Helm Commands

only

Right/left standard/full rudder

Apply the ordered rudder. Standard rudder is the amount required to turn the ship on its standard tactical diameter, normally 20 degrees. Full rudder is the amount required to steer on a reduced tactical diameter, normally 30 degrees. The rudder angle can vary from ship to ship.

Right/left ### degrees rudder

Apply the ordered rudder. The Conn can follow this order with a new course for the Helmsman to steer, such as “STEADY ON COURSE 256” or another rudder command. If the Conn does not specify a course, the Helmsmen must call out the heading at 10-degree increments, such as “PASSING TO THE RIGHT 150, PASSING TO THE RIGHT 160” until the Conn orders a course.

Ease your rudder

Decrease the rudder angle by half the amount currently applied or by the amount ordered. The Conn can follow this order with a new course for the Helmsman to steer or another rudder command. If the Conn does not specify a course, the Helmsman must call out the heading at 10-degree increments until the Conn orders a course.

Rudder amidships

Place the rudder at zero degrees

Meet her

Use the rudder as necessary to check the swing of the ship without steadying on any specific course

Steady/steady as she goes/steady on course ###

Steer the course on which the ship is currently headed or the ordered course. If the ship is turning and the Conn gives the command STEADY or STEADY AS SHE GOES, the Helmsman notes the heading and responds “MARK, ###,” calling the heading of the ship at that point. The Helmsman then steers the ship to that heading and calls “STEADY ON COURSE ###,” when the heading has been reached.

Steer on

The helmsman steers on a range or object identified by the Conning officer

Shift your rudder

Move the rudder to the same angle in the opposite direction from where it is currently ordered. The Conn can only give this order when a specific rudder angle is in effect.

Nothing to the right/left of course ###

Steer nothing to the right/left of the course specified

How’s your rudder

This is a query from the Conn to ascertain the current ridder placement. The Helmsman replies, “My rudder is right/left ### degrees".”

Mark your head

A command given to the Helmsman to state the heading of the ship at the moment the command was given. The Helmsman responds, “MARK ###.”

Command

The Helmsman’s response to the Conn if they did not hear a command, misunderstood a command, or believes a command is improper.

Sally your rudder

Shifting back and forth between a set number of degrees of right and left rudder as ordered by the OOD

Mind your helm

A command from the Conn, CO, OOD (if separate), or the Navigator to the Helmsman to pay closer attention to their steering.