Able Seaman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Able Seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landmen or ordinary seamen.

In 1653 the Royal Navy introduced a new pay scale as part of reforms following defeat in the Battle of Dungeness the previous year. Included in these reforms were, for the first time, separate pay scales for more experienced seaman. It distinguished between an ordinary seaman and an able seaman. The higher ranked able seaman could steer, use the lead and work aloft, traditionally to “hand, reef, and steer.” An able seaman received about 25% higher pay than an ordinary seaman.

In time of war (such as the Seven Years' War or the Napoleonic Wars), with many more warships in service, the navy, merchant marine, and privateers competed ferociously for the limited pool of able seamen, leading to the unpopular use of impressment by the Royal Navy to keep its ships manned. In peacetime, with many fewer active warships, there was usually a surplus of unemployed able seamen willing to work in the navy. As late as the Napoleonic Wars, the Royal Navy's practice of stopping American ships to press American sailors, who may have been born British subjects, into involuntary service, was one of the main factors leading to the War of 1812 with the United States.

1 Modern usage
2 Canada
3 Able-bodied Seaman
4 Reference

[edit] Modern usage

In the modern merchant marine, an able seaman (AB) is a member of the deck department and must possess a Merchant mariner's document. At sea the AB's duties include standing watch as helmsman and lookout. In port an AB stands gangway watch. An AB is expected to be able to operate the deck machinery such as the windlass or winches while mooring or unmooring, and to operate cargo gear. An AB may also be required to scale and paint decks and superstructure, and to sweep and wash decks. Finally, the AB must be a competent and certified lifeboatman.

	OR-1	OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5/OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9
British Ratings and Other Ranks
Royal Navy:		ORD - AB		LH	PO	CPO	WO2	WO1
Royal Marines:		MNE	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	CSgt	WO2	WO1
Army:	Pte	Pte	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt / CSgt	WO2	WO1
Royal Air Force:	AC	LAC - SAC - Jnr Tech		Cpl	Sgt	Chf Tech - FS		WO / MAcr

[edit] Canada

In the Canadian Navy, Able Seaman (AB) is the second-lowest of the non-commissioned member ranks, ranking above Ordinary Seaman and below Leading Seaman. Able Seamen wear a single gold chevron, point down, as an insignia of rank; it is worn on the upper left sleeve of the Service Dress tunic, and on slip-ons on both shoulders on other uniforms.

Able Seaman is the equivalent rank to Private (Trained), or simply Private, in the Army and Air Force. In French the rank is called Matelot de 2e classe.

[edit] Able-bodied Seaman

Some modern references claim that AB stands for able-bodied seaman as well as, or instead of able seaman. In ships' muster books or articles, able seaman was originally entered using the abbreviation AB instead of the more obvious AS, likely to avoid confusion with ordinary seaman (OS). Later the abbreviation began to be written as A.B., leading to the back formation able-bodied seaman. In legal documents, in seaman's papers, and aboard ship the correct term able seaman remains in use.