There's a long-standing tradition among sailors on U.S. Navy ships when they cross the equator: Those onboard who've already experienced the passage, called shellbacks, perform an elaborate initiation ...

Nearly 900 “pollywogs” serving aboard the Japan-bound USS Wasp became “shellbacks” during a weekend equator-crossing ceremony in the Atlantic Ocean. Tradition holds that as a ship approaches the ...

MANILA, Philippines — One of the country’s most capable warships, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16), has made it to Australia for the Exercise Kakadu 2014. The ship arrived on Aug. 23 after it sailed from ...

On Oct. 15, sailors from the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and the cruiser Normandy entered the royal court of King Neptune to participate in the time-honored crossing the line ceremony, where sailors ...

As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs – those who have never crossed the line – are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator ceremony ...

ABOUT 160 sailors and soldiers considered “pollywogs” aboard the Philippine Navy’s flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar undertook the “shellback ceremony” on Saturday as the vessel crossed the equator on ...

ABOARD THE PATRIOT STATE -- Once again, the Patriot State has entered the realm of King Neptune and returned safely to port. And again, Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets who have never been to ...

A U.S. Navy spokesperson tells PEOPLE marking a ship’s passage across the equator has been a tradition for centuries. But the ceremonies are now optional — and no longer look like this There's a ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Vintage Navy. credit line – Vintage photographs by Dzintars Dale Vintage photographs by Dzintars Dale There's a long-standing ...