Qc_ /7 - A._ \_o~-.. 

United States Naval Academy 

Annapolis, Maryland 

Catalogue of Information 

United States Naval Academy 

Annapolis, Maryland 

Catalogue of Information 

March 1948 

C ONTENTS 

Navy Department . 

The Board ot \'lsitors - 1917 

A.dmlnlstrallou -·-···-···-

Academic Doard _ •.. 

Foreword -· ·--· _ 

Historical Sketch ··--

A.nnapolls Rnd the Na••al Academy Grou11<ls 

Lite at the Naval Academy. __ -·· 

ExtracurriculRr Acllv!Ues 

Religious Actlvflles _ 

Athletics at the Naval Academy 

lntrRmural Sports ...... . 

The Place or the Nn••nl Academy in the Na\"~·s Bducnllonal Pattern 

The Na•·nl Career ....... . -··· ·-· 

Aviation 

Submarine Training 

Marine Corps ---

Duly Assignments 

Promollon ---·· __ .. 

The Narnl Proression_ -·· 

How to D<'comc a Midshipman at the Na,·al Acmlemy 

Source' ot Appointments 

How to Proceed In Applying for an A1•1•oi ntme nt. 

GenPral Requirements as to Citizenship, Age. Character and 

Status _ ·- -·-__ .. 

Scbola•tlc Entran~e Requlr~mt> nts 

The Physical Requireme nts . 

Entrance Depo sit. . Pay nnd Ration Allowa'lCl' 

The Faculty .. ··-

Curriculum 

Ext>cullve ···-

S<>nmanshlp and Navigation 

OrdnRnce and Gunnery ... 

Marine Engineering 

Aviation ·--- __ ·-

Mnlbemallcs -·-·- __ 

P.l<'ctrlcal Engineering 

f;ngllsh, History and Government 

Foreign Languages 

Hygiene ----·· ··- . Physical Training _ 

Specht! Lectures tor t ht> First Class 

Course ot Instruction T:i bles 

Mldsblpmnn Practice Cruise 

Concluelon . -·· . . .. 

iii 

Page 

v 

vii 

.• viii 

IJC 

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~1arilal 

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NAVY DEPARTMENT 

The Secretary of the Navy 

Honorable John L. Sullivan 

Tbe Undr->r Secretary of the Navy 

Honorable W. John Kenney 

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air 

Honorable John Nicholas BrO'\Vll 

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy 

Honorable l\Iark E. Andrews 

Chief of Naval Operations 

Admiral Louis E. Denfeld, U. S. Na\'Y 

Chief of Naval Personnel 

Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague, U. S. Navy 

Director, Naval Academy Division. Bureau of Naval Personnel 

Leonard Draper 

v 

THE BOARD OF VISITORS-1948 

B\ TllE Pil~SIDENT 

Dr. James P. Baxter, lll, 

President, \\"illiams College 

Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C. 

President, University of :-.:ou·e Dame 

Mr. Richardson Dilworth, 

Attorney, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Hon. ·william Preston Lane, Jr .. 

Governor of Maryland 

Dr. Frederick .\. '.\Iiddlebush, 

President, lJniversity of '.\lissuuri 

~lr. Joseph W. Powell, 

President, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture 

Dr. Rufus B. von KleinSmid, 

Chancellor, University of Southern California 

In THE PRESIDENT PRO TE'.\IPORE OF THE SE:-:ATE 

Senator Chan Gurney (ex officio). 

South Dakota 

Senator Edward V. Robertson. 

Wyoming 

Senator Leverett ::;aJtonstall. 

Massachusetts 

Senator Millard E. Tydings, 

Maryland 

Senator Harry F. Oyrd. 

\"irginia 

BY TUE SPEAKEH OF THE HOUSE 

Representative Walter G .. \ndrews (ex officio). 

New York 

Representalive Willis W. Bradley, Captain, U. S. Navy (Ret.), 

California 

Representati,·e Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Texas 

Representative Katharine St. George, 

New York 

Representative Lansdale G. Sasscer, 

Maryland 

Representath"e Hugh D. Scott Jr .. 

Pennsylvania 

vii 
ADMINISTRATION 

Superintendent 

Rear Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr., U. S. Navy 

Commandant of l\lidshipmen 

Captain Frank T. Ward. Jr., U. S. Navy 

Administrative Aide 

Captain Jesse R. ""alJace, U. S. Navy 

Aide and Flag Lieutenant 

Commander Dyron L. Gurnette, U. S. Navy 

Secretary, ,\cadernic Board, and Aide 

Commander Richard S. Craighill, U. S. Navy 

Aide and Flag Secretary 

Commander James J. Southerland, U. S. NaYy 

Chaplain 

Commander l!."'verelt P. \\'uebbens (ChC), U. S. Navy 

Assistant Secretary, Academic Board 

""illiam S. Shields, A.B., :\L\., Ph.D. 

Chief Clerk and Assistant to Secretary, Academic Board 

Richard E. Heise 

viii 
ACADEMIC BOARD 

CHAlR!\1AN 

lluar ,\drnirai James L. Ilolloway, Jr., Superintcndt•nt 

U.S. Xavy 

~tE~tBF:RS 

a11taln Frank T. Ward, Jr., U.S. :'\avy Commandant of ;\Jidshipmen 

Captain Hichard F. Stout, U. S. Xavy I lead of Depart111t>nt of 

Seamanship & Xavigatlon 

Ca11taln !\lerle .\. Sawyer, U. S. Xa')' I lead of Department of 

Ordnance & Gunnery 

Ca11taln Cornelius S. Sea bring, l'. S. I lead of Ile11a1 tml'nt of 

:-i:wy ;\farinc Enginrering 

Ca11taln Hohert B. Pirie, l'. S. Xin y I ll'ad of Depa1tmt'nt of 

.hiation 

Captain Hu pert M. Zimmt'rli, l'. 8. I ll'ad of J)opart1111>nt of 

Xavy ;\fathrmatlcs 

Captain \\'Plis L. Fit:'ld , U. S. ;\'avy llrad of Department of 

Electrical Engineering 

Ca1•tai11 George P. Hunter, U. S. Xavy llead of Department of 

English, History, & GoYernment 

Captain \\'illia111 c;, Cooper, ll. S 

Xa\'y 

Capt.nin \\'illlam \\'. J largravc, :\lt>dlcal Corps l'. S. :\a\')' 

Ca11taln l~clmund B. 'Taylor, L'. 8. X:l\ ~· 

t'omr i.uHIPJ' ltirharcl S. Craighili, 

ll. 8. :'\avy 

Ix 

I lead of Department of 

Foreign Languages 

I lead of Drpartmcnt of 

Hygiene 

llead of Departmt'nt of 

l'hysical Tmining 

St><'rf'lar~-. \<'ac!Pmic noarcl 
1',o4§"M(_)RIAI.. HAl..I.. 
:Fo'lewo1zd 

The United Slates Naval Academy is maintained by the Government, under the immediate supervision of the Bureau of Naval Personnel of the Navy Department, for the training and higher education 

of young men for the Naval Service. The students have the rank of 

midshipmen in the United States Navy and are granted the degree of 

bachelor of science upon graduation. The mission of the Naval 

Academy is: 

"Tb.rough study and practical instmction to provide the midshipmen with a basic education and knowledge of the naval profession; 

to develop them morally, mentally and physically; and by precept and 

example to indoctrinate them with the highest ideals of duty, honor 

and loyalty in order that the Naval Service may be provided with 

graduates who are capable junior officers in whom has been developed 

the capacity and foundation for future development in mind and 

character leading toward a readiness to assume the highest responsibilities of citizenship and Government." 

Our aim is to develop a devoted and self-sacrificing public servant. We must educate him broadly so that he will become a valuable 

citizen of his country both in domestic and in foreign circles, prepare 

him for his professional career by providing him with scientilic insight built upon basic lmowledge, endow him with qualities of leadership and character, and develop him physically so that he will have 

the vigor to carry out his task. 

The Navy looks forward with confidence to passing on its 

leadership to the bands of young men imbued "ith the ideals expressed so aptly by John Paul Jones: 

"It ls by no means enough that an officer of the Navy should be 

a capable mariner. He must be that, of course, but also a great deal 

more. He should be, as well, a gentleman of liberal education, refined 

manner, punctilious courtesy and the nicest sense of personal honor." 

The purpose of this pamphlet is to disseminate to preparatory 

and high schools in the country, and to interested persons, general 

information concerning the manner in which this mission is accomplished. It is directed particularly at those who may desire to enter 

the Naval Academy. 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 3 

!/{islo'lica/ Sketc/1 

The United States Naval Academy was founded as the Naval 

School in 1845 by the Honorable George Bancroft, historian, educator and Secretary of the Na\·y, to inlprove the then unsatisfactory 

methods of instructing midshipmen. It was located at Annapolis, 

Md., on the site occupied by Fort Severn, which was given up for the 

puq>ose by the \\'ar Department. At first the course was five years, 

of which only the first and last were spent at the school, the inter-

\'enlng three years being spent on board ships on active sen•ice. It 

wus reorganized in lS;:i0- 51 as the United States Naval Academy, with 

a course of study of Cow· consecutive years. A summer practice 

crnise replaced the omitted sea service and gave better opportunities 

for intensh·e training. During the Civil \Var the Academy was moved 

to :'\ewport, R I. but was brought back to Annapolis in 1865, where 

It has since remained. In the following years great improvements 

were effected in the organization and curriculum. From 1873 to 1912 

the academic course was 6 years, the last two of which were spent at 

sPa. In 1912 the course was fixed at four years, the two years at sra 

being omitted. During the Ch•il, Spanish-American, and World Wars, 

the cow·se was shortened to provide more officers for the fleets. During the World "'ars large classes of reserve officers and reserve midshipmen were trained at the Academy. 

Beginning in the year 1899, following an appropriation of $10,-

000,000 by Congress for the purpose, the Naval Academy was almost 

completely rebuilt in the French Renaissance style after the designs 

of the architect, 111r. Ernest Flagg, of New York. The grounds of the 

,\cademy proper now comprise about 235 acres, along the west bank 

or the Severn River, on which are 217 major buildings. 

The students undergoing the course at the Naval Academy are 

ap11ointed midshipmen in the United States Navy and are subject to 

the orders and regulations of the Navy Depaitment. An act of Congress, approved on May 25, 1933, authorized the Superintendent to 

confer the degree of bachelor of science upon all graduates from and 

after the date of the accrediting of the Academy by the Association of 

\merican Universities. That association placed the Naval Academy 

on its approved list on October 25, 1930, and graduates commencing 

''Ith the class of 1931 became eligible for the degree. By virtue of an 

act of Congress, approved July 8, 1937, the Superintendent is now 

authorized to confer the degree upon all living graduates. The Naval 

,\cademy is a member of the Association of American Colleges, the 

American Council on Education, and Is on the accredited list or the 

Middle States ,\ssociation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. 
TH&: CHAPEL 
l':\'ITRD ST.\ TES NA\'AL ACADEMY 6 

Situated on the Se\·eru River, where it fio" s into the Chesapeake 

Bay, the Naval .\cademy adjoins tile old Colonial City of Annapolis. 

The many fine examples of GeOTgian architecture, the quaint, nan·ow 

streets a11d cobbl>~stone walks ha\·e been safeguarded by the citizens 

of l\Iaryland's capital against the disenchantment of modernization. 

The city, which was founded in 1649, has succeeded in maintaining 

its quiet way of life throughout the centuries. Three-fourths or Annapolis is surrounded by water. The shores of its creeks and inlets 

are lined with pri\•ately owned pleasure craft, sailing and fishing being 

among the most popular forms of recreation. It is only a step from 

the Old-\\'orld charm of Maryland ,\yenue into the imposing grounds 

of the :\aval .\cademy. 

The N'aYal Academy buildings are grouped around a quadrangle. 

('alled the Yard, bounded on the north by the academic group and on 

the south by the great granite dormitory, Dancroft Hall. named after 

C~corge Bancroft. founder of the Naval Academy. 

Starting at the :\Iaryland A\·enue Gate and turning right at Blake 

Iload, one passes the ivy-covered Administration Building, then sees 

before him the Chapel with its great dome and its fi.\'C memorial windows honoring :\Iason, 8ampson, Porter, The Innsible Commission, 

and FaITagut. In the crypt are contained the sarcophagus of John 

Paul Jones. with many historical relics and memorials. The anchors 

in front of the Chapel are from the armored cruiser New York, flagi;hip of .\dmiral Sampson at the Dattle of Santiago. The mortars 

near the Chapel, and nearly all the old Spanish bronze ran non around 

thl" Yard, are trophies of the )!exican \Yar. 

:\ext door to the Chapel is the Superintendent's House, with its 

IO\·ely lawns, where the annual garden party for the graduating class 

is held. ,\cross the street from these quarters stands Dahlgren Hall. 

This hullding, numed for the Ch·il \\'ar i11'"entor of large calibre naval 

guns, houses the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery. Its great 

floor space is usrd for certain indoor athletics as an auditorium. to 

accommodate brigade infantry formations, for the 10,000 or more 

visitors to the graduation exercises and for the "Farewell Ball'' of 

June \\'l'ek. \\'est of thi building is \\'ard Hall, a recitation building 

and Ordnance laboratory. 

,\long the south side of the Yard stands Bancroft Ilall, housing 

the Brigade of :\Iidsl1ipmen. Its rotunda is decorated with murals 

d1>picti11g naval engagements. and in its Memorial Ilall is displayed 
6 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Perry's battle flag at Lake Erle wit h the memorable words Don't Give 

Up the Ship. From the windows of the Hall one may view Farragut 

Field, Thompson Stadium, the harbor and the bay beyond. 

Directly in front of Bancroft Hall is the statue of Tecumseh, 

a replica of the figurehead of the old ship Delawa re. The next 

building toward the Severn is the gymnasium, Macdonough Hall, 

named for the victor of Lake Champlain. Within are the athletic 

trophy room, handball and squash courts. instruction s~;mming pool. 

facilities for basketball, wrestling, boxing, fencing and gymnastics. A 

section of this building, known as ".'.\lisery Hall," is occupied by the 

,\thletic l\Iedical Officer and his staff, as well as by our beloved "Doc 

Snyder," who bas effectively cared for the aches and miseries of our 

athletes for some 35 years. The offices of the athletic coaches and 

physical training instructors. who plan and conduct the extensive 

intramural program. are located on the second floor of this building. 

Immediately adjacent Is the Natatorium. which contains one of the 

largest Indoor swimming pools in the country. 

Along the seawall ls Luce Hall, named for an early head of Department of Seamanship and writer of textbooks on that subject. In 

this ball are the Department of Seamanship and N'a,·igation and the 

Department of Foreign Languages. 

The Academic Group stands across the Yard to the north . .'.\faury 

Hall, named for the distinguished oceanographer . .i.\Iattbew Fontaine 

.'.\Iaury, Is occupied by the Departments of ~Iathematics. and Engllsh, IIlstory and Government. Sampson llall. named for the Commander-in-Chief at the Battle of Santiago. contains the classrooms 

and laboratories of the Depa1truent of Electrical Engineering. Th" 

middle or main building of the group, Mahan Hall. was named after 

the historian of the sea, and houses the Library and the _\uditorium. 

Behind the Academic Group are Isherwood. :1\leMlle and Griffin 

Halls, which contain the classrooms and laboratories of the Department of Marine Engineering as well as certain Electrical Engineering 

Jahoratories. These are adjacent to the parade !t'l'Ound, \\'orden 

Field. 

Still farther to the north are Hubbard Hall (Doat House), Lawrence Field (baseball) and the Postgraduate School. with the Naval 

Hospital to the eastward along the river. 

Completing the quadrangle of the Yru·d. near the Maryland Avenue Gate, are the buildings housing the Department of .Aviation. the 

Museum, the Na,·al ,\cademy Athletic Association. the U. S. Naval 

Institute and the Officers' Club. 
UNlTEJD STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 7 

Life at the Ylaval Jlcademy 

A midshipman at the Naval Academy is fully occupied from Monday morning until Saturday afternoon. Like any other person in a 

military organization, he follows a well planned routine, from reveille 

to taps; that is, from the time he rises in the morning until he goes 

lo bed at night. It is the rigorous routine, with its discipline, which 

chiefly distinguishes life at the Naval Academy from life at civllian 

colleges and universities. Yet this same daily program, since it is 

borne by about three thousand other midshipmen, is conducive to 

close comradeship and mutual understandiug that lead to enduring 

Criendships. There are breaks throughout the day in this program, 

opportunities for a smoke, a chat, a chance to "shoot the breeze," a 

game of bridge. a letter home - all those things that add to the savor 

of a man's life. 

A Typical Day 

He begins his day at 0615 (6 :15 a. m.) when he 

rises, throws his bedclothes over the foot of the bed 

and reports his "turning out" as the reveille inspector passes down the corridor. By 0645 he has 

bathed, shaved, dressed, combed his hair, brushed his clothes, shined 

his shoes and is ready to fall in with his company to undergo inspection of his personal appearance and military bearing. This inspection 

is made by midshipmen officers and by commissioned line officers on 

duty in the Executive Department of the Naval Academy. 

