Tag Archives: bluejacket

Back when the Navy had these things called “rates”

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two-sailors-lean-on-a-railing-on-the-starboard-side-of-the-patrol-combatant-missile-hydrofoil-uss-gemini-phm-6

National Archives photo

Caption: Two Sailors lean on a railing on the starboard side of the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil USS GEMINI (PHM 6) while the ship is in port. The GEMINI is part of the PHM Squadron 2, which is used extensively in the nation’s drug interdiction program. The placards at upper right indicate the GEMINI’s four marijuana and two cocaine seizures.

The above image, taken only 27 years ago today in Key West, shows a number of things that you just don’t see any more. You have to love the leather holstered M1911 GI, the Ray Bands, spotless white Dixie Cup, PHMRON2 logo, the fact they are on a hydrofoil (!), denim utilities– with bells, and Navy surface units stationed south of Mayport.

Somewhere Ray Mabus is having a heart attack.

Bluejackets at play in the last part of the 19th Century

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Here is a great series of postal cards from the Detroit Publishing Co in the 1870s-1890s showing various scenes around the fleet. Several of these were taken on the grand old ship of the line USS Vermont which spent her entire life as a receiving ship. Others are on steel ships such as the protected cruiser USS Atlanta, and armored cruisers USS New York (ACR-2) and USS Brooklyn (ACR-3).

USS Brooklyn, "Apprentice boys at school." Note the casemate gun

USS Brooklyn, “Apprentice boys at school.” Note the casemate gun

USS Atlanta, "Sword exercise" It should be noted the Navy still had cutlasses on some ships through WWII

USS Atlanta, “Sword exercise” 1880s.  It should be noted the Navy still had cutlasses on some ships through WWII. Note the Marine officer in kepi and the bluejackets in flatcaps.

USS Vermont ,1890, "Recruits waiting to be transferred." note the hammock bedrolls on the bulkhead

USS Vermont, 1890, “Recruits waiting to be transferred.” note the hammock bedrolls on the bulkhead and dixie cups.

USS New York, "Scribbing down"

USS New York, “Scrubbing down”

USS Brooklyn, "Preparing Christmas dinner"

USS Brooklyn, “Preparing Christmas dinner”

USS Brooklyn, "A quiet little game" showing bluejackets at play as a Marine looks on. Dig the landing gun to the left of the image.

USS Brooklyn, “A quiet little game” showing bluejackets at play as a Marine looks on. Dig the landing gun to the left of the image under canvas.

Most of these are in the LOC under in their original B&W higher resolution condition (e.g. New York) should you be interested.