjust and replace aircraft engines and
accessories, as well as perform the duties of flight engineers.
 PN enlisted rating structure

Other Ratings found in

PN:

Musician’s Mate Radioman Damage Controlman Data Processing

Equipment Operator
NAVAL CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS
 honors

1. Salute
Normally given with the right hand; when right hand is
encumbered, left hand could be used.
 NAVAL CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

2. Honors to the
Flag
a. Colors – paying honors to the flag; hoisted in the morning
and lowered in the afternoon.
a. For ships not underway and Shore Commands:
Sunrise – Morning Colors
Sunset – Evening Colors
b. For ships underway:
National ensign is raised/lowered at the mast; the jack flag is
not raised.
Shifting colors:
When ship leaves the pier or weighs her anchor, shifts
the National Ensign from the flag gaff to mast. The national
Ensign is then called steaming ensign. Jack Flag is lowered at the
same time.

When ship arrives at the pier or anchors: Shifts the

National from mast to flag gaff. Jack flag is raised at the same
time.
 honors

b. Honors Rendered by Merchant Ships (Dipping):

Merchant ships salute navy ships by dipping their ensign.
Navy Ships respond by lowering the steaming ensign to half-
mast for a few seconds then close it up. After which, the
merchant ship may raise again her flag.

c. Passing Honors: honors exchange between two

ships or boats when comes close aboard (Distance : Ships:
600 yds Boats: 400 yds)
Ships/boats who’s Commanding Officer/Boat Captain
is junior in rank renders passing honors to Commanding
Officer/Boat Captain Senior in rank.
 honors

3. Other Honors

• The arrival/departure of the ship’s Captain is usually

announced at the PA system. He is always piped when he
boards or leaves the ship
•Nobody is allowed to sit in the Captain’s Chair at the
bridge unless offered.
•In boarding the ship, Junior goes first. In disembarking,
senior goes first.
•Navy Officers eat in the place called “Wardroom”
•Side boys are detailed in the quarter deck to welcome a
distinguished visitor:
CAPT AND BELOW – 4 side boys
COMMO TO REAR ADMIRAL – 6 side boys
VICE ADMIRAL UP – 8 side boys
 customs
Bridge Customs:
Bridge is the center of operations of the ship while
underway. If CO is present, appropriate greetings must be
rendered.
Procedure in Entering/Leaving the
Ship:
• At the gangway – if the National ensign is flying, turn aft
before getting aboard and salute the ensign. Upon
boarding, before striking the ship’s deck, render another
salute to the OOD or his/her representative by saying
“Request permission to come aboard Sir.” For disembarking,
it is done in a reverse manner.
• When boarding in-group – only the one in charge shall
render salute.
Crossing the Nest:
Usually done when your ship is in nest with other ships:
Boarding: Salute the colors and OOD of inboard ship
Say “Request Permission to cross” until you reach your own
ship
 customs
Half Masting:
Tribute to the dead.
Basic Rule for Boats and Vehicles:
“SENIORS ARE LAST IN, FIRST OUT”
Divine Services:
•Church pennant is flown at the mast
•All persons within the area are required to uncover
including watches
Sick Bay:
Uncover when entering
Observe Wardroom
Etiquette
Officers and CPO
Country:
Includes staterooms, mess hall for CPO’s, wardroom and
living spaces:
•EP are not allowed to enter unless on official business.
•NOT used as passageways or shortcuts
At the Mess Hall:
Uncover when entering
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Denotes Direction and Location
•Abaft- behind or further aft, astern or toward
the stern.
•Abeam- at right angle to the centerline of the
ship
•Aft-in- near or toward the stern
•Alongside- on side a pier or berth
•Amidship- the middle portion of the ship
•Astern- toward the stern, an object or vessel
that is abaft another vessel or object
•Bridge- raised platform from which a ship is
navigated
•Bow- the forward part of the ship
•Broadside- at right angle to the fore and aft
line of the ship
•Centerline- imaginary line running from the
ships bow to stern: divides the ship lengthwise
verticallyDead ahead- directly ahead of the
ship s bow in line of the centerline
•Dead astern- directly aft of the ship in line of
the centerline
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Denotes Direction and Location:

