Around the Fleet

First, let me say that I am very impressed with the quality of today's All Hands magazine -- it is light-years ahead of where the magazine was when I first joined the Navy. A "well done" to you and your staff.

I particularly enjoy the annual edition that summarizes the U.S. Navy. For someone posted overseas and away from the mainstream Navy, the magazine is invaluable. The CD-ROM "Rights and Responsibilities," is most innovative and useful.

However, I was concerned with one omission from the list of ships. The U.S. Navy's most famous ship (and still in commission), "Old Ironsides."

What made the omission particularly stark (and from my personal experience, painful) is that in the same week, I received a copy of Britain's Royal Navy "Broadsheet," which provides a useful summary of the Royal Navy endorsed by the First Sea Lord. Attached was a pull-out sheet of all of the ships in the RN and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In the most prominent position was HMS Victory, many years older than USS Constitution, still in commission (as is Old Ironsides) but given full visibility alongside the modern fleet honoring her status and heritage.

Old Ironsides omission can't be for want of knowledge. Indeed, the June 1997 edition of All Hands provided great coverage of Old Ironsides -- as a warm up to the historic sail in July 1997, and there have been smaller articles about this naval icon since. But surely isn't it possible to include her alongside the rest of the U.S. Navy's ships? She is in commission, noted as such in the register of U.S. Navy ships, has won more battle honors than the vast majority of the ships listed, is adored by the American public -- and since the Navy increasingly makes much of naval heritage -- there shouldn't be any objection to listing her. What finer way to teach an important part of our Navy's history?

As an interesting side note: Old Ironsides received only two formal congratulations on her 200th birthday -- one from our MCPON, and the other from HMS Victory.

CDR Cbristopher Melhuish

65th to command

USS Constitution

Editor's note: In compiling our list of active U.S. Navy ships, we neglected the fact that Constitution, while inactive, is indeed still in commission. We will correct this in the upcoming January 2002 Owner's & Operator's Manual.

Editor,

Great article in All Hands about religious program specialists (RPs) and Chaplain and Religious Program Specialist Expeditionary Skills Training training we receive. Our rating is probably one of the most obscure in the Navy. It was good to see us portrayed in the context of our operational/tactical mission.

Next? How about doing a story on the Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation? Your magazine is always a pleasure to read.

RP1(FMF) Joe Compton

San Diego