Tricks of the Trade - Naval Officer

Tricks of the Trade - Naval Officer
To steer a warship onto a new course quickly, order the helmsman to put the rudder over full in the direction you want to turn. As the ship is turning, keep an eye on the compass. When your heading is 10-15 degrees from the new course (the exact number of degrees will depend on the operating characteristics of the ship), tell the helmsman to shift the rudder. This will put the rudder over full in the opposite direction, sharply slowing the rate of turn. Now keep an eye on the rudder indicator. When it shows that the rudder has traveled through its arcand is now on full position on the opposite side, order the rudder amidships and tell the helmsman to steady on the new course. This will stop the swing of the ship's head right at your desired course in a quick and professional manner.