•Draft- depth of the water from the surface

waterline to the ships keel
•Fantail- main deck section in the after part of
the ship
•Freeboard- height of ships side from the
waterline to the main deck
•Leeward- direction away from the wind
•Port Bow- bearing 315 degrees relative to the
bow of the ship
•Portside- left hand side of the ship facing
forward
•Starboard Bow- bearing 45 degrees relative to
the bow
•Starboardside- right hand side of the ship
facing forward
•Waterline- the line which makes the surface
with the hull
Windward- direction toward the wind
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Denotes Nomenclature of Fittings:

•Bitts- strong iron post on a ships deck for working of fastening lines almost invariably in pairs.
•Bulkhead- one of the vertical wall like structures enclosing a compartment
•Brig – a prison on a ship or a shore base
•Bollard- wooden or iron post on a pier or wharf for securing mooring lines
•Cleat- a small deck fittings or metal with horns used for securing lines
•Deck- on a ship, its corresponds to a floor in a building
•Compartment- it corresponds to a room in a building
•Overhead- equivalent to a ceiling of a building ashore
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Denotes Nomenclature of Fittings:

•Head- compartment of a ship having toilet facilities

•Superstructure- all equipment and fittings except armament extending above the hull
•Mast- upright spar supporting signal halyard and antennas in a naval ship
•Wardroom- officers mess and lounge room aboard ship
•Yardarm- a spar attached to the of a mast running athwart ship
•Rudder- flat movable structure and vertically attached to the stern used for steering the ship
•Lazarette- storage compartment of the stern below deck
•Galley- the ship kitchen
• Cabin- the captains living quarter
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Other Terms
•Adrift- loose from mooring or out of place
•Aye-Aye- a reply to an order to indicate that it is understood and will be carried out
•Billet allotted sleeping place: also a man s location in the ships organization
•Avast- a command to desist for whatever is being done
•Black Gang- slang for the engineering force
•Bear Hand- cooperation among the ship s company
•All Hands- entire ship’s company
•Binnacle list - sick list: list of men excuse for duty
•Boot- slang for new recruit
•Coxswain- enlisted men in charge of a boat
•Crossing the line- crossing the earth equator
•Dolphin- cluster of piles at the corner or edge of a pier
•Dead in the water- said of a ship when she has neither headway nor steerway in the water
•Fathom- six (6) feet unit of length
•Field day- general cleaning day aboard ship, usually a day before inspection
•Flag Officer- an officer with the rank of COMMODORE and above
•Gangway- opening in the bulwarks: order to stand a while and get out of way
•General Quarters- battle station for all hands
•Gig- ships boat designated for the use of the Commanding Officer
•Java- slang for coffee time
•Jump ship- slang for leaving the ship without authority/permission
 Naval terms and phraseologies
Other Terms

•Irish pennant – untidy loose end of a line

•Lucky bag- stowage of article found adrift
•Landlubbers- seaman s term for one that has never been at sea
•Passageway- corridor
•Pipe down- an order to keep silent
•Pass the word- to repeat an order or information to the crew
•Pollywog- a person who has never cross the equator
•Sea dog- an old sailor
•Sea lawyer- an enlisted men who likes to argue; usually one who thinks he can twist the
regulations and standing order to favor his personal inclinations
•Shell back – a man who has cross the equator and has been initiated
•Skag- slang for cigarettes
•Ship-shape- term for a neat and orderly condition
•Sickbay- ships hospital or dispensary
•Skippy- slang for undershirt
•Secure- to make fast; to tie; an order given in completion of a drill or exercise meaning to
withdraw from drill station and duties
 Naming and code designation of
pn vessels

