Branch nicknames

[rnsubdaft]

I know that mine warfare are known as muppets, AEM as wafu's and the former RO(G) as sparkers but what are the remainder of the branch nicknames? I've heard pinkies, greenies, dabbers and many more to list.

Anyone like to increase my knowledge please?

 

[andym]

Scablifters,Pill pushers,Poultice Pushers Medical Branch

Gob Gardener Dental surgeon.

 

[RoofRat]

AEM's are indeed Wafus, but their nick name within the Wafu wing is Grubber.
Photographers = Snaps
Air Armourers = Bombheads
Survival Equipment = Sew Sews
Metoc = Clouds or Cloud Chasers
Aircraft Handlers in my day were happy to be known as Chockheads (apparently in todays modern Navy, they find it offensive, Bless)
Writers = Scribes
Stores = Jack Dusty, or just Dusty
Stewards = Crumb Dusters
Medical Attendants = Scab Lifters
Dental = Ivory Poachers
Divers = Bubble Heads
MEM used to be called Stokers. I believe they are now known as Clankys
Shipwrights used to be Chippy. Today because they don't do the same apprenticeship, I've heard them called Wood Butchers (?)
Naval Police (Regulators) Crushers
Can't think of any more at present, if I do, I'll post.
RoofRat

 

[drwibble]

EWs = gollies

 

[rnsubdaft]

A good few there to be getting on with, magic!

What about the former rates
AEM (M), (R) & (WL)
WEM (O) & (R)
Ops (S), (R), (SR), (TS)(SM), (M) going back a few years here.

What is the old S&S branch with CA?

Thanks again guys

 

[Squirrel]

Sonar rate - tas-apes
Mine Warfare ratings - muppets
steward - hoover pilot
RO(T) - Buntings
Any submariner - sundodger
WEMs - Greenies
Any member of the OPS branch - dabber
CT - Squirrels
SA - Jack dusty
Padre - god botherer
PTI - Club swinger, or just swinger.
Naval Nurse - Doris

That's me done, can't think of any that haven't been mentioned.

 

[rnsubdaft]

Thanks Roof Rat, Squirrel & drwibble yes I think you got them all.

Enough for me to learn anyway.

 

[dunkers]

What exactly is a pinkie? WE branch isn't it?

 

[slim]

What exactly is a pinkie? WE branch isn't it?

A pinky was an AEM(R) or a WEM(R) Radio/radar maintainer.
Greenies weer AEM(L) or WEM(L)
Nam(0) were Bombheads
NAM (AE) or AEM(M) were referred to as grubbers.
NA(H) were Chockheads.
Pilots were often referred to as "Jockeys"
Stokers working on catapult systems (real aircraft carriers) were known as Badgers (they wore a white surcoat with a black stripe down the centre)
The fleet master at arms was referred to as GOD

 

[rnsubdaft]

What does a red sleeveless top worn over a no.8 shirt signify (i've also seen in one of the recruitment brochures a yellow one)

 

[slim]

Them aint shirts they be surcoats. Worn on flight decks to make it easy to tell which trade the guys are.
Yellow Aircraft Handler
Red Armourer
Green Electrician
Green with a blue stripe Radio/radar
Brown Aircraft mechanic
White Senior rate supervisor (All trades)
Can't remember the other colours but I bet someone can

 

[the_matelot]

Roofraft,

I think you'll find that under Pay2000, handlers were rebadged as wedge technicians.

Squirrel, don't forget that CT's are also known as 'those dashing intelligent chaps that can do no wrong!!!' :wink:

 

[Lamri]

AEM's are indeed Wafus, but their nick name within the Wafu wing is Grubber.
Photographers = Snaps
Air Armourers = Bombheads
Survival Equipment = Sew Sews
Metoc = Clouds or Cloud Chasers
Aircraft Handlers in my day were happy to be known as Chockheads (apparently in todays modern Navy, they find it offensive, Bless)
Writers = Scribes
Stores = Jack Dusty, or just Dusty
Stewards = Crumb Dusters
Medical Attendants = Scab Lifters
Dental = Ivory Poachers
Divers = Bubble Heads
MEM used to be called Stokers. I believe they are now known as Clankys
Shipwrights used to be Chippy. Today because they don't do the same apprenticeship, I've heard them called Wood Butchers (?)
Naval Police (Regulators) Crushers
Can't think of any more at present, if I do, I'll post.
RoofRat

All MEM's are known as stokers but not all are clankies, they are MEM(M)'s.
MEM(L)'s are known as greenies, same as WEM(R)'s because they both came from the OEM branch in EBD 1976(ish).
WEM(O)'s are Oilys.
Shipwrights are Shipwrights only while in that particular draft, because they are either CMEM(M)'s or CMEA's. Either way they are known as Chippy.

