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Things Nautical and Naval #1 Trivia Quiz

A mixture of Royal Navy and United States Navy trivia that you always wanted to know.

A multiple-choice quiz by clemmydog. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
clemmydog

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
295,544

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1162

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Ships of the Royal Navy fly a distinctive naval ensign instead of the national flag. What other country also has a distinctive naval ensign? Hint

Japan

France

Mexico

Canada

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Question 2 of 10

2. U.S. Naval Regulations require USN vessels to render "passing honors" to what locale?
Hint

The entrance to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The Statue of Liberty

The Tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon

The Rock of Gibraltar

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Question 3 of 10

3. In both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, a ship flying the naval jack close up on the yard arm signifies what?

Hint

A general court martial is in session on board that ship.

A change of command ceremony is being held on board.

That the flagship is requesting all subordinate commanding officers to report onboard.

A ship whose commanding officer has died.

4. In the RN, the "Loyal Toast" is given while sitting because of a special dispensation by King William IV who, while a serving officer in the Royal Navy in the late 18th century, observed that: Hint

The heavy drinking of many of the officers made it difficult for them to stand soberly erect while giving the toast.

The low overhead (ceilings) in the ship's wardrooms of the period made it difficult to stand fully erect.

The rolling and pitching of a man-of-war, under sail, made standing dificult.

A well liked captain of a ship in which he served, was very tall and continually hit his head when he stood.

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Question 5 of 10

5. All U.S. Navy ships fly their assigned 4 letter call signs when entering and leaving port. What is always the first letter of USN call signs? Hint

N (November).

S (Sierra)

U (Uniform)

A (Alpha)

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Question 6 of 10

6. In March of 1845, HMS Rattler and HMS Alecto engaged in a series of tests conducted at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. One of these tests was quite unusual in that the two ships were: Hint

Tested over a ten nautical mile course to see which would cross the finish line first, starting from a "cold iron" status. (Both ships starting with cold unfired boilers.)

Tested in a "tug of war" to see which was more powerful.

Tested over a ten nautical mile course, sail against power. One starting from a "cold iron" status, the other starting with her"yards uncrossed" (no sails bent on).

Fitted with underwater rams on their bow and tested against a condemmed hulk to see which could do the most damage.

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Question 7 of 10

7. In order to become a Golden Shellback you must do what? Hint

Cross the line at Lat 180 Lon 0.

Cross the line at Lat 180, Lon 180.

Cross the line at Lat 0, Lon 0.

Cross the line at Lat 0, Lon 180.

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Question 8 of 10

8. In the USN, most aircraft carriers and all destroyers are named for presidents, admirals or naval heroes. Can a single naval vessel be named for more than one individual?

Yes

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the USN, the commission pennant is considered "the distinctive mark of a ship or craft of the Navy in commission". It is first hoisted when a ship is placed in commission. When is it lowered? Hint

Only while the ship is in extended overhaul, six months or more, and when the ship is decommissioned.

Never, while the ship is in commission.

When a officer entitled to fly a personal flag is embarked, and when the ship is decommissioned.

Daily, with the raising and lowering of the national colors.

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Question 10 of 10

10. What class of U.S. Naval Ships routinely have two commanding officers assigned to them? Hint

Seawolf Class Submarines.

Los Angeles Class Submarines.

Virginia Class Submarines.

Ohio Class Submarines.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ships of the Royal Navy fly a distinctive naval ensign instead of the national flag. What other country also has a distinctive naval ensign?

Answer: Japan

The Japanese Naval Ensign is the "rising sun" flag, familiar from WW2. The national flag is a red sun on a white field.

In researching this question I found that most national navy's fly flags different from the country's national flag. The U.S. has no distinctive naval ensign.

2. U.S. Naval Regulations require USN vessels to render "passing honors" to what locale?

Answer: The Tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is located on the shore of the Potomac River. Ships transiting from Chesapeake Bay to Washington, DC. via the Potomac River pass close to Mount Vernon. In years passed, naval vessels routinely came to the Washington Navy Yard for repairs.

The yard is now a naval museum and ships rarely come to the yard except on special occasions. Nevertheless the regulation is still in effect. The only other place so honored is the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. (That would have been too easy an answer)

3. In both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, a ship flying the naval jack close up on the yard arm signifies what?

