Beer in the boat

Steiger · 01-02-10, 11:55 AM

I always feel that a patrol goes much better with a nice big glass (or more, depending on patrol length and amount of time being depthcharged) of Guinness or Samuel Smith's. I know that in Nelson's Navy beer was rationed out at something like 1 gallon per man, per day when in home waters. To that end, was beer carried on subs of any country?

01-02-10, 12:00 PM

unless it was some type of cargo i would think not, the reason i say that is the simple space issues so you can carry one botle of whisky for celebrations or the occassional nip with the captain but smuggled items must be easy to hide and not take up much room so thats why IMO beer isnt worth the risk/reward

plus i would think "home brewed" hooch would be easier to find then beer

that said i suppose anythings possible given the right situation

Torplexed · 01-02-10, 12:01 PM

I know German subs carried a few bottles of beer which could be doled out in small quantities to celebrate a victory or holiday.

Sadly, in the US Navy no as of 1914...

GENERAL ORDER NO. 99

NAVY DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D.C., June 1, 1914

CHANGE IN ARTICLE 827, NAVAL INSTRUCTIONS. On July 1, 1914, Article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled and in its stead the following will be substituted:

"The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."

JOSEPHUS DANIELS

Secretary of the Navy.

Steiger · 01-02-10, 12:35 PM

Man, talk about killing the party. :\

Torplexed · 01-02-10, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steiger

Man, talk about killing the party. :\

That wasn't the only party he killed. He also opposed horizontal refreshments. In 1917 Josephus Daniels determined that no prostitution would be permitted within a five-mile radius of naval installations.

Some believe he's responsible for the term 'cup of joe' since the Navy switched to coffee as the beverage of choice.

Steiger · 01-02-10, 12:47 PM

I'm sure his decrees did much for the health of the fleet. However, if you're going to be sunk anyway, who gives a damn? Break out the booze!

Torplexed · 01-02-10, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steiger

However, if you're going to be sunk anyway, who gives a damn? Break out the booze!

That certainly was the philosophy in the Japanese Army. Just about every last-ditch banzai attack was fueled by a liberal dose of sake (rice wine).

Nisgeis · 01-02-10, 01:04 PM

If you read 'Thunder Below!' then find out all about alcohol on the US subs. Regs stated that they could carry half a case of beer per man for picnics. Fluckey had 24 cases of beer, all stacked up in the officers shower. Rum (nasty stuff) was the previous beverage and was the 'depth charge' ration, for use after depth charging to steady the nerves. Fluckey would put 4 cases of beer in the fridge, prior to an attack. Each time he forgot, he missed the ship. Each man would have a single beer with the celebration sinking cake, decorated with the ships they had sunk after each engagement, at a suitable time.

Inner Sound · 01-02-10, 01:06 PM

The Royal Navy's daily grog ration was only stopped in the 70's iirc. Dont know if it was ever issued in the boats. Not sure I'd care to have my forward planesman getting creative at his station.

Nothing to stop us tho

Steiger · 01-02-10, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inner Sound

getting creative at his station.

Hahaha! I lol'd, sir.

That would be one of those "hey, watch this!" famous last word situations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nisgeis

Fluckey had 24 cases of beer, all stacked up in the officers shower.

Now that's a good commander. Putting the well-being of his men first!

razark · 01-02-10, 01:17 PM

I don't know about beer, but I recall reading in one book about the "depth charge medicine" that would be issued to crew members. I believe it was small bottles of brandy.

One instance I remember reading about was after some crew members were working beneath the main deck to repair damage, where they would have been stuck if the boat had been attacked and needed to submerge. The captain ordered a ration of "depth charge medicine" for the men to be released from the medical supplies after they were finished.

I don't remember the specific book, I read it too long ago.

DarkFish · 01-02-10, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

"The use or introduction for drinking purposes [...]"

