us navy ship logs

[kcburyshaker]

I have an idea for SH4, I want to start a new career and log everything like they do with us navy ship logs. Since i have never been in the navy, does anyone know the proper format the logs are in? or maybe a website with us navy logs from ww2?

[Chock]

You might want to PM Sailor Steve, I think he he does that, and having been in the Navy, I presume he uses the correct format.

:D Chock

[Peto]

Or (in the true Navy tradition) you can simply write down everthing you do from the moment you fire up SH.

17:42 Clicked Load Saved Game
17:43 Refilled coffee while game was loading
17:45 Pressed 2 to activate engines and clicked Return to Course in Nav Panel
etc...

;)

[NEON DEON]

I have an idea for SH4, I want to start a new career and log everything like they do with us navy ship logs. Since i have never been in the navy, does anyone know the proper format the logs are in? or maybe a website with us navy logs from ww2?


Try this site:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1592/reports.html


Happy hunting:ping:

[Snowman999]

Try this site:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1592/reports.html


Those are patrol reports, very different animal.

The USN doesn't call them "logbooks", but rather, deck logs.

See http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq73-1.htm#anchor183771

for much info. No examples are on-line that I know of, as deck logs are classified.

[Sailor Steve]

You might want to PM Sailor Steve, I think he he does that, and having been in the Navy, I presume he uses the correct format.

:D Chock
Not this time. I was a junior wannabe radioman, and never saw the ship's log, much less studied how it was done.

I'm with Peto: I write down everything, minute by minute. The time I tried putting up my patrol logs for SH3, people were massively bored.

[NEON DEON]

Try this site:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1592/reports.html


Those are patrol reports, very different animal.

The USN doesn't call them "logbooks", but rather, deck logs.

See http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq73-1.htm#anchor183771

for much info. No examples are on-line that I know of, as deck logs are classified.


Yes they are not the same.

However, they make for a better read and you can read some great reports online from some great boats like the Wahoo and Tang!

Here is the definition of the patrol reports.

"During the course of the war, Navy regulations required submarine Commanding Officers to submit a report following each patrol. These patrol reports contained a summary of the submarines daily activities and whereabouts, and included detailed information concerning sightings of enemy planes and ships, weather and sea conditions, enemy anti-submarine measures, own-ship material and personnel performance, and, of course, attacks on enemy targets."

[kcburyshaker]

patrol reports are more of what i was thinking of....a deck log would be a bit too detailed for my tastes...lol

[odjig292]

Peto is basically right. Deck logs were boringly dull. They were kept so there was a track of what had happened on a ship as time progressed. They might also include orders from the Captain leaving instructions of courses to be followed or instructions of when he was to be disturbed. They were usually only read when some form of problem happened to the ship.

Captains in most navies had to submit a detailed monthly report of all their activities for their ship. Battle reports were extra when they were in some type of action when their memories were still fresh. Convoy commanders had to send in detailed summaries of their Atlantic crossing that were scrutinized carefully to see what lessons were learned. Submarines had patrol reports. It's these summaries that form the books and make interesting reading. The log reports for a destroyer action might read:

11:30 Speed 22 knots, course 265. Weather clear, force 3, moderate chop
11:40 Altered course to 285 on spotting enemy ship seven miles bearing 010
11:41 Speed increased to 26 knots, General Quarters sounded
11:47 Alter course to 280 on seeing flashes from enemy guns
11:49 Alter course to 290, splashes from enemy shells 200 yards bearing 060
11:50 Alter course to 260, splashes from enemy shells 100 yards off port beam
11:51 Speed increased to 28 knots, course altered to 310, hit on aft quarter
11:53 Alter course to 240 making smoke

On the other hand, for a submarine on patrol the log reports might read as follows as each watch checks in:

08:00 Course 256, speed 11 knots, weather clear, force 2, gentle swells
12:00 Course 256, speed 11 knots, weather clear, force 2
16:00 Course 256, speed 11 knots, weather clear, force 2
20:00 Course 256, speed 11 knots, weather clear, force 3 moderate chop
24:00 Course 256, speed 11 knots, clear night, force 3, moderate chop.

As the old adage goes "War is weeks of boredom, followed by moments of sheer, stark terror."

[Snowman999]

I used to have to read and sign the deck log when I got off OOD watch, and yeah, they are pretty dry. But the OP wanted info on deck logs, so I gave him some.

The only time deck logs are worth reading is the midwatch on New Year's Eve. By ancient nautical tradition the first log entry is done in verse, and some of them are pretty inventive. They have to contain all required info by reg., but also rhyme. Navy TImes used to run a contest every January for the best version.

Here's one I found for a Coast Guard cutter:

"Here's one from the USCGC SWEETBRIER:

BY THE CHANGE OF A SECOND, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR IS PAST
AS DOES THE OLD YEAR, FOREVER GONE, NEVER LAST.
THE WATCH IS SET AND STARTS A NEW SHEET
TO LOG THE STATUS OF THE ROSE OF THE FLEET.

IN CHARLIE SHE SITS FOR THE DAWN OF THE NEW YEAR,
MOORED PORTSIDE TO THE CORDOVA CITY PIER.
THE NORTHERNMOST HOMEPORTED U.S. SHIP IS SHE,
FOR SHE RESTS ABOVE LATITUDE 60-33.

ABOVE HER SEASONED DECKS HER ENSIGN FLIES HIGH
STIFF WINDS MOVING THROUGH HER MAST WITH A CRY.
SIXTY KNOT GUSTS WILL NOT ENDANGER HER MOOR
FOR DOUBLE-UPS ARE ON LINES ONE AND FOUR.

WAIST LINES ARE RIGGED FORE AND AFT
SO ARCTIC WINDS WILL NOT ENDANGER THIS CRAFT.
HER LATERAL POSITION WILL ALSO STAY TRUE
DUE TO QUARTER LINES THREE AND TWO.

BELOW A KEEL SET BY IRON AND SWEAT
LIES A MUDDY BOTTON TWELVE FEET WET.
WATER TWO KNOTS FAST PASSES ALONGSIDE
RANGING NINETEEN FEET THIS SPRING TIDE.

DECK AND MOORING LIGHTS DISPLAYED NIGHTLY
ARE ENERGIZED AND BURNING BRIGHTLY.
AND FOR THE SEAPLANES TO BEHOLD
ALL AIRCRAFT WARNING LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT AND BOLD.

THE SMALL BOATS, THEY ARE QUITE STABLE
NUMBERS TWO AND THREE HELD ON DECK BY CABLE.
AND SWEETBRIER ONE IS AT THE STARBOARD LOW RAIL,
READY TO HANDLE LOCAL SAR WITHOUT FAIL.

MESSAGES ARE SENT ANYTIME WHEN,
THANKS TO LANDLINE 39-10.
AND WITH D17 WE MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION
FOR AS OPCON/ADCON THEY MUST KNOW OUR SITUATION.

ENSIGN SCHMIDT IS THE OOD
WITH DUTY SECTION TWO TO OVERSEE.
SECTION ONE, THREE AND FOUR ARE ASHORE, AS IS WISE
FOR THEIR LIBERTY IS AUTHORIZED.

0845 THIS DAY WILL EXPIRE
SECTION THREE'S LIBERTY BEFORE WE RETIRE.
AND ON JANUARY 87, THE SECOND DAY,
LIBERTY EXPIRES FOR ALL HANDS AWAY.

WE ARE THE ROSE OF THE FLEET BY NICKNAME
A MULTI-MISSION VESSEL JUST THE SAME.
WITH A CALL TO DUTY AND A COURSE TO STEER
SEMPER PARATUS THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR."


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