These days, Writers are known as "not open in the afternoon"
SA's are "Oh for gods sake, have you checked 320?" or "No, we cancelled that order without telling you"

 

[Lamri]

Them aint shirts they be surcoats. Worn on flight decks to make it easy to tell which trade the guys are.
Yellow Aircraft Handler
Red Armourer
Green Electrician
Green with a blue stripe Radio/radar
Brown Aircraft mechanic
White Senior rate supervisor (All trades)
Can't remember the other colours but I bet someone can

Hmm, so its ONLY WAFU [email protected] that wear them eh?
Try SSEP/HFEP for those that joined the RN to actually go on a ship

 

[RoofRat]

Nearly right Slim :wink:

Them aint shirts they be surcoats. Worn on flight decks to make it easy to tell which trade the guys are.
Yellow Aircraft Handler

Yellow, Aircraft Handler, Marshaller
Blue AH tractor team.

For the_matelot, not me mate, I'm an old fashioned Chockhead and proud so to be. :wink:
Lamri, thanks for the update.
RoofRat

 

[slim]

Them aint shirts they be surcoats. Worn on flight decks to make it easy to tell which trade the guys are.
Yellow Aircraft Handler
Red Armourer
Green Electrician
Green with a blue stripe Radio/radar
Brown Aircraft mechanic
White Senior rate supervisor (All trades)
Can't remember the other colours but I bet someone can

Hmm, so its ONLY WAFU [email protected] that wear them eh?
Try SSEP/HFEP for those that joined the RN to actually go on a ship

Not at all as mentioned earlier Stokers wore white with a black stripe. I can only remember the Wafoo ones cos I'm an ex wafoo.
Stop mentioning going to sea, now go and wash your mouth out using language like that.

 

[Lamri]

Them aint shirts they be surcoats. Worn on flight decks to make it easy to tell which trade the guys are.
Yellow Aircraft Handler
Red Armourer
Green Electrician
Green with a blue stripe Radio/radar
Brown Aircraft mechanic
White Senior rate supervisor (All trades)
Can't remember the other colours but I bet someone can

Hmm, so its ONLY WAFU [email protected] that wear them eh?
Try SSEP/HFEP for those that joined the RN to actually go on a ship

Not at all as mentioned earlier Stokers wore white with a black stripe. I can only remember the Wafoo ones cos I'm an ex wafoo.
Stop mentioning going to sea, now go and wash your mouth out using language like that.

What do you mean "not at all"?
Obviously being on a ship isn't something that you are very comfortable with :wink:
Standing Sea Emergency Party/Harbour Fire and Emergency Party ALSO wear sircoats the colour of which is depending on which job you have but generally either RED or YELLOW. HTH

 

[rnsubdaft]

Thanks Slim

So on the flightdeck you would see surcoats with the initials on the back according to what function they do on the flight deck but in a recent recruitment brochure is shows several guys ( not all) in the junior rates mess (?) with red surcoats on with various branch badges on no.8 shirts(i.e. MEM1(M), LSA, LS(R) RO1G(G)) does that mean they are also armourers?

(Well that what what I knew the badges as but I know they have changed names since.)

There was also a WTR with a yellow surcoat on sat in the writers 'office?'

 

[Squirrel]

The red surcoats (not flight deck jerseys) mean that the rating in question is a member of the SSEP (Standing Sea Emergency Party), the yellow means that they are BA Controller for said SSEP, usually a Writer but not always.

The_Matelot,

You're quite right matey, I shall chastise myself forthwith for hiding our shining light under that shameful bushel.

My favourite for CT's is "World Protector", what d'ya reckon?

 

[slim]

See the answer above. Surcoats are also worn so that members of the ships company on duty can be readily recognised. Fire & emergency party etc.
Oh a Doc or MA on a flight deck would wear a white surcoat with a red cross on back & front.

Sorry Lamri didn't mean to uipset you. As I said my info wasn't complete. My not at all was meant to imply thatb it was not only wafoos who wore surcoats. Yes and they are also worn during a RAS.
Not too comfortable being on a ship. I had a great big cabin, unfortunately 30 other blokes thought it was theirs as well.