Inspection is followed by breakfast in the mess hall. All midshipmen eat at the same time, at about 130 tables seating 22 men each. 

They are waited on by Navy steward's mates. Before the meal the 

midshipmen stand, with bowed beads, while the Chaplain offers 

prayer. Then the brigade commander. the "sL-c striper," giYes the 

order "seats" and the midshipmen take their places at the assigned 

tahles. 

At 0745 three battalions, half the Brigade, march to thei.r first 

recitation of the day, while the other half begins its first study hour. 

The seven hours of the academic day are divided similarly, one-half 

of the Brigade studying while the other half recites. This routine 

continues until 1630, except for a break between 1200 and 1310 for 

lunch. The first part of the afternoon (until 1630) is devoted to recitations, engineering or electrical laboratory drills, seamanship, practice at the rifle range on the other side of the Severn River, battalion 

infantry drills and a weekly dress parade by the entire Brigade when 

the weather Is favorable. 

UNJTED STATES NAVAL AC,\DE;\.IY 9 

After 1630 the midshipmau participates in some sport, varsity or 

lntramural. If he is a member of the fil'st class (Academy designation 

tor the senior class). he may visit ,\nnapolis. 

J 900 (7:00 p. m.) is supper time. With nearly three thousand 

\·ery alert young men in one big mess hall discussing sports, news 

and other items of interest. this supper hour is one of the brightest 

spots of the day. 

The evening study period last:; from 2000 

blows taps at 2200. 

2145, and the bugle 

Watch Dunes 

In the execution of this closely coordinated program. the midshipman receives intensive training 

for his later duties aboard ship. About every eighteen days be is excused from all his academic duties 

and serves on the watch squad, assisting in can-ying out the day's 

routine. This is done, of course, under the direct supervision of the 

Commandant of Midshipmen, the officers (both NaYy Line and Marine 

Corps) of the Executive Department and the midshipman officers of 

the Brigade. The experience thus gained by the midshipman will be 

valuable to him later In his naval career when he will be called on to 

stand watch aboard ship. 

On Saturday afternoons and evenings the midThe Weekend shipman may attend one of the many athletic contests in which the Naval Academy is engaged. Except when he is a plebe (freshman), be may also visit Annapolis and 

its suburbs. The first class is allowed every other weekend for outof-town leave and may also leave Annapolis on holidays. Saturday 

night is frequently a "hop" night and a gala occasion. (These "hop" 

nights, except for two each year, are not for fourth classmen.) Motion pictures are provided in Mahan Hall for all midshipmen on 

Saturday night, and on Sunday afternoon the thl'ee upper classes may 

escort guests to these movies. 

Attendance at the Xaval Academy Chapel, or at some church of 

the midshipman's own choosing. is a "must" on Sunday morning. 

The remainder of the day is free. On Sunday evening he resumes bis 

studies. 

Uniforms 

During the academic year the midshipman 

wears a "blue service" uniform. The fourth classmen wear no insignia or markings on their sleeves. 

The third class (known as "youngsters" in the 

Brigade) wear a gold diagonal stripe on the Jett sleeve; the second 

cla.88 we&r two elmilar dia.gona.l etrtpee; and the llrst class wear a 

UNlTED STATES NAVAL ACAJJB~MY 11 

horizontal stripe on the cuff of each sleeve with a special insignia denoting their rank in the Brigade of Midshipmen. I~or certain drilJs 

the midshipman wea.rs a loose, nautical uniform popularly known as 

"white works." During the summer, the newly inducted fourth elassmen wear these "white works" exclusively. The three upper classes 

wear the white service dress uniform with their rank indicated on 

shoulder marks. 

Midshipman 

Officers 

The Brigade organization is iu1pressive. At the 

top stands the brigade commander, the midshipman 

captain, or "six-striper," with his imposing staff of 

midshipman officers. Each regiment is under thf' 

command of a midshipman commander, or "five-striper," aided by a 

staIT of six midshipman officers. Each battalion has its battalion commander, a "four-striper," and his staff. The sLx battalions are subdivided into four companies each, twenty-four in all. These companies are under company commanders, or "three-stliper:s." Ea ell 

company is subdivided iuto three platoons, under plutoon commanders . 

.\II offices in the Brigade are filled by first classmen. They are 

cllosen hy the officers of the E,'{ecutive Department on lite basis of 

demon:-;trated ability and officer-like qualities. 

Athletics 

The 1\aval Academy has varsity teams in almost all intercollegiate sports, as we!J as a comprehensi\·e program of intramural athletics. ,\JJ midshipmen have an opportunity to participate in, and 

to become familiar with, numerous forms of physical recreation. An 

excellent opportunity is provided to develop a healthy, well-coordinated, well-trained body, toughened to meet the demands of life in the 

Na\·aJ Service. In addition, the midshipman wi!J be fitted, when be is 

sent to the Fleet, to coach at least one sport for enlisted men on llis 

ship. 

Extracurricular 

Acuv1ries 

The Academy also gives tl!e miclslliprnan an opportunity to express himself in numerous extracuriicular acthities. If interested. he can develop 

proficiency as a yachtsman, an actor, a musician, a 

singer. an artist, a writer. editor. reporter, speecl.u11aker, debater or 

photographer. Ile Is sure to find an activity at the Academy to suit 

his taste. One of the most popular of these is the Boat Club, center 

of l'ailing and sma!J boat activity for the midsWpmen. Knockabouts, 

half-raters, star boats, whalebo:i.ts. dinghies, ketches, aud even large 

schooners. yawls and ocean racing sloops arl' available. 
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UNITED STATES NAVAL AC.\DE~lY 13 

For the midshipmen interested in writing, editing or reporting 

there are four student publications at the Academy. The oldest is the 

Lucky Dag (issued annually since 1S!l4), the yearbook of the Brigade, 

edited and published by a staff from the first class. .Membership on 

the Lucky Bag starr entails considerable responsibility, for the Lucky 

Bag Is a $30,000 enterprise and involves dealing with photographers, 

printers, publishers and other business men. The Trident. a quarterly publication, is a periodical de\'Oted to articles. short stories, 

essays, poems, drawings and paintings by the midshipmen. It is publlshed by the Trident Society, a midshipman organization that 

serves to co1Telate all the midshipmen's literary activities. The Log, 

a bl-weekly, is distinctly on the lighter side and affords opportunity 

tor the midshipmen to exercise their reporting, artistic and literary 

abilities. The fourth publication, Reef Points, the plebe's bible, sets 

forth information that the fourth classman must know. Academy 

songs, cheers, a glossary of midshipman slang, useful data on the customs of the Na\')' and the sea, and Information about the many Academy buildings are all included "ithin its covers. 

For those midshipmen interested in public speaking and debating, 

there Is the Quarterdeck Society, under the guidance of faculty members from the Department of English. Ilistory and Government. Included are open forum discussions of pertinent topics of the day, as 

well as formal debating coutests between battalions and with teams 

from other colleges. 

If a midshipman has any inclination toward publicity work, the 

Public Relations Committee will interest him. These midshipmen 

assist in the press boxes at tbe Naval Academy football games. Their 

duUes also include the many other phases of public information, from 

reporting minor spo1ts e,·ents to presenting nation-wide radio broadcasts. 

The Reception Committee is a midshipman organization which 

welcomes and cares for visiting dignitaries and athletic teams. 

The Art Club and the Photographic Club supply the midshipmen's publications with cartoons. cm·er designs and illustrations. 

posters for the shows gi\'en by the Musical Clubs and "Iasqueraders, 

and decorations for some of the "hops." 

For the midshipman who enjoys singing, or who can perform on 

some instrument \\ith a fair degree of proficiency, there are a number 

of interesting organizations: The Glee Club, the NA-10 (the midshipmen's dance orchestra) and the Orchestra. Also there is the Drum 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 

and Bugle Corps. The members are chosen during their plebe summer and accompany the regular .:-\aval Academy Band (composed of 

selected Regular ~avy musicians) on many of its travels, particularly 

to football games. They are disllnguished from other midshipmen in 

the Brigade by the insignia of a bugle in gold upon their right sleeves . 

. \n amateur theatrical organization known as the Masqueraders 

produces an annual play. The Juice Gang, an organization of amateur midshipman electricians, provides lighting effects for the :-rasqueradr>rs and Combined :Musical Clubs as needed. The Properly and 

..\1akl!-Cp Gangs and the Stage Gang also assist when plays are in the 

making. 

For the mathematically incli11ed there are the Chess Club and the 

l\falbemat!cs Club. For the linguists there are the language clubs, 

tile French Club, the Spanish Club, the Portuguese Club, the German 

Club, the Italian Club and the Russian Club. These clubs conduct 

their activities exclusively in the foreign language. I<'or those interested in special hobbies, there are the ..\Iechanlcal Engineering Club, 

the Model Cluh the Sound and ..\Iovie Club, the Radio Club and the 

Stamp Club. 

Religious 

Acuvit1es 

Since its beginning the Naval Academy bas 

maintained a pattern of participation in formal worship envisioned to cherish our country's strong 

heritage of religious and moral values. Protestant 

and Catholic chaplains assigned to lhe Academy, and a chaplain 

named by the :\ational Jewish Welfare Board, work together in offering all midshipmen their own respectirn types of spiritual ministry. 

Symbolic of this concept of the place of religion in human life is 

the prominent localion of the magnificent Chapel, attended by all midshipmen who do not choose a denominational place of worship in the 

city of Annapolis. 

The cornerstone for this Chapel was laid by ,\dmiral Dewey in 

I ~10-t. Completed in 1908, the Chapel was enlarged in 1!l10 to accommodate a congregation of 2,500. Four of its brauliful stained glass 

windows are memorials to heroic leaders of the past. Significantly. 

lhe fifth and newest windo" shows a young man on Graduation Day. 

Behind him are years of anxiety and hope, work and play. Defore 

him lies a lifetime of dedicated service. Dressed for t hr first time in 

the uniform of an Ensign in the N:l\'y of the l.rnited States, he reads 

the scroll commissioning him as such. High above him the Stars and 

Stripes flutter in the breeze, but in the background stands lhe Man of 
16 CATALOGUE OF 1:-\FOfilL\TIO:-\ 

Galilee, pointing to an even higher obligation. It is th~ graduate's 

"!mrisible Commission," challenging him to consecrate his loyalty lo 

self and to country by supreme loyalty to the Uod who gave him both. 1 

Directly beneath the dome of the Chapel, on a lower ftoor, is tile 

burial place of John Paul Jones, and beneath the main floor of the 

Chapel nave is St. Andrew's Chapel, available. like its more spacious 

counterpart, for Proteslant, Catholic, or Jc\\ ish services whenever 

occasion demands. 

In addition to tile regular and special services pro\·ided in the city 

of Annapolis by all major religious bodies, both Proteslant and Roman 

Catholic religious activities are offered within the Yard. 

Protestant 

Ou Sunday Holy Communion is offered in an 

early service to which member::; of all Christian 

churches are invited. The main service, which is 

non-denominational in character and in which a 

midshipman choir of 130 voices participates, is held in the Chapel at 

1030. About once a month during the academic year a clergyman, 

recognized as outslanding in his denomination. is imited as guest 

preacher. The first and third Sunday evenings of the month are reserved for meetings of the Naval .\cademy Christian Association in 

Bancroft Hall. 

'\leekday Chapel services are held during Lent and on the various holy days of the church, as well as on days of national significance. 

Holy 1\Iass is celebrated in the Chapel on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation. Weekday Roman Catholic mass is said in St. Andrew's Chapel whenever the 

Brigade is at the Kaval ,\cadrmy. Confessions are 

heard on Saturdays and at other times as desired. The Naval Academy Newman Club meets regularly during the academic year, on the 

second and fourth Sunday evenings of the month. Prominent 

Catholic clergymen and laymen are frequently in\'ited to address the 

club. 
UI'\ITEJ) ST \TES ~ \ \' \L ACADJi:~lY 17 

Jl cliletics al tf1e 'Jlm·al Jl.cademy 

Athletics at the :\a,·al \cademy are an integral part of the rnidshlpmn11's training. Every midshipman is an athlete, whether he participates "itb a varsity team or not. The major portion or the program Is centered around competitive athletics. with the emphasis on 

contact sports, for the de' elopment of teamwork, loyalty, courage, 

character, and the ability to take as well as give. 

The midshipman does not have to be a star to enjoy athletics. 

Under expert instruction be ls taught the fundamentals of all sports. 

not only so that be may be physically strong, but so that he may continue to be active in athletics after graduation. 

The sports program offers not only the opportunity for participating, but, through careful coaching, latent talents are often developed to the level of intercollegiate competition. 

A resume of the athletic program at the Naval Academy, with 

typical schedules, follows. The opportunity for engaging in Intercollegiate athletics, against the finest competition, provides broadening 

contacts with men from other colleges and universities. 

Football 

Football is high in popullarity as a sport at the 

.Naval Academy, as it is in practically all colleges. 

Navy football teams have all the tradition and 

color of the Service they represent. Though Navy 

meets many outstanding teams, the big game is that played against 

the U. S. Military Academy in the traditional classic held each year. 

Like the World Series or the Kentucky Derby, this is one of the most 

colorful events of the sports world. 

For those who cannot be members of the varsity, there are other 

teams which play complete schedules and thus give every boy the opportunity for competition. The junior varsity, plebe and 150-pound 

teams all engage enthusiastically in intercollegiate contests. In adclitlon, there are six battalion teams, with complete coaching staffs. 

guaranteeing the best in teaching for the fulfillmPnt of a well directed 

program. 

25 Sept. 

2 Oct. 

9 Oct. 

16 Oct. 

23 Oct. 

30 Ort. 

FOOTBALLSCHEDULE19~ 

California (at Baltimore. Md.) 

Cornell (at D:iltimore, Md.) 

Dulce (at Durham, N. C.) 

Missouri (at Baltimore, Md.) 

Pennsyh·ania (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Xotre Dame (at Baltimore, i\Td.) 

Basketball 

UJ:\llTED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 

G Nov. Michigan (at Anu Arbor, Mich.) 

13 Nov. Columbia (at N. Y. C.) 

27 Nov. Army (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 

19 

Basketball has captured the winter spollight in 

the last decade and is now played before more 

spectators than any other sport. Navy meets the 

lop collegiate competition. Here the stress is on 

speed and precision, and the successful record of midshipman teams 

over the past twenty-fi\·e years compares favorably with that of any 

of the foremost quintets in the nation. In addition to its regular play, 

Navy has accepted inYita.tions to participate in post-season tournaments held in l\Iadjson Square Garden. Just as in football, there 

are also junior varsity and plebe teams whlch help train future 

varsity players and give the opportunity for participation to a large 

nnmber of midshipmen. 

Baseball 

BASKETBALL SCH EDULE 1947-48 

13 Dec. 

17 Dec. 

10 Jan. 

14 Jan. 

17 Jan. 

2-1 Jan. 

31 Jan. 

4 Feb. 

7 Feb. 

]1 Feb. 

14 Feb. 

18 Feb. 

20 Feb. 

21 Feb. 

25 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

G l\Iar. 

Johns Hopltins 

Catholic University (of \fashington. D. C.) 

VillanoYa 

l\faryland 

Rutgers (at New Ilnmswick, N. J.) 

George Washington (at Washington, D. C.) 

Bucknell 

Dulce 

Princeton 

West Virginia 

1\1 uhlen berg 

Penn State 

Gettysburg (at Gettysburg, Pa.) 

Pennsylrnnia (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Virginia 

Columbia 

Army (at West Point. N. Y.) 

Baseball, one of the si.-x major sports at the 

Naval Academy, is very popular with the Brigade. 

The baseball facj]jties are as fine as can be found at 

any university. They are put to extensive use, both 

for the ''arsity schedule with outstanding college and university 

teams. and for the junior varsity and plebe contests. Exhibition 

games are played with major and minor league professional teams. 

Navy's coaches are former major league stars, and the midshlpman 

nines have consistently enjoyed an enviable record. 
BASKETBALL IN DAHLGREN HALL 
rack 

L'N!TED STATES NAV.\L ACADEnIY 21 

25 ,\Iar. 

26 Mar. 

;3 Apr. 

5 Apr. 

7 Apr. 

10 .\pr. 

11 Apr. 

17 Apr. 

20 Apr. 

21 Apr. 

24 Apr. 

'.!8 Apr. 

30 Apr. 

1 May 

5 May 

8 May 

12 May 

H 1\Iay 

15 1\Iay 

19 1\Iay 

~2 May 

29 May 

BASEBALL SCHEDULE 1948 

Springfield 

Syracuse 

Trinity 

\\'est Chester 

\'illanoYa 

Columbia 

Rutgers 

Yale 

Baltimore Oriole:; (exhibition) 

Gettysburg 

Drown 

Swarthmore 

llarrnrd (at Cambridge) 

Dartmouth (at llanover) 

Princeton 

Cornell (at Ithaca) 

Maryland 

1\Ierchant Marine Academ) 

Penn State 

\\'est Virginia 

Pennsylvania (at Philadelphia) 

Army 

A member of the IC4.A. the :\a\·al Academy 

presents a splendid opportunity to the young man 

interested in track. .\nnual meetings with the 

member colleges, as well as participation in the 

·arious well-lmown relays, insure competition against the best in the 

mtion. J\t present, additional training for the development of pro-

·pectlve contestants in the coming Olympics is being held at the 

·aval Academy. A quarter-mile cinder track in Thompson Stadium, 

llld courses throughout the grounds, orrer excellent training facilities. 

l'h<'re is a plebe team to develop younger track men. 

