Ordinary seaman (rank): Difference between revisions
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'''Ordinary seaman''' is a [[military rank]] used in naval forces. |
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== United Kingdom == |
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In the [[Royal Navy]] in the middle of the 18th century, the term |
In the [[Royal Navy]] in the middle of the 18th century, the term ''ordinary seaman'' was used to refer to a [[Seaman (rank)|seaman]] with between one and two years' experience at sea, who showed enough [[seamanship]] to be so [[Naval rating|rated]] by their captain.<ref name=Lavery129>Lavery 1989, p. 129</ref> A seaman with less than a year's experience was referred to as a [[Landsman (rank)|landsman]].<ref name=Lavery129/> One with more than two years' experience and considered "well acquainted with his duty" was referred to as an [[able seaman (rank)|able seaman]].<ref>Naval Records Society: Five Naval Journals 1787-1817. Cited in Lavery 1989, p. 129</ref> |
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Later, the term was formalized as a rating for the lowest normal grade of [[seaman]]. They are not trained in any special task. They are required to work at physically hard tasks of great variety. One needs an [[Ordinary Seaman Certificate]] to obtain work. One can become an |
Later, the term was formalized as a rating for the lowest normal grade of [[Seaman (rank)|seaman]]. They are not trained in any special task. They are required to work at physically hard tasks of great variety. One needs an [[Ordinary Seaman Certificate]] to obtain work. One can become an able seaman as a promotion from this position. |
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In the modern Royal Navy the rank of Able Seaman is achieved by all recruits on completion of basic training ([[HMS Raleigh (shore establishment)|HMS ''Raleigh'']]) and subsequent intensive training in the specialisation of choice. Thus the rank of Ordinary Seaman is obsolete. This is in line with increasing technical specialisation and ability of RN personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/Careers/Pay-Benefits-and-Learning/Pay-Details|title = Royal Navy Pay | Salaries & Benefits of Joining the Royal Navy}}</ref> |
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== United States == |
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Ordinary seaman was the second-lowest rank of the 19th century [[United States Navy]], ranking above [[Landsman (rank)|landsman]] and below [[Seaman (rank)|seaman]]. Promotion from landsman to ordinary seaman required three years of experience or re-enlistment. An ordinary seaman who gained six years of experience and "knew the ropes", that is, knew the name and use of every line in the ship's [[rigging]], could be promoted to seaman. An ordinary seaman's duties aboard ship included "handling and splicing lines, and working aloft on the lower mast stages and yards."<ref>{{cite journal|last = Williams | first = Glenn F. |date=April 2002 | title = Uncle Sam's Webfeet: The Union Navy in the Civil War | journal = International Journal of Naval History | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | url = http://www.ijnhonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pdf_williams.pdf | access-date = 16 September 2012 }}</ref> |
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The rank existed from 1797 to 1917, when it was renamed "seaman second class". Seaman second class was later changed to the modern-day rank of [[seaman apprentice]]. The related ranks of ordinary seaman second class and ordinary seaman, engineer's force, existed in 1876–1885 and 1871–1883, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Malin |first=Charles A. |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq78-3.htm |title=Compilation of Enlisted Ratings and Apprenticeships, U.S. Navy, 1775 to 1969 |publisher=Naval Historical Center |date=19 May 1999 |access-date=16 September 2012 }}</ref> The term is still in use in the [[United States Merchant Marine]] for entry-level deck personnel; the common abbreviation is OS. |
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== Other countries == |
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The term ''ordinary seaman'' is currently used in the [[Naval Service (Ireland)|Irish Naval Service]]. |
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In the [[Royal Canadian Navy]], the rank of sailor third class (previously ordinary seaman until August 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/royal-canadian-navy-to-replace-term-seaman-with-gender-neutral-sailor-1.5081892|title=Royal Canadian Navy to replace term 'seaman' with gender-neutral 'sailor'|date=27 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/from-seaman-to-sailor-the-royal-canadian-navy-adopts-gender-neutral-titles-1.24193502 |title=From 'seaman' to 'sailor': the Royal Canadian Navy adopts gender-neutral titles {{!}} Kamloops This Week |website=www.kamloopsthisweek.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027084857/https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/from-seaman-to-sailor-the-royal-canadian-navy-adopts-gender-neutral-titles-1.24193502 |archive-date=2020-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/royal-canadian-navy-seaman-sailor-1.5702842| title = From 'seaman' to 'sailor': Royal Canadian Navy adopts gender-neutral titles {{!}} CBC News}}</ref> may be further qualified by the suffix "(B)" or "(R)." The "(R)" indicates a recruit undergoing basic training, and is dropped on successful graduation from [[Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School|CFLRS Saint-Jean]], the Canadian military's all-services recruit training centre. The "(B)" suffix is then appended while the sailor undergoes seamanship training, initial trade training and onboard qualification. Once fully qualified to stand watches, the "(B)" is struck from the rank abbreviation. |
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The term Ordinary Seaman is currently used in the Canadian and Irish Naval Forces (who inherited the military ranking structure from the previous generation of Royal Navy, Army, and Air Force ranks.) It denotes an enlistee who is currently in training as a Non-Commission Member (NCM) of the Forces. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Bibliography== |
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*{{cite book|last=Lavery|first=Brian|date=1989|title=Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organisation, 1793-1815|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=0851775217}} |
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* N.A.M. Roger. ''The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy.'' W.W. Norton and Company, 1986. |
* N.A.M. Roger. ''The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy.'' W.W. Norton and Company, 1986. |
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[[Category:Military ranks of the Commonwealth]] |
[[Category:Military ranks of the Commonwealth]] |
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[[Category:Military ranks of Canada]] |
[[Category:Military ranks of Canada]] |
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[[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Navy]] |
[[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Navy]] |
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[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Navy]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:30, 25 February 2024
Ordinary seaman is a military rank used in naval forces.
