January 9, 200818 yr A little off the wall I admit, but this is the best place I can think of to pose the question since this group has members from all over the world. A retired SMCM buddy of mine asked me about the "Rum Ration" practice in the British Navy as opposed to the strict dry policy in the USN and also the Navy's of the rest of the world. Any of you guys from other nations, please let me know. Thanx, Buddha [Thread moved here from the Harpoon Classic forum. -CV32]
January 9, 200818 yr I understand 'grog' was quite normal maybe 100 years or so ago, but not now, and that the RN itself discontinued the practise ? (Unofficially, of course. I expect standard 'grog' aboard Canadian naval ships is perhaps Molson or Labatts? )
January 9, 200818 yr I understand 'grog' was quite normal maybe 100 years or so ago, but not now, and that the RN itself discontinued the practise ? (Unofficially, of course. I expect standard 'grog' aboard Canadian naval ships is perhaps Molson or Labatts? ) USN/USMC has/had a policy of 2 beers per man at the end of the 45th consecutive day at sea. I lived it twice during my 90 days cutting figure-eights into the sea of the west coast of Africa in 1990 aboard USS Saipan. The called off flight ops, opened Steel Beach, you presented your ID card and then popped the tops on two cans of beer. It had gaping holes in accountability in which the ship itself could have sailed through. You had many sailors and Marines below the "drinking age", many non-drinkers, if you wanted to get pie-eyed, you definitely could. I'm a little foggy on what course I took.
January 9, 200818 yr Author I understand 'grog' was quite normal maybe 100 years or so ago, but not now, and that the RN itself discontinued the practise ? (Unofficially, of course. I expect standard 'grog' aboard Canadian naval ships is perhaps Molson or Labatts? ) USN/USMC has/had a policy of 2 beers per man at the end of the 45th consecutive day at sea. I lived it twice during my 90 days cutting figure-eights into the sea of the west coast of Africa in 1990 aboard USS Saipan. The called off flight ops, opened Steel Beach, you presented your ID card and then popped the tops on two cans of beer. It had gaping holes in accountability in which the ship itself could have sailed through. You had many sailors and Marines below the "drinking age", many non-drinkers, if you wanted to get pie-eyed, you definitely could. I'm a little foggy on what course I took. The USN must have eased up a little. I did 118 days in the IO aboard the Midway, and we only had one beer day, at the 90 point IIRC. The rest of what you say, regarding getting loaded, certainly was the same then. Buddha
January 10, 200818 yr The USN must have eased up a little. I did 118 days in the IO aboard the Midway, and we only had one beer day, at the 90 point IIRC. The rest of what you say, regarding getting loaded, certainly was the same then. Budda - one beer a day, after the 90 day mark? We got just a one-time two beer alottment at the 45th consecutive day, then start marking the days again. Depending how long you were transiting/MODLOC you may have made out on the deal. Also spoke to a former Royal Marine at work today, he did not recall exactly what it was back in late 70's but said it was not what all the old salts remembered (Ah sea stories). Hopefully someone else with RN/RM experience can expound.
January 12, 200818 yr Author The USN must have eased up a little. I did 118 days in the IO aboard the Midway, and we only had one beer day, at the 90 point IIRC. The rest of what you say, regarding getting loaded, certainly was the same then. Budda - one beer a day, after the 90 day mark? We got just a one-time two beer alottment at the 45th consecutive day, then start marking the days again. Depending how long you were transiting/MODLOC you may have made out on the deal. Also spoke to a former Royal Marine at work today, he did not recall exactly what it was back in late 70's but said it was not what all the old salts remembered (Ah sea stories). Hopefully someone else with RN/RM experience can expound. Sorry for the confusion. Not one beer per day, I meant one day where you got two beers. After that, it was dry for another 90 days. Buddha
January 16, 200818 yr Also spoke to a former Royal Marine at work today, he did not recall exactly what it was back in late 70's but said it was not what all the old salts remembered (Ah sea stories). Hopefully someone else with RN/RM experience can expound. Ok... traditional way was to pipe up spirits twice a day, usually 11.30AM and about 4.30AM. Grog (water + rum or wine) was served, usually a quart per man. Worked out to half a pint of rum a day. Then again, sailing ships took a lot of muscle to steer. It was down to the Capitain to decide exactly when and how much though. These days... it's actually pretty similar. I recall an incident (I think the Uganda, could have been on-shore hospital) during the Falklands where the tot was issued. The purser presented the bill to the CO who sent it to the Ministry of Defence - who paid up. Captain/commanding officer decides when "arduous duty" is reached. I would guess the one exception would be aircrew, who would need some serious rank to gain access to a preflight snifter.
January 16, 200818 yr I've been on a few frigates and I was at the commission ceremony for HMCS St. John's. Granted it was a few years ago but they had a beer dispenser very similar to a soda dispenser that you see in offices and cafeterias around the world. IIRC it was 50 cents for a beer. I understand it was for when the ship was tied to the dock and was locked out when at sea. If there's a serving RCN member the he'd be able to help my spotty memory. Later D
January 17, 200818 yr The USN ended the rum ration in 1862. The RN ended the rum ration on July 31, 1970, known as "Black Tot Day".
February 21, 200818 yr Don't know what current policy is but Wine was pretty comon for portuguese officers and NCO's for lunch and dinner a single glass usually on shore on boat it was not a daily thing but it wasn't an odity to have some wine usually dispenced in lovely giant brown cubes similar to what usa navy uses for mixed koolaid wanabe drinks. Don't know about regular enlisted my uncle was a sgt. and later went to officer school and got his bars I wasn't born yet when he was still squabing decks
March 15, 200818 yr They should bring it back, for the men when they are off duty. No loopholes or circumvention of the regs, just straight, up-front service.
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