10 Apr 

24 Apr. 

1 May 

8 May 

l'.i ~ray 

TRACK SCHEDULE 1948 

Maryland 

Penn Relays (at Philadelphia. !'a.) 

Villanova and Manhattan 

Duke and North Carolina 

Heptagonals Yale, Han·ard, Princeton, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Navy, Army 

(at \\"est Point. N. Y ) 

\rmy 

crossc 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 23 

Though lacrosse competition has been m:tin.ly 

confined to the northeastern section of the country, 

the game is rapidly gaining in popularity throughout the United Stat.es. Both pa1ticipants and specitors enjoy tWs rugged and skillful sport. Played in thi> spring of 

1e year on an open field, it embodies fundamentally the same deanding condition and stamina as football. 

ew 

31 .\Iar. 

3 _\pr. 

17 Apr. 

24 Apr. 

28 Apr. 

1 :\Iay 

8 .\lay 

15 May 

19 .\lay 

22 May 

29 May 

LACROSSE SCHEDULE 1948 

Dartmouth 

llan'ard 

Yale 

M<u·yland (at College Park, i\ld.) 

Duke 

Penn State 

Johns Hopkins 

Princeton 

ML Washington 

Lehigh 

Army (at \\'est Point, N. Y.) 

Crew, like swimming, is a spo1t which is 

more or Jess native to the Navy. \Vinning the 

Poughkeepsie Regatta in the spring of 1947 was one 

of the many outstanding accomplishments of the 

'aval Academy in this exacting sport. The Severn Ri\·er offers an 

·cellent training site for the oar::;men. It was here, in the spring of 

4G. that the Eastern Intercollegiate Sprint Regatta was held. This 

now an annual affair. Inside tanks in Hubbard Ha.l.l also permit 

·inter workouts, insuring thorough conditioning. Junior varsity and 

lebe crews are also active, generally meeting comparable crews from 

e schools of the varsity opponents. This year the varsity is one of 

e top favorites to represent the United States in the Olympics. 

17 Apr. 

J May 

8 May 

IG ii lay 

29 :\lay 

22 June 

CREW SCHEDULE 1948 

Columbia and Princeton 

Yale 

Adams Cup - Pennsylva11ia, Harvard, :\'avy (at 

Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (at 13oston, !\lass.) 

Cornell 

Poughkeepsie Regatta (Poughkeepsie, N. Y.) 
24 

Soccer 

CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Soccer has gained much favor throughout the 

East, and the Naval Academy has indicated ill 

ability to excel in th.is sport by leading or being near 

the top consistently over the years. Th.is is a popula1· sport, and 

plebe teams. 

there is instruction for battalion, junior varsity and 

2 Oct. 

6 Oct. 

9 Oct. 

13 Oct. 

16 Oct. 

20 Oct. 

23 Oct. 

30 Oct. 

6 Nov. 

13 Nov. 

'.!0 :\o\. 

Cross Country 

SOCCER SCHEDULE 1948 

Cornell 

North Carolina 

Pennsylvania (at Philadelphia. Pa.) 

Gettysburg 

Penn State 

Delaware 

Brown 

Han'ard (at Cambridge. ~lass.) 

Yale 

Swarthmore 

,\rmy (at \Yest Point, X Y.) 

Cross country is an old and established sport. 

Jt is also an excellent conditioner for distance track 

runners. The l'\aYal Academy provides opportunity 

for wide participation in cross country through bat· 

talion competition as well as plebe and varsity teams. Th.is sport has 

had a considerable following for a great many years. 

CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE 1948 

9 Oct. 

16 Oct. 

23 Oct. 

27 Oct. 

30 Oct. 

6 Nov. 

15 Nov. 

Indoor Track 

Duke 

North Carolina 

St. Joseph's 

West Chester 

Villanova 

Heptagonal Championships 

1C4A Championships (at :\'ew York, X Y.) 

Track is an excellent acti,;ty for condition· 

ing heart, lungs and muscles. During the cold 

winter months the track men work out in Dahlgren 

Hall, getting ready for the many outdoor meets in 

which they compete in the spring. Navy has had some outstanding 

track teams, and the interest which this sport commands augurs well 

for fine teams in the future. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADE:\IY 

INDOOR TRACK SCHEDULE 1948 

25 

3 Jan. Washington Star Indoor Track Meet (Washington, D. C.) 

31 Jan. Millrose Athletic Association Games (New York) 

14 Feb. New York Athletic Games (New Yorlr) 

21 Feb. University of Maryland Games (Ballimore) 

1 

IC4A Indoor Track Championships (New York) 

28 Feb. Southern Conference Indoor Track Championships (Chapel Hill) 

6 l\Iar. Heptagonal Indoor Track Meet (Boston, Mass.) 

Swimming is one of the most important sports 

at the Naval Academy. Rigorous tests, which must 

Nunmmg be passed by cYery midshipman, insure his ability to 

handle himself wrll in the water. It is only natural 

r the Navy lo excel in this sport. A beautiful natatorium and an 

1struction pool are available. 

~resdmg 

17 Jan. 

24 Jan. 

7 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

3 Mar. 

6 l\Iar. 

12 l\Iar. 

13 Mar. 

1() l\Iar. 

20 :Illar. 

SWIM M ING SCHEDULE 1948 

Cornell 

North Carolina 

Harvard 

Dartmoulh 

Rutgers 

Army 

Columbia (at N. Y. C.) 

Pennsylvania (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Eastern Intercollegiate Sv;imming Championships 

(at Princeton, N. J.) 

Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming Championships 

(at Princeton, N. J.) 

Wrestling is in great fayor as both an intercollegiate and intramural sport. Since wresUers are 

matched accordin~ to weight, there are equ:ll opportunities for participation for men of all builds and 

izrs. llncler one of lhe top coachrs in the country, lhe Navy varsity 

Hestling teams maintain a splendid record. Navy wrestlers have not 

1een defeated in dual competition in the last five years and during this 

>erlod have won the Eastern Collegiate Championship four times. 

JO Jan. 

17 Jan. 

31 Jan. 

WRESTLING SCHEDULE 1948 

Gettysburg 

Auburn 

Kansas State 
26 

Boxing 

7 Feb. 

14 Feb. 

21 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

6 Mar. 

12 Mar. 

13 Mar. 

20 Mar. 

CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Columbia 

Princeton 

Penn State 

Lehigh 

Pennsylvania (at Pruladelphia) 

11 Eastern Intercollegiates (at Lehigh) 

NCAA Championships (at Lehigh) 

Although the Naval Academy does not engage 

in regularly scheduled intercollegiate competition, 

the boxing program is nevertheless complete and 

thorough. Under the direction of "Spike" Webb, 

four times Olympic boxing coach for the United States, regular 

classes in boxing are held. From these al'e de,•eloped participanl'l in 

annual spring battalion competition. which determines the individual 

champions. 

Gymnastics 

Very few midshipmen have any gymnastic experience prior to their entrance into the Na>al 

Academy, but many take advantage of the fine 

opportunities offered here. Dy hard work and diligent practice the aspiring gymnast develops the coordination and 

strength which enable him to perform in this sport so that he can be, 

justly proud of bis accomplishments. Navy men ba\'e always excelled 

in the rope climb, and one of them bolds the world's record in this 

evenl At one time Navy went 12 years without losing a meet in dual 

competition. Such conspicuous intercollegiate success has its basis 

in the widespread participation of midshipmen in gymnastics as an 

intramural sport. 

31 Jan. 

14 Feb. 

21 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

6 Mar. 

13 Mar. 

GYMNASTIC SCHEDULE 1948 

Lock llaYen Teachers 

Delaware 

Temple 

Penn State (at State College, Pa.) 

Army 

Intercollegiates (at \Vest Point) 

Fencing as a sport has continued to enjoy a 

national following and is a varsity sport at nearly 

Fencing all leading colleges. Naval Academy teams haYe 

demonstrated an adeptness at this skill which bas 

left them undefeated for the past five years. Plebe fencing is also 

available. The fencing loft, on the second fioor of l\facdonougb Hall. 

is well equipped for training and competition. 
Ii 

21 

:ll 

7 

11 

21 

,,_ 

~" 

fl 

1:1 

iolf 

l':'\ITED STATES :\'AVAL ACADE:\lY 27 

.11111. 

.Jan . 

.Jan. 

l~eb. 

f•'eb. 

T•'eh. 

F'eh. 

;\lar. 

;\Jar 

FENCING SCHEDULE 1948 

Baltimore Fencer's Club 

Yale 

Rutgers 

Columbia (al i'\ew York City) 

Saltus Fencing Club of N. Y. C. 

Cornell 

New York l:nh·ersit) 

Army (at West Point. :->. Y.) 

Princeton 

A beautiful 18-hole golf course gives every midshipman an opportunity to test his skill on well kept 

fairways and carpet-smooth greens. A varsity team 

represents the Academy in dual matches as well as 

11 the rnrious intercollegiate tournaments held in thi!3 sector. Be-

·ause of the normall)' mild climate of Maryland, golfing is enjoyed 

.ome ninc months of the year. For this exceedingly popular sport 

here is instruc·tion for all midshipmen. plebe and battalion teams. 

}olf Is cmphnsized as a means of continued healthful recreation 

hroughout thc na,·al officer's career. 

Tennis 

~ Apr. 

10 ,\pr. 

17 ,\pr. 

'.!4 .\pr. 

l :Hay 

i & 8 May 

:!!l ;\lay 

GOLF SCHEDULE 1948 

Cornell 

Dartmouth 

\·irginia 

Ohio State 

Princeton 

Pennsylvania 

Eastern Intercollegiate Eliminations (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Eastern Intercollegiate Finals - if qualified - (at 

Atlantic City, N. J.) 

Army 

Thirty-four well tended courts attest to the 

prominence of tennis at the Naval Academy. In addition to the courts for the varsity and plebe aggregations, there are sufficient facilities for the less 

skillful hut <'qually enthusiastic players. The varsity schedule includes 

match<'s with ranking nf't teams from all over the nation topped by 

thr nnnunl l'lnsh with Army. 
THE NAVAL ACADEMY GOLF COURSE 
UNITED STATES NAVAL A..CADg:'IIY 29 

l Apr. 

3 Apr. 

10 Apr. 

14 Apr. 

17 Apr. 

21 Apr. 

2·1 ,\pr. 

28 Apr. 

1 May 

5 ;:\lay 

8 May 

12 May 

15 May 

19 May 

22 ;:\lay 

29 May 

TENNIS SCHEDULE 1948 

Harvard 

Dartmouth 

Cornell 

Maryland 

Duke 

William and Mary 

Yale (at New IlaYen. C.:onn.) 

Virginia 

Princeton 

:'forth Carolina 

Tulane 

Notre Dame 

Columbia (at l'\ew York City) 

Georgetown 

Pennsylvania 

Army (at West Point, N. Y.) 

The thrill of sailing is one enjoyed by millions 

of sportsmen. Navy, in conjunction with many of 

the eastern colleges and universities, has kept tbe 

sport at a high interest level with dual and triangular races as well as regattas of various magnitudes. E\ ery midsllipman is taught to handle sailing craft with skill. 

SAILING SCHEDULE 1947 - 48 

12 Oct. Regatta - Navy, Stevens, Haverford, Drexel, Lafayette 

19 Oct. Regatta- Navy, George ""ashington, Princeton, 

Pennsylvania, Lehigh 

2 :\ov. The Schell Trophy Regatta - !\ayy Bro\\ n, Yale, 

Massachusetts Institute of Technolog) (;eorge 

Washington, Hanlard, U. S. Coai:;i Guard 

Academy, Northeastern, Kings Point, Boston 

College, McGill, Tufts - (at Boston, :\lass.) 

10 & 11 Apr. Anny (at West Point, N. Y.) 

17 Apr. Quadrangular Regatta - Xavy, Maryland, George 

"'ashington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

25 Apr. Hexagonal Regatta - XaYy, Drexel, lla,·crford, 

Lafayette, Pennsyh·ania, Stevens 

iffc 

l:-.'ITF:O STATES :'\AVAL ACADEMY 31 

I & 2 ~lay Owen Trophy - Eastern Intercollegiate Championships - (at Providence, R. 1.) 

8 & !J May The American Trophy - Middle Atlantic Championship (at I\aval Academy) 

1.J :\lay U. S. Coast Guard .\cademy 

15 & 1 G May The l\Iorss Trophy - National Intercollegiate 

Championship 

2:~ May Hexagonal Regatta 

All midshipmen make a study of the rifle, and 

from that training has grO\\·n a rifle team which pits 

its accuracy against civilian as well as military 

schools along the eastern seaboard. Both indoor 

nd outdoor riJle ranges afford practice facilities. A plebe team also 

leets outside competition. 

3 Jan. 

10 Jan. 

17 Jan. 

21 Jan. 

31 Jan. 

7 Feb. 

11 Feb. 

21 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

6 )far. 

RIFLE SCHEDULE 1948 

Fordham 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Georgetown 

George Washington 

Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute 

New York University 

Yale (at New II::wen, Conn.) 

Maryland 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy 

Mmy (at West Point, N. Y.) 

Excellent facilities and capable instructors are 

Pistol a,·ailable to develop the abilities of those midshipmen who are interested in representing the Naval 

,\rademy on its pistol team. · 

1.J- Feb. 

21 Feb. 

28 Feb. 

I ntramural 

Sports 

G Mar. 

PISTOL SCHEDULE 1948 

U. S. il1erchant Marine Academy (at Kings Point. 

N. Y.) 

:\Jassachusetts Institute of Technology 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy 

Army 

Apa1t from extracurricular activities, var1oily 

athletics and physical training. the Na\'al Academy 

requires all midshipmen not on organized athlPtic 

teams to utilize the excellent opportunities for physi<'al tlcvrlopment ancl recreation through its lntramural Sports Pro-

mrITED STATES NAV"\L ACADEMY 33 

gram. The most unique advantage of this program lies in the fact 

that the beginner has an opportunity for instruction and practice in 

tbe sport of his choice in competition ·with those of comparable 

ability. 

LIST OF INTRAMURAL SPORTS 

Basketball 

Bowling 

Boxing 

Crew 

Cross Country 

I1'enci11g 

Field ball 

Football 

Golf 

Gymnastics 

Ilandball 

Lacrosse 

Soccer 

Softball 

Squash 

Steeplechase Run 

Swimming 

Table Tennis 

Tennis 

Touch Football 

Track 

Volleyball 

Water Polo 

Wrestling 

Physical T raining 

Program 

This program is dlscussed in detail under 

Physical Training in the chapter on Curriculum. 
34 C.\TALOGUE OJ<' JNFOR?IIAT!O:'\ 

Y'h e Place of the Jlaval cflcademy £n tf1e ,Jlatiy ·s 

e ducational P atte'ln 

The Naval Academy is an undergraduate Institution closely integrated in the Navy's over-all educational system. lt is the "college" 

of a "Navy university" of tremendous scope. The curriculum at 

Annapolis is oriented to the fundamentals of the sciences, the humanities and naval subjects to provide for future professional development and graduate work. At various periods between sea and field 

assignments in bis later career, the Naval Academy graduate will attend such institutions as the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, the 

Naval War College, the Armed Forces Starr College and the National 

War College. 

The Naval Academy is the first step in the broad educational system that extends throughout the career of the na\Tal officer. The 

complexity of the modern Navy and present and futurn technical 

developments demand an adherence, at the undergraduate level, to 

that which is basic, and a resistance to the centrifugal force represented by an endeavor to incorporate a numerous variety of special 

techniques in the curriculum. 

Throughout the Navy's educational system the difference between training on the one hand and education on the other is recognized. Both are vital in the development of the Navy's personnel. 

Training searches out the more immediate objectives and may be 

termed, in a military sense, tactical. The implications of education 

are broader and more lasting. Education is conceived to be more 

profound, more basic and strategical in its long-range effects and is 

indispensable to continuing development. The Naval Academy, 

through a synthesis of theory and practice, builds the deep-rooted 

foundations of professional thought, competence and objectiveness. 

Thus it makes available the nucleus of professional excellence upon 

which the country relies and around which the Navy may expand 

when it becomes necessary to mobilize for war. 
U::-.:ITF.J) ST\TES :\'AVAL ACADEMY 35 

The ua\·al career is one of service and obligation to country. It 

Is also true that few fields offer greater opp01i.unities for enjoyment. and education than does the .Naval Service, with its cruises 

and operations in various parts of the world. A naval officer is sure 

lbat his services are vital and important to his country at all times, a 

source of satisfaction lo the aspiring and conscientious man. In proportion to length of service compared with the most successful in 

other professions, the naval officer is equally rewarded in authority, 

independence and influence, and bas the satisfaction of carrying out 

assignments of great responsibility. 

