Why a broom on a real sub? - Page 2

don1reed · 12-06-05, 08:35 PM

Capt. Dudley "Mush" Walker Morton, CO USS Wahoo, I believe, was the first to implement the use of the straw broom lashed to her periscope sheers to indicate a clean sweep. 7 FEB 43.
See Silent Victory by Clair Blair p.385.

Happy St. Nickolas Day.

HMCS · 12-08-05, 01:28 AM

I would prefer the U-Boat tonnage pennants; raise your night periscope and fly a pennant showing your kills and tonnage.

Shadow9216 · 12-09-05, 08:39 AM

The US Navy had a similar process- they flew the ship's battle flag, with one smaller flag for every ship sunk. Red hinomaru on a white background for merchants, a rising sun for warships. This was done regardless of the clean sweep broom.

lesrae · 12-09-05, 08:57 AM

The RN version is the Jolly Roger, flown after a successful patrol. The last time it was used was by HMS TURBULENT after returning from the Persian Gulf in 2003.

If I remember correctly it originated with Max Horton who flew one after Sir Arthur Wilson said that submariners should be hung as pirates.

applesthecat · 12-10-05, 07:26 PM

No, the broom is up there inverted to keep it as far away from the water as possible. Ever tried to use a wet straw broom? :P

Raus · 12-10-05, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applesthecat

No, the broom is up there inverted to keep it as far away from the water as possible. Ever tried to use a wet straw broom? :P

hehehe

CWorth · 12-22-05, 05:59 PM

An old topic but I did not know they still used the broom in the modern submarine fleet...

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the Navyâ€™s first modern guided-missile submarine, took a significant step towards rejoining the fleet Dec. 19, when it arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., with a broom atop its sail to signify its clean sweep of the shipâ€™s initial sea trials.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=21499

Ducimus · 12-22-05, 08:08 PM

I could be mistaken but iremember reading somewhere UK submariners have a similar tradition with the Jolly Rodger.

Steeltrap · 12-22-05, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don1reed

Capt. Dudley "Mush" Walker Morton, CO USS Wahoo, I believe, was the first to implement the use of the straw broom lashed to her periscope sheers to indicate a clean sweep. 7 FEB 43.
See Silent Victory by Clair Blair p.385.

Happy St. Nickolas Day.

Correct - from "Wahoo - The Patrols of America's Most Famous WWII Submarine" [Richard H O'Kane, 1987, Presidio Press]:

"The crew had not had time to make up a flag or pennant decorated with red meatballs or rising suns to designate merchantmen or warships sunk. But some prophetic hand had borrowed one of the large Australian brooms [note - Wahoo had left for this patrol from Brisbane, Australia] used to sweep the dock, and the captain had Lindhe tape it to the very top of the attack scope with bristles up. It told the whole story - a clean sweep - and raised high above restricted radar and such, it quickly became the most photographed broom in the world" p171

12-06-05, 08:35 PM	#1
don1reed Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Valhalla: Silent Generation Posts: 1,149 Downloads: 910 Uploads: 0	Capt. Dudley "Mush" Walker Morton, CO USS Wahoo, I believe, was the first to implement the use of the straw broom lashed to her periscope sheers to indicate a clean sweep. 7 FEB 43. See Silent Victory by Clair Blair p.385. Happy St. Nickolas Day. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. ~ George Orwell

12-09-05, 08:57 AM	#4
lesrae Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 932 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	The RN version is the Jolly Roger, flown after a successful patrol. The last time it was used was by HMS TURBULENT after returning from the Persian Gulf in 2003. If I remember correctly it originated with Max Horton who flew one after Sir Arthur Wilson said that submariners should be hung as pirates. __________________ DOLPHIN 38

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12-08-05, 01:28 AM	#2
HMCS Sonar Guy Join Date: May 2005 Location: Squaresville, daddy-O. Posts: 394 Downloads: 186 Uploads: 0	I would prefer the U-Boat tonnage pennants; raise your night periscope and fly a pennant showing your kills and tonnage.

12-09-05, 08:39 AM	#3
Shadow9216 Frogman Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 296 Downloads: 91 Uploads: 0	The US Navy had a similar process- they flew the ship's battle flag, with one smaller flag for every ship sunk. Red hinomaru on a white background for merchants, a rising sun for warships. This was done regardless of the clean sweep broom.

12-10-05, 07:26 PM	#5
applesthecat Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 135 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	No, the broom is up there inverted to keep it as far away from the water as possible. Ever tried to use a wet straw broom? :P

12-22-05, 05:59 PM	#7
CWorth Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gettysburg PA Posts: 845 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	An old topic but I did not know they still used the broom in the modern submarine fleet... BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the Navyâ€™s first modern guided-missile submarine, took a significant step towards rejoining the fleet Dec. 19, when it arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., with a broom atop its sail to signify its clean sweep of the shipâ€™s initial sea trials. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=21499

12-22-05, 08:08 PM	#8
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	I could be mistaken but iremember reading somewhere UK submariners have a similar tradition with the Jolly Rodger.