what is a pollywog in the navy

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What Is A Pollywog In The Navy?

United States Navy. The U.S. Navy has well-established line-crossing rituals. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs.

What is a Pollywog in Navy terms?

Pollywog— A sailor who has not crossed the equator on a U.S. Navy ship. Navy Terms. … The tradition began with the Navy over 400 years ago. The ceremony observes a mariner’s transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn’t crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune.

What happens when a sailor crosses the equator?

When a ship crosses the equator or “crossing the line”, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and to judge charges brought against Pollywogs that they are only posing as Sailors and haven’t paid proper homage to the god of the sea.

Does the Navy still do shellback initiation?

Crewmen aboard the destroyer USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD-968) participate in the traditional shellback initiation ceremony during exercise Unitas XXI. The shellback initiation takes place anytime a U.S. Navy ship crosses the equator.

What does it mean to be a Shellback?

Definition of shellback

1 : an old or veteran sailor. 2 : a person who has crossed the equator and been initiated in the traditional ceremony.

How do you become a Shellback?

The shellback is simple enough: a sailor on official duty “crosses the line” of the equator. A golden shellback is more impressive; it means they’ve crossed the International Date Line. Even rarer, crossing at the Prime Meridian grants you access into the Order of the Emerald Shellback.

What are the different types of Shellbacks?

There are the Pollywogs (sailors who have not crossed the equator), the trusty Shellbacks (sailors who have crossed the equator), King Neptune (highest ranking Shellback), and his royal court.

What is a diamond shellback?

The Emerald Shellback or Royal Diamond Shellback for maritime personnel who cross the Equator at the prime meridian. … The Wooden Shellback for maritime personnel who have crossed the equator on a vessel with a wooden hull.

What is a shellback sailor?

The shellback is simple enough: a sailor on official duty “crosses the line” of the equator. A golden shellback is more impressive; it means they’ve crossed at or near the International Date Line.

What is a blue nose in the Navy?

The “Order of the Blue Nose” is a Navy tradition which dictates that when Sailors cross into the Arctic Circle, they enter the realm of Boreas Rex, King of the North. The only way to be accepted into the order is to successfully complete his list of challenges.

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What is a Golden Shellback in the Navy?

In the U.S. Navy, when a ship crosses the equator a time-honored ceremony takes place. This is a Navy tradition and an event no sailor ever forgets. … A Golden Shellback is one who has crossed the equator at the 180th meridian.

How long is a destroyer ship?

Destroyer warships come in a range of sizes. Smaller destroyers, such as the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Daring class and Russia’s Project 956 Sovremenny class, measure in at around 150m in length, with a beam of around 17-18m. Then there is the US Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyer, a 190m long colossus with a beam of 24.6m.

What is King Neptune’s court?

This ceremony goes back many, many years to when ships first started crossing the Equator and involves all those who have not previously crossed the Equator by sea, or have no appropriate certificate to prove their crossing.

What individual was the US Navy’s first officer in charge of naval aviation?

375, creating the office of the Director of Naval Aviation, was signed by the Secretary of the Navy, and Captain Irwin was ordered to duty as the first director.

When was the Department of the Navy established?

United States Department of the Navy/Founded
Separate Department of the Navy established by an act of April 30, 1798 (1 Stat. 553). Became a military department of the unified National Military Establishment, 1947.

Why is it called a Shellback?

A Time-Honored Tradition

The ceremony observes a mariner’s transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn’t crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness.

Who was the first sailor to cross the equator?

Lopes Gonçalves

Lopes Gonçalves or Lopo Gonçalves was a Portuguese explorer of the African coast. He was the first European sailor to cross the equator, the first to reach the point where the coast turns south and the first to reach Gabon.
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Lopes Gonçalves
Known for	First European sailor crossing Earth’s equator

What is a horned shellback?

For instance, those who cross the 180-degree Prime Meridian and the Equator at the same time become Golden Shellbacks. … Or, if you round the Horn and cross the Equator on the same voyage, you are duly honored as a Horned Shellback.