Upon completing his four year course at the Naval Academy, 

the midshipman is awarded his diploma and the degree of bachelor 

of science, then ls given a commission as an Ensign in the Navy. 

\fter a month's leave, the new Ensign reports to a ship of the Fleet 

for his first tour of sea duty. His shipboard duties are many and 

\'aried, as he serves an indoctrination period of several months in each 

of the principal departments. 

\\'hile attached to the Gunnery Department he serves as a junior 

officer in a deck division where he gains firsthand experience in 

supervising the enlisted personnel and in drilling them at their gunnery battle stations. During target practice he may have complete 

charge of a broadside gun, powder-handling room of a large turret, 

or au intricate control mechanism. 

After several months in gwrnery he may be transferred to the 

EnglneeringDepartmentwhere he will stand watch in the engine room 

or fire room. To fill out the indoctrination period the young Ensign 

may serve for several months in the communications division learning 

naval radio methods and standing watch in the radio room or on the 

signal bridge. Ile may, in his official duties on board ship, coach an 

athletic team. The complement of every vessel endeavors to excel in 

athletics. 

Avmcion 

A year or so after graduation the young officer 

becomes eligible for aviation duly, and, if his request is approved, he will he ordered to one of the 

::>faYal Air Stations where he will undergo training 

[or approximalPly one year. This training is recognized as the finest 

flight instruction in the \YOrld. t:1mn the successful completion of the 

couri;e. the a,·iator's career parallrls in general that of all other line 

officers, with emphasis on aviatiotl assignments. 
36 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Similarly, afler graduation an officer may re- Submarine . c1uest submarine training, in which case, if qualified, 

Training he ma)· be ordered to the Submarine School at New 

London, Conn., followed by duty in the submarines of the F'leet. 

Marme Corps 

A career in the United States Marine Corps is 

ahio open to a limited number of graduates, who 

may be commissioned as Second Lieutenants upon 

graduation and join the ranks of one of the finest 

organizations in the world. ,\ marine officer can look forward to 

many types of duty. ,\\'iation, artillery, infantry, engineering and 

duty aboard ships of the Fleet are some of the assignments which 

may be receh·ed. Ile may serve on foreign shores, on the high seas 

or at one of the many ~Iarine Corps bases in this country. 

Duey 

Assignments 

After the young officer bas completed his first 

period of sea duty he may be ordered ashore for 

graduate instruction or for duty at the various na\.J' 

yards or stations. As an officer advances in experirnce and rank, he is assigned duties of greater responsibility both at 

sea and on shore. From his first seagoing job he may become in turn 

a di\'ision olllcer, head of department such as navigator, gunnery officer or chief engineer of a vessel, the executh·e officer or second in 

command of a ship and finally he is.given a ship of his own to command. Eventually, if he attains flag rank, he will be given commands 

ashore and afloat in the higher echelons. 

The types and locations of shore duty In the Navy are almost 

unlimJted. In addition to the many postgraduate schools, an oflicer 

may be assigned duty as a naval attache in foreign lands; he may 

have duty In one of the bureaus in the !\a\. y Department in Washington; he may ser\'e in a research establishment; he may have duty 

in one of our recruit training centers; or he may be ai>slgned to one of 

our many Xaval Reserve Officers Training Coriis units In colleges and 

universities throughout the country. 

Promotion 

\\'hat are the chances for promotion in the 

Naval SetTice? Under the Officer Personnel Act of 

1917, the competent officer is practically assured of 

being promoted to the rank of Ca1>tai.n in the Navy 

or Colonel in the ~Iarine Corps. Few positions in life bold greater 

promise for the young man who wants to succeed. In addition to the 

assurance of advancement is the benefit of retirement under years of 

honorable service. The normal terms of service of officers in the various grades below Rear Admiral are: Captain - 5 years; Commander 

- 7 years: Lieutenant Commander- G years; Lieutenant - G years; 

Lieutenant (junior grade) - 3 years; and Ensign - 3 years. 
The Naval 

Profession 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 37 

The Honorable James Forrestal. our great 

wartime Secretary of the Navy, in an address to a 

graduating class at the United States Naval .\cademy, said: 

"Now, if you will permit me. I will talk a little about the profession in wblch you are engaging. It is an honorable profession associated with the traditions of unselfish sen'ice to our country. You go 

into a profession, which, broadly speaking, is a way of li!e. It requires 

the same high devotion. the same idealism and the same self-sacrifice 

as the profession of medicine. of the ministry or of teaching. 

"You will provide the cadres of professional knowledge and skill 

around which this country can expand rapidly in time of trouble. In 

'\\'orld 'Yar II, the American Navy grew from a force of a little over 

100 000 in 1938 to O\'er three and one-half million in 1945. It was 

able to expand its fighting forces from a navy of moderate size and 

effectiveness, to the greatest sea and air power that the world has 

ever seen. That it was able to do so sv.iftly and effectively is due to 

the fact that thousands of graduates of this ,\cademy had had suflkient patriotism, idealism and devotion to remain in the Naval 

Service. 

"You will not become rich men through your career in the Nav·y. 

At the present rates of pay you can look forward, when you finally 

achieve that serene and dignified detachment enjoyed by the higher 

ranks. to receiving about $9,000 a year. ,\s a captain toward the encl 

of your career, when you presumably will be supporting a harried and 

long-suffering :\"a,·y wife, and we hope, with a suitable number or offspring, you will then be receiving the princely pay of $7,500 a year. 

"On the other hand you will haYe a life of association with a 

group of men representing the best that there is in ,\merican life. It 

is truly a band of brothers held together by that cement of mutual 

respect and affection which comes from dangers and difficulties 

shared in common. You \vill not be rich in dollars at the end of your 

career, but you \Yill be rich in experience and accomplishment. 

"This brings me to my final observations: What interest and 

i;alisfactions lie ahead of you in your naYal life>? Against the modest 

material rewards which you will receive you may balance my assu1·-

ance that you will haYe a career diverse in its interests and touching 

a great \'ariety of human experience. You will have the chance not 

merely to see the world; you will be compelled to understand the 

world as you make progress in your career. It is said at most graduation exercises that commencement merely means the commence-

• 

ment of education, but with you this Is literally true. You will have 

to continue your studies in engineering as well as In thl' military 

aspects of your profession. You wlll haYe to kuow something of law 

and history; International and national politics will be among your 

textbooks. You \I ill lun·e to deal with busitwss men, with labor 

lr.ad,..rs, and with statesmen, and you will haw to hm·e a little of all 

three In you, as well as a lot of diplomacy, to do your joh. 

"As for your ultimate opportunity, I su~gest thnt you will find 

ample e•·ldence that there Is no ceiling on an able man simply because 

hP happens to he in the Anny or :\'aYy, If public sen·ice is to be taken 

as one of the t'ritPria of success, here am a few i>xamples that prove 

tn) stnt£>mcnt: ,\dmiral Leahy, m£>mber of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 

has in his lifetime been Chief of the llureau of Ordnance. Chief of the 

ll11n•a11 of :'\'aYigation, Chief of NaYal Operations, Governor of Puerto 

Hico, Ambassador to France, and military adYh;or to two Presidents. 

c:corgc Marshall has been Chief of Staff of the ,\m1y, member of the 

.Joint Chiefs of StnlT, Ambassador to China, and Secretary or State . 

• \Ian Kirk, of the Class of 1909, has been a \"ire Admiral in operalin~ 

command of the Invasion of ~orn1andy, and hi now Amba;;!>ador to 

Belgium. William F. Halsey, of the Class of l!JO I, had under his command in the Third Fleet the greatl'st aggregation of sea pm' er the 

world has ever seen assembled. The quiet and brilliant Marr :i'.Jitscher. of the Class of J 910, of belowd memory, de\·eloped, organized 

and led the use of air power beyond even the imni?;ination of the airmen themselws. ,\nd finally there is Chester William :'\'imitz, or the 

Class of Hl05, "ho as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Ocean 

,\rPas, re-creatPcl conflclence and morale after the Japanese blow at 

Pearl Harbor. hronght the ,\merlcnn :\aYy haC'I\ fightinl?: to "in the 

great critical hattles of ;\Jidway and the Coral ~en, and directed the 

\·ast operations" hlch came to a climax in the rrnshing defeat or .Japanese nnYal power in the Battle of lA'~·te r:uJf. I am not Pxaggerating 

wlwn I say that .\dmiral :'\'ltnitz was a rock of confidence, of character 

nncl of ability upon \\hldt ,\merican naval JlO\\f.ff in the Padflc was 

huilL 

"These are grrat careers or i<ervlrr to country and to mankind. 

Obviously not all of you will end your service In such posts, but the 

achievement of i;ueh careers ii:: opr>n to all of you." 
• 

NOON FORMATION 
Ba.sic Steps 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 

.!f {ow lo .93ecome a :3Jlidsf1ipman 

al tf1e ~Jlaval Jl,cademy 

41 

There are three basic steps in the process of 

becoming a midshipman in the U. S. Navy. These 

i11volve (a) obtaining a nomination for appointment 

from one of the sources mentioned below, (b) accomplishing the necessary scholastic preparation and (c) passing the 

required physical examination. Each of these steps is described 

fully in the pamphlet "Regulations Governing the Admission of 

Candidates into the United States Naval Academy as Midshipmen" 

which may be obtained by writing lo the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 

Navy Department, Washington 25, D. C., or to the Superintendent, 

U. S. :-.:aval Academy, Annapolis, l\Iaryland. A brief description follows: 

From time to time there has been e\idence that young men consider the first of these steps to be almost insurmountable. This belief 

is erroneous. In addition to the fact that many :\!embers of Congress 

award their nominations on the basis of merit among those who apply, the law provides additional sources of appointments which are 

open to young men of determination who have the will to succeed. 

The President of the United States is allowed 

Sources of to appoint 75 midshipmen each year to be selected 

Appomtments from among the sons of officers and enlisted men 

of the regular \rmy, Navy and Marine Corps. 

The \'ice President of the United States, each United States Senator and each Representative and Delegate in Congress may have 5 

midshipmen at the Naval Academy. The Vice President may make 

his nominations from the United States at large. The United States 

Senators must make their nominations from among residents of their 

respective states, and the members of the U. S. House of Representatives must make their nominations from among residents of the Congressional districts which they represent. 

One hundred sixty enlisted men of the Regular Navy and Marine 

Corps may be appointed each year. 

One hundred sb.1:y enlisted men of the Naval and Marine Corps 

Reserves may be.appointed each year. 

A total of 40 appointments is authorized for the sons of deceased 

officers, soldiers, sailors and marines of the two World Wars. This 

Includes male and female members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps 
42 CATALOGUE OF INFORl\.L\TJO:\ 

and Coast Guard of the United States who were killed in action or 

IJa,·e died, or may hereafter die, of wounds or injuries received, or 

disease contracted or aggraYated, in active service during \\"orld War 

l or World War II. 

Twenty appointments annually are authorized for young men 

who are honor graduates of the military and naval schools, of secondary school level, which have been designated as honor schools by the 

\\'ar Department or the Navy Department, and from among members 

of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps units at the 52 colleges 

and universities having NROTC units. Ten of these appointments 

are alloted for the honor school group and 10 for the ~ROTC group 

(limited to contract :\ROTC students). 

One appointment is allowed from among the sons of the chilians residing in the Canal Zone and the sons of the civilian employees 

of the U. S. Government and the Panama Railrnad Company :residing 

in the Republic of Panama. 

The son of anyone who has received, or may hereafter receive, 

tile Congressional ~ledal of Honor may be appointed as a midshipman 

upon fulfillment of the admission requirements. 

Five midshipmen are allowed for residents of the District of 

Columbia. 

One appointment is p:ro\ided for a native Puert6 Rican who must 

be recommended by the Gornrnor of Puerto Rico. In addition, 5 midshipmen are allowed from Puerto Rico to be appointed on the nomination of the Resident Commissioner. 

For non-U. S. citizens the following sources of appointments are 

provided: 

{a) A maximum of 20 yow1g men at a time from American 

Republics other than the United States are allowed to receive instruction at the Naval Academy, but not more than 3 from any one 

o( such Republics shall receive instruction at the same time. The 

midshipmen from other American Republics receive the same pay, 

allowances and emoluments as midshipmen from the United States 

and they a:re subject to the same rules and regulations as midshipmen 

from the United States, but their graduation from the Naval Academy 

does not entitle them to appointment to any office or position in the 

United States Navy. 

(b) A total of 4 F'ilipinos. one for each class, to be designated 

by the President of the Republic of the Philippine Islands may be admitted as midshipmen under substantially the same conditions as are 

applicable for the citizens of other American Republics. (Legislation 

to continue this authority ls in prospect at this ·writing.) 
Compeoove 

Appointments 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 43 

Except in the cases of those receiving nominations from the Vice President, United States Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, 

and those seeking appointments by ,ri.Jtue of being 

the sons of holders of the Congressional Medal of Honor, all of the 

appointments mentioned abo,•e for United States citizens are on a 

competitive basis. This means that candidates in the various competitive groups must take the regular entrance examination or the 

substantiating examination to establish relative standing within the 

group. For those taking the full regular entrance examination, the 

relative standing is based upon the average of the marks received in 

English and Mathematics. 

It is the policy, however, of some of the Members of Congress to 

require applicants for their nominations to participate in a special 

competitive examination or to take the Naval Academy's own entrance examination on a competitive basis. The Naval Academy's 

examinations are held only in April of the year in which admission is 

sought, whereas the special competitive examinations are usually 

held in July of the year preceding that in which the candidate is 

scheduled to enter as a midshipman. The special competitive examinations may also be held at times other than July and all arrangements with r espect to such examinations a.re handled exclusively by 

the United States Civil Service Commission for the Members of Congress concerned. 

It is advisable, though not mandatory, to make 

application for appointment at least a year in adWhen to Apply vance of the year of anticipated admission as a midshipman. For example, a candidate who intends to 

apply to a member of Congress should do so as soon as practicable 

and preferably by June 1st of the year preceding that in which be 

hopes to enter as a midshipman. 

HOW TO PROCEED IN APPLYING FOR APPOINTMENT 

The steps necessary in an effort to obtain a nomination from any 

of the various sources of appointments are explained briefly in the 

following: 

Presidential 

Appointments 

It is the custom of the President to give bis appointments to the sons of officers and enlisted men 

or t he regular Army, N'avy and Marine Corps, because personnel in these categories are rarely able 

lo establl.sh permanent residence and thus be eligible for congressional nominations. To make application for appointment from this 

source, the candidate or his pa.rent should address a letter to the 
44 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Chief of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., 

clearly indicating the service connection of the parent and gh'ing the 

son's full name and date of birth. The letter of application should 

also designate the year in which admission to the Naval Academy is 

desired. Letters of application should be fonvarded any time after 

June 1st of the year preceding that in which admission is desired but 

well in advance of the third Wednesday in April of the following 

calendar year. Candidacy must be established in time to participate 

in the April entrance examination. Ouly the Chief of Xaval Personnel can issue authorization to report for a ~aval Academy 

scholastic entrance examination. 

In the event of vacancies in the annual quotas of appointments 

authorized from the Navy and Marine Corps and the Naval and 

Marine Corps Reserves, qualified Presidential nominees in excess of 

the Presidential quota may be admitted to fill such vacancies. 

Congressional 

Appomcments 

In malting application to the Vice President, to 

a United States Senator, to a Representative of a 

Congressional District or to a Delegate in Congress, 

it is advisable to do so at least a full year in advance 

of the year in which the candidate hopes to enter as a midshipman. 

As stated elsewhere, some of the Members of Congress require participation in a competitive examination which in all probability will 

be held in July of the year preceding admission to the Naval Academy. 

Approval of participation in the examination must be obtained from 

the Member of Congress in advance. The special competitive examinations of this type are not Naval Academy exanμnations and have 

no direct bearing upon the candidate's scholastic qualification for 

admission as midshipman. After receiving a nomination as a result 

of a special competitive examination, the candidate must still fuJftll 

the Naval Academy scholastic entrance requirements by one of the 

three established methods. A dn·ect letter of application to the Member of Congress concemed and inclusion therewith of all factors 

designed to further the application, such as the favorable endorsements of school officials and prominent citizens, would be in order. 

Appoinanenc 

from the Regular 

Navy or Regular 

Marine Corps 

Candidates for appointment from this source 

are required to have one year's service as an enlisted man by July 1st of the year of admission to 

the Naval Academy. Any enlisted man desiring to 

become a candidate should make known such desire 

to his commanding officer early i.n his enlisted service. It is customary for the Bureau of Naval Personnel to direct the 

commanding officers of ships and stations to conduct a survey of en-
lJ!\'ITED STATES N.\\'AL \CADEt\IY 45 

listed personnel usually in April of each year for the purpose of nominating those who apply and who are deemed to be suitable prospecth'e officer material. After recommendation by the commanding officer and undergoing a preliminary physical examination, enlisted 

applicants are required to participate in a special examination, usually 

in .July to determine their degree of aptitude in the subjects invoh·ed 

in the N<l\·al Academy entrance examination. Those who are successful in meeting these initial requirements are Uwn transferred to 

a preparatory school maintained by the :\ayy Department at the U. S. 

