Swimming in WW2's Navy

swellfella · 09-11-17, 04:30 PM

This must have been hit on somewhere sometime on these boards, but please permit me to vent anew.

It's always been a quirksome itch to me the number of guys in the Navy in WW2 who couldn't swim!

Granted we were at war and could only be so choosy but... Jeeze, out on a boat, hundreds if not thousands of miles offshore in a time of war and you can't swim. How many guys did we lose because to this one seemingly prerequisite to water war.

I'm in the middle of research of Navy messman being trained in Norfolk prior to entering the wardrooms and shore kitchens of the Navy during this period and even these guys had to pass swimming classes in order to qualify for liberty.

And certainly subbers and the 100 foot escape tower was required yet I'm reading of at least one subber (a messman) who drowned after escaping to the surface from a sunken sub (Tang).

I'd appreciate any comeback from you guys on this for information sake and my morbid sense of bewilderment on a subject that on its face seems so self -evident and basic.

Buddahaid · 09-11-17, 04:38 PM

I know what you mean. I was appalled at the number of kids living on the BVI who couldn't swim. My friends would always offer lessons when they visited.

August · 09-11-17, 07:09 PM

From what I read the inability to swim (and the reluctance to learn) has always been common thing among sailors. The idea being that if your ship sinks out at sea, being able to swim only prolongs ones agony without realistically increasing the chance of survival.

Gargamel · 09-11-17, 07:57 PM

Consider this though....

The ratio of sailors who can swim on their own is far far greater than the ratio of pilots who can fly under their own power.

Buddahaid · 09-11-17, 08:29 PM

That's just not fair! Where's my safe zone....

propbeanie · 09-11-17, 09:43 PM

Getting a dose of seawater in your face as you're inhaling while jumping off a ship probably has a tendency to take one aback, and if you are not a very strong swimmer, might even cause a panic. I inhaled seawater through my snorkle (quite by accident - the wife was on the other side of the cove) while on vacation in Hawaii. Talk about ruining the day! I like to never recovered for a week. That salt water getting into me took it out of me way more than freshwater ever did swimming or kayaking. Also, don't forget, there's supposed to be plenty of life boats and life preservers on a ship... 'Course, they probably never mentioned all them bullet, cannon and torpedo holes in things, plus the fuel fires... and the exposure and the sharks... and don't forget about hypothermia in the northern climes...

Jimbuna · 09-12-17, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Consider this though....

The ratio of sailors who can swim on their own is far far greater than the ratio of pilots who can fly under their own power.

Beat me to it

swellfella · 09-12-17, 10:40 AM

Ah know I stressed WW2, but I wonder how the same question reflects on the modern Navy? Any of you vets have any reflections on how the present Navy handles the idea? Like if there's an official or quasi-official stance on recruits being able to swim?

Certainly the old saw mentioned about what the bleep good is swimming if you're down in the middle of the pacific with no immediately rescue on the horizon...particularly in regard to subbers in a downed boat. But however prevalent this view among sailors of whatever stripe, me hardly think it in no shape, form or fashion the 'official' position.

09-11-17, 04:30 PM	#1
swellfella Seaman Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East US Posts: 31 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	Swimming in WW2's Navy This must have been hit on somewhere sometime on these boards, but please permit me to vent anew. It's always been a quirksome itch to me the number of guys in the Navy in WW2 who couldn't swim! Granted we were at war and could only be so choosy but... Jeeze, out on a boat, hundreds if not thousands of miles offshore in a time of war and you can't swim. How many guys did we lose because to this one seemingly prerequisite to water war. I'm in the middle of research of Navy messman being trained in Norfolk prior to entering the wardrooms and shore kitchens of the Navy during this period and even these guys had to pass swimming classes in order to qualify for liberty. And certainly subbers and the 100 foot escape tower was required yet I'm reading of at least one subber (a messman) who drowned after escaping to the surface from a sunken sub (Tang). I'd appreciate any comeback from you guys on this for information sake and my morbid sense of bewilderment on a subject that on its face seems so self -evident and basic. __________________ This shark, swallow you whole; No shakin', no tenderisin', down you go. -Quint

09-11-17, 04:38 PM	#2
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	I know what you mean. I was appalled at the number of kids living on the BVI who couldn't swim. My friends would always offer lessons when they visited. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

09-11-17, 07:09 PM	#3
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	From what I read the inability to swim (and the reluctance to learn) has always been common thing among sailors. The idea being that if your ship sinks out at sea, being able to swim only prolongs ones agony without realistically increasing the chance of survival. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

09-11-17, 07:57 PM	#4
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Consider this though.... The ratio of sailors who can swim on their own is far far greater than the ratio of pilots who can fly under their own power. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

09-11-17, 08:29 PM	#5
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	That's just not fair! Where's my safe zone.... __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

09-11-17, 09:43 PM	#6
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,098 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	Getting a dose of seawater in your face as you're inhaling while jumping off a ship probably has a tendency to take one aback, and if you are not a very strong swimmer, might even cause a panic. I inhaled seawater through my snorkle (quite by accident - the wife was on the other side of the cove) while on vacation in Hawaii. Talk about ruining the day! I like to never recovered for a week. That salt water getting into me took it out of me way more than freshwater ever did swimming or kayaking. Also, don't forget, there's supposed to be plenty of life boats and life preservers on a ship... 'Course, they probably never mentioned all them bullet, cannon and torpedo holes in things, plus the fuel fires... and the exposure and the sharks... and don't forget about hypothermia in the northern climes... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

09-12-17, 10:40 AM	#8
swellfella Seaman Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East US Posts: 31 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	Ah know I stressed WW2, but I wonder how the same question reflects on the modern Navy? Any of you vets have any reflections on how the present Navy handles the idea? Like if there's an official or quasi-official stance on recruits being able to swim? Certainly the old saw mentioned about what the bleep good is swimming if you're down in the middle of the pacific with no immediately rescue on the horizon...particularly in regard to subbers in a downed boat. But however prevalent this view among sailors of whatever stripe, me hardly think it in no shape, form or fashion the 'official' position. __________________ This shark, swallow you whole; No shakin', no tenderisin', down you go. -Quint