Military Traditions

[Deep6]

I find military traditions interesting! Sometimes they stem from heartbreaking events, while others are just plain funny! I am facinated with Submarines, partially because my father worked on subs during the Nautilus years. I am curious...why is the broom displayed when a sub returns to port? (Clean Sweep)?? Please post some traditions (with pics if possible)...could be a fun thread!!

Thx again....

http://img29.exs.cx/img29/2641/Sub.jpg

[He219]

During the early days of World War II, it became customary for submarines returning from successful patrols to mount a broom atop the conning tower (or sail) to indicate a "clean sweep" of enemy shipping. (This is an interesting echo of the Dutch Admiral Marten Tromp's practice of hoisting a broom on his mast as a claim that he would sweep the seas of English shipping in the 17th century.) By 1944, submariners were attaching pennants to the brooms with marks to indicate the numbers and types of enemy ships they claimed to have destroyed: the rising sun flag to signify a Japanese warship, the plain sun disk flag for a merchant vessel. As the war went on, crews added the unofficial ship patch, usually a reference to the name of the boat, and other symbols for shore targets attacked, Allied pilots rescued, and citations and decorations received, until one could read the record of the boat in its often very elaborate battle flag. Here are a few of many examples; those marked with an asterisk are from photographs of flags provided by James Ferrigan.
http://home.earthlink.net/~mcmillanj/unofficial/unofficial.html

[Macs.]

http://www.eze33.com/brigade/edel.jpg


The now famous Edelweiss is the renowned symbol of the German Mountain Infantryman. Otherwise known as the Lion's Foot, Edelweiss is found only in the highest of mountainous terrain and as such one needs to travel to very high altitudes in order to obtain it.

http://www.dhm.de/lemo/objekte/pict/pk930043/index.jpg

http://www.1944militaria.com/gjmutzess_small.jpg

http://bundeswehr.kai-schoetteldreier.de/gebirgsjager/embleme.jpg

[szr]

Beer Day
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_030420-N-4308O-070.jpg
(next 2 pics from http://members.cox.net/danc3/fabfive.htm)
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/5296/burtbeer.jpg
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/1766/beerday1.jpg
http://www.decatur.navy.mil/dept/ops/oi/other/s.jpg
"Beer Day" is observed by US sailors and Marines after 45 consecutive days at sea without a port visit. Each sailor and Marine gets 2 beers and food at the cookout.

[0#256]

Good to know about saluting.

In the age of chivalry the knights were all mounted and wore steel armour, which covered the body completely. When two friendly knights met it was the custom for each to raise the visor and expose his face to the view of the other. This was always done with the right hand, the left being used to hold the reins. It was a significant gesture of friendship and confidence, since it exposed the features and also removed the right hand from the vicinity of a weapon (sword).

The know how
http://www.freedomdivision.com/salute.jpg

[Campo]

Oh my god.......WHY!!!!!!!

It scares me to know how many people like this beer!!

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/1766/beerday1.jpg


:cantbeli:

[Ayura]

Why is that beer can soo small?


Bah, American Beer :roll:

[Groove]

Why is that beer can soo small?


Bah, American Beer :roll:

Fosters is a Australian Beer afaik :)

Best beer is of course :

http://samo.jinak.cz/gallery/albums/userpics/dcPobalti_Rusko_2001/normal_0010%20okocim%3B%20polsko.jpg

[GLax]

http://www.ussmokeless.com/usstc_images/pic_t_cope01.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/82nd_Airborne_Division/b_82a01.jpghas a dip in...

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/82nd_Airborne_Division/b_82a02.jpghas a dip in...

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/101st_Airborne_Division/a_10101.jpg has a FAT dip in...

US Infantryman dip, thats all there is to it.... i had a dip in when i typed this...

[b.scheller]

best beer? foster's gives you the ****s mate...

[Deep6]

http://www.eze33.com/brigade/edel.jpg


The now famous Edelweiss is the renowned symbol of the German Mountain Infantryman. Otherwise known as the Lion's Foot, Edelweiss is found only in the highest of mountainous terrain and as such one needs to travel to very high altitudes in order to obtain it.

http://www.dhm.de/lemo/objekte/pict/pk930043/index.jpg

http://www.1944militaria.com/gjmutzess_small.jpg

http://bundeswehr.kai-schoetteldreier.de/gebirgsjager/embleme.jpg

There was a blurb about this in Band of Brothers!
Is the Edelweiss symbol still used today?

[Deep6]

During the early days of World War II, it became customary for submarines returning from successful patrols to mount a broom atop the conning tower (or sail) to indicate a "clean sweep" of enemy shipping. (This is an interesting echo of the Dutch Admiral Marten Tromp's practice of hoisting a broom on his mast as a claim that he would sweep the seas of English shipping in the 17th century.) By 1944, submariners were attaching pennants to the brooms with marks to indicate the numbers and types of enemy ships they claimed to have destroyed: the rising sun flag to signify a Japanese warship, the plain sun disk flag for a merchant vessel. As the war went on, crews added the unofficial ship patch, usually a reference to the name of the boat, and other symbols for shore targets attacked, Allied pilots rescued, and citations and decorations received, until one could read the record of the boat in its often very elaborate battle flag. Here are a few of many examples; those marked with an asterisk are from photographs of flags provided by James Ferrigan.
http://home.earthlink.net/~mcmillanj/unofficial/unofficial.html

Thx HE....Have a good weekend...and thanks for the Daily Pics!

[Raistlin]

Some interesting facts about the traditions behind Israeli insignias from isayeret.com (http://www.isayeret.com):


Following the roe-model set by the British Special Air Service (SAS), the typical Israeli insignia features a center element (usually an animal or a dagger of some kind) and broad open wings from both sides.
http://www.isayeret.com/logos/land/262-logo.gif

As an historic relic from the days it was the most classified Israeli unit, Sayeret MATKAL is the Israeli unit which has a insignia but its soldiers are not allow to ware it, expect during inner-unit gatherings. This is especially ironic since the lack of such insignia is actually a recognition mean by itself. Sayeret MATKAL is also one of handful of units who are freed from wearing a shoulder badge..
http://www.isayeret.com/logos/disbanded/shimshon-logo.gif

In more then 50 years of IDF history, numerous SF were formed, some were later disbanded or were transformed to conventional units. In order to give new units a good start and to boost up the soldiers' moral, new IDF units are often named after historic SF units.

[Fenna]

Why is that beer can soo small?


Bah, American Beer :roll:

Oh come on, complaining about American beer and not even knowing where fosters is from :D

Haven't you seen the adverts?

[Wodan]

http://www.eze33.com/brigade/edel.jpg


The now famous Edelweiss is the renowned symbol of the German Mountain Infantryman. Otherwise known as the Lion's Foot, Edelweiss is found only in the highest of mountainous terrain and as such one needs to travel to very high altitudes in order to obtain it.

http://www.dhm.de/lemo/objekte/pict/pk930043/index.jpg

http://www.1944militaria.com/gjmutzess_small.jpg

http://bundeswehr.kai-schoetteldreier.de/gebirgsjager/embleme.jpg

There was a blurb about this in Band of Brothers!
Is the Edelweiss symbol still used today?

yes it is, why not?

On last picture, it lays on a bundeswehr flecktarn

[Ayura]

Why is that beer can soo small?


Bah, American Beer :roll:

Oh come on, complaining about American beer and not even knowing where fosters is from :D

Haven't you seen the adverts?


OMG, I ment American Sizes....Yes, I know Fosters is from Australia, I wouldnt be a self-respecting brit if I didnt...:)