The rudder stock shaft extends from the rudder above the water line where the tiller, quadrant or rudder crosshead moves the rudder back and forth from the center line.

The rudder can be run by hand in small boats, by means of a tiller. In a boat with this type of steering gear the coxswain is located in the stern. If the quadrant is used, a small steering wheel is connected to it by cable, line, rods or chains and the coxswain can be located wherever desired.

            Power steering gear on Navy ships are classed as follows:
            1. Steam steering gear
            2. Straight electric gear
            3. Electro-hydraulic gear
            These types of gear are further broken down into two kinds, based on the control used: the follow-up and non-follow-up types.
            The follow-up type turns the rudder to the angle indicated by the steering wheel. The non-follow-up type turns the rudder until the distant controller is brought to the off position. All of our latest ships are the follow-up type.

All steering gear can be operated from several distant steering stations as well as from the machine itself. The usual steering stations are the bridge or pilot house, conning tower, control station and secondary conning station. The distant control of the steering gear is maintained by one of the following methods depending on the type of steering gear in use: 1. Electric controller, 2. Hydraulic telemotor, 3. Selsyn or synchroties, 4. Wire cables, chains, rods or a combination of them.
            There is also a stand-by method of steering, consisting of one or more of the following:
            1. Hand power blocks and falls attached to the rudder crosshead or quadrant or a number of large handwheels geared to the rudder.
            2. Electric motors driven by main or auxiliary generator or storage batteries.
            3. Air motors driven from the ship’s air service line.
            4. Hydro-electric steering gear stand-by unit.
            5. Auxiliary steam steering gear unit.

USS SLATER EQUIPMENT

The Steering Gear does not have an identifying lable that has been found, and the various manufacturers made nearly identical equipment. This would be a; Unit, Steering Gear, Hyde Windlass Company, Electro-Hydraulic, size 7 1/2; or, by Struther-Wells Company. The motors are: Westinghouse, AC Motor for Driving Steering Gear, Type 324 Gear Motor, 20-521-327, 10 HP, 12.7 Amps, 440 VAC, 3 Phase, 60 Cycles, 1750 RPM. The Starboard motor is Serial Number 57018 and Port is 56856. The Hydraulic Pumps are: Waterbury Tool (pump) Company, Axial Piston, 440 RPM, 1500 PSI. Serial numbers not readable. Other ships may have also had pumps by Flood Machinery Company. The Starboard rudder also has a link to a position indicator. There are some original diagrams on plastic boards mounted to the bulkheads.