The Blue Jackets' Manual Published by the US Navy (1943)
| In 1943 World War II was raging across the Atlantic, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The United States and her allies where in the thick of fighting against the Axis powers of Japan and Germany. |
As I read the long passages of text and study the illustrations, it's clear the Navy of the 1940s has a huge emphasis on duty, honor, courage and discipline. So many strict and detailed regulations. Keeping things squared away, ie: a place for everything and everything in its place.
| The flags of Germany and Japan appear on the first few pages of the book. They are called out as Flags of Principle Maritime Nations. Practically nowhere else in the book is there any indication of the fact that the United States was engaged in a fierce battle with these nations. |
| As anyone who served aboard a warship would expect the Blue Jackets' Manual is organized into logical sections that go into meticulous detail on everything a sailor serving in the Navy must know. |
What I find interesting is a total lack of the sense that the Navy is at war when this book was published. In 1943 the US Navy had been in the thick of World War II for 2 years, and there was no end of the war in sight. One might think the Blue Jackets' Manual would be full of more specific information reflecting the war footing on which the Navy was on. But to my surprise there is nothing in the book that states that the United Sates is at war with Germany and Japan.
Much of what’s here is still applicable today, but what’s not here are the computers, nuclear reactors, cruise missiles and jet aircraft. I am surprised at how much I enjoy reading the long paragraphs. There’s so much great information, both facts for sailors and practical advice for living right.
Much of what I read, reminds me of how much I learned while in Navy schools and aboard ship at sea. There are long sections filled with excruciating detail about life aboard ship. Anyone who has served in the Navy or Marine Corps aboard ship knows about attention to detail. Every small thing, no matter how trivial it may seem during a boring moment when nothing is happening, could be a matter of life and death should disaster strike, and aboard a warship at sea disaster cold strike at any moment. Things like water tight integrity, fire fighting, ship frame and deck numbering are spelled out and gone into with excruciating detail. One example of how important specific details are, is the long section dedicated to the boatswain’s pipe. I had no idea that blowing a boatswain’s pipe was so elaborate.
Reflecting on my read of the 1943 Blue Jackets' Manual, I have to acknowledge that all the travel, cool uniforms and traditions aside; the Navy is a military organization whose sole purpose is bringing the fight to America’s political enemies. If you join for one hitch to get college money or you make it a 30 year career, you should never forget the mission is to project lethal force abroad. And another observation about the Blue Jackets' Manual of 1943 is what’s missing. There are no pictures and no references to people of color and women, which says a lot about our past. There has always been a diverse fighting force, but sadly the book seems to deny or oppress its existence. It's clear when we look at the US Navy today, that we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. ⚓️
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