BS: US Submariner Jargon - question

Subject: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 11:06 AM

A bit of a peculiar question, but I figured this would be as good a place as any to ask (it's for something I'm writing), given the wide variety of experience here.

So: WWII. I'm given to understand that a 'bed' in a submarine is a 'rack' rather than a 'bunk'. Now, if several men were in their 'beds', how would it be phrased:

1) they are in the rack;
2) they are in the racks;
3) they are on the rack;
4) they are on the racks;
5) they are in/on their rack;
6) they are in/on their racks:
7) some other way?

Any help appreciated. And don't worry; I'm not going to be writing as an authority on life in a submarine; I just like to get things right.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 11:51 AM

I am curious as well. Time to rewatch down periscope. Polishing the old torpedo, eh, sir?

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 01:40 PM

Ok I got bored and looked stuff up.

In an article about submariner terminology appeared this sentence:

It is a manpower-intensive affair with special watches being set and no one is left in their rack.

So I think that answers your original question.

The whole article is here:

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/all-the-wacky-submarine-terms-you-never-knew-you-wanted-1708297555

And I found it in this one:

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/even-more-wacky-submarine-terms-you-never-knew-you-want-1711910869


The Google is my friend.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 01:59 PM

Ah! Thank you. That does - wait - I was about to agree that that does answer the question - but: while it takes care of the preposition matter (on/in), this is a case of "their" being used in the singular:   "no ONE is left in their rack": so the question remains re: the plural - would it be "the men are not left in their rack" or "the men are not left in their racks"? I'm thinking "racks" is more likely. I'll take a look at those articles you so kindly referenced; maybe I'll find an example.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Lighter
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 02:52 PM

"No one's left in his rack" is effectively "plural," because it covers everybody.

In your (less idiomatic examples), "racks" is the only logical choice.

Not to confuse things further, but a "rack" covers all forms of sleeping structures, including bunks and beds.

"Hit the rack" is a familiar U.S. expression.

(It used to be "hit the sack," but many people got tired of saying that.)

If "the rack monster's got you," you're so tired (as from studying all night) you either just have to go to bed or else you can't get out of it.

"Two nations divided by a common language."

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 03:07 PM

"effectively plural" is not the point; it's not grammatically plural, and the writer may have been careful about that.

Re: "racks". It's not the 'logical' choice I'm after: it's what a submariner actually says, logical or illogical, grammatical or ungrammatical.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 04:17 PM

Fun! I had a submariner boss, but we've lost touch.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 05:01 PM

Okay, think I've got my answer from that first site, in the phrase, "Usually three guys will share two racks" - so each bunk is considered one discrete 'rack', as opposed to the whole length of bunks being "the/a rack". It looks like "they are in their racks" would be the most likely usage.

Thanks, again!

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 05:40 PM

A hot rack is one that was recently used by another sailor.
My fav submariner movie is Crimson Tide, including the sound track.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: robomatic
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 05:41 PM

The one submariner I met affirmed what I read that no matter the size of the sub it is referred to as sa boat. He told me there are two kinds of seacraft. Submarines, which are 'boats', and: targets.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 06:09 PM

According to that site, a 'hot rack' is a shared bunk - typically, two bunks might be shared by three submariners, the most junior (newest) members of the crew.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 11:09 AM

Dunno if it is the same in the British Navy but you could ask Tom Lewis on his website or Facebook page. He became a Submariner after he joined the Royal Navy only to discover he was seasick!

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 01:57 PM

"Rack" is also used by the US Army. A usage would be "I'm going to get in some rack time", "Gonna hit the ol' rack", and "They're in the rack right now."

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 02:26 PM

Uh-oh: "They're in the rack right now." That re-opens the question. So not, "They're in their racks" or "They're in the racks" ... ? More like saying, "They're in bed" rather than "... in their beds", etc.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 08:47 PM

The Navy used to have hammocks and now racks
The army has bed rolls or racks
The Marines have the ground
and the Air Force have temp and attitude controled memory foam mattresses.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 09:38 PM

A Sergeant might command "Get in your racks NOW!" if the troops were up partying (as much as possible) in the barracks. Like many slang terms it has no true grammatical usage.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: meself
Date: 28 Jan 21 - 12:44 PM

Thanks, Rap - that nicely answers the question.

Subject: RE: BS: US Submariner Jargon - question
From: Lighter
Date: 28 Jan 21 - 02:20 PM

I disagree.

"They're in the rack" and "They're in their racks" are structurally identical to "They're in bed" and "They're in their beds."

No grammatical difficulty there.

"They're in bed" could be either one bed or separate beds.

Context is all.