=CAPITAL-SHIP.=--A general term for all warships of such high standard in fighting capacity as would enable them to take part in a Fleet action. =CAREEN.=--To heel a ship or make her lie over on one side. =CASEMATE.=--An armoured gun-emplacement in the side of a ship. =CATAMARAN.=--Properly a species of sailing craft used in the Indies. The heavy wooden rafts which are used to protect the ship’s side when she is lying alongside a dockyard wall. =CAULKING.=--The operation performed in making the sides or wooden decks of a ship watertight. =CLASS.=--A ship is said to belong to a certain “class” when there are others identical in appearance or design. =CLEARING.=--The passing of a vessel through the Customs after she has visited a foreign port. =COAMING.=--A raised edge of iron or wood placed round a hatchway to prevent water from washing below. =COASTAL-DESTROYER.=--A large torpedo-boat not considered sufficiently strong structurally to do more than coastal work. =COASTGUARD.=--A semi-naval organisation of seamen, mostly living along the shores of the United Kingdom intended originally for the prevention of smuggling, but now converted into a force for the defence of the coast or to assist wrecks. =COMMISSION.=-A ship is said to be commissioned when she is manned for service in the fleet. A =commission=, the length of time the crew remain in a ship; the order by which a person becomes an officer. =COMMODORE.=--A Naval Captain specially appointed to take command as such of a squadron of war vessels, or perform some special duty not assigned to an officer of flag rank. =COMPLEMENT.=--The total number of officers and men forming the crew of a ship. =COMPOSITE BATTERY.=--A battery consisting of more than one type of gun. =CON.=--To direct the steering of a vessel. =CONNING-TOWER.=--An armoured compartment in a ship from which she can be steered, or the gun-fire in an action controlled if necessary. A ship may have more than one conning-tower. =CONTINUOUS VOYAGE, DOCTRINE OF.=--The doctrine or principle which enables contraband of war to be captured when consigned to a neutral port, but intended for a belligerent. =CONTRABAND.=--Munitions of war or other goods which are prohibited entry into a belligerent State. (_a_) Absolute Contraband, material which is always contraband. (_b_) Conditional Contraband, material which may be declared contraband. =CONTROL STATION.=--A platform whence range-finding instruments are managed, or from which the gunnery officers of a ship control gun-fire in an action. =CONVERSION OF MERCHANTMEN.= The right or practice of converting merchant vessels into warships on the high seas or in neutral ports. =CONVOY.=--A number of merchant steamers crossing the ocean under the protection of warships. =CORDITE.=--The explosive used in guns for discharging projectiles. =COUNTER.=--That portion of a vessel which overhangs the keel towards the stern (q.v.).