The after steering compartment is the aft most compartment on the ship. The rudder stock shafts extend from the rudders above the water line where the tiller, quadrant or rudder crosshead moves the rudders back and forth from the center line.

Destroyer escorts had electro-hydraulic steering gear in which electric motors drove hydraulic pumps that moved the hydraulic ram to turn the rudders.

The normal steering station is the bridge or pilot house. The ship could also be steered from the after steering room itself.

There is also a stand-by method of steering, in which the hydraulic pumps were turned manually with hand cranks. This was a difficult and exhausting process.