World War II
The Bluejackets' Manual, 1940
United States Naval Institute
Annapolis, Maryland, 1940
Copyright 1938 and annually thereafter

    THE Bluejackets' Manual, originally prepared in 1902 by Lieutenant Ridley McLean, United States Navy, and revised in 1914, 1916, 1922, and 1927, has been revised again by the United States Naval Institute as authorized and approved by the Bureau of Navigation. The training courses of the Bureau of Navigation have furnished a medium for issuing information of a specialized and technical character to the service. The purpose of this revision has been to modernize the manual so that it agrees in substance with the latest training courses and included such other information as would tend to make the able seaman and a thorough man-o'-war's man.
The Manual is divided in the following parts :
Part I. For the recruit.
Part II. (A to N) The subjects which every man on board ship should know.
part III. Rudimentary seamanship and gunnery.
Part IV. Advanced seamanship and gunnery.
Part V . Physical drills.
Part VI. Landing Force.
Part VII. Miscellaneous.
    The chapters in the Bluejackets' Manual which give the details of the manual of arms, infantry artillery, extended order, and landing force are sections of the revised Landing Force Manual which have not yet been printed.
William D. Leahy,   Acting
March, 1938

FORWARD TO NINTH EDITION (REVISED)
    This revised edition is necessary because of the changes in the landing force regulations; otherwise, except for a few minor corrections, it is the same as the eighth edition published in 1938.
G. V. STEWART, Captain, U.S. Navy
Secretary-Treasurer, U.S. Naval Institute
April, 1939

FORWARD TO THE TENTH EDITION
    This tenth edition has become necessary by the Navy's adoption of the U.S. Army's drill regulations and the desirability of new type setting for clearness of print. As compared with the ninth edition (revised) th following changes should be noted :
    chapters 7, 8, and 9 now accord with the close order drill of the U.S. Army.
Chapter 1, "Artillery : School of the Platoon," has been replaced by "Cart Drill."
Chapter 51, "Artillery : 75-mm Pack Howitzer," has been omitted because that weapon will no longer be carried aboard ship.
G. V. STEWART, Captain, U. S. Navy
Secretary-Treasurer, U. S. Naval Institute
June, 1940
NATIONAL ANTHEM

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THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light
    What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
    O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
    Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes.
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
   As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;
    Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
    Between their loved home and the war's desolations;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
    Praise the Power that has made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just
And this be our motto : "in God is our trust";
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.



