Shipshape: 1898

Depending how long the ship in dry dock will dictate what's to be done with the crew. In the mid 1960s my ship was dry docked in Baltimore. Some of us were sent to Fleet schools and some stayed aboard.

They keep some men on board to do work that the shipyard workers would not do. Also if there were not billets for all the men some would be quartered aboard the ship.

I have a friend who spent the last 18 months of his four year enlistment aboard a submarine that was in dry-dock for refitting. There were still watches to stand and regular day to day activities that go on aboard ship. Someone has to push the papers around on the desk.

Unless the crew needs to be removed due to safety concerns, life aboard a man-of-war continues whether the ship is afloat or up on blocks.

I love the scrollwork on the bow - you won't see that anachronism on a modern destroyer.

For those who are/were in the Navy - why would sailors be actively on a boat that's inactively in dry dock?

Interesting that this ship retains the method of securing the anchor used by wooden sailing ships of previous centuries. Much more pronounced on the old sailing ships, but here it is in stubby form.

I see the drummer entering into the lower bow and, of course the oarsmen are already seated on their benches, dreading the coming order for "Ramming Speed!"