Na\•al Station. Bainbridge, :'IIaryland. This preparatory school 

remain!< in session from about October 1st until the holding or the 

:\aYal ,\cadcmy entrance examination in April of the following year. 

The courses of study are designed to enhance the candidate's preparation for the N'a,·al Academy entrance examination, and in the cases 

of those who are successful in the entrance examination, continue 

further to 11repare the candidate for the first year's work at the Naval 

Academy. Enlisted men on acti\·e duty who hold nominations for 

appointment from any other source may also he assigned to this preparatory school. The IGO standing highest am011g those who pass 

the Na' :ti .\cademy entrance examination are ordered to the Naval 

,\cademv for the formal physical examination and admission as midshipmen <>arly in .June. Those standing below 1 GO in the competitive 

list hut who pass the examination become eli~ible for admission in the 

e\•ent eligible candidates fail the physical examination. or for other 

reasons do not enter as midshipmen. Howewr, in the e\'ent of vacanC'ies in the qnota of Presidential appointment!'! or the quota of Naval 

Hi>servr Pnlisted candidat<>s, qualifiPd enlisted men of the l'\aYy and 

~[arinP Corps may he admitted to fill these quotas. 

Appoincment 

from the U. S. 

Naval Reserve or 

Manne Corps 

Reserve 

prospects will 

Enlistf>d men of the l'\:wal and 1\larine Corps 

RrserYes on in:ictiYe duty should make known to 

the commnndin~ officers of their respecth·e resen·e 

units their desirP to become candidates for admission to thP :\aYal \cademy. Those considered as 

possessi1 P" the nN·essary scholastic aptitude and 

qualities indicating that tlu•y are desirable officer 

ht' rf'commended as c·andiclates to the Chief of Naval 

PPrsonnel. Bril'fly, applicants must haYe al least one year in the 

Resen·e hy July 1st of thf' year of admission to the Na,·al ,\cademy, 

and must attend a minimum of 27 drills or equivalent between 1 July 

and thP third \\'edn<>sday in \pril of the following year. Active servi<'e may he accPpterl in lieu of drills, one month of active service being 

llw Pql!iYalent of thr<'e drills. Applications must be submitted prior 

tn 1 Ottoher addressed to the ChiPf of l'\arnl Personnel \ia the com-
46 C,\TALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

manding officer of lhc reserve unit. Enlisted candidates from the 

Organized H.escrre on inactive duty are not eligible for assignment to 

the Navy preparator)· school at Bainbridge. 

\'acancies in the annual quota allowed the President and the enlisted personnel quota of the Navy and l\Iarine Corps may be filled by 

qualified Naval and :\larine Corps Resen·e nominees who are in excess of the quota authorized the Reserve. 

Appoinanent of 

Graduates of 

Honor Milirary 

or Naval Schools 

An honor graduate or a prospective honor 

graduate of a designated honor military or naval 

school should apply to the principal of his school 

for nomination as a candidate for admission to the 

I'\avai Academy. Each designated honor military 

or naval school may nominate three honor graduates or prospective honor graduates each year. The details of submitting nominations are handled by the school concerned and the 

Chief of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, '\Vashington, D. C. 

Appointments 

from Naval 

Reserve Officers 

Traimng Corps 

Units 

Only contract students in the Naval Resen'e 

Officers Training Corps units at the various colleges 

and universities are eligible to apply for appointments from this source. Contract students should 

apply to the Professor of Naval Science at the college or university, who will in turn forward his 

recommendations to the president of the college. 

Not more than three candidates may be nominated each year by the 

president of ea<'h of the educational institutions in which a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit is established. 

Other Sources 

of Appointments 

Those applying for nominations under the laws 

providing for the sons of veterans and the sons of 

holders of the Congrnssional Medal of Honor should 

write to the Chief of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., giving the full name, rank or rating, and org;anization of the deceased veteran or the holder of the Congressional 

l\ledal of Honor; the full name of the candidate for appointment as 

midshipman. his date of birth and such other pertinent information 

as will assist in the posith·e identi.fication of both the parent and the 

candidate. Residents of the District of Columbia should furnish the 

Bureau of Naval Personnel complete information as to address of residence and full name and date of birth of the candidate for appointment. Application for appointment from the Canal Zone must be addressed to the Governor of the Canal Zone. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AS TO CITIZENSHIP, AGE, 

CHARACTER, AND MARITAL STATUS 

47 

All candidates for admission to the United 

Citizenship States Naval Academy must be citizens of the 

United States, except as provided by law for 

limited numbers of citizens of other American Republics and the 

Philippine Republic. A non-citizen can be admitted as a midshipman 

only upon the authorization of au Act of Congress. 

Age 

Candidates must be between the ages of 1 7 and 

21 years except that any candidate who has served 

honorably for not less than one year in any of the 

Armed Forces of the United States during the recent 

wars and prior to the formal declaration of peace may be admitted 

up to 23 years of age. The age limits are established by law. Any 

candidate who has not reached his seventeenth birthday on or before 

April 1st or who will have reached bis twenty-first birthday (twentythird birthday for those fulfilling armed service requirement) on or 

hetore April 1st will be ineligible for admission. 

Candidates must be of good moral character. 

The determination of tl1is prerequisite is in the 

Moral Character hands of the Members of Congress for all who seek 

Congressional nominations. The Secretary of the 

Navy may, however, decline to accept the nomination of any candidate in the event conclusive e\ridence of unsuitable character is subnlitted. For all other sources of appointments, the determination of 

character qualification rests with those authorized by law to sponsor 

such nominations and with the Nacy Department. 

No person who is married, or has been married. 

Marriage shall be admitted to the Naval Academy as a midshipman. Midshipmen shall not marry, and any 

midsblpman found to be or to have been married will be discharged. 

U:\'lTED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 49 

SCHOLASTIC ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 

In the following brief description of the three methods of qualifying scholastically for admission to t he Naval Academy, only the 

essential features are covered. In addition, however, certain of the 

administrative policies applied in the evaluation of certificates have 

been included fo r guidance. 

Candidates, prospectiYe candidates and school officials are invited to co1Tespond with the Secret a ry, Academic Board, U. S. Naval 

Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, regarding any points in the admission requirements on which further infonnation may be desired. 

The Secreta ry, Academic Board will be glad to review preliminary 

scholastic records for the purpose of guidance in connection with fulfillment of the scholastic entrance requirements. 

Secondary School 

Preparaoon 

The scholastic entrance requirements for admission to the Xaval Academy differ litUe from the 

requirements for admission to other colleges and 

universities in the United States. In most cases, the 

secondary school preparation needed is included in the academic and 

scientific curricula of any fully accredited secondary school. While 

the secondary schools in some sections of the country may not offer 

a ll of the comses needed to fulfill our minimum certificate requirements, It ls believed that the candidate who anticipates these requirements sufficiently in ad,·ance of admission to the Na'l'al Academy can 

arrange his schooling to insure their fulfillment. Thoroughness of 

preparation is of great importance and should not be sacrificed by an 

attempt to undertake a diversity of subjects which would constitute 

an excessive work load. It is possible for a candidate to qualify 

scholastically by passing the regular entrance examination even 

though unable to fulfill all of the technical requirements for an acceptable certificate. The subjects comprising the regular entrance 

examination are: Algehra. Plane G!'ometry and Plane Trigonometry, 

F.ngllsb, C. S. History and Ph~·sics. 

Methods of Fulfilling Educational 

Requirements 

The " Regulat ions Governing t he Admission of 

Ca ndidat es into the Unit ed Stat es Naval Academy 

as Midshipmen" proYide three methods of fulfilling 

the educational requirements. Any one of the three 

methods may be utilized by candidates who obtain 

Cong;r!'ssionnl nominations as principals and alternates. Candidates 

for appointment from any of the Yarious competitive sources are 

limited to the regular entrance examination and the certificate-substnntlating examination methods of qualifying scholastically. The 
50 CATALOGUE OF INFOR.l\IATION 

order of merit of those in the various competitive lists is based upon 

the average of the marks received in English and Mathematics, 

whether taking the regular or the substantiating examination. The 

examinations in English and Mathematics are the same in both the 

regular and the substantiating examinations. 

A candidate may qualify by: 

(1) Presenting an acceptable high school record 

How to Q_ualify and passing a substantiating examination in Mathematics and English. 

(2) Presenting acceptable high school and college 

records. 

(3) Passing the regular entrance examination in 

.\lgebra, Plane Geometry and Plane Trigonometry, English, U. S. 

fTistory and Physics. 

The High School 

Certificate and 

Substantiating 

Examination 

Method 

An acceptable high school certificate (record) 

is one which attests the completion of four years of 

progressive secondary school work, or equivalent, in 

an accredited high or preparatory school with 

grades of good quality and with certi.fled credit in 

sufficient subjects to meet Naval Academy requirements as to required and optional subjects. Graduation and the receipt of a diploma are essential. The Naval Academy 

does not haYe a restricted list of accredited schools. It will accredit 

for certificate purposes any of the standard four-year high and preparatory schools that are fully accredited by their own State Boards 

of Education, by any of the regional accrediting agencies or by colleges and universities of recognized standing in the vicinity of the 

school submitting the certificate. 

The certificate must present 81~ units of credit for mandatory 

subjects and at least 61~ units of optional subjects. The required 

suhjects in the high school certificate are as follows: 

Subject 

English 

Algebra 

Other Mathematics 

Plane Geometry 

Plane Trigonometry 

U. S. History 

Physics 

Years In high 

school 

4# 

1% 

lf:! 

1 

% 

1 

1 

Unite allowed for 

progreaslve work 

3 

1~ · 

Yz• 

1 

% 

1 

Total 81 ~ 

# Three years of English will meet this requirement If that amount wlll 

f111flll the req11lremenls for graduation from the high school attended 
LNITED STATES NAVAL ACADE~IY 

• At lensl l'h years or Algebra are reqll1red. Two years are advlsable 

and preterable. It only l'h years or Algebra ara ottered, the certificate must present an additional bait-year ot pure Mathematics such as Solid 

Geometry. Advanced and Commercial Arithmetic are not acceptable as required Mathematics b11t may be allowed as optional subjects. 

5] 

Optional unUs may be offered from nearly all of the subjects included in the curricula of a standard high school except stenography, 

typewriting, bookkeeping, free-hand drawing, music, agriculture, etc. 

Furthermore, certificate credit is not allowed for the student activities 

such as physical education, orientation, glee club, etc. The choice of 

optional subjects should, if possible, be made from the physical 

sciences, chemistry in particular; foreign languages such as French. 

Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and Russian; history; 

mecharncal drawing; manual training; economics, government and 

others in the field of social science; physical geography; public speaking; industrial problems; astronomy; current events and commercial 

law. The object here is to insure such breadth of preparation in academic subjects as is possible within reasonable work load limits. 

Midshipmen pursue a prescribed course of instruction and the required secondary school subjects have a positive relationship to subjects undertaken at the Naval Academy. The optional subjects that 

a re of direct value to a ruidsWpman are chemistry, a modern foreign 

language and mechanical drawing. 

Deficiencies in a high school certificate may be offset by offering 

postgraduate work in the subject or subjects inYolved and may be offset, in many instances, by offering acceptable college work in advance 

relat ed branches of such subjects. All work which is to be considered 

for cerlificate credit must be pursued in regular classes in an accredited high or preparatory school, or in an accredited jurnor college, 

college or university. The Naval Academy does not allow certificate 

credit for correspondence or tutoring courses regardless of the school 

or agency which sponsors such work. Also, there a.re definite limitations upon the amount of credit which the Naval Academy may allow 

for work done in accreditf'd evening secondary schools and colleges. 

Candidates and prospeclive candidates who are in doubt concerning the entrance requirements are urged to correspond with the Secret ary, Academic Board, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. The 

Naval Academy is glad to render any assist.a.nee possible in the selection of preparatory courses and to this end will review and report 

upon complete or partial transcripts covering individual reco1·ds of 

scbolasUc work. Suitable transcript forms may usually be obtained 

from the principal of the high or preparatory school attended and 

should include a list of the suhjeC'ts studied in each year of high 

sC'hool work. the total class time df'voted to each subject. the marks 
52 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

or grades received and the credit value assigned each subject by t he 

high school. Transcripts that are submitted in advance of completion 

of the high school course should include the above information for a ll 

completed subjects and should list the subjects in progress and proposed for completion in the remaining time in the school with indication of the total class time to be devoted to each incomplete subject. 

The transcript should also include an explanation of the school's 

marking or grading system. 

Naval Academy entrance examinations, both substantiating and 

regular, are held only in April of each year and they usually begin on 

the third \\'ednesday in that month. The Bureau of Naval Personnel 

issues the authorization to appear for examination to each duly nominated candidate. It is the candidate's responsibility to determine 

whether he should take the substantiating or the regula r examination 

and, in the case of a Congressional nominee who proposes to qualify 

by the college certificate method, decision must be made as to 

whether he will report for any mental examination other than the 

U. S. Naval Academy Aptitude Test which is required of all candidates. Accuracy of decision is more nearly possible of attainment by 

having e\'en an informal opinion of certificate prospects from the 

Naval Academy well in advance of the examination date. This situation is particularly applicable in the case of a candidate who is nominated for admfasion to the Naval Academy in the same year in which 

he is scheduled to graduate from high school. In such a case the 

decision with respect to taking only the substantiating examination 

or the regular examination must be made in ad,-ance of completing 

the high school course. Thus. it is advisable to take adrnntage of the 

opportunities set forth in the preceding parngraph. 

The 

Substantiating 

Examination 

The substantiating examination consists of 

C>xaminations in Algebra. Plane Geometry and 

Plane Trigonometry, and English. Candidates taking this examination will also be gh'en the U. S. 

Naval Academy Aptitude Test. The substantiating 

examination and the Aptitude Test are prepared by the College Entrance Examination Board under the direction of the Naval Academy 

and the results are determined hy the Academic Board. The examination is held at various points throughout the 't:nited States and the 

autborizalion issuC>d by the Bureau of Xaval Personnel, Navy Department will designate the place of examination usually based upon residence of the candidate or the candidate's preference for any established examination point. The various examination points are listed 

In the "Regulations Governing Admission of Ca ndidat es into the 

United States Naval Academy as Midshipmen." 
UNITED STATES NA \'AL ACADE'.\1Y 63 

The examination in Algebra i::; based upon the topics normally 

included In a two-year high school course in the subject. These 

topics are adequately covered in standard higl1 school algebra texts. 

including the following: 

\\'ells and Hart, "Modern High School Algebra," D. C. neath 

& Co. 

Hawkes, Luby, and Touton, "First and Second Year Algebra 

(combined)," Ginn & Co. 

Schorling, Clark, and Smith, "Second-Year Algebra," World 

Book Co. 

The examination in Plane Geometry and Plane Trigonometry is 

based upon the standard one-YC•tr high school course in the former 

and a balf-year course in the latter. Suitable texts in Plane Geometry 

are: 

Hawkes, Luhy, and Touton, "New Plane Geometry," Ginn & Co. 

\\'cntworth and Smith. "Plane Geometry." rnun & Co. 

Wells and Hart. "Plane Geometry," D. C. neath & Co. 

The topics for the Trigonometry portion of this examination are 

adequately covered In: 

Curtiss and i'iloulton, "High School Trigonometry," D. C. 

Heath & Co. 

\V. L. IIart, "Plane Trigonometry," D. C. Ilcalh & Co. 

C:ranville. Smith and l\Iikesh, "Plane Trigonometry," Ginn 

&Co. 

The examination in English is based upon approximately four 

years or study of the subject in a secondary school. Tbe questions of 

one portion arc designed to test grammatical usage, capitalization, 

punclualion, spelling, vocabulary, reading ability, sentence style and 

structure, and a general knowledge of English and American literature. The other portion consists of exercises in theme writing designed to measure the candidate's ability in English composition. 

The Naval Academy has not 1wepared a list of English texti::, 

but for questions In Literature it is recommended that the candidate 

read and study works of recognized excellence in each of the following groups: (1) drama. (2) prose nan-alive. (3) poetry. ( 4) essays, 

biographies and miscellaneous prose. It is important that the candidate have an acquaintance with traditionally great literature and with 

recognized literary types. 

The College 

:::::enificate 

\1ethod 

UNlTED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 55 

The substantiating examination in Mathematics and English may be waived by the Academic 

Board in the case of a candidate holding an outright 

Congressional nomination who, in addition to an 

acceptable high school certificate, can present a cerliflcate from an accredited junior college, technological school of college grade, college or uniYersity, attesting the completion of one year 

or college work with grades of an acceptable standard. The college 

cerlificate must include at least sb: semester hours of pure mathematics, sLx of college English and/ or history and sufficient other 

subjects acceptable to the Naval Academy to establish a total of at 

J1:;ast 2·1 semester hours of credit for the year's work. A normal year 

or college work will have a '>•alue of approximately 30 semester hours. 

