I'm writing a sci-fi/fantasy story, but a lot of it is based off real life stuff.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with the US Navy? Here are some stuff I would like to know, so that when I write my story, it'll sound like I know what I'm talking about (even though I probably don't hehe). A lot of my story takes place in outer space, but I figure ships in space be similiar to ships in the ocean as far as how they're organized and what not.
Or, if you know of a book that I can buy/borrow from the library that would have this info, it'd be great.
Do sailors have to take the ASVAB test too before they can join the navy?
How many ships are in a fleet? What kinds of ships? Who's in charge of it (rankwise that is)?
How many people are assigned to a destroyer, battleship, aircraft carrier?
Does the Navy ever perform military excercises with the Army or Air Force? How often a year if so?
What are the roles of some of the bigger ships (like destroyers, battleships, which I heard are obsolete now, but in my story they're still up and running ). Do they ever operate out on their own, or do they always travel together?
How do enlisted sailors address each other? How do they address NCO's? How do they address officers (particularly high ranking ones, like admirals)? What are some "regular" navy terms that are used often by navy people? How do officers address enlisted/NCO's?
Is it true that sailors have to share beds, and when one is working, another person is sleeping in that same bed (I suppose so for a sub, but what about bigger ships, like an aircraft carrier)?
How long do sailors stay out in sea? What do they do while they're out there, just travel to different parts of the world, or perform military excercises?
When sailors reach a port (both in the US and in foreign parts of the world), are they allowed to visit the local town, and if so, how long do they normally get? How do you call them all back if there's an emergency and they have to get back to the ship asap?
Regarding aircraft carriers, do the pilots have their own commander that they follow, who reports to the admiral (or who's in charge of them?), or does the admiral command pilots directly?
How many planes fit on a current US aircraft carrier (my story takes place in space, but I would like to know a rough estimate)? What type of aircraft do they carry aboard usually (besides like F-14's)?
Are all pilots officers? How long is their training roughly when they first join and are trained on how to fly? Do they need special pre-req's first (like having flown civilian planes) and what's the medical requirements for them (I'm guessing one of them is they need 20/20 vision?) Are they trained only one type of plane to fly, or are they taught on how to fly several types of aircraft? And how does someone who's interested in becoming a navy pilot apply?
Do the planes have their own special names to them (like Eagle squadron for instance)? Or do they just refer to themselves by the aircraft carrier or something like that? What's some common lingo pilots use (like when referring to enemy aircraft, friendlies, targets on the ground, etc.)
What are formations called when planes are flying around with more than just one in the air? Is it similiar to the air force (like squadron, wing, flight, etc.)
Can any ship carry marines, or are they only stuck on one type of ship normally? Are marines part of the ship fleet, or do they operate independently?
What kinds of things do sailors do to pass the time when they're not on duty?
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Sorry, I guess I'm asking a lot there. But I never joined the Navy (joined the Army instead, and it was only cause I was a young, dumb joe and didn't know better hehe. Plus the Army called me first, or else I probably would've joined the Navy, as those ships look cool), and I think I've had enough of military life for now (spent 4 years on Active Duty, then 3 years in the Guard), but I would like to know all this stuff because my book is heavily military and I would like to get these terms straight (I know most of them for the Army, so it's not too big a concern).
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with the US Navy? Here are some stuff I would like to know, so that when I write my story, it'll sound like I know what I'm talking about (even though I probably don't hehe). A lot of my story takes place in outer space, but I figure ships in space be similiar to ships in the ocean as far as how they're organized and what not.
Or, if you know of a book that I can buy/borrow from the library that would have this info, it'd be great.
Do sailors have to take the ASVAB test too before they can join the navy?
How many ships are in a fleet? What kinds of ships? Who's in charge of it (rankwise that is)?
How many people are assigned to a destroyer, battleship, aircraft carrier?
Does the Navy ever perform military excercises with the Army or Air Force? How often a year if so?
What are the roles of some of the bigger ships (like destroyers, battleships, which I heard are obsolete now, but in my story they're still up and running ). Do they ever operate out on their own, or do they always travel together?
How do enlisted sailors address each other? How do they address NCO's? How do they address officers (particularly high ranking ones, like admirals)? What are some "regular" navy terms that are used often by navy people? How do officers address enlisted/NCO's?
Is it true that sailors have to share beds, and when one is working, another person is sleeping in that same bed (I suppose so for a sub, but what about bigger ships, like an aircraft carrier)?
How long do sailors stay out in sea? What do they do while they're out there, just travel to different parts of the world, or perform military excercises?
When sailors reach a port (both in the US and in foreign parts of the world), are they allowed to visit the local town, and if so, how long do they normally get? How do you call them all back if there's an emergency and they have to get back to the ship asap?
Regarding aircraft carriers, do the pilots have their own commander that they follow, who reports to the admiral (or who's in charge of them?), or does the admiral command pilots directly?
How many planes fit on a current US aircraft carrier (my story takes place in space, but I would like to know a rough estimate)? What type of aircraft do they carry aboard usually (besides like F-14's)?
Are all pilots officers? How long is their training roughly when they first join and are trained on how to fly? Do they need special pre-req's first (like having flown civilian planes) and what's the medical requirements for them (I'm guessing one of them is they need 20/20 vision?) Are they trained only one type of plane to fly, or are they taught on how to fly several types of aircraft? And how does someone who's interested in becoming a navy pilot apply?
Do the planes have their own special names to them (like Eagle squadron for instance)? Or do they just refer to themselves by the aircraft carrier or something like that? What's some common lingo pilots use (like when referring to enemy aircraft, friendlies, targets on the ground, etc.)
What are formations called when planes are flying around with more than just one in the air? Is it similiar to the air force (like squadron, wing, flight, etc.)
Can any ship carry marines, or are they only stuck on one type of ship normally? Are marines part of the ship fleet, or do they operate independently?
What kinds of things do sailors do to pass the time when they're not on duty?
-----
Sorry, I guess I'm asking a lot there. But I never joined the Navy (joined the Army instead, and it was only cause I was a young, dumb joe and didn't know better hehe. Plus the Army called me first, or else I probably would've joined the Navy, as those ships look cool), and I think I've had enough of military life for now (spent 4 years on Active Duty, then 3 years in the Guard), but I would like to know all this stuff because my book is heavily military and I would like to get these terms straight (I know most of them for the Army, so it's not too big a concern).