Submarine dedication ceremonies

[bob the builder]

I'll be launching the Nautilus on her maiden voyage tomorrow morning, and I was wondering about some kind of dedication ceremony for her before the launch.

What happens at the ceremonies for "real" submarines. Do they break the classic bottle of champagne? I think a few of the people around the boards have been to one or two. Can anyone fill me in?

I wouldn't want to start out her career of ship bashing on an unlucky note...

[anonymous]

Gosh! Many traditions here.

Their

Gosh! Many traditions here.

Their is a ship's 'Sponsor', usually associated with the future name of the ship or region or city, township the vessel represents that performs the actual 'breaking the bottle on the bow (or stern). Sometimes the sponsor is a relative or spouse of a commanding officer or crewman/crew woman lost or associated with the previous ship that carried the same name. The sponsor has Maid's of Honor....reminiscent much like a wedding ceremony. Their is usually speakers from the shipyard, and the shipyard's client that will operate the ship. The vessel is blessed with a prayer for the ship and her crew by a Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Islamic cleric, in the case of a Naval vessel, it is usually a Navy Chaplain from one of those many faiths, Navy Chaplains will often also be multi-denominational wearing several 'hats' in their Naval ministry. The ship is christened or baptized with a champagne or 'special water' before it is launched and slides dramatically down the ways. Ships launched in special dry docks common today will already have the water their, and the christening is done soon after that. These are very dramatic and very patriotic events culminating with the ship sliding down the ways. USN Warships launched during prohibition in the 1920's and early 1930's used special mineral waters. Yawn! At Mare Island NSY, the Heavy Cruiser USS Chicago was launched with Cider..... this for a vessel with a name for a great city more associated with bootlegging. LOL. Facing the sea, it is good to follow good science, faith and a little luck too to bring everyone home again. Jack Kocher mentioned his Missile Destroyer at Pearl would be blessed by a Hawaiian tribe king or something like that....Can't remember Jack.....was it a witch doctor?...anyways...it gave his ship some 'good stuff' from the big Kauhuna!.....remember that movie dock scene in Operation Petticoat? LOL.

Do a search about ship launching traditions and etiquette for more precise info. And I wouldn't smash a bottle on that model, it would break the ship..and the bottle would remain intact. Have fun, guess when you build an expensive model and take it out and sink it on purpose, it is good to have all your bases covered. Swimming pool tests are in order here first. Good excuse for a small party. LOL.

Steve