Maybe I am missing it...but it seems like The Search Function does not allow for searching just the topics.? Before the Allies anti-submarine talent and technology was "up to snuff".....it must have been quite dangerous to be a professional sailor. It makes me wonder why those guys did it. Could you be "ordered" to sail on a supply ship across The Atlantic.? I have always wondered about those brave sailors. Did they know how to use a 75mm deck gun (or whatever it was they had).? Did they just get assigned to a ship...and then hope they survived.? Could they quit...or say no.? There must be a couple of excellent books and movies waiting to be written about these guys. Thank You
Some good websites: http://www.usmm.org/index.html#anchor252856 http://www.armed-guard.com/men.html http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/ATO/Admin/WSA/MMatWar-44/ Why did they do it? For many reasons just as varied as those who joined the military. The US Merchant Marine actively recruited individuals to become merchant sailors through the U. S. Merchant Service. Could you be ordered to sail a ship. AFAIK, yes - since the US government had confiscated all vessels at the beginning of the war. Merchant Marine sailors, although civilians, were subject to military discipline and court martial. So, refusal to sail could result in a court martial and punishment. The manning of a merchant ship's guns was done by the US Navy under the guise of the USN Armed Guard. Civilian merchant sailors may have been cross-trained in manning the guns during a dire emergency, but normally the guns were manned by USN sailors. AFAIK, they were assigned as normal to their ships. Some were members of the USN Reserves and attempted to join the Navy, only to be told to return to their ships as that was were they were needed most - this occurred most often early in the war when recruitment was high and swamped the existing training facilities. Merchant Marine sailors could quit, and their Draft Board would then be informed that they were now eligible to be drafted into the military
Because of the white skin you can't see the advanced search icon on ww2f. I'll post a screen snap of ww2talk search box so you can see it. Advanced Search allows you to search for words in title of a thread if you choose that option.
Of interesting note (I'm not sure it was known at the time however) it was safer to be in the USN than it was to be in the Merchant Marine.
Sorry...not a computer guy at all. Ho do I activate that,? Do I copy and paste somehow.? Thank You No doubt. The USA did not even have military in action until 1942 I guess. But those convoys were full of USA Sailors from the beginning I imagine.? Thanks
Just go to top right of screen where the search box is. Put cursor to the right of the magnifying glass & the advanced search icon is there. Click it then go through the 'advanced search' options .
It wasn't just that. Merchant Marine sailors spent more time at sea and often in war zones. They were also the primary targets of the Uboats and at times the LW. Warships were also tougher, harder to hit, and better defended. Then of course a lot of people in the USN never left the states much less spent much time at sea.
