Who said what?

[Baxter]

I have read a few historical novels recently and was wondering what command was actually given on British naval ships of the SoG era to get the hands to action stations. One novelist uses beat to quarters, another pipe all hands to general quarters. What was meant by quarters as well?

[Gunner]

As far as I know, your "quarter" is your action station. And In the Royal Navy the drums were beaten to the rhythm of Heart of Oak.

[Berthier]

Term:
general quarters (n)


Definition:
All of the duty locations for the entire crew.





the stations assigned to military personnel, esp to each crew member of a warship ⇒ general quarters