CONTENTS
PART 1. -- FOR THE RECRUIT

CHAPTER 1. -- The Navy as a Career		3
	Your naval Career; Leader of men; General education; You enter the naval training station; Receiving unit; Pertinent advice.
CHAPTER 2. -- Clothing		9
	Drawing clothing; Regulations for marking clothing; Prescribed outfit; Regulation clothing; Special advice about clothing; Folding clothes; Stowing clothes; Bag inspection; Stopping clothes on line.
CHAPTER 3. -- General Information		16
	Hammocks; Cleanliness; Field day; Inspection; Medical service; Ship's service; Important pints; Government insurance; Liberty; Deposits of money for safekeeping or saving; Friends; Gambling; Profanity; Moral turpitude; Athletics and recreations; Mast for requests; Captains's mast; Seeing the captain and executive officer; Officers at training station; Officers aboard ship.
CHAPTER 4. -- Rule and Regulations		27
	Rules of discipline; Respect for authority; Good behavior; The two-fold nature of duty in the Navy; Refusal to obey; Result of misconduct; Neglect of duty; Deliberate violations of orders or regulations; Punishments in the Navy
CHAPTER 5. -- Rule and Regulations -- Continued		33
	Unauthorized absence; Desertion; Fraudulent enlistment; Fines; Summary; Theft; Articles for the government of the Navy; Redress of wrongs; Fighting and disturbances; Rules regarding salutes.
CHAPTER 6. -- School of the Recruit		41
	Position of attention; Salute with the hand; The rests; Eyes right or left; Facing; Steps and marching; To face in marching; To change step.
CHAPTER 7. -- Manual of Arms		48
CHAPTER 8. -- School of the Squad		59
CHAPTER 9. -- School of the Platoon		63
CHAPTER 10. -- Boats under Oars		74
	Tables of commands; Explanation of commands
CHAPTER 11. -- To pull an Oar; Nomenclature		85
	Positions; Nomenclature; Notes on handling boats under oars.
CHAPTER 12. -- Knots and Splices		94
	Knots; Long and short splices.
CHAPTER 13. -- The Compass		99
	Description; Relative bearings.
CHAPTER 14. --Visual Signaling		103
	Semaphore; Semaphore alphabet; Procedure signs; Calls.
CHAPTER 15. -- How to Swim		107
	The requirements; The strokes; Treading water; Conclusion.
CHAPTER 16. -- What the Navy Offers		119
	Service schools; General requirements for entry to service schools; Appointment of enlisted men to Naval Academy; Promotion to warrant rank; Promotion to commissioned rank; Pay grades; The future the Navy has to offer; Conclusion.
CHAPTER 17. -- Reporting for Duty aboard Ship		125
	General instructions.
	PART 2. -- SUBJECTS ALL ENLISTED MEN SHOULD KNOW -- A TO N
CHAPTER 18. -- A -- Discipline and Duty		131
	Twofold nature of duty in the Navy; The importance of accurate knowledge; Discipline; The nature of an order and of a command; Security of information.
CHAPTER 19. -- B -- What the Service Offers		135
	General; Liberty; Leave; Shore duty; Re-enlistments; Permanent appointments for chief petty officers; The ship as a training school; Advancement in rating; Appointments to petty officer ratings; Retirement; Medals and rewards; Citizenship; Examining boards and examinations.
CHAPTER 20. -- C -- Enlistments, Discharges, Courts-martial		146
	First enlistments; Extension of enlistments; Re-enlistments; discharges; Proficiency in rating and conduct; Advantage of honorable discharge; Transportation after discharge; Service records; Overstaying liberty; Desertion; Naval courts-martial; Punishments by the commanding officers.
CHAPTER 21. -- D -- Pay and Accounts		159
	Pay grades; Extra allowances; Accounts; Payments of money; Loss of pay due to breaking liberty; Example of chief petty officers' pay; Time not served and time lost due to misconduct; General information on stores titles; Ships' allotments.
CHAPTER 22. -- E -- Navy Customs, Naval Organization		165
	Rules regarding salutes; Rules for saluting officers; National anthem; National flag; Quarter-deck and gangways; The Navy and its relation to the government; The President; The Secretary of the Navy; Bureaus and offices; The commander in chief of a fleet; Rank; Corps devices; Exercise of authority.
CHAPTER 23. -- F -- General Characteristics of Ships		175
	General; Hull; Armor; Drainage systems; Ventilation system; Water-tightness; Nomenclature of decks; Bulkheads; Peak tanks; Questions and Answers
CHAPTER 24. -- G -- General Features of Ships of the Navy		188
	Type classification; Features of different types of ships.
CHAPTER 25. -- H -- Events in the Daily Routine		201
	Daily routine in port; Daily routine at sea; Notes on routine; Messes; Watches and divisions; Scrubbing and cleaning; Smoking hours; Lucky bag; Ship's orders; Miscellaneous information.
CHAPTER 26. -- I -- Aim and Objects of All General Drills		215
	General; Water-tight integrity; Details of drills; Fire drill; Collision drill; Abandon ship drill; Fire and rescue drill; Plane crash and salvage; Battle drill; Battle bill; General quarters; Fueling ship.
CHAPTER 27. -- J -- Regulations in Regard to Uniform and Clothing		235
	Regulations for marking clothing; Prescribed outfit; Uniform of the day; Side arms, leggings, etc.; Pins and jewelry; The hair and beard; Geneva-cross and shore patrol brassards; Custody of clothing, arms, and accouterments; Regulation clothing; Rain clothing; Laws affecting the uniform; Nechkerchiefs; Care of clothes; Requisitions for clothing; Fresh water.
CHAPTER 28. -- K -- Personal Hygiene and First Aid		245
	Personal hygiene; Elementary first aid; Wounds in general; Hemorrhage or bleeding; Application of first-aid dressings; Sprains, dislocations, and fractures; Methods of carrying the wounded; Use of regular and improved stretchers; Other injuries.
CHAPTER 29. -- L -- Painting and Preparation of Surfaces Therefor		286