The Naval Academy looks with disfarnr upon an arrangement of college courses which appears to be deliberately designed to do nothing 

more than meet the minimum requirement of 24 semester hotu-s. The 

college certificate method of qualifying anticipates ability to complete 

a normal year of college work with grades substantially above passing. Candidates qualifying by t his method are required to take the 

U. S. Naval Academy Aptit ude Test. This test is given at the same 

poiuls throughout the United States as are the substantiating and 

regular entrance examinations. 

As in the case of secondary schools, the Naval Academy does not 

ha,·e a restricted list of accredited colleges. It will accredit for certificate [>Urposes any of the established junior colleges, colleges, 

schools of technology and universities that are accredited by their 

own Sta.te Boards of Education and/or the various regional accrediting agencies such as the North Central Association of Colleges and 

Secondary Schools, The t\ew England Association of Colleges and 

Secondary Schools, etc. In general, any school that is fully accredited by other colleges and universities of recognized standing will 

he accredited by the Naval Academy. 

Deficiencies in a secondary school certificate need not preclude 

qualifying by the college cerlificate method. Such deficiencies may 

be offset by offering acceptable college work in advanced related 

branches of the subject or subjects which were lacking in the secondary school record. If the deficiencies are in excess of one unit of 

secondary school credit, the college work offered to offset them must 

be above and beyond the minimum requii-ements for an acceptable 

college certificate. If the deficiency is in high school mathematics, 

college mathematics in excess of the six semester how'S of college 

work normally required in this subject must be offered. For credit 

purposes, the Na,•al Academy considers six semester hours of college 
5G CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

credit as the equivalent of one unit of secondary school credit. 

recitations a week for a school year comprise lhe normal basis for th 

assignment of six semester bours of college credit, whereas five reci 

tations a week are usually required in secondary school for the a 

signment of one unit of credit. 

The Regular 

Entrance Examination Method 

Candidates who are unable to qualify by eithe 

of the certificate methods, or those who so elec 

may qualify scholastically by taking the regular en 

trance examination. Thls consists of examinatio 

in English, U. S. History, Algebra, Plane Geome 

and Plane Trigonometry, and Physics. The U. S. Naval Academ 

Aptitude Test is also required. The examination, including lhe Apti 

tude Test, requires a period of two and one-half days and is gi>en a 

the same points as the substantiating examination. 

The examination is held only in April of each year and usuall 

begins on the thlrd Wednesday in that month. It is necessary to hav 

an authorization from the Bureau of Naval Personnel in order to par 

ticipate, and the authorization designates the place of exanlinatio 

The Bureau of Naval Personnel will automatically send the authoriza 

lion after receipt of the notice of nomination from the Member o 

Congress concerned, or upon acceptance of nomination from an 

other of the authorized sources of appointments. 

In Algebra, Plane Geometry and Plane Trigonometry, and Eng 

lish, the examinations are identical to the substantiating examinatio 

The material covered and suitable textbooks in these subjects a 

listed under the description of the substantiating examination whic 

appears earlier in this catalogue. 

The examination in United States History is an objecth'e exami 

nation designed to cover: (a) American History from the coloni 

beginnings to the present, as generally taught in standard seconda 

school hlstory courses; and (b) the major events of cun-ent Americ 

and World History. The usual "current events" complement of an 

American History course should prepare a student for the questions 

on topic (b). Map questions may be used where suitable. 

The examination in Physics is based on the following: 

~'.Ieasurements and properties of matter. 

Mechanics of fluids. 

l\Iechanics of solids. 

Heat. 

Sound. 

Light. 

Magnetism and electricity. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 57 

,\n understanding of the subject matter covered in any of the folwing textbooks is considered sufficient to meet the requirements in 

~hysics: 

Millikan, Gale, and Coyle, "New Elementary Physics," Ginn 

&Co. 

131ack and Davis, "Elementary Practical Physics," Macmillan. 

Fuller, Bro,i;1llee, and Baker, "First Principles of Physics," 

Allyn and Bacon. 

Dull, "Modern Physics," Holt. 

Henderson, "New Physics in Everyday Life," Lyons and Carnahan. 

Burns, Verwiebe, and Hazel, "Physics a Basic Science," Van 

Nostrand. 

Sears, "Essentials of Physics," Laurel Book Co. 

Stewart and Cushing, "Physics for Secondary Schools," Ginn 

&Co. 

SAMPLE TIME SCHEDULE 

All candidales report at 9 :00 a. m. The time until 9 :45 a. m. is 

utilized in malting out the Declaration Sheet and in reading the inLruclions on the Preliminary Sheet. The subjects comprising each 

type examination and the time allowed are as indicated in the following table: 

Required for candidates 

I 

entering by- 0 

z 

~ "' c 

SubJect Time allowed -;; .9 " ~§ ., " a~ ~-as (/) 

~c .. ~ 

~e .. 5 ~ "d .0 d Oi a: l.'l ri:l.'l (.) u 

FIRST DAY I l r 11. ~. Naval Academy 9:46 a m. to 12:45 1>. m. (180 Yea_ Yes. A ptltudo Teat mlnuteJI) I Ye8.- ·-

(Intermission, 1"1. houra.) 

2 Plane Geometry and Plane Trigonometry 2:00 p. m. to 4:00 p. m. (120 

minutes) Yes-. Yes.__ .. No. 

SECOND DAY 3 L;ngltoh - --- 9:30 o.. m. to 11:46 o.. m. (135 Yes.-- Yea- No. 

mlnutesl: 

I Algchrn -·------

(Interm oalon0 l~ hours.) 

l:O~rnufe'.alto Yes- Yea- No. 3: 0 p. m. (120 

5 THIRD DAY United States Rlotory_1 9:0~~u't':;a)to 10:15 n. m. (76 Yea._. No, __ No. 

& PhY•IC8 ~ 10:30 a. m. to 12.00 noon minutes) 

(90 y..__ No.- No. 
58 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

The Navy Department has made available to all candldates fo 

the Naval Academy places where a careful preliminary physical 

examination can be obtained at no expense to the candidate othe 

than the expense of travel to and from the place of examination. The 

preliminary physical examinations are conducted by medlcal specialists and the procedure followed is very similar to that glven by the 

Permanent Board of Medical Examiners at the Naval Academy where 

the final physical examination is given to all successful candldates 

authorized for admission. 

These preliminary physical examinations, which are conducted 

at naval hospitals and hospital ships, will be given to any candidate 

presenting a letter from a Member of Congress so requesting. It is 

advisable that appointment be made in advance. 

It is not necessary to have been formally nominated as a candldate in order to undergo a preliminary physical examination. In fact, 

many Members of Congress, before decidlng upon their nominations, 

require prospective nominees to undergo the examination. Prospective candidates may write to the Senator or Representative to whom 

application for appointment will be made, and request a letter asking 

that the examination be given by the nearest naval hospital or 

hospital ship. Early physical examination is advisable, as defects 

are frequently revealed which may be corrected if time permits. 

Formal physical exan1inations are conducted only by the Board 

of Medical Examiners at the Naval Academy. Candldates are required 

to be physically sound, well formed and of robust constitution. The 

physical requirements are exacting. The best interests of the Government. the Navy and the indlvidual demand that they be so. 

Detailed information concerning the physical requirements is 

contained In the pamphlet "Regulations Governing the Admission of 

Candidates into the United States Naval Academy as Midshipmen," 

which, as previously mentioned, may be obtained from the Bureau of 

Naval Personnel in the Navy Department or from the Naval Academy. 

ENTRANCE DEPOSITS, PAY AND RATION ALLOWANCE 

Each candidate who has satisfied the requirements for admission 

and who is eligible for appointment must, before being admitted as a 

midshipman, deposit the sum of $100.00. This will not be refunded, 

but, in addltion to the sum of $250.00 credlted to each new midshipman, will be expended for uniforms, clothing, textbooks, etc. This 

latter item of $250 will be held as an obligation against the midshipman's account until sufficient credit has accumulated to effect liqui-
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEl\fY 67 

Uonally, practical seamanship instruction in handling twin screw 

boats, mooring, piloting, rules of the nautical road and simple 

maneuvers. 

During the third summer cruise the midshipman, as a first classman, is trained in the duties and responsibilities of a junior officer of 

the Navy. The operation, handling and safety of the ship as responsibilities of lhe officer of the deck, the navigation of the ship at sea, 

together with piloting into and out of harbors, and the supervision of 

underclassmen in the routine of the ship, are all experienced at th.is 

time. 

First class year provides more advanced instruction in tactics, 

weather, rules of the nautical road, communications, twin screw boat 

handling, radar, anti-submarine warfare, air navigation, Loran, chait 

work and piloting. Here a.gain, the fundamental scientific-engineering principles learned in previous years are applied to the study of 

seamanship and navigation. The new naval officer is provided with 

the tools for fashioning the future progress of the Navy. 

ORDNANCE AND QUNNERY 

In their introductory course under this department during plebe 

summer, midshipmen are acquainted with the capabilities and limitations of basic weapons of combat; the rifle, the carbine, the pistol and 

the submachine gun. They are given considerable practice on the 

rifle range and are given the opportunity to qualify under Navy and 

Marine Corps Regulations as marksmen, sharpshooters or experts. 

Throughout the first two years the contact with ordnance 

equipment and gunnery operations is purely practical and devoted to 

acquiring actual experience and feel in association with naval 

weapons. A knowledge of the general natme of naval destructive 

potentiality is developed. There is cultivated the ability to supervise 

and control the employment of naval ordnance. An understanding 

of fire control, radar, torpedo, and anti-submarine equipment is imparted. 

Formal classroom instruction begins in second class year with 

the study of explosives, interior ballistics, gun construction, mounts 

and turrets, accessories, range finders and types of automatic control. 

Fire control. i. e. the objective employment and direction of 

weapons, is emphasized in first class year. This involves battery 

alignment, elements of fire control technique, obtaining and keeping 

the range. basic fire control mechanisms and fire control radar. These 

applications are closely associated with and integrated in a study 
68 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

of exterior ballistics and the elevated trajectories of projectiles. The 

last half of first. class year is devoted chiefly to anti-aircraft problems and principles in applications associated with the Combat Information Center. This latter includes the techniques involved in antiaircraft and torpedo control problems, bombardment of shore objectives, surface action between ships, anti-submarine action and control 

or intercepter fighter aircraft. 

During each of the three summ~r cruises the midshipman bas a 

battle station in the gunnery department involving either the service 

of a weapon or its control. 

Research and development in the field of new ordnance and 

gunnery equipment, defensive measures associated with such development, and possible future applications are presented in the form 

of lectures by representatives of the Bureau of Ordnance, the Naval 

Proving Ground and various other ordnance research activities. 

Basically, the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery deals 'vith 

ultin1ate military objectiveness. Every effort is made during the final 

year at the Academy to develop in the midshipman an appreciation 

of naval combat as a synthesis of fire power (applications of weapons) 

and movement (tactics) - a s~,1thesis in which, in the final analysis, 

the naval officer exercises the role of leadership and tactical direction. 

MARINE ENGINEERING 

Whether serYing as Engineer Officer on board ship or sening in 

the higher echelons of naval command where it is necessary to accept 

or reject far-reaching changes in warship construction, a naYal officer needs a sound understanding of the broad aspects of marine engineering. The operation of a ship is definitely circumscribed by such 

considerations as the potentialities and limitations of the engines and 

the hull, the power and effectiveness of the fuels and lubricants used, 

the stability and buoyancy of the structural design, the properties of 

engineering materials, the effect of vibrations and the repair and 

maintenance of power plants. 

Although the naval officer with high command responsibiUty is 

not a specialist in the field of marine engineering, he must possess a 

broad knowledge of the field so that he can use most profitably the 

technical knowledge of specialists in his command for the solution of 

problems in which such knowledge is a factor. 

An introduction to the nomenclature and study of marine and 

mechanical engineering, exposure to basic shop practices. and a series 

of introductory lessons in descriptive geometry occupy tbe ne'' midshipman during fourth class summer. 
UN1TED STATES KWAL ACADEl\ff 6!) 

The fourth class year is devoted to descriptive geometry, engineering drawing, graphical mechanics, and, at the end of the year, to 

a preparation for the first summer cruise through the study of the 

Engineering Cruise Manual. 

Engineering materials and processes is a general study of metals 

and other substances used in engineering, with particular emphasis 

on their properties, shaping and heat treatment. This marks the 

beginning of third class year, which continues with naval machinery, 

fluid mechanics and heat energy analysis. 

The course in fluid mechanics and heat energy anlaysis. which 

spans over the encl of third class year and the beginning of second 

class year, is followed by a study of the engineering applications of 

kinematics. 

l•'irst class year is devoted during the first term to the study of 

buoyancy, stability and damage control, and during the second term 

to internal combustion engines (reciprocating engines, gas turbines. 

jet engines, rocket motors) and their auxiliaries, with particular emphasis upon those used in aircraft and marine propulsion. 

The classroom and laboratory work at the Na\'al Academy is 

supplemented by instruction on board ships during the summer practice cruises. 

AVIATI ON 

Today the air, as well as the sea, is a medium it1 which the Navy 

must operate. The recent war left little doubt as to the vital importance of a\'iation in modern sea warfare. Accordingly, the Department of \viation was established in order to provide the midshipmen 

with those fundamentals of aviation which every naval officer must 

know, and to give them an understanding of the uses and potentialities of air power. This program is not a specialization in aviation, 

but is essential indoctrination and training in a fundamental profes-

:;ional classification such as seamanship, navigation, gunne1·y or 

marine engineering. The capabilities of naval aviation, its methods 

or operation, and its integration with other types, must be understood 

hy all naval officers if effective coo11eration between various com111amls and all components of the Fleet is to be obtained. 

:'IJidshipmen fly, during their first summer at the Naval Academy. 

one flight in primary trainers and one in patrol type aircraft. These 

arc preceded by ground instruction in ail'craft nomenclature, aircraft 

equipment and safety precautions. The flights are for the purpose 

or familia1ization rather than for pilot training. 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 

EX ECUTIVE 

63 

New midshipmen report for duty at the Naval Academy during 

the summer preceding their first academic year. At this time they 

receive a carefully supervised introduction to life at the Naval Academy and in the Naval Service. They are given instruction in infantry 

and are given positions of responsibility within the fourth class battalions commensurate with their ability. With the beginning of the 

academic year in September they take their place in the brigade 

organization, becoming more adept at close order drill and learning 

the discipline, cooperative action, smartness and precision characteristics of the Brigade. In third and second class years greater responsibility and authority are given to midshipmen in watches and drills. 

Academic instruction in applied psychology, "ith particular emphasis 

on naval leadership, begins in second class year and continues 

through first class year. l\lidshipmen of the first class are assigned 

duties such as brigade, regimental, battalion and company commanders. Subject to only general supervision by commissioned officers of 

the department, they are responsible for the conduct of drills and 

exercises and the general administration of the Brigade. First classmen are also given a course in Naval Organization and Administration, which includes organization of fleet commands, duties of commanding officers, executive omcers and heads of departments afloat, 

honors, ceremonies and the organization and administration of a 

dhision on board ship. Following this, a course in Military Law is 

prt>sented, ln which Naval Justice and Naval Courts and Boards are 

studied, both in relation to administration under the Articles for the 

Government of the Navy, and preparation of midshipmen to act as 

members or recorders of courts and boards. Moot Court is a part of 

this course. EYening lectures supplement both the above courses. 

The course In Modern Naval Leadership deals with applied psychology and human relations in the solution of leadership problems. 

The pattern of the course is significant. Principles are studied first, 

their validity then tested by application to cases, and finally the 

knowlt'dge gained ls Integrated with the duties of the upper classmen 

within the organization of the Brigade. The case studies used are 

taken from actual life situations involving problems which are met by 

midshipmen and junior officers in dealing with naval and civilian personnel. The Naval .\cademy is one of the few colleges pioneering In 

this field, and Its controlled career personnel constitutes a unique 

advantage for scientific investigaton and object!Ye effort. 

The Execul!Ye Department maintains close personal contact with 

the midi;hipmen in their daily lives. Its major responsibility is the 

UJ\'ITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 65 

molding of character and the day by day development of qualities of 

loyalty, integrity and personal honor. 

SEAMANSHIP AND NAVIGATION 

The subjects, Seamanship and Navigation, are a combination of 

a science and an art- science in the study, understanding and integralion of the mathematical foundations thereof - art when the 

theoretical is coupled with and tempered by the experienced judgment 

of the mariner as he masters the Yagaries of the sea. 

The new midshipman first encounters life at sea a few days after 

entrance to the Naval Academy when he learns at first hand to manage boats under sail on the Chesapeake. After instruction and qualification, he sails in a series of races. During the summer period he 

pulls an oar in a whaleboat, learns to tie knots, learns to signal, and 

is instructed in the nomenclature of the seaman. Ile makes intimate 

contact with salt water and no longer views the sea with the eye of 

a landsman. 

The following summer, as a third classman, he embarks on a 

modern battleship or cruiser for a summer practice cruise. This 

cruise, usually to foreign ports, places him in the sphere of the big 

ship in contrast to that of small boats, and presents ''ividly the essential "teamwork and spirit of the ship. 

