Real Submarine Technology & History Q&A

DaveyJ576 · 05-24-09, 03:51 PM

Here is an interesting sidebar to Platapus's post about the title and rank of Captain.

An ensign is the lowest officer rank, and is the first rank an officer achieves after graduating from the Naval Academy position of Midshipman. Ensigns are usually in a bad spot. They are so junior and inexperienced that the enlisted men will barely give them the time of day. The other officers naturally look down at them and are sometimes treated only marginally better than the chairs they sit on. They have to fight for every ounce of respect they get. However, they are still commissioned officers and are expected by the Commanding Officer to take charge and lead men.

In the early days of the New Steel Navy of the 1900's, there were occasions in which an ensign was placed in command of a ship. One such occasion occurred in 1908 when an ensign took command of the USS Decatur (DD-5), a destroyer based at Cavite in the Philippines. In accordance with naval tradition, even this most junior of all officers would have been granted the honorary title of Captain while aboard his ship.

Even though this ensign was considered highly competent, he still managed to run the Decatur aground. He was subsequently tried by court-martial and received a letter of reprimand.

Bouncing back from this incident, this determined officer transferred to submarine duty and eventually moved on to command the submarines C-5, D-1, and E-1 in addition to several submarine flotillas and squadrons. In 1912 he received the Lifesaving Medal for saving an enlisted crewman from drowning.

Devoted to the Navy, this officer went on to have a brilliant career. He served as an admiral's aide, and was the Executive Officer of the battleship South Carolina. He went on to command the heavy cruisers Chicago and Augusta, commanded Battleship Division One, and eventually was appointed the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.

What eventually became of this lowly ensign, who as Captain managed to run his destroyer aground? On December 17th, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and advanced him to the rank of full Admiral. He brilliantly led our Navy to victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy in WWII.

His name? Chester William Nimitz. Tomorrow, as you celebrate Memorial Day, remember this man. Celebrate his life and accomplishments, along with all of the other men and women who have fought to keep us free.

05-24-09, 03:51 PM	#11
DaveyJ576 Officer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 241 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Here is an interesting sidebar to Platapus's post about the title and rank of Captain. An ensign is the lowest officer rank, and is the first rank an officer achieves after graduating from the Naval Academy position of Midshipman. Ensigns are usually in a bad spot. They are so junior and inexperienced that the enlisted men will barely give them the time of day. The other officers naturally look down at them and are sometimes treated only marginally better than the chairs they sit on. They have to fight for every ounce of respect they get. However, they are still commissioned officers and are expected by the Commanding Officer to take charge and lead men. In the early days of the New Steel Navy of the 1900's, there were occasions in which an ensign was placed in command of a ship. One such occasion occurred in 1908 when an ensign took command of the USS Decatur (DD-5), a destroyer based at Cavite in the Philippines. In accordance with naval tradition, even this most junior of all officers would have been granted the honorary title of Captain while aboard his ship. Even though this ensign was considered highly competent, he still managed to run the Decatur aground. He was subsequently tried by court-martial and received a letter of reprimand. Bouncing back from this incident, this determined officer transferred to submarine duty and eventually moved on to command the submarines C-5, D-1, and E-1 in addition to several submarine flotillas and squadrons. In 1912 he received the Lifesaving Medal for saving an enlisted crewman from drowning. Devoted to the Navy, this officer went on to have a brilliant career. He served as an admiral's aide, and was the Executive Officer of the battleship South Carolina. He went on to command the heavy cruisers Chicago and Augusta, commanded Battleship Division One, and eventually was appointed the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. What eventually became of this lowly ensign, who as Captain managed to run his destroyer aground? On December 17th, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and advanced him to the rank of full Admiral. He brilliantly led our Navy to victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy in WWII. His name? Chester William Nimitz. Tomorrow, as you celebrate Memorial Day, remember this man. Celebrate his life and accomplishments, along with all of the other men and women who have fought to keep us free. Last edited by DaveyJ576; 05-24-09 at 05:09 PM.