Splice the mainbrace
"Splice the mainbrace" is an order given aboard naval vessels to issue the crew with an
History
A
Other navies abolished the grog allowance far earlier (the United States Navy after the American Civil War),[8] but the order persisted, allowing the crew to take another drink in place of rum or grog; in 1845 it is recorded as being substituted for the more rowdy "Crossing the Line" ceremony.[9] The Royal New Zealand Navy was the last navy to issue junior and senior ratings a daily tot of rum, issuing its last daily rum ration on 1 March 1990. Today the Royal Canadian Navy is more generous with the allowances, allowing crew members to take 87.5 millilitres (3.08 imp fl oz; 2.96 US fl oz) of spirits compared with the 62.5 millilitres (2.20 imp fl oz; 2.11 US fl oz) allowed by the Royal Navy, although the Royal Navy does make allowance for paucity of supplies, permitting two 350 millilitres (12 imp fl oz; 12 US fl oz) cans of beer to be issued if commercial spirits are not available.[10][11]
The order "Splice the Mainbrace" was still popular with some of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet during WWII. On
Permission to issue the order to splice the mainbrace is heavily restricted; the Royal Navy allows only the
In Canada, the order was most recently given by Queen Elizabeth II on 29 June 2010 at the conclusion of the International Fleet Review for the occasion of the Royal Canadian Navy's 100th Anniversary. She signalled:
It has given me great pleasure to return with the Duke of Edinburgh to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to witness the International Fleet Review celebrating the Centennial of Canada's Navy. Maritime Command has confirmed through the smartness of its people and ships, and superb execution of the International Fleet Review, the best traditions of service on the sea. I offer to all the officers, men and women of the Canadian Atlantic Fleet my congratulations. It is particularly pleasing to see the strong bonds forged by Canada's Navy with the Allied Navies gathered here today. May all visiting sailors and delegations return safely to their home ports with fond memories of this historic celebration. I know how greatly the dockyard and other supporting services have contributed to making this International Fleet review an occasion which I shall long remember. The Royal Canadian Navy can take great pride in the accomplishments of the past, in its ongoing service to Canada, and the Significant contribution to Security on the world's oceans. Prince Philip and I send our warm good wishes to all of you and look forward to following your important endeavours as you sail to meet the challenges of another century of service. Splice the mainbrace.
— Elizabeth R[20]
In other cultures
German maritime tradition uses the term "Besanschot an!" (belay(ed) spanker sheet!)[21]
References
- ^ Kusk Jensen: "Handbuch der praktischen Seemanschaft auf traditionellen Segelschiffen", 1998, p. 172 (orig. 1924)
- ^ a b "Navy Slang". Royal Navy. 2006. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ "Ceremony and Traditions". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
- ^ a b "HMAS Nizam". Sea Power Centre Australia. 2006-04-08. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
- ^ "Splicing the Mainbrace". Royal Navy. 2005-07-11. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2006.
- ^ Dan van der Vat (2004-05-20). "Obituary: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ISBN 978-1425984489.
- ^ C. L. Veit. "Integration in the US Navy". Naval Landing Party. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ "Chaplain Walter Colton, USN, on United States frigate Congress, 10 Dec. 1845". Department of the Navy. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ a b "CFAO 36-35 -- Spirit Issue". Finance and Corporate Services Canada. 1989-08-04. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ a b "Supplementary Income" (PDF). UK Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ Eugene B. Fluckey, 1992, "Thunder Below!: The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II"
- ^ Eugene B. Fluckey (1992). "Thunder Below! The USS Barb revolutionizes submarine warfare in World War II". University of Illinois Press. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "The Princes on the Mediterranean". The Guardian. 1932-07-11. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ Jerry Proc. "The End of Hostilities". Friends of HMCS Haida. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ "Amethyst Crew Gets Royal Order to 'Splice Mainbrace'". The News and Courier. 1949-08-01. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "RRS James Clark Ross". British Antarctic Survey. 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ "Queen tells Navy to splice the mainbrace following Jubilee efforts". Navy News. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ https://jfcbs.nato.int/community/news-and-events/community-news/jfc-brunssum-royal-naval-personnel-splice-the-mainbrace
- ^ Message: 291215Z June 10, Subject: Splice the Main Brace, NDHQ CMS OTTAWA
- ^ "Der Tag, an dem die Navy trockenfiel". Yacht online, 2013