(1) The Board shall perform such duties as may be directed by the authority convening the Board.
(2) Such directions shall always be made in writing and may in cases of urgency be conveyed by signal and when a Board is convened by an Administrative Authority or senior Naval Officer present, shall conform to any general directions given in any Navy orders.
(3) Every order convening the Board shall be made in the prescribed form or as near thereto as circumstances permit and where directions are given by signal, it shall be sufficient to make reference to the said form, in respect of the general directions contained therein further directions being added as necessary.
(4) A Board may be required to collect evidence only, without being required to give any opinion or the Board may be required to report fully with regard to any matter, which may be referred to it and to make recommendations.
(5) The convening authority shall, when the Board is held on a returned prisoner of war or on a prisoner of war who is still absent, direct the Board to record its opinion whether the person concerned was taken prisoner through his own willful neglect of duty, or whether he served with or under, or aided the enemy, he shall also direct the Board to record its opinion in the case of a returned prisoner of war, whether he returned as soon as possible to the service and in the case of a prisoner of war still absent whether he failed to return to the service when it was possible for him to do so.