amidships

In the middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally.

[The U-boat captain] waited until the crosshairs lay directly amidships.

Two more torpedoes were fired; one ran erratic; the second hit amidships.

Usually in the line of the keel, but sometimes halfway between bow and stern; often contracted to “midships.” (FM 55-501).

On the flank, at a vulnerable place.

In stating that the Woosters never give up, I was in error. These words caught me amidships and took all the fighting spirit out of me, leaving me a spent force.

A helm order, normally shortened to midships!, to centre the helm in the line of the keel.