Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Coplain meels King Neplune afler being piped aboard. In times past, the initiation ceremony required for en- trance into the Royal Order was often barbaric and demand- ing, requiring the pollywog to subject himself to numerous trials and ordeals to prove his good intentions to the King and his subjects. However, time and the Navy have brought moderation to this solemnity. The crossing is now an event looked forward to by all hands, even though the old timers enjoy spooking the younger members of the crew with tales of times past. As MANATEE ' S schedule has precluded commitments or liberty ports near the equator for many years, all of the crew save 15 Trusty Shellbacks came under the doomed cate- gory of slimy pollywogs including all but one of the officer contingent. (That was not MANATEE ' S own Captain FAAS either!) It was for this reason that MANATEE was allowed to take an extra day enroute to services off the coast of Vietnam and swing south long enough to dip over the equa- tor and initiate a shipload of anxious neophytes into the realm of Neptunis Rex. ; ' « Some Pollywogs head for the mess decks for a special treat. 52

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s. »• Ti •w i .■J?

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Ik : i N Pollywog Inspection. Woe to those who fail. SKSBfci K , »». Since the crossing of 00-00 Latitude occurred in the evening hours, the official inaugural exercises were not launched until the following morning. And it was early morning when the sleepless pollywogs were rudely rousted out of their racks. The night had been filled with gloomy warnings, predicting great wrath from Neptune and warning: Pollywogs beware. Prepare to make yourself humble in the presence of King Neptunis Rex. It was soon evident that while the pollywogs tossed in bed, the Shellbacks had been cooking up elaborate schemes. Group supplication and meditation seemed to help. 53