This one has a double meaning in the Navy. First off it is a class of Russian submarine. The other meaning found in the navy is for the man over board drill dummy.

Possibly the most famous Oscar is K-141 aka Kursk. She was lost with all hands during an exercise in the Barents Sea in August of 2000.

The Oscar used in the US navy is a large human like dummy that is thrown over board for man over board drills. Sometimes these drills are announced other times they are not. In the event it is an unannounced drill Oscar is dressed in a normal working uniform and thrown off the ship.

With any luck a look out will spot Oscar and call man over board. Then the crew will rush into position, lower the ships boats and rescue him. In a major drill the helo will be used as well.

In the event a lookout does not see Oscar, then somebody gets in trouble. Actual man overboard drills happened only twice during my year at sea. One guy was found hidden on our ship. The other the person was never found in the North Atlantic.

One thing is certain, Oscar might seem like a dummy, but the training is serious. Falling off a ship at sea can only lead to one of two things. At best you get to dry your clothes, the other is much worse.