Category:Sea trials
Sea trials are a part of ship commissioning.
Sea trials used in training contexts at the USNA is entirely a figure of speech. There are not and never have been any real sea trials at the USNA. The term used in its primary sense means the testing of new or repaired ships at sea. The USNA does not build, repair, or test ships, nor has it ever. Pictures of ships being tested are totally misplaced in this category.
Real sea trials are sometimes called "shakedown cruises" because they intend to test the limits of the ships, "shaking down" any improperly secured equipment. The term has had real meaning for such ships as the USS Thresher, a submarine constructed at Portsmouth Navy Shipyard, which broke up at great depth on its shakedown cruise with the loss of all hands.
Sea trials at the USNA means a grueling 14-hour infantry and amphibious exercise of plebes at the end of their first year to see if during the year they have acquired and can put into practice the basic skills taught them as "navy fighting men and women." Putting into practice means also functioning as a team. The teams are led by upperclassmen, who also are being tested for leadership. The trials are organized as a company competition. The company with the highest score is designated "the iron company." Many find the competition stimulating and enjoyable. It has been in place since 1998.
Each midshipman is observed and graded. They are, so to speak, "shaken down." Sea trials are only part of the continuous observation and grading of their academic, physical, and social skills. Those needing work are offered a certain amount of remedial training, but on the whole they are expected to "shape up or ship out." The constant pressure is often cruel but battle itself is crueler. Failure is not tolerated in the military, a policy endorsed if not actually started by Abraham Lincoln, who kept replacing generals until he found ones that would confront the enemy and win. If personnel problems arise the most common solution is simply discharge, of which there are many types. At the USNA, until the middle of the 20th century, discharge was for free. It has not been for some decades, but is of considerable cost to the midshipman, raising the stakes of their USNA gamble. Non-performance of duty is never without grave consequences in any military and has not been at any time in history, and not just for the individual.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
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Media in category "Sea trials"
The following 126 files are in this category, out of 126 total.
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130514-N-MG658-120 (8746884139).jpg 4,256 × 2,832; 3.5 MB
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1932, Takao during sea trials (cropped).jpg 1,582 × 776; 86 KB
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1932, Takao during sea trials.jpg 2,560 × 1,689; 267 KB
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Akizuki.jpg 3,183 × 1,991; 732 KB
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Atago trials 1932.jpg 1,600 × 791; 607 KB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-AC575-053.jpg 2,896 × 1,931; 2.28 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-AL882-026.jpg 4,098 × 2,732; 4.84 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-AL882-034.jpg 4,248 × 2,832; 2.46 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-OA833-011.jpg 4,272 × 2,848; 3.13 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-OA833-015.jpg 2,848 × 4,288; 3.49 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-OA833-017.jpg 2,848 × 4,288; 3.06 MB
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Defense.gov photo essay 120515-N-OA833-020.jpg 3,743 × 2,495; 2.46 MB
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Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Sea Trials at the U.S. Naval Academy.jpg 4,288 × 2,848; 1.02 MB
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Fuso Trial Heading Left (cropped).jpg 2,490 × 1,270; 358 KB
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Fuso Trial Heading Left.jpg 3,117 × 2,059; 655 KB
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Fuso trial heading right.jpg 3,089 × 2,038; 620 KB
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Fuso trial.jpg 3,112 × 2,062; 784 KB
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IJN Hakaze on trials Taisho 9.jpg 1,940 × 1,074; 184 KB
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Haruna 1928.jpg 2,984 × 2,050; 692 KB
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Haruna 1934 (cropped).jpg 2,800 × 1,300; 316 KB
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Haruna 1934.jpg 2,976 × 2,012; 777 KB
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Haruna on trials.jpg 740 × 584; 80 KB
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Haruna sea trials 1915.jpg 3,060 × 2,008; 665 KB
