boatswain's bosun's call Piping the Side

Piping the Side VBR MP3 154.8 kb, Piping the Side OGG format 538 kb which is a free, open standard container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The OGG format is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.

A boatswain's call is a pipe used on naval ships by a boatswain. It is pronounced, and sometimes spelled, "bosun's call".

Historically the boatswain's call was used to pass commands to the crew when a 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.

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This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the file is in the public domain.

This audio is part of the collection: Community Audio
Artist/Composer: United States Navy Band
Keywords: boatswain's; bosun's; call; Piping; boatswain; bosun
Creative Commons license: Public Domain Mark 1.0

Boatswain's Calls Bosun's Pipe Mess Call

Pipe Mess Call VBR MP3 960 kb, Pipe Mess Call OGG format 538 kb which is a free, open standard container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The OGG format is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.

A boatswain's call is a pipe used on naval ships by a boatswain. It is pronounced, and sometimes spelled, "bosun's call".

Historically the boatswain's call was used to pass commands to the crew when a 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.



1. This is a World Wide Web site for official information about Navy Personnel Command. It is provided as a public service by Navy Personnel Command. The purpose is to provide information and news about Navy Personnel Command to the general public.

2. All information on this site is public domain and may be distributed or copied unless otherwise specified. Use of appropriate byline, photo, image credits is requested.

This audio is part of the collection: Open Source Audio
Artist/Composer: United States Navy Personnel Command
Keywords: Piping; Bosun's Pipe; boatswain's mate; pipe; navy
Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Boatswain's Pipe Call All Hands

Pipe Call All Hands VBR MP3 100 kb, Pipe Call All Hands WAV 136 kb, Pipe Call All Hands OGG format 58 kb which is a free, open standard container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The OGG format is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.

Before the PA sysytem was developed information or orders for the crew were passed by a boatswain's mate who first sounded the appropriate call on the pipe and then repeated the word fore and aft through out the ship. Now the word is broadcast all over the ship at once. An announcement is usually proceeded with now hear this or now hear there. Unless a boatswain's call is used. When a boatswain's call or pipe is used All Hands is used before any word concerning drills or emeregencies and Attention before any routine words.



Air Bedding, All divisions, Air bedding, First pipe, All Hands.

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Information presented on DefenseLINK is considered public information and may be distributed or copied unless otherwise specified. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested.

This audio is part of the collection: Open Source Audio
Artist/Composer: U.S. Department of Defense
Keywords: Piping; Bosun's Pipe; boatswain's mate; pipe; All Hands
Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Piping Aboard

Piping Aboard VBR MP3 57 kb, Piping Aboard WAV 77 kb, Piping Aboard OGG format 31 kb which is a free, open standard container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The OGG format is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.

Bosun's Pipe, Piping Aboard with its distinctive low, high, low call. components of the whistle, the tube is known as the gun, the part which makes the sound is the buoy and the flat plate that holds the device together is the keel. It is suspended on a silver chain.



No self-respecting boatswain's mate would dare admit he couldn't blow his pipe in a manner above reproach. This pipe, which is the emblem of the boatswain and his mates, has an ancient and interesting history.

On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to "call the stroke." Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials. So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navy of the sailing ships.

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Information presented on DefenseLINK is considered public information and may be distributed or copied unless otherwise specified. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested.

Artist/Composer: U.S. Department of Defense
Keywords: Piping; Bosun's Pipe; boatswain's mate; pipe
Creative Commons license: Public Domain