Naval History and Heritage Command

Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to All Bureaus, Commandants, All Naval Districts, and Commandants, All Navy Yards

NAVY DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON

CONFIDENTIAL

March 23, 1918.

To:  All Bureaus.

     Commandants all Naval Districts,

     Commandants all Navy Yards.

SUBJECT:  Special requirements for ships entering convoy.

     1.   The following are the special requirements with which ships entering convoy must be equipped and it is directed that they be fitted with these special requirements upon request:-

(a) FOG BUOY AND LIGHT HAWSER FOR TOWING BUOY.

     The buoy may be an empty cask or hydroplane. The buoy should tow at a distance of 300 yards.

(b) SPECIAL UPPER STERN LIGHT.

     Ships should fit lights on the mainmast about 60’ above stern light and stern light should be shaded so as not to show more than 3 points from right astern and of a brilliancy not to show more than a mile. The upper light is to show directly aft only.

(c) EFFICIENT FLASHING LAMP.

(d) TWO COMPLETE SETS OF INTERNATIONAL CODE SIGNALLING FLAGS.

(e) TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS FOR NAVAL SIGNALMAN.

(f) BOARD WITH NAME.

     The name of the ship should be clearly painted on a board which may be displayed toward convoy destroyers in order to let them quickly know the name of the ship.

(g) TACK LINES.

     These are lengths of signaling halyards one fathom long.

Josephus Daniels.