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A boatswain (often '''bosun''' or '''bos'un''') is a member of the s, the boatswain is the foreman of a ship's deck crew and is sometimes also Third or Fourth Mate . BACKGROUND Originally, on board Sailing Ship s the boatswain was in charge of a ship's Anchor s, Cordage , Colors , deck Crew and the ship's boats. The boatswain would also be in charge of the Rigging while the ship was in Dock . The boatswain's technical tasks have been modernized with the advent of steam engines and subsequent mechanisation. MILITARY USAGE United States U.S. Navy =Boatswain's Mates Onboard U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels, boatswain's mates and deck seamen comprise the deck department, under the supervision of the First Lieutenant.USNI, 1992,309. Boatswain's mates also summon the crew to work by a whistle known as a Boatswain's Call or boatswain's pipe.USNI, 1992,345-353. On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to "call the stroke."2 Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials. So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navies. =Ship's Boatswain U.S. Coast Guard The most versatile member of the Coast Guard's operational team is the Boatswain's Mate (BM).4 Boatswain's Mates are masters of Seamanship . BMs are capable of performing almost any task in connection with deck maintenance, small boat operations, Navigation and supervising all personnel assigned to a ship's Deck Force . BMs have a general knowledge of Ropes And Cables , including different uses, stresses, strains and proper stowing. BMs operate Hoist s, Crane s, and Winche s to load Cargo or set gangplanks, stand watch for Security , Navigation or communications. Boatswain's Mates can be found in nearly every duty station available throughout the United States and various locations overseas. They serve on every Coast Guard Cutter from harbor tugs to seagoing icebreakers. Additionally, in many assignments act as a federal law enforcement officer. BMs are Officers-In-Charge of many patrol boats, tugs, small craft and small shore units including search and rescue stations and aids to navigation teams. BMs utilize their leadership and expertise to perform the missions of the Coast Guard, at sea and on shore. Leadership ability, physical strength, good hearing and vision and a high degree of manual dexterity. School courses taken in algebra, geometry and shop are helpful. Any experience handling small boats is extremely valuable. Training for Boatswain's Mate is accomplished through 12-weeks of intensive training at Yorktown, VA or with on-the-job training through a striker program. Upon completion of this training, BMs may go on to attend other advanced training such as Coxswain, Heavy Weather Coxswain, Aids to Navigation Basic and Advanced, Bouy Deck Supervisor, Law Enforcement including fisheries among others. Related Civilian Jobs include Pier Superintendent, Tugboat Crewman, Heavy Equipment Operator , Marina Supervisor, Marina Operator, and Ship Pilot . MERCHANT USAGE On board or fourth Mate . The boatswain generally reports to the Chief Mate . If the ship carries a carpenter or deck storekeeper, they generally report to the boatswain. HISTORY The word boatswain has been in the English language since approximately 1450.5 It is derived from late Old English ''batswegen'', from ''bat'' ("boat") + Old Norse ''sveinn'' (" Swain "), meaning a young man, a follower, Retainer or Servant . The phonetic spelling ''bosun'' has been observed since 1868. Origins in the Royal Navy The rank of Boatswain was until recently the oldest rank in Great Britain's Royal Navy, and its origins can be traced back to the year 1040.6 The Royal Navy's last official Boatswain, Commander E W Andrew OBE , retired in 1990. In 1040 when Five English Ports began furnishing warships to King Edward The Confessor in exchange for certain privileges, they also furnished crews whose officers were the Master , Boatswain, Carpenter and Cook .7 Later these officers were "warranted" by the British Admiralty . They maintained and sailed the ships and were the standing officers of the navy. Soldiers commanded by Captains would be on board the ships to do the fighting but they had nothing to do with running the ships. The word "soldiering" came about as a seaman's term of contempt for the soldiers and anyone else who avoided shipboard duties. The warranted officers were often the permanent members of the ships' companies. They stayed with the ships in port between voyages as caretakers supervising repairs and refitting. Other crewmen and soldiers might change with each voyage. Early in the Fourteenth Century the Purser joined the warrant officers. He was originally "the clerk of burser." During the following centuries the Gunner , Surgeon, Chaplain , Master-at-arms , Schoolmaster and others signed on. In the Royal Navy the task of disciplining the crew fell to the Quartermaster s and quartermaster's mates. This was done using either a rattan Boatswain's Cane on the boys or with a Rope's End on the adult sailors. Punishment could lawfully be inflicted on an officer's instruction or at his own will, or more formally on deck on captain's or court martial's orders. Birching or use of the Cat O' Nine Tails would have been typical in the latter case. In a large crew he could delegate this to the Boatswain's Mate s, who might alternate after each dozen lashes. Notable boatswains A number of boatswains mates have achieved notoriety in the military. Reuben James and William Wiley famous for their heroism in the Barbary Wars and namesakes of the ships USS Reuben James (FFG-57) and USS Wiley (DD-597) were U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mates.89 Medal Of Honor recipients Francis P. Hammerberg ,10 and George Robert Cholister 11 were U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mates, as was Navy Cross recipient Stephen Bass .12 Victoria Cross recipients John Sheppard (VC) , John Sullivan (VC) , Henry Curtis , and John Harrison (VC 1857) were Royal Navy Boatswain's Mates. NOTES REFERENCES
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