Further familiarization with boats, both sail and power, and an 

introduction to charts follows during third class year. 

The next summer, as a second classman, the midshipman embarks on an aircraft canier cruise, and advances more deeply into the 

complexities and responsibilities of shipboard duty. Through active 

and more responsible participation in shipboard life, he learns to 

appreciate the variety of integrated components which make up the 

operation of a ship. An amphibious operation, similar to the many of 

World War II, concludes this cruise and provides firsthand exposure 

to and experience in landing force activities. 

During second class year practical application is made of mathematical and scientific principles previously learned, as the midshipman begins the study of navigation. The spherical trigonometry 

previously taught in mathematics is seen as the foundation of 

astronomy, celestial navigation and charts; the magnetism and the 

gyroscopic action of physics form the basis for study of the magnetic 

compass and the gyro compass. It is this basis of understanding of 

funclamenlals that provides the springboard for comprehension of 

future developments. The work of second class year includes, addi-

UNJTEO STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 59 

tion of this debt, or the midshipman may, at any time after entering 

e Academy repay this amount in full from ills own funds. :Midshipen are paid $78 a month, or $936 a yeal', plus $1.20 a day as a ration 

Jlowance. This pay and allowance is furnished by the Government 

or the full support of a midshipman of the United States Navy during 

is preparation at the Naval Academy for service as a commissioned 

fficer in the Navy. The ration allowance is used solely for the midhipman's board. The $78 per month is utiJized, under the direction 

f the Superintendent, to provide the following: 

(a) Suitable clothing, including midshipmen's uniforms. 

(b) Textbooks and equipment. 

(c) Necessary sundries usually required by a gentleman for 

purposes of cleanliness and good health. 

(d) Moderate allowance for extracurricular activities which 

, help to broaden and develop the midshipman. 

(e) Leave money allowance for Christmas and September 

: eaves, out-of-town football games, weekends and summer cruises. 

(f) A graduation balance for uniforms and equipment required 

:\upon being commissioned. 

This maintenance allowance is considered ample for enabling the 

:!midshipman to graduate from the Naval Academy without incurring 

1 any debts. Indeed, midshipmen are expected to live frugally and 

,'within the limits of their pay, for the avoidance of debt is a matter of 

: great importance in character building, which is, of course, a major 

aspect of the mission of the Naval Academy. 

Medical, dental and hospital service of highest type is available 

and furnished midshipmen without cost exactly as in the case of all 

other personnel of the regular Navy on active duty. 

The base pay of the graduate upon being commissioned in the 

Navy as an Ensign or in the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant is 

$2,412 per annum, which sum does not include dependent and subsistence allowances. 
60 CATALOGUE OF INFORl\IATION 

The faculty of the Naval Academy is composed of both civilians 

and naval officers. The overall ratio is approximately fifty-five per 

cent officer instructors on the one hand and forty-five per cent senior 

professors, professors, associate professors, assistant professors and 

instructors of civilian category on the other. 

Withln departments the ratio varies from one hundred per cent 

officer instructors in such professional departments as Ordnance and 

Gunnery and Seamanship and Navigation, through those having approximately an equal number of each, such as Marine Engineering 

and Electrical Engineering, to those almost completely composed of 

civilian personnel such as Foreign Languages, and English, History 

and Government. 

The standards and attainment of all instructor and administrati\'e personnel of the Ka\'al Academy are Wgh. Officers are carefully 

selected in collaboration ~ith the Bureau of Naval Personnel for assignment at the Naval Academy. Civilian members of the faculty are 

accepted originally in the grade of instructor or above with the requisite of not less than a master's degree and a year of successful college 

teaching. 

In actual numbers there are some 220 officer Instructors and 180 

civilians in the faculty of the Naval Academy. The ratio of instructor 

to student Is very high; i. e., sections for recitation average twelve to 

fiteen midshlpmen per Instructor. 

Faculty symposia, serving to explore and confirm methods employed in both educational and training areas, are held annually under 

the direction of distinguished leaders in the field of education. The 

meeting held in September l 947 was under the direction of Dr. A. 

John Bartky, Dean of the School of Education, Stanford University. 

The widespread attendance and participation of faculty members 

at educational and professional meetings throughout the country, the 

holding of district and regional meetings at the Naval Academy, the 

~Titing of numerous books and articles, and advanced study in the 

summer months are characteristic of the professional activities of the 

Naval Academy faculty. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ,\CADEl\IY 61 

Cutz'l.icufum 

The Na.val Academy curriculum has as its purpose the preparation of young men for a career in the L'"nited States .l\'avy. There 

follows the orientation of emphasis to accomplish this purpose. 

It is highly important that a naval officer acquu·e the ability to 

think scientifically. This does not mean just a cultivated aptitude in 

chemlstry or physics or electronics. It means a power for malting the 

scientific approach, the capacity for casting a discerning eye upon 

data, the development of the instinct for breaking dO\vu problems into 

their elements, analyzing them and synthesizing the logical solution. 

The Naval Academy proYides a scientific-engineering background 

which places emphasis on basic principles. an awareness of relationships, the integration of knowledge, and logical thought founded 

upon facts. Familiarity with fundamental naval operational techniques and a broad general knowledge of the potentialities and limitations of naval materiel a.re an essential part of the naval officer's 

factual background. 

Important is the ability to recognize and analyze critically the 

national and international economic and social problems. Foreign 

and domestic economlc policies a.re determlning considerations in 

naval activities. 

It is nece'ssary to understand people, how to exercise the responsibilities of command, how to cooperate and secure cooperation, bow 

lo communicate ideas and ideals effectiYely and unequivocally, and it 

is nect>ssary to have the physical energy to accomplish one's tasks. 

Eleven departments carry out the instruction and training of 

midshipmen. These are: • 

Executive 

Seamanship and Navigation 

Ordnance and Gunnery 

Marine Engineering 

Aviation 

Mathematics 

Electrical Engineering 

English, History and Government 

Foreign Languages 

Hygiene 

Physical Training 
• 
UXlTED STATES NAVAL ACADE1\1Y 79 

These lectures explored a wide range of intellectual activity, giving an overview of the humanities and social studies which figure so 

importantly in the dewlopment of character, breadth of vision and a 

sense of genuine values. 

The operational group serves to indicate areas 

of higher leadership and major staff functions assoOperational ciated therewith. Typical of the scope and tenor of 

these lectures is "Principles of Command" by \'ice 

Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, U. S. Navy, Deputy Chief of Operations 

(Operations). 

Technical 

Lectures in the technical area are designed to 

give midshipmen an insight into the materiel problems confronting the NaYy today. The topics of the 

lectures are so grouped as to establish a background 

of what those problems have been in the past and the influence which 

would probably be exe1ted by future developments. Since ships are 

still the backbone of the Navy, the potential shipbuilding capacity of 

the country is of vital importance. Oil and steel are two of the determinants in world politics today. ,\n underst.a.nding of the nation's 

resources is a prime requisite for a proper appreciation of our international policies. In order to evaluate properly our possible wartime 

industrial potential, an appreciation of the immensities and complexities or wartime production is essential. It is expected that a coordinated understanding of these problems will be gained. This series 

deals also with weapon development. research and the technical area 

or combat. Illustrative of lectures in this area are "What is New in 

the ,\ir" by Rear Admiral c\. ~I. Pride, U. S. Xavy, Chief or the Bureau 

or Aeronautics, and "\Va1tiwe nlobilizatiou of Industry" by Mr. 

Charles E. \\'Uson. President of General Electric. 

nepn.rtments 

Eiecutlve 

Mar-lne Engineering 

Ma.thematics 

Englf1h, History and Government 

Foreign Languages 

MarTne Engineering Mathematics 

Electrical Engineering 

English, History and Government 

Foreign Languages 

l':-.lTIW STATES !\AVAL ACADEMY 

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION, 1947 - 48 

CL ASSROOM PE RIODS 

81 

3 

FIRST YEAR - FOURTH CLASS 

SUMMER TERM 

Subjects 

Lt·adershlp _ 

I·~lementn.ry engineering drawJng and descrJp· uve geometry ne\·few ot plane trlgo· 

nometry. 

Ceog-raphy lectures. In· doctrinatlon and re· medlo.l English. ln- 11truclfon In lesson 

preparation and study 

Spnnlsh 

- --------

Textbook• 

~. Naval Academy Rcgulallons. 

Modern Naval Leadership. 

B~~~t,.~P~~ ~~~~~;; ~s1nf>~~~ Ing. Plane and Spherlco.l Trigonometry. 

by Muhl(c and So.slaw. 

LorP':bl~~~b; Deap~ ~t M~~onometrlc Malhemallcs & Mechanics, by Clem- ents and "'If.son. Alden and Earle's l\lnkers of Na.nu 

Trndltlon. Hammond's Compa.ra· live World AtlllS (desk edition). 

Hamllton'a Preface to Writing. A Gulde to Efficient Study (pamphlet). September Phonetic Course 

(U.S.N.L) French Departmental Transe:rlpUon. Portuguc~e ___ 1 Do. Germ1Ul Do. Ru"~l1ut __ _ _ Do. 

ltalflUI ---· Do. _Reverse Span ~h Do. 

FIHRT TE!OI De.acrtPtt \'C geomeu:y- "'s~ar-ll"'e-t"'t_an_,d....,J"'o"'hn_ao_n~•"'s-=Englnee rmg &englneeringdrn.wfng De.scrJpllve Geometry and Drawing. 

Algebra ·--· __ Co~/':~ ~8e~~~lb~~~~-lb EdlUon, by 

Plane trigonometry Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. 

Pl~~!"~~'d">.;olld anl\lytlc ~.!J~1~l;:.:e~ o.l'iterne.te F..dl- gcometr>'. tlon, by Wiison and Tracey. 

LogarJlhmetlc and TrJgonometric 

rhemlstry ---

COmPoslllon -- _ 

Rpanlsh --- Spanish (Regular and .Advanced) Rpanlsh (Ad,•anced) . F'rench 

F'rench <Regular and Ad\'anCed) - Pren ch (Advanced) 

G1·rman --

PorlUg\l<'.11~ -

nuaslan --

lto.llan ------ H.ever.se Spanl'!._h 

Tables. Slide Rule and Manuo.l. 

Briscoe' a College Chemlatr>". 19~ 5 Edition. Department's Chemlatr>· 

Laboratory Manual and Depart- ment Notes. 1916 edlUon. 

Looml• and Clark' a Modern Engll•h 

Readings. Marks o.nd Bryan's The College Writer. 

Turk's Practice.I Spanish. 

Appleton's New Spantah Dictionary 

Adam'e Brier Spanl"h Revlf>w Gram- mar o.nd Composition. Valdes' Jose. Hendrix and Meldan's Beginning French~ 

Chevalley o.nd Goodridge'• Concise 

I Oxford French Dictionary. 

FuiPr~~~turti'rii~ar~lrs~al~~d·~w Tri.~ Favorite French Storie . Deval' Tovarltch~ 

Evans and Roseler'a Shorter College 

German. Kaatnere EmU und die drei Zwilllnge (Top SecUon1) Breul'• New German and Engl!. h Dlcllonw'ttif&ma• First Brazilian Grammar. 

Hamilton and Fahs' Anedotas 

facels. Richardson and Sa Pereira•• Modem Portuguc.se-Eng- llsh o.nd Engllsh-Portugueae Dic- tionary. 

D'if:;;~~{;ngl~&~l&naryMuller'a 

Russo's Elem. Italian Grammar. ~par~man'• Prl~ Curso de In.glea. 
82 

Departments 

Marine 

Engineering 

Mathematica 

Electrical 

Engineering 

English, HI story and Government Foreign Languages 

Marine 

Engineering 

Mathematics 

Electrlcal 

Engineering 

CAT,\.LOGUE OF INFORMATION 

1''IRST YEAR- FOURTH CLASS - Continued 

SECOND TER:'lf 

iij~1 SubJecta 

t: g~ 

Textbooks 

/ HarU-ett andJohnS0n"8 En1tinttt.rm& Descriptive GcometrY and Drawing. 2 EnglneerJng drawing _ 

Graphical mechanics 

General marine e.ngi~ I So~fder~ytfc ~ 

Calculus --

Cbemletry _ 

CompasIUon and litf'r ature --- Spanlsb ---

Spanish 

(Ad\•anced) 

French --

F'rench 

(Ad\'o.nCed) 

German 

PortugueNe 

Rus:11nn --- ltallnn __ 

\JI Languages 

Principles of Ba.sic Mechanisms. by Department or ~!arlne Engineering. 

Annlytlc Geometry, Alternate Edl- Uon by \\'Uson and Tract:)'. Elementa or C&lculua, b)' Gran,·llle, Smith, o.nd Longley. Slide Rule. Manual and TablCJL Briscoe'• College Chemistry, 19t5 Edition. Department's Cbemlslr)' Laboratory Manual o.nd Depart- ment Xotes. 19t6 edllfon. Hibbard'• Writers of the Western 'Vorld (Naval Ac.a.demy P.Aitlon). Same as First Tenn plus: Kasten and Neale·Sih·a•s Lecturas Escogl· das. Grismer'• Salling the Spnnish Main. Kany·~ SPokeo Spani!h !or Students and Traxclers. Arjono.'s Cuentos de las Espa.nM. Kan>'• SPoken Spanish for Stud- ents and Trn.veler.s. New Naval 

s~~n.~~ ifr'.t' +~~r. biu., Lablche 

:fe~r Mi~~:i~to~: \~oh~:f'des' di>~~~~; Fra.ncals. 

s~;z iesF~~n~~~ ~b~:ids1:J4t.t~ tons Francals. New Nnxa.I Phrnsn• oloG'Y (U.S.N.I.), Same as First Term plus: Froschel'a BlmmeJ, ?ilelne Schuhe! Ka~tner•a Dle ''e.r.schwundene ~llnlatur. E,•an9 and Roseler•s Say It In Gcrc:i:ui 

I SaCJ;,gi>MS~l~~t"~~rm plu~: Kany and Pinhetro•a Spoken Portugue..:i:e for Students and Travelers to Brv.11. ~ame o.s First Term. Russo's !'it'I Pat·•e dt"l Sole. '"'llkln.s and AJtrocchi's Italian Short Stories. Same as First Term plus: ~p•rk­ mo.n's Element.an• Engll•h Read- ings. Loomis n.nd Clerk's 11.Jodcrn Eni:llsh Rend lngs. Voice recordings and pl&)'·backa us· Ing depA.rtml·ht lrMM'r11>Uon1 in _!orelgn ln~~"g!?'I'. 

SECOND YEAR - THJTID CLASS 

FIBRT TERM 

2~ Engineei='lng MO.terfa.Ii. I::ngineerin• and Processes :Uat · I d P- "' --- . 19t6. b>·" bc;:;;.J~nc~ orr~t4":1t;..s.; 

Naval Machinery __ N~~l~:~~~~Cn.r, 1946. Parta I to TY, b)' Department ot Marine F.ni;l- neering. Fluid Mechanics o.nd Heat Energy Anal)'als Calculus 

Dltrercntlo.l equn.tlomt _ Mechanics 

Fluid Mechanic•. 1917. bv Rinder. Elements of Calculu•. by Gnuwlllo, Smith. and Longley. Ana.Jylfcal ~techanlc:s tor Engineers. Third F.dlllon. by Seely o.nd En- sign. Slide Rule, Mo.nun! o.nd 

Physics Table•. _ - Lemon and Ference' a AnalytJcaJ Ex .. pertmcntal Physl~•. Rcvl•ed F.dl· tlon 1916. Depllrtmont's Lahorlllory ~!anuaJ: Phnlcs, 1917 edlli<m. 
UNITED STATES NA\ 'AL ,\CADEMY 75 

it into its position of world leadership are particularly indispensable 

for naval officers, as are the realization of present mmtary problems 

and the comprehension of the economics of internatioual relations. 

These fields are dealt with during the final year. In this part of the 

course; midshipmen are called upon for extensive reading, research 

and the assembling and organizing of data into complete, unified term 

papers. 

The formal course in public speaking stresses the salient principles of oral expression. However, the importance of speech is by no 

means restricted to formal address; in fact, its greatest usefulness is 

in the capacity for logical, forceful expression iu everyday.situations. 

The continual use of effective speech is therefore emphasized in 

e'rery course of the department. 

FOREIGN LANGUAGES 

Jn the study of a foreign language there is more to be gained 

than facility at the translator's or interpreter's level. The foreign 

language courses at the Naval Academy provide, further, an understanding of the foreign civilization through its literature, a knowledge 

of present foreign opinion as expressed in current writings and radio 

broadcasts, and a familiarity with foreign peoples through contacts 

with the embassy personnel of the nearby national capital, arranged 

by the language clubs. 

All midshipmen study two years of a foreign language, choosing 

from any of the following: French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, 

Russian or Italian . 

. \t the end of fowth class summer an elementary pronunciation 

course is given by the oral drill method, \\'ithout study or preparation. 

The regular course of fourth class year covers the essentials of 

grammar, pronunciation, writing based on graded readings, and intensive oral drill. Voice recordings and special co1wersation texts are 

also used. 

