The Fantail
Information
In nautical terms the fantail is the furthest aft part of the main deck of a warship, sort of the 'back porch', where Sailors off watch go to grab a cup of coffee, smoke a cigarette, tell sea stories, or share a ribald joke.
Members: 15
Latest Activity: Jan 3, 2016
WHAT'S THE FANTAIL?
If you look up "fantail" in your Funk and Wagnalls you'll find it defined something like "An Australian or Oriental flycatcher (genus Rhipidura) having fan-shaped tail feathers."
Funk and Wagnall's don't have a clue!
On the other hand, if you were a tin-can Sailor (prize to the first non-Sailor who correctly tells us what a "tin-can Sailor" is) you'd immediately envision a picture sorta like the one above.
In nautical terms the fantail is the furthest aft part of the main deck of a warship, sort of the 'back porch', where Sailors off watch go to grab a cup of coffee, smoke a cigarette, tell sea stories (what's the difference between a sea story and a fairy tale?), discuss the next liberty port, brag about the gal they met in the last liberty port, or tell their buddies what they're going to do about the guy who caused their girl-next-door to send them a "Dear John". It's where a snipe goes to get a breath of fresh air after a long watch in the engineroom, or where a young Ensign on his first sea cruise goes to watch God's sunset as no landlubber ever saw one and maybe be lucky enough to see the "green flash". It's where a crusty old Chief takes a wayward Seaman Deuce for a private a$$ chewing away from his mates in the workspace, and it's where the Skipper musters "all hands not actually on watch" to publicly commend the crew for all the hard work that went into their ship earning the squadron battle efficiency "E" for the 3rh consecutive year.
I think that we ought to have a "fantail" here on Navy Dads, so I've started one. It will be an informal place, free of political correctness, with maybe sometimes salty (but never crude-just-to-be-crude or offensive) language, and like the fantail of a ship, a place to "be ourselves".
Now, anyone have a spare smoke? --- I seem to be fresh out
Discussion Forum
Bastard!
Started by Hans, The Old Salt. Last reply by no1ref Sep 23, 2014. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by MarkM on January 11, 2010 at 10:36pm
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Hans, this is a great idea. Non squid Dads can come here and read about things they won't see in the recruiting literature.
I served 4 years active and 7 years reserve, from 1976-1987.
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Comment by Tom B on September 5, 2009 at 9:00pm
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Saw this and thought I would join. I was talking to a friend at my class reunion last week about a mid watch I had. I was on the fantail as the aft lookout and a whale surfaced and scared the crap out of me. He is retired from the under water navy, and told they call the fantail " the target".
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Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on August 27, 2009 at 8:48pm
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there is a post about that in the Prayers group
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Man oh man Have I BEEN THERE Jim!!! Sometimes it would be mucho better to be a pawn than a king!!!!!!!
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been there...hope things are better now...............
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I chuckle over these every time I look at them!!!!!!!! He's got a ton at www.broadside.net
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How helmsmen are made? With apologies to any pilots out there.....
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A great follow-up to The Last Stand is a book called Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas. It is a fairly detailed examination of the four great commanders in that epic battle: Halsey, Kurita, Ugaki, and Evans. It is a much drier read, but if you are interested in learning about the men behind the names, it is worth it.
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Comment by Paige on August 2, 2009 at 1:16am
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Paul, it is clearly a popular book. I had a hard time finding a company that had the book in stock. I found the paperback version for a reasonable price, so I ordered two. One to give to Billy and the other for myself to read and then I will pass it on to my WWII Navy veteran grandfather. Thanks for all the great reviews!
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