[Paul T]

How many Shellbacks
Blue noses
Orders of the ditch
travelers of Magellan
Cape horn

[cajun 48]

+1 For the Blue nose! aj b

[Big Dog]

I'm a Shellback - 1983 Med/IO cruise.

[lynxpilot]

Shellback, Bluenose, Panama Canal, Strait of Magellan. Probably others. Last two were with Royal Navy, so there was no ceremony to it.

[stephaneb]

anybody care to instruct me ? I found what shellbacks are I imagine what travellers of Magellans are, same with cape Horn.
What about the others ?

[danf6975]

hehehehehehe remember your first shellback party on steel beach . those where the days.

[Big Dog]

Basic initiation rituals. Kinda like a Fraternity thing. Go through Heck, have fun, get a card and big wall certificate. Great fun! I imagine it's been watered down now, with PC in the services now.
Bluenose = Cross the Arctic Circle.
Shellback = Cross the Equator.

[stephaneb]

thanks, I would imagine that when you cross the Artic cirle your nose is more red than blue....hehe
What about the order of the ditch ? looks like it is related to the coast guards...

[Big Dog]

One of the Canals - either Panama or Suez. I did the Suez Canal, but we had nothing special for it.

[danf6975]

you guys got certificates and cards ? man all we got was skinned knees ,sunburned , and bruised in various places. ahh but then that was before they introduced females to our ship.

btw for those that dont know i am veteran of 2 sevices .thats why i can comment on both army and navy stuff(personally i liked the army much more but then again i spent 10 more years in it than the navy .)

[Paul T]

Being wacked with shelalighs Hosed down for sunrise services.
Plenty of fermented foul smelling garbage. Meeting the real Royals.
Great fun back in 76.
Blue nose in the 80s
Both ditches
Thru both of the big straights. Magellan and the Horn