"41" on the bow

[Eagle3]

OK.... trivia question.

When did the "41" on the bow go from a solid to an outline pattern? I know it happened sometime between 84 and 90. Any shipmates out there know?

[Pistol Pete]

Eagle, I just asked the Department of the Navy. Hopefully the answer will be soon. :D

[Eagle3]

I'm still waiting on their answer to why we had to wear bell bottom pants. :what:

[Pistol Pete]

I got a reply already! Amazing! (The guy must not get much e-mail)

He said that during to WWII the hull numbers on battleships, carriers, and cruisers were small to help deny intelligence gathering by the enemy.
After WWII, about 1950, the numbers were made much larger with some outlined in black.
He also said that prior to WWII, such as in the 20s, the big ships had their names on the hulls instead of numbers.
He sent some large pictures taken in 1921, 1945, 1946, 1953.


Bell bottoms go back to the mid 1800s. Several navies wore them. It was probably just fashion. ;)

[ttprince]

Well Buzz, I've now narrowed the answer down to a two-year period. You left Midway in 1984 and I have just received the EISRA-86 publication from Eddie Miller, which includes a ton of photos. EISRA-86 took place from March 31 ~ November 28, 1986. In the photos, the 41 is already outlined. We're getting closer to an answer!

[K.Feldmeyer]

:) The answer to your bell bottom question comes from the history books. Fashion was part of the reason for "bell bottoms" the other was practicality. The first navy pants were called "Slops" Real wide legged and only came down to mid calf and made from sail cloth.
When the "bell bottom" style came in it was mainly for the same reason as the wide legs of the slops. You were required to "Holy stone" the wooden decks every day in the old sail Navy, so the pant legges were made wide so they could be rolled up easily while engaged in this chore so you didn't mess up your pants.
And now you know the rest of the story......................
K. Feldmeyer

[Eagle3]

Thanks Mr K. I knew there was a practical reason. :) Since I won't be reefing sails anytime soon I'll keep the bellbottoms in the back of the closet. :D

[bodean]

The answer to the bell bottoms question.... The one that I got from my C.C. in boot camp...."It is so you can take off your dungarees ,over your boots, incase you ever go in the water and have to use them as a floatation device." I always figured that this was true, because of the swimming quals in boot camp. If you remember correctly, we had to do that kind of shit.

That's just my observation, maybe they were a fashion statement.

[nipon ginko]

Eagle, I just asked the Department of the Navy. Hopefully the answer will be soon. :D


Seems to me like when I was going thru Boot camp our Company comander told us it took the navy 200 yrs to put a strap on our sea bags so don't expect rapid changes. so I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you while you wait for an answer..