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I-15.jpg 1,440 × 510; 103 KB
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Icon of the Seas (cropped).jpg 3,587 × 2,018; 1.38 MB
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Icon of the Seas.jpg 4,032 × 3,024; 2.32 MB
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IJN cruiser Takao on trial run in 1932.jpg 1,169 × 522; 403 KB
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IJN DD Suzukaze in 1937.jpg 600 × 300; 20 KB
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IJN Hatsuzuki 1942.jpg 1,500 × 886; 1.52 MB
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IJN SS I-58(II) on trial run in 1944.jpg 600 × 300; 12 KB
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IJN Tenryu in 1919 under trials.jpg 1,401 × 514; 66 KB
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Japanese battleship Kongo.jpg 902 × 452; 248 KB
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Japanese battleship Yamato running trials in Sukumo Bay, 30 October 1941 (80-G-704702).jpg 5,666 × 4,588; 10.12 MB
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Japanese battleship Yamato running trials off Bungo Strait, 20 October 1941.jpg 3,430 × 1,756; 886 KB
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Japanese destroyer Hayate Taisho 14.jpg 1,016 × 612; 341 KB
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Japanese destroyer Maki 1944.jpg 2,478 × 1,678; 1.14 MB
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Japanese destroyer Momo 1944.jpg 2,560 × 1,679; 186 KB
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Japanese submarine I-45 in 1943.jpg 600 × 360; 28 KB
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IJN cruiser Jintsu on trial run in 1939.jpg 600 × 400; 27 KB
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Kongō.jpg 1,596 × 852; 239 KB
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Mogami running trials in 1935.jpg 2,004 × 1,041; 280 KB
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MS Sabine Howaldt - Kieler Förde - im Mai 1958 auf Probefahrt 1.jpg 2,464 × 3,696; 4.5 MB
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IJN Nadakaze on trials Taisho 10-11.jpg 1,940 × 1,263; 270 KB
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Nagato01cropped.jpg 2,499 × 1,757; 601 KB
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NEVADA on trial run (22 1-2 knots) LCCN2014700981.jpg 5,829 × 4,247; 1.63 MB
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NH 73053 Shimakaze.jpg 3,798 × 2,098; 5.43 MB
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RMS Titanic sea trials April 2, 1912 (cropped).jpg 925 × 586; 385 KB
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Russian Navy Corvette Merkury.jpg 550 × 390; 214 KB
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Russian Navy Frigate Admiral Golovko.jpg 550 × 390; 199 KB
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Sea Trial of HMS Devastation off Berehaven - The Graphic 1873.jpg 1,024 × 425; 193 KB
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Shimakaze.jpg 2,460 × 1,650; 864 KB
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Steaming at high speed during trials, 1937..jpg 442 × 580; 58 KB
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Suzuya trials2.jpg 3,201 × 1,842; 497 KB
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IJN Tachikaze on trials Taisho 10.jpg 1,940 × 1,263; 327 KB
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The Trial trip of HMS 'Devastation' - The Graphic 1873.jpg 720 × 968; 372 KB
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US Navy 060516-N-5215E-002 A team of midshipmen struggle in a round of tug-of-war during.jpg 2,336 × 1,768; 4.15 MB
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USS Nicholas (DD-449) running trials in May 1942 (NH 49969).jpg 5,379 × 3,626; 5.41 MB
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USS Nicholas (DD-449) underway during trials on 28 May 1942 (19-N-36881).jpg 5,640 × 4,499; 7.59 MB
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Usugumo II during sea trials.jpg 1,635 × 794; 1.54 MB
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Yamashiro initial trial.jpg 3,125 × 2,061; 994 KB
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Yamashiro reconstruction trial (cropped).jpg 1,970 × 750; 218 KB
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Yamashiro reconstruction trial.jpg 2,230 × 1,305; 383 KB
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Yamato during Trial Service.jpg 2,000 × 1,201; 922 KB
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Yamato sea trials 1.jpg 1,511 × 1,029; 594 KB
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Yamato sea trials 2.jpg 1,600 × 855; 542 KB
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Yamato sea trials late 1941.jpg 744 × 515; 75 KB
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Yamatotrials-retouched.jpg 800 × 479; 91 KB