Subdeacon Joe Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 “Able Seaman Thomas B Day standing against the ice encrusted barbette for ‘B’ turret onboard HMS Belfast during the 1942-1944 Arctic Convoys” - Imperial War Museum © IWM (A 20689) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 And a splash of Gin and a dash of bitters and GOOD SHOW, OLD CHAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorado Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Is that Darth Vader???? He found the rebel base! RUN!!!!!!!! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 The run to Murmansk was a very nasty trip I understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Especially if your escort was a U boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Thank God I never had to be a sailor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I feel that way also, Birdgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apache Hawk 60642 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 What da heck is "Able Bodied" mean any how ? Aint any person in da military able bodied ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted April 13, 2013 Author Share Posted April 13, 2013 What da heck is "Able Bodied" mean any how ? Aint any person in da military able bodied ? Means ye didn't read it right, Hawk. Just "Able Seaman." In the old rating system, like back in the days of wooden ships and iron men, men enlisted for one cruise. Fresh caught were called "Landsmen." Once they were a little knowledgeable and not a danger to themselves, the ship, or others, they were "Seamen" or "Ordinary Seamen." When they could be trusted to work by themselves and do things like work aloft, swing the lead, and steer, (hand, reef, and steer) say after about two years, they were "Able Seamen." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 After a sea fought battle, not all were ABLE BODY seamen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubborn Dutchman, SASS # 61363 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 My father entered WWII in the Merchant Marines, and made one crossing to England. When he returned he promply joined the Army, saying he couldn't swim. I understand ships fore and aft of his lost encounters with U-boats. He never went into water over his head after that either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 A friend of mine served on a destroyer in the North Atlantic, during our disagreement with Germany. He remarked that it was not uncommon to see ships explode in the night. Said that they could not stop for survivors so the sailors were at the mercy of the Sea. Having been on the North Atlantic in January, I can attest that I do not want to go swimming there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Too much ice on top and those things could tip over just like Guam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 That is a real threat to the crab fishermen in Alaska. Seattle has a memorial for fishermen that lost their lives at sea and some of them were victims of capsized boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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