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What is a golden dragon US Navy?

The Domain of the Golden Dragon is an unofficial but highly coveted award of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. It is given to crew members of ships which cross the International Date Line.

What is a blue nose sailor?

A Bluenose, sometimes incorrectly referred to as a Rednose, is simply a sailor who’s crossed the Arctic Circle, above 66°34′N. Just like crossing the equator, there’s a Line-crossing ceremony, and once you’re done, congratulations, you’re a certified Bluenose.

What is the Ancient Order of Shellbacks?

This Shellback Ancient Order Of The Deep US Navy Patch was designed for those that crossed the equatorial line and went from Pollywog to Trusty Shellback. A tradition found among the Sailors and Marines of the US Military. This Shellback patch measures 5 inches and is fully embroidered with a heat seal backing.

What is a red nose in the Navy?

An ‘Order of the Red Nose’ certificate, awarded to sailors to mark their first crossing of the Antarctic Circle. It represents the Domain of the Penguin.

What are some Navy sayings?

“America’s Navy – A global force for good.” “Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit.” “The only easy day was yesterday!” “Qui Plantavit Curabit” – “He who has planted will preserve.”

How big is a shellback certificate?

This achievement certificate commemorates crossing the equator. This certificate is entirely customizable with: Ship’s Crest, Commanding Officer’s Signature, Date and Time of Crossing, and Sailor’s Rate and Full Name. Available in both 11″x17″ and 12″x18″ sizes.

Why do Navy pilots wear brown shoes?

Nerdy history…..in the early days on naval aviation, the pioneer pilots originally wore black shoes, but since the airfields were often dirty/muddy, it made their shoes brown. Tired of constantly cleaning them, they chose to buy brown shoes. Eventually, it caught on and was approved by the Navy.

Why do Navy uniforms have a flap?

Jumper flaps originated as a protective cover for the uniform jacket. Sailors greased their hair to hold it in place. Showers and bathing were not frequent.

What does squid mean in the Navy?

A term used in the old Navy (not the store), Squid is what other branches. (especially Marines) generally called sailors. The term refers to the aquatic animal and how it can swim fast in a straight line but similar to inexperienced motorcyclists, have trouble quickly changing directions.

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Why do Navy uniforms have 13 buttons?

Someone may well decide 100 years from now that the Navy eliminated the stripes because it figured Admiral Nelson couldn’t possibly have won those battles because he didn’t have any carrier air support. Those 13 buttons are supposed to represent the 13 original colonies.

Does the Navy still wear bell bottoms?

The British Royal Navy had often been a leader in nautical fashion, but bell-bottoms did not become part of the standard uniform until the mid-19th century. … Although the trousers of the present-day uniform of the United States Navy are still referred to as “bell-bottomed”, they simply have large straight legs.

What is the fastest Navy ship?

With a maximum speed of 60 knots (110 km/h), the Skjold-class corvettes were the fastest combat ships afloat at the time of their introduction.
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Skjold-class corvette.

Class overview
Speed	In sea state 3: 45 knots (83 km/h) In sea state 5: >25 knots (46 km/h) In calm sea: >60 knots (110 km/h) (classified)

Why are destroyers called tin cans?

Johnson emphasizes in his book how destroyers were nicknamed “tin cans” because they had thin, metal hulls that were useful for quickly navigating the seas but not a great protection for the soldiers that they transported, and the men serving on these ships.

How far can a destroyer shoot?

45 5-inch gun, standard on Navy destroyers and cruisers, fires an unguided round with a range of 21 miles.

What is Neptune day?

0d 16h 6m

Who is King Neptune?

King Neptune, god of the sea according to Roman mythology. … In Roman mythology, King Neptune was the god of fresh water, which is something that I found interesting. It was not until 400 B.C. when he started to become identified with King Poseidon of Greek mythology, thus taking on the role God of the Sea.