WW2 Separation Paperwork

Hello everyone. I'm trying to decipher my fathers rate/rank upon discharge from the US Navy in 1945. Its shows this:

Coxswain (T) SV6 USNR

I know what Coxswain is and believe the (T) was for temporary. I think maybe he was a E-3/E-4 and Coxswain was temporary and he would become a Boatswain Mate at some point. I just can't figure out what the SV6 means. Maybe Selective Volunteer or something? I would appreciate any help.

 

Thanks. I looked there as well. While he was in the Navy he was actually assigned to and served aboard Merchant Marine tankers hauling fuel from the US east coast to Europe. I wondered if it may have been some sort of Merchant Marine indicator but I've not been able to figure that part out yet.

 

Thanks. That's a big clue. I believe he was just that. He had said he took care of the guns on the ship. His papers also show he attended a armed guard school in Gulfport Ms. Did they have their own rank/rating system in the MM's?

 

While I'm not sure about the (T), the SV 6 almost certainly is his merchant marine rating as an Able Seaman - Special with 6 months but less than 12 months of sea time.

This falls under 46 CFR 12.05. The SV or OSV Able Seaman- Special falls between an Ordinary Seaman and a full Able Seaman. I would assume he was given that rating being on a merchant ship but officially being in the Navy versus Merchant Marine. A fully qualified Able Seaman is an AB rating.

Able Seaman is a rating equivalent, roughly, to E-3 in the Navy.

 

Thank you very much for the information. I think this is what I wanted to know. As for the Coxswain (T) I had found that info on the web. I attached the pertinent portion of the article. Its been interesting reading up on all this.

 

You are correct about the "T" being "Temporary". The rating "Coxswain" was a Third Class Petty Officer and wore the crossed anchors insignia of Boatswain's Mates. From Coxswain, the next hire rank was Boatswain's Mate, 2nd Class. I'm afraid I don't know why they weren't just called Boatswain's Mates, 3rd Class instead of Coxswains. This was fixed in the late 40s when the Navy made a lot of changes to enlisted ratings and Coxswains had their rating changed to Boatswain's Mate, 3rd Class. From what I remember, the term "Coxswain" became more of a job title rather than an actual rating after that.

"V6" indicated general service / specialist sailors with the USNR during WWII. I'm afraid I don't know what the "S" before that means.

I hope this makes sense. I've been sick and haven't slept very much the last few days lol