How many bells are rung for the co of a ship?

Answer 1

Upon arriving or departing, the Quarterdeck watch (surface ship) or topside watch (submarine) strikes the bell 4 times.

The watch announces over the ship's general announcement circuit (1mc) by ringing the bell and then announcing the officer is arriving or departing. The sequence is 2 bells, short pause, 2 bells, then that the CO is arriving/departing. This is also done for any flag officer or other CO arriving or departing.

For example:

If the CO of my old boat, USS RAY, were departing, the procedure would be:

(on the 1mc) 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, "RAY, departing".

The CO is always referred to by ship name in these instances. For CO's of other boats, ships, or ashore/flag commands, the procedure is the same, substituting their ship or command name to announce their arrival or departure.

For example:

CO of Submarine Squadron 4 would be "Submarine Squadron 4 arriving"

CO of USS Seawolf would be "Seawolf, arriving"

Each officer is afforded 4 rings on the bell.