A boatswain's call or pipe is a pipe

Pipe (instrument)

Pipe describes a number of musical instruments, historically referring to perforated wind instruments. The word is an onomatopoeia, and comes from the tone which can resemble that of a bird chirping.-Folk pipe:...

 used on naval ships by a boatswain

Boatswain

A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...

. It is pronounced, and sometimes spelled, "bosun's call".

The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a 'keel', a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together, and the 'shackle', a keyring that connects a long silver or brass chain that sits around the collar, when in ceremonial uniform.

History and usage

Historically the boatswain's call was used to pass commands to the crew when the voice could not be heard over the sounds of the sea. Because of its high pitch, it could be heard over the activities of the crew and bad weather. It is now used in traditional bugle calls such as Evening Colors/Sunset, and in other ceremonies in most modern navies. It is sometimes accompanied by other auditive features such as ruffles and flourishes

Ruffles and flourishes

Ruffles and flourishes are preceding fanfare for honors music .Ruffles are played on drums, and flourishes are played on bugles...

, voice commands and announcements, or even a gun salute.

It is also the official badge of the Quartermaster

Quartermaster

Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...

, Chief Boatswain's Mate, and Boatswain's Mate

Boatswain's Mate

A Boatswain's mate is a job classification in Navies and Coast Guards.*Boatswain's mate , a job classification in the United States Navy*Boatswain's mate , a job classification in the United States Coast Guard...

 in the Sea Scouts and the Sea Cadets

Sea Cadets

Sea Cadets are generally members of a Sea Cadet Corps, a formal uniformed youth organisation for young people with an interest in water borne activities and or the national Navy. The organisation may be sponsored in whole or in part by the Navy, Navy League or Naval supporter's organisation...

.

Honoring

• Pipe aboard: Flag-rank officers or an important guest is boarding a Navy ship.

Commands

• Haul: The most basic of calls. Crews of warships were not allowed to sing work songs or shanties, so the pipe coordinated the sailors. The low note was for the pause and preparatory; the high for pulling on the line.
• The Side or Away Galley: Descends from the tradition of hoisting officers aboard ship in a chair. It is a combination of haul, and then a command to lower. This call remains in use as an honor given to officers when embarking or disembarking.
• Away Boats: Used to order a ship's boats to leave the ship's side.
• Call the Boatswain's Mates: The boatswain's gang to report.
• All Hands on Deck: Crews were split into two rotating watches that stood for four hours at a time. This call signals the entire crew to assemble on deck.
• Word to be Passed: Command for silence, an order to follow.
• Pipe Down: Dismissal of all the crew not on watch.
• Dinner or Supper: Calls the crew to a meal.
• Still: Used to call the crew to attention. This would be done, for example, when two warships meet, the still being piped as the junior ship salutes the senior ship (the seniority of a warship
  Warship
  A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
  
   is the seniority of her captain
  Captain (naval)
  Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
  
  ); a less common alternative to the still being piped is a bugle call
  Bugle call
  A bugle call is a short tune, originating as a military signal announcing scheduled and certain non-scheduled events on a military installation, battlefield, or ship. Historically, bugles, drums, and other loud musical instruments were used for clear communication in the noise and confusion of a...
  
  .
• Carry On: Used after the still, to dismiss the crew back to their duties.
• General Call: Piped before an announcement.

External links

• The Boatswain's Call - Photos and Diagrams ReadyAyeReady.com
• MP3s of the Boatswain's calls followed by verbal pipe, from Hellenic (Greek) Navy
• Bosun's Call MP3s by the US Navy Band
• How to use Boatswain pipe .pdf file
• H & T 1877 Bosun's whistle,whistle museum
• The Atocha Shipwreck of 1622, Captain's gold whistle