	Paints in general; Application o paint; Bottom paints; Brushes and how to care for them; Preparation of surfaces to be painted; A few don'ts; Poisonous effect produced by a\paints.
CHAPTER 30. -- M -- Swimming ; Life Saving ; Life Buoys.		295
	Life-saving methods; Artificial respiration; Life buoys.
CHAPTER 31. -- N-- Athletics		307
	Athletics on board ship.
	PART 3. -- RUDIMENTARY SEAMANSHIP AND GUNNERY
CHAPTER 32. -- Boats		313
	Classes and types; Terms used with boats; Boat gear carried; Boat chest; Medical emergency box; Cooking utensils; Provisions; Fire fighting equipment; Stowage of boats; Boat salutes; Duties of a boat keeper, salutes required; Lifeboats.
CHAPTER 33. -- Sails and Sailing		339
	Boat sails; Rigs of sailing ships; Rig of sail boats; Rigging; Definitions; Principles of sailing; Bending and sheeting sails; Trim; Tacking; Wearing; General precautionary notes; Rules of the road; Preparations prior to sailing; Boats under sail (drills); Sailing races, general rules.
CHAPTER 34. -- Marlinespike Seamanship		381
	General; rope; Fiber rope; Uncoiling; Manila rope; Small cordage; Size of fiber rope; Care of fiber rope; Care of fiber rigging; Knotting; Miscellaneous methods of securing; Splicing; Seizing; Worming;, parceling, and serving; Palm and needle; Sennit; Turk's-head; Coxcombing; Pointing ropes and hawsers; Power-boat trimmings.
CHAPTER 35. -- Duties of Seaman Watches, Under Way and at Anchor		405
	Masthead and deck lookouts; Life-buoy lookouts; Special lookouts; Engine-order telegraph; Breakdown and man-overboard signal watch; Speed-come watch; Night-speed-indicator watch; Flag-speed-indicator watch; Fog-whistle and fog-bell watch; Fog-buoy or towing-spar watch; Duties of the various messengers; General duties of a sentry; General duties of an orderly; Side boys; Sweepers; Side cleaners; Jock-o'-the-dust; Anchor watch; The watch at sea..
CHAPTER 36. -- Deck Seamanship		424
	Sea terms; Preparing for port; Getting under way; Rigging gangways and booms; Heaving a line; Mooring a ship with lines; Mooring to a buoy; Fenders; Boat lines and their uses; Coiling down rope; Forward hold; Tarring down; Awnings..
CHAPTER 37. -- Deck Tackle		442
	Definition; Types of anchors; Anchors carried on ships; Anchors-- General; Anchor cables; Shackles; Swivels; Cable markings; Billboard stowage of anchors; Foul anchors; Care of ground tackle; Mooring with anchors.
CHAPTER 38. -- Steering and Sounding		457
	The rudder; Types of steering gear; Steering orders; Instruction for good steering; Compasses; Logs; Soundings.
CHAPTER 39. -- Electricity		474
	Nature of electricity; Electrical apparatus.
CHAPTER 40. -- Carrying the Automatic Rifle and Submachine Gun		482
	Rules governing carrying of the automatic rifle; rules governing carrying of the submachine gun.
CHAPTER 41. -- Cart Drill		485
CHAPTER 42. -- Small Arms		490
	The United States magazine rifle, model of 2903; The pistol; The object of sighting, position, and aiming drills and of gallery practice, general principles of individual range firing; Safety precautions.
CHAPTER 43. -- Elementary Gunnery		511
	Gunnery training; Guns; Primers; Fuzes; Powder; Projectiles; Summary; Magazines and shell rooms; Safety precautions for all hands.
CHAPTER 44. -- Navy Signal Systems		531
	PART 4. -- ADVANCED SEAMANSHIP AND GUNNERY
CHAPTER 45. -- Advanced Seamanship and Gunnery		539
	Power boats; Aviation seamanship; Abbreviated rules for boat coxswains; Safety precautions -- gasoline-driven power boats; Other boats -- Handling and uses; rules of the road; Tides; Buoys; Storm warning signals.
CHAPTER 46. -- A Section, a Watch at Sea, C & R Soundings		588
CHAPTER 47. --Marlinespike Seamanship		597
	Wire rope.
CHAPTER 48. -- Deck Seamanship		617
CHAPTER 49. -- Instructing, Messes, Precedence		631
CHAPTER 50. -- Ground Tackle		636
	Handling anchors and chain; Mooring ship.
CHAPTER 51. -- Small Arms; Details of Individual and Collective Firing		646
CHAPTER 52. -- Signals, Boat and Ship		651
	PART 5. -- PHYSICAL DRILLS
CHAPTER 53. -- Physical Drills without Arms		663
	General; Starting positions of the arms; Starting positions of the legs; Starting positions of the trunk; Miscellaneous starting positions; Combined starting positions of the arms and legs; Leg exercises carried out from the starting positions; Arm exercises carried out from the starting positions; Neck exercises carried out from the starting positions; Trunk exercises carried out from the starting position
CHAPTER 54. -- Physical Drills with Arms		681
	PART 6. -- LANDING FORCE
CHAPTER 55. -- Equipment Carried by Each Man : Haversack, pack, Rations; Assembling the Equipment		691
	Landing force; Light marching order; Heavy marching order; The infantry pack.
CHAPTER 56. -- Extended Order		706
	Exercises; Combat principles of the rifle squad and platoon; Combat signals.
	PART 7. -- MISCELLANEOUS
CHAPTER 57. -- Miscellaneous		731
	Submarine service; Naval Reserve; Navy training courses; Duties of a petty officer; Disposition of effects of deserters, deceased men and men going on leave.
CHAPTER 58. -- Gas-Protective Apparatus.		744
	War-time gas attack; Gas-mask drills; Upkeep of gas masks; Gases encountered in peace-time operations; Asphyxia; Artificial respiration; Protective apparatus; Gas masks for submarines.
CHAPTER 59. -- The Use of Boatswain's Call.		773
	History; Piping and passing the word.

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About this page: The Bluejackets' Manual - The intent is to provide the table of contents of this manual to provide a feel for what was expected of a seaman in WW2. The Manual is 784 pages, unindexed, and issued to the millions who wore the blue jacket during the war. This is the one used with only minor revisions throughout World War II .
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