Bwut sir... I didn't... drwink it on pwurpose... *HIPS*

Steiger · 01-02-10, 01:50 PM

^I'm sure it was just one of those rules like a lot of today's companies have in place just so they can fire someone they don't like for something small that everyone does anyway.

Munchausen · 01-02-10, 02:30 PM

I just did a page search for "torpedo juice" and came up empty. Hard to believe nobody's mentioned it.

Steiger · 01-02-10, 03:43 PM

Just looked it up on wikipedia...Holy cow that's a heck of a drink!

01-02-10, 11:55 AM	#1
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Beer in the boat I always feel that a patrol goes much better with a nice big glass (or more, depending on patrol length and amount of time being depthcharged) of Guinness or Samuel Smith's. I know that in Nelson's Navy beer was rationed out at something like 1 gallon per man, per day when in home waters. To that end, was beer carried on subs of any country? __________________

01-02-10, 12:01 PM	#3
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I know German subs carried a few bottles of beer which could be doled out in small quantities to celebrate a victory or holiday. Sadly, in the US Navy no as of 1914... GENERAL ORDER NO. 99 NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D.C., June 1, 1914 CHANGE IN ARTICLE 827, NAVAL INSTRUCTIONS. On July 1, 1914, Article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled and in its stead the following will be substituted: "The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order." JOSEPHUS DANIELS Secretary of the Navy.

01-02-10, 12:35 PM	#4
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Man, talk about killing the party. :\ __________________

01-02-10, 12:47 PM	#6
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	I'm sure his decrees did much for the health of the fleet. However, if you're going to be sunk anyway, who gives a damn? Break out the booze! __________________

01-02-10, 01:04 PM	#8
Nisgeis Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,909 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 11	If you read 'Thunder Below!' then find out all about alcohol on the US subs. Regs stated that they could carry half a case of beer per man for picnics. Fluckey had 24 cases of beer, all stacked up in the officers shower. Rum (nasty stuff) was the previous beverage and was the 'depth charge' ration, for use after depth charging to steady the nerves. Fluckey would put 4 cases of beer in the fridge, prior to an attack. Each time he forgot, he missed the ship. Each man would have a single beer with the celebration sinking cake, decorated with the ships they had sunk after each engagement, at a suitable time. __________________ -------------------------------- This space left intentionally blank.

01-02-10, 12:00 PM	#2
Webster Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	unless it was some type of cargo i would think not, the reason i say that is the simple space issues so you can carry one botle of whisky for celebrations or the occassional nip with the captain but smuggled items must be easy to hide and not take up much room so thats why IMO beer isnt worth the risk/reward plus i would think "home brewed" hooch would be easier to find then beer that said i suppose anythings possible given the right situation

01-02-10, 01:06 PM	#9
Inner Sound Sparky Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 152 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	The Royal Navy's daily grog ration was only stopped in the 70's iirc. Dont know if it was ever issued in the boats. Not sure I'd care to have my forward planesman getting creative at his station. Nothing to stop us tho

01-02-10, 01:17 PM	#11
razark Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,731 Downloads: 393 Uploads: 12	I don't know about beer, but I recall reading in one book about the "depth charge medicine" that would be issued to crew members. I believe it was small bottles of brandy. One instance I remember reading about was after some crew members were working beneath the main deck to repair damage, where they would have been stuck if the boat had been attacked and needed to submerge. The captain ordered a ration of "depth charge medicine" for the men to be released from the medical supplies after they were finished. I don't remember the specific book, I read it too long ago.

01-02-10, 01:50 PM	#13
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	^I'm sure it was just one of those rules like a lot of today's companies have in place just so they can fire someone they don't like for something small that everyone does anyway. __________________

01-02-10, 02:30 PM	#14
Munchausen Commodore Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 608 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 1	I just did a page search for "torpedo juice" and came up empty. Hard to believe nobody's mentioned it.

01-02-10, 03:43 PM	#15
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Just looked it up on wikipedia...Holy cow that's a heck of a drink! __________________