.NET Hobbyist Programmer

# re: Nautical Terminology: Manning the Rails

Yep, I man'd the rails of the USS JFK (CV-67, non-nuke aircraft carrier now used by the USNR for flight training to get around congress' 10 carrier limit) when we returned from our Med cruise in 1993. We also did it when we pulled into NY for fleet week in 94 - or maybe it was the reverse. Either way, it's no fun. You stand there for hours in the goofiest/gayest uniform ever designed making about 25-75 cents / hour (or at least I did as an E4 including sea-pay).

Either way, it's all for show. Pomp & circumstance that only delays a sailor from getting ashore (perhaps to greet wives and children after a 9mo cruise as ours was) - just another sign that leadership is a quality sorely missing in the east-cost navy. As for me - I retired and doubled my salary over night, while reducing the number of hours I worked - not to mention the rest of the baggage that came with the honor of "service".

# re: Nautical Terminology: Manning the Rails

Wow, you're bringing up all kinds of memories. Coming back from a deployment with ships company manning the rails is a beautiful thing, and took forever. That's why I was happy to be on my radar during sea and anchor. :-)

# re: Nautical Terminology: Manning the Rails

Unscrupulous press gangs would buy a potential victim a tankard of beer or ale, and then drop a shilling in the mug when he wasn’t looking. Swallowing, choking, or just finding the shilling was enough for the press gang. Thus, mugs began to have glass bottoms to give the customer a sporting chance to see that his drink was not tampered with.

# re: Nautical Terminology: Manning the Rails

Manning the rail is a method of saluting or rendering honors used by naval vessels. The custom evolved from that of manning the yards, which dates from the days of sail. On sailing ships, men stood evenly spaced on all the yards (the spars holding the sails) and gave three cheers to honor distinguished persons. Today the crew are stationed along the rails and superstructure of a ship when honors are rendered.

The United States Navy prescribes manning the rail as a possible honor to render to the President of the United States and for the heads of state of foreign nations. A similar but less formal ceremony is to have the crew "at quarters" when the ship is entering or leaving port.[1]

Manning the rail is also the traditional way to honor the USS Arizona Memorial when it is passed by all U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marine vessels. More recently, as foreign military vessels are entering Pearl Harbor for joint military exercises, foreign troops have participated in the traditional manning the rails. Another notable instance occurred on September 14, 2001, when the crew of the destroyer FGS Lütjens manned the rails as they approached the destroyer USS Winston Churchill and displayed an American flag and a banner reading "We Stand By You".