# Explain old-time naval timekeeping (Aubrey/Maturin) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536 "2015-12-15T15:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/1 "2015-12-15T15:28:42Z")
As a reader of the Aubrey/Maturin novels, I have begun to develop a sense of how the sails and the rigging in a Napoleonic-era British naval ship worked. I am still quite confused by the timekeeping and the daily schedule, however. How did the system of watches and bells on such a ship map to the time of day? I know that there was a middle watch, but I’m not sure what part of the day that covered. I know there was a dog watch (and why it was called that), and I think that was overnight? What were the other watches called? How much time is represented by each bell? When did they take their meals? I understand that the ship’s dining schedule was quite different from what was customary on land. Although this question was inspired by a series of novels, I’m putting this question in GQ rather than CS, because, as I understand it, I am asking for real-world factual information. Perhaps we can try not to drift into too much discussion of the novels themselves, except where helpful to provide examples. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/2 "2015-12-15T16:03:35Z")
> **[Watchkeeping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_system#Traditional_system)** > > Watchkeeping or watchstanding is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously. These assignments, also known at sea as watches, are constantly active as they are considered essential to the safe operation of the vessel and also allow the ship to respond to emergencies and other situations quickly. These watches are divided into work periods to ensure that the roles are always occupied at all times, while those members of the crew who are assigned to work during... > [@](#): > > First watch: 2000 to 0000 > Middle watch: 0000 to 0400 > Morning watch: 0400 to 0800 > Forenoon watch: 0800 to 1200 > Afternoon watch: 1200 to 1600 > First dog watch: 1600 to 1800 > Last dog watch: 1800 to 2000 ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/3 "2015-12-15T16:14:01Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > [Watchkeeping - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_system#Traditional_system) > > > [@](#): > > > > First watch: 2000 to 0000 > > Middle watch: 0000 to 0400 > > Morning watch: 0400 to 0800 > > Forenoon watch: 0800 to 1200 > > Afternoon watch: 1200 to 1600 > > First dog watch: 1600 to 1800 > > Last dog watch: 1800 to 2000 But why is it called the “dog watch?” ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/4 "2015-12-15T16:17:18Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > But why is it called the “dog watch?” > **[Dog watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_watch)** > > A dog watch is a work shift, also known as a "watch", in a maritime watch system that is half the length of a standard watch period. This is typically formed by splitting a single four-hour watch period between 16:00 and 20:00 (4 pm and 8 pm) to form two two-hour dog watches, with the "first" dog watch from 16:00 to 18:00 (4 pm to 6 pm) and the "second" or "last" dog watch from 18:00 to 20:00 (6 pm to 8 pm). > This watch exists because, in order for the crew to rotate through all the watches, it... > [@](#): > > The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word ‘dogwatch’ is a direct translation from either German or Dutch of a similar term. It originally referred to the night-watch on ships — that is, the time when (on land) all but the dog were asleep.[3] The name is also said to be derived from Sirius, the “Dog Star”, on the claim that Sirius was the first star that can be seen at night.[4] An alternative folk etymology is that the name arose because someone tasked with one of these ‘half’ watches was said to be ‘dodging the watch’, taking or standing the ‘dodge watch’. This became shortened to ‘dog watch’. Another variation is that those sleeping get only ‘dog sleep’ in this watch. Stephen Maturin of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series retells the 19th century humourist Theodore Hook’s pun that the dog watch is so-named because it is “cur-tailed” (“curtailed”, i.e. shortened). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/5 "2015-12-15T16:17:40Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > But why is it called the “dog watch?” The first paragraph of that link answers your question. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/6 "2015-12-15T17:24:09Z")
As to the time. Each 4 hour watch is broken into 8 sections, so each bell is 30 minutes. 1 Bell = 12:30, 4:30, or 8:30. 2 Bells = 1:00, 5:00, or 9:00. At ten minutes before the watch change 1 bell was rung. This indicated that the new watch should be in the engine room or bridge. The old watch would inform those coming on watch as to what was going on. At 8 Bells the responsibilities of the watch is now the responsibility new watch. I do not think this tradition is still happening. When going through the Panama Canal if you get stuck on Gutman Lake waiting for your ships turn to go through the canal at night you can hear the different ships ringing the bells of the watch on a quit night. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/7 "2015-12-15T17:27:09Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > But why is it called the “dog watch?” Yay - I am the first. Because it’s curtailed. Geddit? Cur Tailed Edit - damn - now I see I was beaten to it in a quote. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/8 "2015-12-15T17:43:57Z")
