“Rattlesnakes of the sea”
January 2nd, 2009 From
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>Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 14:18:27 -0500 (CDT)
>From: “Louis R. Coatney”
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>To: consim-l@listserv.uni-c.dk, mahan@microwrks.com, >marhst-l@qucdn.queensu.ca,
> milhst-l@ukanvm.cc.ukans.edu
>cc: “Louis R. Coatney”
>Subject: “Rattlesnakes of the sea”
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>
>
>Despite the decent AntiSubmarine Warfare capability of the USN ships,
> it seems like every game (of SKY, SEA, AND JUNGLE) I lose 1-2 carriers
> to Japanese subs … usually in the South Pacific (better called
> “Torpedo Junction”) sea area. It is really frustrating to carefully
> time your major sorties only to have a crucial part of your prime punch
> bushwhacked by a contemptible little pigboat.
>
>In one of his “prewar” addresses, President Roosevelt labelled German
> U-booten as “the rattlesnakes of the sea,” and I indeed get a
> snake-killing sense of satisfaction whenever I nail one of these
> reptilian, *poisonous* pests … especially if I’ve set up a special
> ASW task force to trap it.
>
>However, I think Pres. Roosevelt handed rattlesnakes a bad rap, when
> he lowered them to the level of U-boats. At least rattlers give
> you fair warning and are really only interested in being left alone.
>
>SO … what alternatives are there? “Water Moccasin of the sea” is more
> apt but lacks the nice sound of Roosevelt’s phrase, and cottonmouths
> aren’t as universally known/feared as rattlers. “Copperhead of the sea”
> is again provincial.
>
>”Sea snakes” … although they go nicely with the US Navy’s “SS” ship
> code for submarines … seems too generic. Hmmm … “Cobras of the
> ocean” or “Ocean cobras,” maybe? Cobras *are* much quieter … more
> deadly … more patient … more agressive. “Sea mambas”?
>
>Anyway, I’m just calling — sort of hissing out, actually — the varmints
> “@#%! snake!” … for now, … and enjoying how my son always manages
> risk and lose the American S-boat unit on his first turn, when *he*
> plays the Allies. 🙂
>
>What other … unpleasant … sobriquets for submarines … has anyone
> heard? (We know “bubbleheads” is a service epithet for sub mariners.)
>
>Lou Coatney, mslrc@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu