Side the Deck!

Well, a shot across the bow from Kim is always an eye-opener in the morning!

Out on the waters, there is a time honored custom called Rendering Honors, whereupon two vessels, upon passing closely will offer up and/or return a salute to one another.  It's really quite the fire-drill when this happens, as it's a very serious matter and a point of honor, pride and dignity, especially among ships-of-the-line. 

Its tenfold the matter of honor, pride and dignity when said ships sail under different flags.

Normally, the vessel initiating the salute will organize her not-on-watch crew to "side the decks", with sailors arrayed at the lifelines, regularly spaced, standing at parade rest.  As the ships pass, the saluting ship will dip her ensign to half-mast for about four seconds, then smartly raise it to the top of the standard.

That's all fine if the ship being saluted knows ahead of time if honors are to be rendered, (which is usually agreed to via radio beforehand).  But if unprepared, the sound of the Watch Officer's voice ringing over the 1MC system, the sprinting of crew in every direction and a hurried "side the decks" in order for the saluted ship to return honors....it's much like General Quarters, but for peaceable purposes.

Sailing literature is full of accounts of small-boat skippers dipping their flag to a warship, and especially the sail training ships of various nation's Naval Academys....only to be mortified in embarrassment as hundreds upon hundreds of sailors pour onto those decks, and the ship returns proper honors.

I have been humbled thusly this morning, by an honor from no less than Kim DuToit.  And have been fire-drill typing, hoping to return that salute in the proper fashion and time.

I've got to say "thanks, Kim!", for your kind words and assessment of my.....um.... qualities.  But the fact is, Kim's reader Hg-196 reflects my attitude quite accurately, thus:

"I consider firearms, or any other means of applying physical force, to be strictly DEFENSIVE weapons.  This does not mean I am in any way passive. But my weapon of offense is THE WRITTEN WORD.  With a published article I hope to be able to CONVINCE, ultimately a far more powerful than physical force."

Exactly so.  But failing that, there's always this.........

Three groups, all at 7 yards. 

Small scale sihlouette target.

Center mass:  S&W Model 28, 4" bbl.  .38spl 148 gr. wadcutter.  50 rds, double action.

Head group:  S&W Model 28, 4" bbl. .357 Mag. 125 gr. JHP.  25 rds, doube action.

"7" ring group, abdomen:  Browning Buckmark Camper, .22lr, 10 rds, rapid fire.

Again, thanks Kim.  As always, I'm honored by your trust and friendship.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the range, too.  (during my lunch break at work, of course!)

Smooth seas and following winds to you, brother Kim.

Comments

[Don]

Hello "Smoke",

Came over from Kim's place today. I've visited before however infrequently but you are now on my favorites list. BTW, I always thought the saying was "fair winds and following seas". At least that's what the honor guard said at my son's Naval funeral.

[Rivrdog]

I need a little lesson here, Cap'n. How does "side the decks" differ from "Man the Side"?

[Jim]

Don...you're absolutely correct, and I'll make the edit. Thanks for your kind words! And Rivrdog? You're right too, but interestingly, I came across the Side the Decks! reference in conversation with a former ship's officer of the tall ship Elissa, homeported here in Galveston.

Seems that there were all manner of ancient or archaic terms, commands and other refrences peppered all through her 127 years of ship's logs. I wish I could recall more of the more obscure references she'd recounted, but that one stuck with me in particular.

And indeed, the current, common command to "Man the Side" is the correct one.

Next time, I'll blog with less blood in my coffeestream.

Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX

[Bob Baird]

Jim --

Good shooting.

It is interesting how even large military ships will chat you up on Channel 16 (then aside), especially as you are approaching at sea in the middle of the night. I guess it's a way of connecting a voice on the radio with a blip on the radar. Still, it's amazing to get noticed by a huge aircraft carrier off of Jacksonville when both of you are headed for Mayport.

Simple courtesies. Tradition. Lingers on.

Bob

[Rivrdog]

Bob B: Not just a courtesy. The skipper of any US Navy ship is expected to do more than take the normal precautions to insure a safe passing in a fairway. The skipper is expected to take ALL precautions. Anything less than all precautions taken WILL result in loss of command if something goes bump.

[Guy S.]

Yes, Skippers of US Naval vessels, regardless of who has the con, helm, or OOD/CDO (Officer Of the Day/Command Duty Officer), are considered the final authority on any given ship. That being said, if anyone causes her to go aground, or "unintentionally" go bump, or boom. The Skipper will find himself manning a desk in short order. And quite often will not be given Command of anything larger than said desk for the remainder of their career (though during war time, and needs of the Navy, this is not always the case.) It is interesting to note civilian reaction to this...especially when in was someone else "in charge" when the incident/accident occurred. The question almost always comes up...why isn't LT or CDR Smith charged as the only guilty party. They don't get the responsibility and accountability which rests on the shoulders of one given command of a ship.

[Indigo]

Jim, posts like this is why you are so sorely missed when you're away. I always learn something, and feel good while doing it, when visiting here.

[Bob Baird]

I agree. Fortunately, Navy rules are there for manifestly practical reasons: as that aircraft carrier is approaching towards the coast in a ship the size of some countries and is traveling at 40 knots, and I am trying to get out of the St. John's River into the Atlantic in my 40 foot sailboat traveling barely 5 knots... it is vital that I know how to stay clear of him. Think about the forard momemtum of that carrier. Should he have to get out of my way? Well, believe me... I will go to any length to stay out of his way.

So... it's nice that someone over there is willing to chat me up on Channel 16 (thern 9). Makes me feel like a happy taxpayer.

You don't get that kind of attention to detail in the air. I don't think that military aircraft even know if I am there when I am in the same kind of situation in my relatively microscopic Velocity (and there are plenty of times when I have had to share airspace with military jet traffic around Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Jax).

Only the good guys with the USN on their t-shirts seem to care.

So.... thanks guys.

Bob

[aporitic]

RE: "side the decks"

It's nice to be up-to-date and all with one's lingo, but it really is the more archaic naval/nautical terms and sayings that are the best, no?