A boatswain's call in ceremonial use by a sailor of the US Navy
The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a "keel", a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together, and the "shackle", a keyring that connects a long silver or brass chain that sits around the collar, when in ceremonial uniform.
A boatswain's pipe being held by a sailor in the US Navy
Historically the boatswain's call was used to pass commands to the crew when the voice could not be heard over the sounds of the sea. Because of its high pitch, it could be heard over the activities of the crew and bad weather. It is now used in traditional bugle calls such as Evening Colors/Sunset, and in other ceremonies in most modern navies. It is sometimes accompanied by other auditive features such as ruffles and flourishes, voice commands and announcements, or even a gun salute.
Pipe Aboard/Ashore: Flag-rank officers or an important guest is boarding or departing a Navy ship; also used to mark the final departure of a sailor retiring from active duty. This is part of a ceremony called "manning the side" which includes a party of sailors known as "side boys". It has its origins in the need to hoist visiting senior officers aboard using a bosun's chair when the weather was too rough for the use of ladders. The bosun would use his call to direct the side boys in the hoisting of the chair.[1])
Funerals: When the body of a person entitled to honours in their lifetime is taken aboard a Navy ship, the same ceremony is observed.
Commands
A well-used bosun's pipe from World War I (or earlier), owned by a Royal Navy petty officer on board HMS Acasta
The following are the commands that are passed with the help of a bosun's pipe.[2]
Haul: The most basic of calls. Crews of warships were not allowed to sing work songs or shanties, so the pipe coordinated the sailors. The low note was for the pause and preparatory; the high for pulling on the line.[3]
The Side or Away Galley: Descends from the tradition of hoisting officers aboard ship in a chair. It is a combination of haul, and then a command to lower. This call remains in use as an honour given to officers when embarking or disembarking.
Away Boats: Used to order a ship's boats to leave the ship's side.
Call the Boatswain's Mates: The boatswain's gang to report.
All Hands on Deck: Crews were split into three (or earlier, two) rotating watches that stood for two to four hours at a time. This call signals the entire crew to assemble on deck.
Word to be Passed: Command for silence, an order to follow.
Pipe Down: Dismissal of all the crew not on watch.
Sweepers: End of the work day. Ostensibly sailors would "sweep up" prior to departure in preparation for the following day.[4]
Pipe to any meal: Pipe All Hands, followed by long Heave Around (Mess gear), and long Pipe Down.
Still: Used to call the crew to attention. This would be done, for example, when two warships meet, the still being piped as the junior ship salutes the senior ship (the seniority of a warship is the seniority of her captain); a less common alternative to the still being piped is a bugle call.
Carry On: Used after the still, to dismiss the crew back to their duties.
General Call: Piped before an announcement.
Officer of the Day: Call the Officer of the Day to the Gangway.
In popular culture
In the television series Star Trek, the boatswain's call can be heard every time before the captain (Kirk) speaks to the crew.[citation needed]
References
^Royal W Connell and William P Mack, Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions, Naval Institute Press; 6th edition (August 2004) ISBN1557503303 (pp. 49–50)
^"The Boatswain's Call" (PDF). Nautical Training Corps. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
^Blue Jackets Manual. US Navy. 1940. via "Use of the Boatswain's Call". International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians.
^"Shipboard Calls and Commands". Hnsa.org. 1950-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bosun's whistles.
The Boatswain's Call – Photos and Diagrams ReadyAyeReady.com
by the US Navy Band
A guide to the Robert S. Benner photographs of boatswains' whistles, 1976–1995
January 07, 2023
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A boatswain s call pipe or bosun s whistle is a pipe or a non diaphragm type whistle used on naval ships by a boatswain Boatswain s call A boatswain s call in ceremonial use by a sailor of the US Navy The pipe consists of a narrow tube the gun which directs air over a metal sphere the buoy with a hole in the top The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch The rest of the pipe consists of a keel a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together and the shackle a keyring that connects a long silver or brass chain that sits around the collar when in ceremonial uniform Contents 1 History and usage 2 Honouring 3 Commands 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 External linksHistory and usage Edit A boatswain s pipe being held by a sailor in the US Navy Historically the boatswain s call was used to pass commands to the crew when the voice could not be heard over the sounds of the sea Because of its high pitch it could be heard over the activities of the crew and bad weather It is now used in traditional bugle calls such as Evening Colors Sunset and in other ceremonies in most modern navies It is sometimes accompanied by other auditive features such as ruffles and flourishes voice commands and announcements or even a gun salute It is also the official badge of US Navy quartermasters chief boatswain s mates and boatswain s mate and also in the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps It was first used as a badge of rank for the Lord High Admiral of England in 1485 Honouring Edit King George VI is piped aboard a Royal Navy battleship in 1942 source source Pipe Aboard the Side source source General Call Pipe Aboard Ashore Flag rank officers or an important guest is boarding or departing a Navy ship also used to mark the final departure of a sailor retiring from active duty This is part of a ceremony called manning the side which includes a party of sailors known as side boys It has its origins in the need to hoist visiting senior officers aboard using a bosun s chair when the weather was too rough for the use of ladders The bosun would use his call to direct the side boys in the hoisting of the chair 1 Funerals When the body of a person entitled to honours in their lifetime is taken aboard a Navy ship the same ceremony is observed Commands Edit A well used bosun s pipe from World War I or earlier owned by a Royal Navy petty officer on board HMS Acasta The following are the commands that are passed with the help of a bosun s pipe 2 Haul The most basic of calls Crews of warships were not allowed to sing work songs or shanties so the pipe coordinated the sailors The low note was for the pause and preparatory the high for pulling on the line 3 The Side or Away Galley Descends from the tradition of hoisting officers aboard ship in a chair It is a combination of haul and then a command to lower This call remains in use as an honour given to officers when embarking or disembarking Away Boats Used to order a ship s boats to leave the ship s side Call the Boatswain s Mates The boatswain s gang to report All Hands on Deck Crews were split into three or earlier two rotating watches that stood for two to four hours at a time This call signals the entire crew to assemble on deck Word to be Passed Command for silence an order to follow Pipe Down Dismissal of all the crew not on watch Sweepers End of the work day Ostensibly sailors would sweep up prior to departure in preparation for the following day 4 Pipe to any meal Pipe All Hands followed by long Heave Around Mess gear and long Pipe Down Still Used to call the crew to attention This would be done for example when two warships meet the still being piped as the junior ship salutes the senior ship the seniority of a warship is the seniority of her captain a less common alternative to the still being piped is a bugle call Carry On Used after the still to dismiss the crew back to their duties General Call Piped before an announcement Officer of the Day Call the Officer of the Day to the Gangway In popular culture EditIn the television series Star Trek the boatswain s call can be heard every time before the captain Kirk speaks to the crew citation needed References Edit Royal W Connell and William P Mack Naval Ceremonies Customs and Traditions Naval Institute Press 6th edition August 2004 ISBN 1557503303 pp 49 50 The Boatswain s Call PDF Nautical Training Corps Retrieved 3 October 2021 Blue Jackets Manual US Navy 1940 via Use of the Boatswain s Call International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians Shipboard Calls and Commands Hnsa org 1950 05 11 Retrieved 2012 05 10 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bosun s whistles The Boatswain s Call Photos and Diagrams ReadyAyeReady com Bosun s Call MP3s by the US Navy Band A guide to the Robert S Benner photographs of boatswains whistles 1976 1995 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boatswain 27s call amp oldid 1094575612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