Naming of PN Ships and Aircraft

The Philippine Navy has a system of naming and/or assigning codes to all of its ships,
small craft and aircraft. The assignment of names and designation of codes are decided at
Headquarters, Philippine Navy. Commissioned vessels likewise carry the word "BAPOR NG
REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS OR (BRP)" before the name to identify it as a ship owned by the
government of the Republic of the Philippines. For purposes of visual or voice radio
communication, the code designation of ships maybe used for initial call to establish
communication.
1. Naming of PN Commissioned Ship
In general, only commissioned ships are given names while those categorized as small craft,
boats and service craft are only given code designations. The name is etched on a nameplate
displayed on each side of the superstructure as well as marked at the stern. The following is the
guide in naming PN ships:
 Naming and code designation of
pn vessels
Type of Ship - Prospective Names
Aircraft Carriers - The three geographical division of the Philippines
Surface Combatants - National heroes, historical figures, past heads of State
Submarines - Philippine native fishes
Amphibious Warfare Ships - Philippine provinces and cities
Mine Warfare Ships - Historical military sites and places
Auxiliary Ships - Philippine tribes and ethnic groupings
Medical Ships - Native term related to ship's mission
Service Ships - Philippine peaks
POL/Water Tankers - Major rivers and the smaller islands not classified as province or sub-
province
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
Warships
A. Aircraft Carrier - a warship designed to
deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a
sea-going airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a
naval force to project air power great distances
without having to depend on local bases for
land-based aircraft.

B. Cruisers - A cruiser (From Dutch Kruiser,

"something that crosses") is a large warship
capable of engaging multiple targets
simultaneously. Historically they were generally
considered the smallest ships capable of
independent operations
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
C. Destroyers - In naval terminology, a
destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-
endurance warship intended to escort larger
vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend
them against smaller, short-range attackers
(originally torpedo boats, later submarines and
aircraft).

D. Submarines - specialized watercraft that

can operate underwater. Submarines, first widely
used in World War I, are used by all major navies
today, especially the American, Russian and
British navies. Civilian submarines and
submersibles are used for marine and freshwater
science and for work at depths too great for
human divers
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
Amphibious Warfare Ships
Ships utilized for the forward deployment of
infantry units of the navy
A. Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC) - a
floating command post with advanced
communications equipment and extensive
combat information spaces to be used by the
amphibious forces commander and landing
force commander during large-scale operations.

B. Attack Cargo ships (AKS) - designed to

carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use
the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines
on enemy shores during amphibious operations.
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
C. Dock Landing ship - designed to support
amphibious operations. These amphibious
assault ships transport and launch amphibious
c raf t a n d ve h i c l e s w i t h t h e i r c re ws a n d
embarked personnel. They are mainly used to
carry Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs), as well
as carrying Marines.

D. Amphibious Transport Dock - (also

called a landing platform dock or LPD) is an
amphibious assault ship, a warship that embarks,
transports, and lands elements of a landing force
for expeditionary warfare missions.

E. Tank Landing Ship - created during

World War II to support amphibious operations
by carrying significant quantities of vehicles,
cargo, and landing troops directly onto an
unimproved shore
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
Minesweeper Ship
Military ship designed to neutralize naval mines placed in the sea by enemies. The same ships
are sometimes used for mine laying, equipped with mechanical or influence sweeps to detonate
mines, produces much less noise than other ships and are often constructed with hulls of wood,
plastic or low-magnetic steel.

Mine
Minesweeping Boat Countermeasure
Support Ship

Inshore MSO-Ocean
Minesweeper Minesweeper
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Combatant
Vessels:
Patrol Ship
Used mainly to screen convoys, hunt down submarines and serve as general warning craft.

Destroyer escort
ship Patrol Craft Coastal
(Fast)

Guided missile
escort ship

Motor gunboat
Destroyer Escort
Radar picket ship
 SHIP Type and characteristics
Auxiliary Vessels:
The Navy could start a war without auxiliary ships, but it couldn’t fight very long without these
vessels since the auxiliaries provide the material and services which keep the fleet and its
advanced base operational.

Hospital Ship
Destroyer Tender

Salvage Ship Repair Ship

 SHIP Type and characteristics
Service Craft:
The navy service craft come in an even greater variety of sizes and functions than the auxiliaries.
Once called yard and distinct craft, most of them work around harbors and navy yards

Floating Dry Dock Lighter

Barge Tugboat