Navy Department

*

General Instructions for Commanding Officers of
Naval Armed Guards on Merchant Ships
1944
Fourth Edition

*

This 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-2

United 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

--ii--


Transcribed and formatted by Rick Pitz for the HyperWar Foundation