Perhaps it was according to the captain's discretion, and size of crew available. We usually had about 4,000 guys doing nothing when entering and leaving ports, with the rest on sea and anchor detail.

The real fun times were spelling out those little sayings on the flight deck for the photographers in the helios...
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
Imagine trying to move 3500 sailors 50 feet forward, or aft, or port or starboard so it was centered in the flight deck.....
Usually took at least half a day......and we always had to do at least one for each cruise..... just for the "cruise book" photo.... :-) :-) :-) :-)

Former "Brig Rat"...... far too many times...... "Lance Corp O'Leary, Prisoner O'Meara request more bread with his water SIR....... "

Picture ain't faked folks. If you look you'll note that only one gun from each turret is firing. Yes it's a blast but it's not hurricane force. Ask yourself this; do you think the Navy would send all the AA gunners below decks when they're shelling islands at GQ?

Howdy Tracy!
You have a good point there. The picture looks real to me! I'm sure the photographers are standing in a save zone. Ear splitting, but safe!
Oh , and wecome aboard armorama. Glad to have you with us!

Garry

I know what Photoshop can do, but two things stirke me in this image. First is the shadows. Look at peoples shadows. The sun is shining on their backs but the shadows are cast in such a way as the blast is making them. Second is the reflections. Again, look at the deck and the reflection iof both people and blast are seen.

Granted I know what Photoshop can do and I have seen some convincing photos, but my vote is for Real.

Also, Dave, to my knowledge, manning the rails is still very much a tradition.


Caption from the US Navy's website reads: "San Diego, Calif., Oct. 2, 2002 —With her crew manning the rails, the guided missile frigate USS McClusky (FFG 41) pulls into her berth at Naval Station San Diego after completing a regularly scheduled deployment...U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Luis Rojas"



"Okinawa, Japan (Mar. 14, 1999) -- Marines and Sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) man the rails as the ship returns to Okinawa after a four-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf....U.S. Navy photo by Sgt. Chris Tourge. (RELEASED)"

Jeff

Ciao everyone,
I don't know if the photo is faked or not, but I can tell you from experience that I was about 20 frames from a CIWS when it went off, and that made my skin crawl.
Dave, heck yes, we manned the rail. On my last boat (USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71), we manned the rail when returning from deployment. I used to man the rail (always starboard side aft) just so I could get a good look at the pier. Then I could spot my wife and get to her as quickly as they called liberty for my paygrade. I remember spelling out those names on the flight deck, "Navy wives are the best," "Happy Birthday, Navy," etc. I thought it was fun.
Ciao for now
Rob

Well, I only once manned the rail..... that was when I first reported aboard my first ship, and got stuffed right away in mess cooking..... was the only time I ever did mess cooking......
My normal sea and anchor detail was throttleman, down .... way down below decks. We didn't see the pier or port until we wrapped up the plant, about 4 hours after tying up or dropping anchor. But by then the liberty inspections were done, and nobody bother us when departing the ship......