United Kingdom
[edit]In the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term ordinary seaman was used to refer to a seaman with between one and two years' experience at sea, who showed enough seamanship to be so rated by their captain.[1] A seaman with less than a year's experience was referred to as a landsman.[1] One with more than two years' experience and considered "well acquainted with his duty" was referred to as an able seaman.[2]
Later, the term was formalized as a rating for the lowest normal grade of seaman. They are not trained in any special task. They are required to work at physically hard tasks of great variety. One needs an Ordinary Seaman Certificate to obtain work. One can become an able seaman as a promotion from this position.
In the modern Royal Navy the rank of Able Seaman is achieved by all recruits on completion of basic training (HMS Raleigh) and subsequent intensive training in the specialisation of choice. Thus the rank of Ordinary Seaman is obsolete. This is in line with increasing technical specialisation and ability of RN personnel.[3]
United States
[edit]Ordinary seaman was the second-lowest rank of the 19th century United States Navy, ranking above landsman and below seaman. Promotion from landsman to ordinary seaman required three years of experience or re-enlistment. An ordinary seaman who gained six years of experience and "knew the ropes", that is, knew the name and use of every line in the ship's rigging, could be promoted to seaman. An ordinary seaman's duties aboard ship included "handling and splicing lines, and working aloft on the lower mast stages and yards."[4]
The rank existed from 1797 to 1917, when it was renamed "seaman second class". Seaman second class was later changed to the modern-day rank of seaman apprentice. The related ranks of ordinary seaman second class and ordinary seaman, engineer's force, existed in 1876–1885 and 1871–1883, respectively.[5] The term is still in use in the United States Merchant Marine for entry-level deck personnel; the common abbreviation is OS.
Other countries
[edit]The term ordinary seaman is currently used in the Irish Naval Service.
In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of sailor third class (previously ordinary seaman until August 2020)[6][7][8] may be further qualified by the suffix "(B)" or "(R)." The "(R)" indicates a recruit undergoing basic training, and is dropped on successful graduation from CFLRS Saint-Jean, the Canadian military's all-services recruit training centre. The "(B)" suffix is then appended while the sailor undergoes seamanship training, initial trade training and onboard qualification. Once fully qualified to stand watches, the "(B)" is struck from the rank abbreviation.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lavery 1989, p. 129
- ^ Naval Records Society: Five Naval Journals 1787-1817. Cited in Lavery 1989, p. 129
- ^ "Royal Navy Pay | Salaries & Benefits of Joining the Royal Navy".
- ^ Williams, Glenn F. (April 2002). "Uncle Sam's Webfeet: The Union Navy in the Civil War" (PDF). International Journal of Naval History. 1 (1). Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Malin, Charles A. (19 May 1999). "Compilation of Enlisted Ratings and Apprenticeships, U.S. Navy, 1775 to 1969". Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Royal Canadian Navy to replace term 'seaman' with gender-neutral 'sailor'". 27 August 2020.
- ^ "From 'seaman' to 'sailor': the Royal Canadian Navy adopts gender-neutral titles | Kamloops This Week". www.kamloopsthisweek.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020.
- ^ "From 'seaman' to 'sailor': Royal Canadian Navy adopts gender-neutral titles | CBC News".
Bibliography
[edit]- Lavery, Brian (1989). Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organisation, 1793-1815. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0851775217.
- N.A.M. Roger. The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. W.W. Norton and Company, 1986.