What is the significance and meaning of "Manning the Rails" as ships come into port?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:58:03 -0400

I've always been curious as to why the Navy and Marine folk "Man the Rails" when ships roll into port.

Response by MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy made Mar 30 at 2017 3:00 PM

MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:00:21 -0400

SSG Thomas Livingston – Thanks for the share.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 30 at 2017 3:01 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:01:49 -0400

A good question. As a topmast sailor, I've manned the yards (evenly spaced crew on each yard - the horizontal spar on a square-rigged tallship from which sails are hung). That practice evolved into manning the rails. In each case it is a method of saluting other ships and dignitaries or rendering a salute to a nation when entering a foreign port.

Response by PO1 Mike Edgecomb made Mar 30 at 2017 4:41 PM

PO1 Mike Edgecomb — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:41:49 -0400

This custom evolved from the centuries old practice of "manning the yards." Men aboard sailing ships stood evenly spaced on all the yards and gave three cheers to honor a distinguished person.
Now men and women are stationed along the rails of a ship when honors are rendered to the President, the heads of a foreign state, or a member of a reigning royal family. Men and women so stationed do not salute. Navy ships will often man the rails when entering a port, or when returning to the ship's homeport at the end of a deployment.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 30 at 2017 7:08 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 19:08:01 -0400

A significant historical point is being missed. When you man the rails, the port can see that a bunch of sailors are not manning cannons below decks, hence the "I come in peace" aspect along with the exposure of the crew in the open. With many of these traditions, there's a practical basis. Another one has to do with the number of sideboys when piping an officer aboard. The more senior, you get more sideboys. Back in the day, people were ferried between ships by highlines or lifts. You needed more men to lift an admiral because they tended to be more portly, hence heavier, hence more muscle needed for the lift. When I was E-1/3 and had to do those duties, which were now purely ceremonial, we'd ask what "LAL" was it. LAL = Lard Ass Level.

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 30 at 2017 9:53 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 21:53:08 -0400

interesting Thanks for the Share...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2017 12:49 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:49:01 -0400

MSG Private RallyPoint Member it makes a good photo.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Mar 31 at 2017 9:51 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:51:28 -0400

...and yes, submarines do it too... Tho not with as many "men".

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Apr 2 at 2017 5:06 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 17:06:25 -0400

I loved manning the rails. Pulling into Pearl Harbor and rendering honers as we pass the Arizona

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 6 at 2017 6:32 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 18:32:23 -0400

I'll defer to my Navy comrades for the official reason, but I'll bet the first time it happened was because some first mate didn't want his crew to look like a disorganized mob when they first sighted land or another ship after a long time at sea.