Which announcement made aboard a naval warship means that all hands must go to battle stations?

General quarters, battle stations, or action stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship to signal that all hands (everyone available) aboard a ship must go to battle stations as quickly as possible.

According to The Encyclopedia of War, formerly "in naval service, the phrase "beat to quarters" indicated a particular kind of drum roll that ordered sailors to their posts for a fight where some would load and prepare to fire the ship's guns and others would arm with muskets and ascend the rigging as sharpshooters in preparation for combat."

Aboard U.S. Navy Vessels, the following announcement would be made using the vessel’s public address system (known as the 1MC):

"General Quarters, General Quarters. All hands man your battle stations. The route of travel is forward and up to starboard, down and aft to port. Set material condition 'Zebra' throughout the ship. Reason for General Quarters: (Inbound hostile aircraft/Hostile surface contact/etc.)".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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11 Comments

Johnny Gio

"THE INCREDIBLY FABULOUS JOHNNY G." - DEFENDER OF - TRUTH - JUSTICE - AND THE AMERICAN WAY - DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN - UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, RETIRED - PATRIOT GUARD RIDER - WE RIDE WITH RESPECT !

earlepg

I can just see everyone on the aircraft carrier i was on responding headlong to the announcement "go", "watch out", or "preventer brace". Athough, being a supply corps officer, I didn't have a specific battle station when "gq" was called.

Edie Koller

I remembered that because I was in the US Navy in 1966-1969 but at that time women were only put on hospital ships then and they were nurses, but I would have liked to have had duty on a ship. I just worked in an office typing stuff I did not like typing at that time. I felt I got cheated. Life goes on and I am too old to fight again what Russia is doing to the country of Ukraine.

Richard G Schwartz

Agree with Faye.

Chris Braid

General Quarters in the USN, not necessarily in the navies of other nations!

Martha Prefontaine

silrem, Do you think she’s a real person or a name they made up to use when they submit their own questions? Options sound like they are pulled out of a hat.

Arun Visvanathan

Indian Navy - General Alarm followed by "Hands to Action Stations. Assume DC State 1 Condition Zulu."

Albeck1994

Larry Cooper, yes it does seem illogical after all when summoning to battle stations the call should be as concise as possible, not an inauguration speech.

Larry Cooper

After 23 years in the US Navy, I disagree with the explanation. I never heard the word pass as to how to travel to your battle station, we were taught that in boot camp.