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ROCN: Basic Naval Knowledge and Orientation

ROCN · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Basic Naval Knowledge and Orientation

What is tested

Basic Naval Knowledge and Orientation covers ROCN organization, ranks, ship directions, bearings, and nautical units. Use the exam's Traditional Chinese terms and standard compass conventions.

Core rules

  • ROCN major commands include 海軍司令部 (Navy Headquarters), 艦隊指揮部 (Fleet Command), and 海軍陸戰隊 (Marine Corps). Operational authority flows through the chain of command.
  • Officer ranks run 少尉, 中尉, 上尉, 少校, 中校, 上校, 少將, 中將, 上將; enlisted ranks include 二兵, 一兵, 上兵.
  • Bow is forward, stern aft, port left, starboard right.
  • Bearings are clockwise from north: 000°, 090°, 180°, 270°. Relative bearing is measured clockwise from the bow.
  • 1 nautical mile = 1.852 km; 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour. Draft is vertical depth; displacement is the weight of water displaced.

Worked example

A ship steams on heading 090°T. An object bears 045° relative. What is its true bearing? True = heading + relative = 090° + 045° = 135°T. That is broad on the starboard side, between starboard beam (090° relative) and starboard bow (045° relative).

Traps that cost marks

Swapping port and starboard; treating relative bearing as true bearing; using kilometers for nautical miles; and confusing draft with freeboard. Read the reference point before doing arithmetic.