9 p.m.
The following extract from the log for July 18th , will suffice for an example : `` Cleared ship for action at three bells along with general quarters . General quarters again half an hour after turn to at noon . Fire drill and abandon ship at three bells in the afternoon . General quarters again at two bells -LRB- 9 p.m. -RRB- . '' Under date of July 19th , one of the crew states in his private diary : `` Clear ship for action again . This is a very pretty drill , and is much liked by the boys , as it includes sending all the mess gear and provisions below , where most of them are usually ` pinched . ' Clear ship for action always means an exchange of undesirable mess gear , such as broken benches , tables , etc. .