In horology the term refers to a clock which
strikes according to a system similar to that used on board ship where a
bell is struck manually to denote " watches " or a period of duty. A
Ship's Bell Clock
may not necessarily agree with the nautical time since the majority
of
"domestic" ship's bell clocks strike the series of blows up to eight,
starting at 12.30 p.m. with one bell and adding a blow at each half hour up
to 4 p.m. when eight bells are sounded. Then the same sequence is repeated,
whereas true nautical time strikes one bell at 6.30 p.m. to denote the Dog
Watches (where the domestic clock would strike five bells) 7 p.m. two bells,
7.30 p.m., three bells and 8 p.m. eight bells, as noted in the table of
nautical times. Some ship's bell clocks are made to strike true nautical
time but the majority strike as the table in pairs, i.e. ding to denote one
bell, ding, ding to denote two bells, and ding, ding, ding, to denote
three bells and so on. It will be noted that the hours are as on board ship.
|
AM |
PM |
Bells. |
|
|
|
|
12.30 |
12.30 |
1 |
X |
|
|
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
2 |
XX |
1.30 |
1.30 |
3 |
XX |
X |
|
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
4 |
XX |
XX |
|
|
2.30 |
2.30 |
5 |
XX |
XX |
X |
|
3.00 |
3.00 |
6 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
|
3.30 |
3.30 |
7 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
X |
4.00 |
4.00 |
8 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
4.30 |
4.30 |
1 |
X |
|
|
|
5.00 |
5.00 |
2 |
XX |
5.30 |
5.30 |
3 |
XX |
X |
|
|
6.00 |
6.00 |
4 |
XX |
XX |
|
|
6.30 |
6.30 |
5 |
XX |
XX |
X |
|
7.00 |
7.00 |
6 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
|
7.30 |
7.30 |
7 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
X |
8.00 |
8.00 |
8 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
8.30 |
8.30 |
1 |
X |
|
|
|
9.00 |
9.00 |
2 |
XX |
9.30 |
9.30 |
3 |
XX |
X |
|
|
10.00 |
10.00 |
4 |
XX |
XX |
|
|
10.30 |
10.30 |
5 |
XX |
XX |
X |
|
11.00 |
11.00 |
6 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
|
11.30 |
11.30 |
7 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
X |
12.00 |
12.00 |
8 |
XX |
XX |
XX |
XX |
|
Nautical Time is as follows:
The 24 hours is divided into
7 watches.
|
Midnight to 4 a.m.
4 a.m. to 8 a.m.
8 a.m. to Noon.
Noon to 4 p.m.
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
8 p.m. to Midnight. |
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 |
Middle watch
Morning watch
Forenoon watch
Afternoon watch
First Dog watch
Last Dog watch
First watch |
The purpose of the two day watches is to
make an odd number of watches in the
24 hours thus giving the men different
watches each day. |
|
Table of Nautical Times:
1
Bell
12.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. 6.30 p.m. 8.30
p.m.
12.30 a.m. 4.30 a.m. 8.30 a.m.
2 Bells
1.00 p.m. 5.00 p.m. 7.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m.
1.00 a.m. 5.00 a.m. 9.00 a.m.
3 Bells
1.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m.
1.30 a.m. 5.30 a.m. 9.30 a.m.
4 Bells
2.00 p.m. 6.00 p.m. 10.00 p.m.
2.00 a.m. 6.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m.
5 Bells
2.30 p.m. 10.30 p.m. 10.30 a.m.
2.30 a.m. 6.30 a.m.
6 Bells
3.00 p.m. 11.00 p.m.
3.00 a.m. 7.00 a.m. 11.30 a.m.
7 Bells
3.30 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
3.30 a.m. 7.30 a.m. 11.30 a.m.
8 Bells
12.00 Noon 4.00 p.m. 8.00 p.m.
12.00 Midnight 4.00 a.m.8.00 a.m.
|