So the dog watches are from 4 pm to 8 pm? How is that consistent with the notion that everyone on land is in bed? When did most of the crew get up, and when did they go to bed? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/9 "2015-12-15T18:02:30Z")
The dog watches are two hours in duration to insure that the watches rotate. So that one isn’t always on the mid watch for example. Meals on navy ships are somewhat similar to how they are ashore. If your watch interferes with chow, you usually get a short relief of around 30 minutes to grab a quick meal and return. Most of the crew would be a misnomer. Generally you sleep when you can depending on your watch schedule. There usually at least 25-33% of the crew awake throughout the night. At sea, I’d be lucky to get six straight hours, usually less. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/10 "2015-12-15T18:15:40Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Meals on navy ships are somewhat similar to how they are ashore. If your watch interferes with chow, you usually get a short relief of around 30 minutes to grab a quick meal and return. > > Most of the crew would be a misnomer. Generally you sleep when you can depending on your watch schedule. There usually at least 25-33% of the crew awake throughout the night. At sea, I’d be lucky to get six straight hours, usually less. Thank you! The modern perspective is interesting. My question was aimed more at the old-time sailing ships, though, where, as I understand it, the hands would have been piped awake at a certain time and their hammocks stowed. As for meals, it is a frequent point in the book that landsmen find the Royal Navy’s mealtimes odd, so I am hoping to learn whether there was in fact a prescribed regimen of unusual mealtimes back then. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/11 "2015-12-15T18:26:43Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Because it’s curtailed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/12 "2015-12-15T18:38:34Z")
How can people stand being woken every 4 hours? At most you can get three hours of sleep at a stretch, because you have to be there to relieve the other watch exactly on time. Shouldn’t they be worried about SPACE MADNESS from crazy sleep schedules? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/13 "2015-12-15T18:41:31Z")
You’re assuming there are only two shifts; ships have at least three. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/14 "2015-12-15T20:59:07Z")
When I was at a USCG LORAN station, we stood communications watches port and starboard while we had 1 in 3 duty. That means we had the duty every third day, and on our duty day, the Duty ET and the Watchstander alternated 6 hour watches at the radio console (that was the only communications we had with the rest of the world, no teletype or phone service). We both had liberty the next day, so it didn’t wipe us out. And as long as routine hourly checks were made, there was no problem with the person on watch napping at the desk during the night watches. There were alarms to alert us to incoming traffic or electronics issues. ---
**Author:** ![Ispolkom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@Ispolkom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ispolkom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/15 "2015-12-15T21:25:59Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > How can people stand being woken every 4 hours? At most you can get three hours of sleep at a stretch, because you have to be there to relieve the other watch exactly on time. Shouldn’t they be worried about SPACE MADNESS from crazy sleep schedules? Any backtalk from the lower deck and you lash them or water their grog. Two of the three great Royal Navy traditions. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/16 "2015-12-15T21:33:34Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > How can people stand being woken every 4 hours? At most you can get three hours of sleep at a stretch, because you have to be there to relieve the other watch exactly on time. Shouldn’t they be worried about SPACE MADNESS from crazy sleep schedules? I’ve always thought this is one of the most interesting and underappreciated aspects of the old navy. When was the last time you saw a movie in which they were busily sailing the ship in the middle of the night? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/17 "2015-12-15T21:37:01Z")
> [@Ispolkom](#): > > Any backtalk from the lower deck and you lash them or water their grog. Two of the three great Royal Navy traditions. Why is it always rum and the lash? Why can’t I get one of fun traditions for a change? ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/18 "2015-12-15T21:55:19Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Why is it always rum and the lash? Why can’t I get one of fun traditions for a change? Buggery? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/19 "2015-12-15T22:49:16Z")
The Captain will nail your ears to a two inch plank, and set you adrift with only cheese to eat! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536/20 "2015-12-15T22:54:17Z")
> [@Ispolkom](#): > > Any backtalk from the lower deck and you lash them or water their grog. Two of the three great Royal Navy traditions. Grog was always watered. That’s why its called “grog” and not just “rum”. It also had lime juice, and was often made with small beer instead of water… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-old-time-naval-timekeeping-aubrey-maturin/740536.md?page=2)