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When dignitaries & high ranking officers come aboard a US Navy ship, the bell on the quarterdeck is rung a certain number of times & they are announced by title. When they actually step foot on deck, the bell is struck a single time to indicate that. 1/
The ship's Captain is announced every time they do this throughout the day. It's so you'll know that if you have business with them, they either are or aren't aboard. Commanding Officers of ships, squadrons, fleets, etc. are called by the name of their command. 2/
If the Admiral in charge of 2nd Fleet was arriving, you'd hear 8 bells & "2nd Fleet, arriving/departing." The "USS, Commander, Secretary & such is omitted. Just the name of the entity they command. Bells are done in groups of two, up to a total of 8, by rank. 3/
Bell numbers are also the same as the number of sideboys present to render honors when they come aboard. However, sideboys are only used at formal ceremonies now. Originally it was the number of men required to hoist them up from a boat in sailing days. 4/
It was considered that the higher your rank, the less work you did & the better you ate. Low rank needed fewer, high rank needed more. That's a no-shiiter, folks.
Not all COs are full Captain (O-6). SMaller ships often have Lt Commanders (O-4.) 5/
Not all COs are full Captain (O-6). SMaller ships often have Lt Commanders (O-4.) 5/
So if you were aboard the USS Neverhome & the Skipper (O-6) was walking down the pier, as soon as the Quarterdeck watch saw him, they'd strike the bell <ding, ding....ding, ding> Neverhome, arriving. When his foot hit the deck <ding> All day, every day. 6/
I told you all that, just to tell you this. Early 80s in Norfolk, we were usually at the Destroyer & Submarine (D&S) piers, at the south end of the base. USS John Paul Jones (DDG-32) was often across the slip on the next pier. We could hear them pass the word clearly. 7/
So several times a day we'd hear "John Paul Jones, arriving/departing." Every time I heard that, and I mean EVERY time, I'd turn to someone and say "I thought he died a few years back." Can you believe it? Me on Kalamazoo (AOR-6) & JPJ in background.
This shows former VP Cheney being "piped aboard." 8 sideboys, Bos'n Mate piping "over the side." I used to pipe. Note he's saluting left handed. Only military member authorized saluting left handed, while piping. I told southpaws learn to pipe right just so they could do this.
Worst part about Sideboys & Honors Bos'n Mate is you have to stay clean the whole time the dignitary(s) are aboard. That's why I never wanted to be on a Battleship or Carrier. Too many VIPs all the time.
Lesson's over. There'll be a quiz later.
Lesson's over. There'll be a quiz later.
Almost forgot. While looking for a sideboys picture, I found this. This is how TugboatPhil began his Navy career, only with worse equipment & bulky, orange life jackets that restricted your ability to do much of anything while over the side.
