A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can conn the vessel, i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility of the entirety of their ship itself and of ocean conditions and other vessels.
The verb “conn” probably stems from the verb “conduct” rather from another plausible precedent, the verb “control”.
Read more about Conning Tower: Surface Ships, Submarines
Famous quotes containing the word tower:
“The Church disowned, the tower overthrown, the bells upturned, what have we to do
But stand with empty hands and palms turned upwards
In an age which advances progressively backwards?”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)