Navy Department
*General Instructions for Commanding Officers of
*
Naval Armed Guards on Merchant Ships
1944
Fourth EditionThis edition supersedes all previous editions. All copies of the
preceding editions should be destroyed by burning.*
These instructions must be burned or sunk, before it is possible
for them to fall into the hands of an enemy.*
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D.C., 21 Mar. 1944.GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMANDING OFFICERS OF NAVAL
ARMED GUARDS ON MERCHANT SHIPS, 1944 FOURTH EDITION,
is approved and issued to the service for use. This edition
supersedes all previous editions, copies of which should be destroyed./s/
F.J. Horne,
Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
* Short Title
OPNAV 23L-2United States Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C.
1944
Contents
Chapter I. The Armed Guard Commander 1 Section 1. General 1 Section 2. Relations with Crew and Passengers 11 Section 3. Relations With the Master of the Vessel 13 Chapter II. Prior to Sailing 16 Section 1. General Arrangements 16 Section 2. Equipment 20 Section 3. Watch, Quarter, and Station Bills 26 Section 4. Security in Port 30 Chapter III. After Sailing 32 Section 1. At Sea 32 Section 2. Lookouts 36 Section 3. Action 39 Section 4. Air Attacks 43 Chapter IV. Arrival in Port 47 Section 1. Foreign Port 47 Section 2. United States Port 50 Section 3. Reports 52 Chapter V. General Information 62 Section 1. Pay and Subsistence 62 Section 2. Advancement in Rating 77 Section 3. Mail and Censorship Regulations 78 Section 4. Communications 85 Section 5. Care of the Wounded 86 Section 6. Notes on Abandoning Ship 102 Section 7. Armed Guard Training Facilities 107 Section 8. Basis for Assignment of Armed Guards to Ships 108 Section 8. Miscellaneous Information 110 Chapter VI. Armed Guard Voyage Narratives 133