Answer: A general court martial is in session on board that ship.

This regulation, while still "on the books" has probably been rarely seen since WW2. Because of the serious nature of such a court and the ready availability of transportation, the need to hold a general court on board a ship has disappeared. But it's a good trivia question.

4. In the RN, the "Loyal Toast" is given while sitting because of a special dispensation by King William IV who, while a serving officer in the Royal Navy in the late 18th century, observed that:

Answer: The low overhead (ceilings) in the ship's wardrooms of the period made it difficult to stand fully erect.

King William IV saw active service in the Royal Navy for 12 years. Joining as a midshipman in 1778 at the age of 13, he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1789. Not a bad rise for a career of 11 years. I think he may have had a little "pull".

5. All U.S. Navy ships fly their assigned 4 letter call signs when entering and leaving port. What is always the first letter of USN call signs?

Answer: N (November).

The 4 letter call sign of all ships owned or leased by a U.S. government entity begins with "November". These call signs are recognized as the "official" identifier to all other vessels; foreign military and merchant. The ship may have other identifiers for use within the USN. Voice calls, such as "Downwind"; the call sign my old ship used: are used for encrypted voice communications.

6. In March of 1845, HMS Rattler and HMS Alecto engaged in a series of tests conducted at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. One of these tests was quite unusual in that the two ships were:

Answer: Tested in a "tug of war" to see which was more powerful.

In the 1840s, the controversy over which was a better propulsion method for warships--propeller or paddle wheel--was still to be settled. The paddle wheel was a simpler system to build and maintain than the propeller, but it was much more prone to battle damage than the propeller-driven ship.

It came down to which was the more powerful and efficient propulsion system. To determine this the Admiralty decided to test two ship of about the same size and engine power, one, HMS Rattler, a 12 gun, wooden, screw propelled sloop of a little over 1100 tons displacement, against HMS Alecto of similar size but driven by paddle wheels. How to test this? Simple, just tie the two ships together, stern to stern, and see who can drag who "over the line." HMS Rattler walked away with it, pulling HMS Alecto backwards at a speed of two knots

7. In order to become a Golden Shellback you must do what?

Answer: Cross the line at Lat 0, Lon 180.

Being initiated into "The Ancient and Honorable Order of the Deep" as a golden shellback, crossing the equator at the international date line, is a relatively rare event in the USN. Navy ships deploying to Westpac,(western Pacific for you civilian types) cross the line, when making a port call in Australia. The return course to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii can bring the ship close to Lat.0, Lon. 180. If circumstances permit, most ships will alter their course so as to cross at that position. You get a cool-looking certificate.

The position of Lat. 180 doesn't exist. Latitude is measured from 0 degrees, North or South to 90 degrees.

The position of Lat.0, Lon.0 is in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Africa. I have no idea what you would be called if you crossed at that position.

8. In the USN, most aircraft carriers and all destroyers are named for presidents, admirals or naval heroes. Can a single naval vessel be named for more than one individual?

Answer: Yes

The USS The Sullivans DDG 68, the second ship of the fleet to be so named, is named for the 5 Sullivan brothers who died, in November, 1942, when their ship, the USS Juneau, CL 52, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. This was the greatest single loss, by an American family during WW2. This loss changed the navy's policy about assigning family members to the same ship.

Answer: When a officer entitled to fly a personal flag is embarked, and when the ship is decommissioned.

An officer entitled to fly a personal flag is either a Rear Admiral and above, or an officer, below the rank of Rear Admiral, in tactical command of more than one ship. e.g. commander of a squadron or division of ships. This personal flag is flown in place of the commission pennant and on the same halyard.

10. What class of U.S. Naval Ships routinely have two commanding officers assigned to them?

Answer: Ohio Class Submarines.

The Ohio Class Submarines were all originally designed to carry ballistic missiles, and to serve as part of the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent force. As such they are required to spend much of their time at sea. To ease the human burden, two separate captains and crews are assigned to each submarine.

These crews, "Blue" and "Gold" relieve each other at approximately ninety day intervals, taking ten days to two weeks for the "turn over." Four of the older Ohios have been converted from SSBN to SSGN and now carry cruise missiles in place of ballistic missiles.

These SSGN still operate with the Blue and Gold crew system.

Source: Author clemmydog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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