Third class year contains a review of grammar, conversation and 

writing based on readings of intermediate difficulty selected from the 

literature of the foreign language and from contemporary periodicals, 

as well as from readings on naval subjects, including na\'al phraseology. The special com·ersation texts are continued during this year. 

II a midshipman so wishes, and his placement test and aptitude 

test scores warrant it, be may at the beginning of fourth class year 

enroll in an advanced language seclion. The advanced language 

courses, which a lso run for two years, start the new midshipman a t 
76 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

second year college language level, provide a greater familiarity with 

the literature and civilization of the foreign people and prepare him 

for qualifying as a Navy translator or interpreter. Advanced courses 

are, at present, offered only in French and Spanish. 

There are foreign language clubs for all classes in French, 

Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian and Italian. All activities are 

conducted in the language and consist of regular meetings, foreign 

language motion pictures and after-dinner speaking. 

Optional instruction in all languages of the department is offered to fir.st and second class midsWpmen. It requires no preparation 

and consists of two instruction periods per week during free tin1e. 

Shore leave in foreign ports during the summer cruises provides 

the midshipmen with an opportunity to use their language and to 

obtain a better understanding of foreign peoples. 

H YGIENE 

A short series of lectures is given the new midshipmen on physiology, personal hygiene, naval sanitation, and first aid. 

The regular hygiene course occurs in third class year and covers 

lhe following subjects: elementary anatomy, physiology, and bacteriology, naval hygiene and first aid, community and social hygiene, 

mental hygiene, first aid treatment for sunivors of disasters at sea, 

field sanitation, including hygiene of the march and camp, epidemics 

and their control, the causes, effects and methods of overcoming 

fatigue, and the effects of narcotics, stimulants, alcohol and tobacco. 

PH YSICAL TRAINING 

TWs department develops the strength, endurance, agility, skill 

and competitive spirit of the midshipmen. In spite of the fact that 

entering midshipmen have to meet certain physical requirements, 

there is a wide range in maturity and development of the body. There 

is almost always room for improvement in the posture of high school 

graduates. Good posture allows the various organs of the body to 

function properly and is an important health factor. Upon entering 

the Naval Academy, midshipmen are photographed for posture and 

examined and advised as to the c01Tect brace, errors being noted on 

the photographs. Those midsWpmen showing defects in posture are 

placed on the "posture squad" to receive the necessary corrective exercises. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 77 

Swimming is an obvious necessity for all naval officers. It is 

further absolutely necessary for midshipmen so that they may be safe 

for open water boat instruction. 

Strength tests are given new midshipmen to determine specific 

weaknesses. Corrective exercises build those muscles which have not 

been sufficiently developed. Periodic tests reveal progress, and supplementary instruction is given as needed to members of the "wealc 

squad." 

Agility is deYeloped in the obstacle course and through instruction in gymnastics. The exercises involved contribute both to agility 

and strength. 

The physical training course of fourth class summer stresses 

swimming, posture, agility, military track, and obstacle course, and 

introduces boxing, gymnastics and wTest.ling. During the regular 

academic year there follows basic instruction in basketball, fencing. 

boxing, gymnastics, hand-to-hand combat, handball, mass exercises, 

posture, swimming and wrestHng. 

ln tllird class year golf, tennis and squash are added, with continuing instruction in I.he items of the preceding year. l\Iidshipmen 

are given some opportunity to practice officiating at athletic events. 

Specialized instruction in golf, handball, swimming, tennis and 

squash is given in second class year. This cultivation of individual 

sports provides the first classmen with a means of healthful recreation for their last year at the Naval Academy and dt11ing their 

careers after graduation. The fundamentals of athletic coaching are 

also a part of lhe second class course. 

During the final year the first class midshipmen provide Brigade 

leadership for I.he entire sports program within the Naval Academy. 

SPECIAL LECTURES FOR THE FIRST CLASS 

A high order of concentration, intense application, and sharp 

focus characterize Naval Academy educational methods. These 

methods, and the repeated exercises incorporated with them, produce 

intellectual fibre. close and accurate thinlting, and rugged independl'nce in the solution of situations bolh at the Academy and in the field. 

Tn first class year. howeYer, it is particularly in order for the midshipmen to lift their eyes, periodically though brieOy, from the tactical area of current academic commitment to the bold strategical 

outline of the future. Such views indicate lhe challenging problems 

and areas of command, administration and naval statesmanship due 

to unfold wilb ever widening interest and increasing impact as their 

careers develop. 
78 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

Technically and educationally, the single lecture on a given subject differs essentially from any one of a series of classroom lectures 

on the same subject in the larger perspective it assumes. The period 

in which midshipmen can most profit from the presentation of the 

broadest views and the most meaningful implications is after the 

completion of several years of basic study. The first classman may 

look to the special lectures for at least two returns: assistance in fitting together the component parts of knowledge he has attained into 

a complex whole, and the interpretation of this into future understanding and policy. The net result is a broadening of academic and 

professional horizons. 

For the academic year 1947-48, thirty special lectures for the 

first class were delivered by persons distinguished in their fields and 

were devoted to three areas of thought and endeavor: the socialhumanistic, the operational and the technical. 

The lectures in the social-humanistic area 

Social- began, most fittingly, with "Philosophy and the 

Humanistic Liberal l\Iind" by Professor Bland Branshard, Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Yale University. The subject of philosophy, which embraces all branches of 

learning and yet is contained in no one of them, serves both as a 

guide and a measure in other pursuits. It plays at times the dual role 

of cause and result. This is especially apparent in a young country 

such as ours where we realize the importance of political, social and 

religious philosophy in the foundation of our country and where we 

have evolved a philosophy based on our country's development. 

Follo~ing the lecture on philosophy was a series on literature, 

history, government, economics and international relations. In the 

great works of literature we find human experience suspended in time 

for leisurely contemplation and understanding. The study of history, 

through interpretation of the forces activating our own and other 

nations, contributes to the picture of what we are and what we may 

become. The evolution of our government, our domestic and foreign 

economic position and the impact of our type of government and 

economy on world affairs are all highly significant elements in the 

appreciation of our place as American citizens. Understanding of this 

is furthered through lectures such as "The Strategy of America's 

Economic Foreign Policy," delivered to the midshipmen by Professor 

William Y. Elliott, Chairman of the Department of Government, Harvard University. It is Yitally necessary that our country be known 

and appreciated by tho!;e who are called upon to assume duties in her 

government, to protect her, and to represent her abroad. 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 71 

The summer cruise !or second classmen is made aboard an aircraft carrier. Instruction is provided in the practical aspects of carrier aviation. Flight familiarization is conducted in carrier aircraft, 

including take-offs, landings and simulated air combat tactical exercises. 

Aerodynamics, aviation engineering, employment of naval aviation, communications and electronics, and aviation ordnance and 

gunnery, together with preliminary flight training in primary trainers 

and patrol type aircraft, constitute the work of second class year. 

The midshipmen do not proceed to actual pilot qualification. 

First class year begins with the study of airborne radar, IFF, airborne Loran, fighter direction, Ground Control Approach and other 

electronic aircraft control systems, plus current and future electronic 

trends. A study is made of the research, development and future 

trends of aYiation ordnance and gunnery, aviation engineering, aerodynamics, aerial navigation and aerology. Strategical and tactical 

employment of naval aircraft covers aircraft tactics, carrier strikes 

against shore establishments and surface forces, air-ground support 

and coordination with amphibious forces, air search and patrol, antisubmarine warfare and other related subjects. Preliminary flight 

instruction is continued. 

The graduates of the NaYal Academy are trained to meet the demands of future war through obtaining an appropriate and fundamental concept of air power at the undergraduate level, completely 

and thoroughly integrated into their lives at the Naval Academy. 

They must become instinctively perceptive of the basic field and scope 

of air as an operating medium through intimate and frequent contact 

with the men. the equipment and the aircraft of Naval Aviation. 

MATHEMATICS 

'.\!any of the courses at the Naval Academy require a sound 

knowledge of mathematics. This is true of both the scientific-engineering and the professional subjects. The courses in mathematics 

are so planned as to be of the greatest possible assistance to the midshipmen In their work in physics, electricity, radio, electronics, aviation engineering, aerodynamics, naval machinery, thermodynamics. 

kinematics, stability, fluid mechanics, ballistics, navigation, nautical 

astrnnomy and related fields. 

Litlle progress would have been made to adapt and develop 

means and methods of naYigation for employment in new mediums, 

at speeds approaching that of sound, over new areas, and by means 

of new technological developments if the officers of the Navy had 
72 CATALOGUE OF INFORMATION 

failed to think in terms of fundamental theory involving plane 

and spherical trigonometry, the astronomical triangle, the celestial 

sphere, stereographic projection, calculus and other mathematical 

concepts. New needs and new methods to take care of still higher 

speeds, still more complex conditions, unexplored geographical 

areas, with unknown meteorological conditions, will continue to make 

demands which will require basic education in mathematics. The 

fundament.al mathematical theory presented at the Naval Academy 

is essential in the building of instinctiYe reactions and concepts upon 

which the technological future of the Navy depends so much. 

All new midshipmen recei\•e dming fourth class summer a comprehensive renew course in plane trigonometry which prepares them 

for their first term work in the study of the more important properties 

of vectors and their applications. College algebra, analytic geometry 

and differential calculus complete fourth class mathematics. 

Integral calculus, differential equations and mechanics (statics 

and kinematics) constitule the course of third class year. 

Mathematics of second class year covers mechanics (dynamics) 

and spherical trigonometry. 

The course provides midshipmen with a lmowledge of fundamental mathematical principles, a facility and accuracy in the use 

of mathematical processes and an instinct for the application of 

mathematical concepts in the solution of na,·al and engineering 

problems. 

ELECT RICAL ENGINEERING 

Radar, Loran and Sonar are typical of modern developments 

based on the theories of radio and electronics. They are complex 

results of the ernlution of basic physical concepts. The electronic 

equipment and intricate communication system of a modern combatant ship orient to the thinking of men well grounded in the laws of 

physics. At the NaYal Academy it is recognized that new devices may 

become obsolete, and that while a familiarity with present day devices 

is a practical necessity, even more important is an understanding of 

the fundamental principles to which past, present and future devices 

owe their existence. Progress depends on a mastery of basic truths. 

and lhe naYal officer must be prepared to direct the development and 

use not only of the accomplished results of the physical sciences but 

of their future possibilities as well. 

A study of the fundamentals of the physical sciences is pursued 

throughout the four years of the curriculum. Chemistry and physics 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEl\IY 73 

occupy the first two years and cover the topics normally treated in 

beginning college courses in these fields, "ith the exception that electricity and magnetism are postponed for fuller treatment later in the 

course. 

Second class year includes the study of the basic principles of 

<>lectricity and magnetism, electric and magnetic fields, direct and 

alternating current parameters and circuits, generation of electromotive forces, electric oscillations and electromagnetic waves. The 

falter part of this course emphasizes such engineering aspects as circuit analysis, single and polyphase circuits, magnetic circuit, transients and transformers. 

The study of the characteristics and performance or direct and 

alternating current machinery brings to a conclusion the work begun 

in the latter part of second class year. The remainder of the final 

year is de,·oted to basic electronics, emphasizing electron emission 

and ballistics in vacuum and gas-filled tubes, and the behavior of circuits and circuit elements over wide ranges of frequency. i\Iicrowave 

a11paralus and techniques are included. 

ENGLISH, HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT 

lt is not sufficient that a midshipman develop the ability to express his ideas logically and clearly, that he have a factual knowledge 

of historical events and the functions of government, and a passing 

acquaintanceship "'ith great literature, economics and international 

relations. Ile must, OYer and abo\'e that, attain an understanding in 

these fields which will form the basis for instinctive discrimination 

hetween that which is first-rate and that which is inferior. 

The course of fourth class year is devoted to composition and 

literature, with emphasis on exposition and modern English literature. 

European history begins Lhird class year, covering the history of 

Europe from the Renaissance lo the present time. There follows a 

course In United States foreign policy and half a term of public speaking on topics related to American foreign affairs. 

During second class year a course is giYen in the e\'Olution, functioning and significance of our federal government. This is followed 

by a study of the fundamental concepts of economics. The midshipmen acquire an understanding of the tastes, interests and ideals of 

other peoples, in the course In European literary masterpieces. 

\ knowledge of the history and development of the United 

Stales Na\')' and an understanding of the forces which have brought 
H .M .S. VICTORY, PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND 
Departments 

Engllah, HIStory and Government 

Foreign Languages 

Hygiene 

Maifne Eng lneerlno Mathematics 

Electrlcal Engineering 

Engllah, History nnd Government 

Foreign Languages 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 83 

SECOND YEAR -TIDRD CLASS - Conllnued 

'FIRST TERM - Continued 

lin1 SubJects Textbooks 

-- 3 European 'History Ferguson and Bruun•s A Survey of 

~~ofi~~<t~!J.~)atlon. 1600 - PresSpanl•h _ ___ _ Adruna' Brie! Spanish Review Gram- mar and Composition. Valdes· 

Spanish (.Advanced) 

Jose. Grismer and MacDonald's Roman Calvo. Ashburn'• Selected Spanish Short Stories. 

French ------ ----- - ~~'j,urS'r'!.m~ar~lrs~al~dl,~w T~~ 

Fren<:h (Advanced> 

PorhHnJl'$1• 

Favorite French Stories. Devil.l's Tovarltch. Renard's La Vlpere de Luvercy. Po.rgmen l's Gens el Choses de France. 

Th~~:ri~ R~~~~.:h<gf:r ~~~~~= Vi"U.ndene MJnlatur. Gerstacker"s Germe!sho.usen. Geissler'• Der Liebe Augustin. Evans o.nd Rose- ler's Say lt In German (Top Sec- tions). Fuldo.'s Bunte Gesellschnft. Williams' First Brazilian Grammar. Hamilton. Lopes and Walsh's Con- versas sul·amerlcanas. RuRslo.n --·---- Semeonoff'a Brush Up Your Russian Pcr~onal, soctal naval Hayden's Elementary Hygiene, Gen· and military hY![len.e. __ e_ral __ an_ d_ N_o._v_a_I. __ 

SECOND TERM --- ---- - 2'h · Fluid llfeehanics and 

iii"#ir:'J!F eq~';,'t)~~~":: Fluid Mechanics. 1947, by Binder. Elements of Calculus, by Granville. 

I 

Mechanics 

Physics 

I United States Foreign Polley 

§';~\;h Speaking __ ::_ 

Spanish 

I 

(Advanced) - -·-

French -

French (Advanced) 

Gflrman 

t>ortugue.-te --·---

RUMl&n 

All Langun.ge" ----

Smith. and Longley. Analytical Mechanics, by Currier. Slide Rule, :Ma.nuo.I, and Tables. Lemon and Ference•s Analytical Ex- perimental Physics. Revised Ed i- t.Ion 1948. Department•s Laboratory M.anual: Physics, 1947 edition. 

Ba~~~,c~n D{l',!g~!uc 9J~~':i7's o~~~ clples and Types of Speech. 

~: ~:vJW~;:;.,,f~gy "tb J:rn.'i~ C&stro'a lberoarnerlca. Lecturas Tee· nlco.s (Depo.runent of Foreign Lan · guages). Same o.s First Term plus: Badel's Chez Jes France.la. New Naval Pbrasoology (U.S.N.I.). 

so.~:in¥. ~~~e'i!'ec~~rdai JI'l~'i.5a~~; (Department of Foreign Lan- guages). So.me as First Term plus: Modern Technlco.I German (DeWtment or 

i:g~~10~n'ffi'j~\). ew Navo.I 

Same as First Tenn plua: Selecoe.s do Reader's Digest. Kany o.nd Flgue· lredo's Element.ary Portuguese Conversation. New Naval Phrase- ology (U.S.N.I.). Technical Reader (Department or Foreign Languages). Ru•slo.n SupfJ~m~~I~)~o New Naval Phra.seology 

Voice recordings o.nd play-backs W!I· 

Ing department lranscrlpllons tn rorolgn Janguai;.,,_es = ·----
84 

Dcparl.men l • 

Ordnance and Gunnery 

Marine Engineering 

Aviation 

Mathematics 

Etectrlcal 

Engineering 

English, H istory and Government 

Hygiene 

Executive 

Seamanship and Navigation 

Ordnance and Gunnery 

Marine Engineering 

Aviat1on 

Electrical Engineering 

Engllah, History and Government 

CATALOGUE OE•' INFORMATION 

THIRD YEAR - SECOND CLASS 

FIRST TERM 

11~11 Subjects Textbooks 

1

1\2 Ba.sic Ordnance -- Naval Ordnance & Qunne;:y (Bureau Interior Balll11Uco -- or Naval Personel). Department of Ordnance and Gun- nery's textbooks. 3\~ Fluid M•·chanlcs and Fluid Mechanics, 1017. by Binder. Heal Bnergy AnaJysls Energy A.ne.Jysia of Xa,·aJ MachJnI 3 

t'ir1n~194°tngii:r..erl~:partm.fh'~rrng~ d>'llamlc Properllea or Steam (1936) by Keenan and Key1. Aerodynnmlcs. Principles or Flying-. 

~:C~~s--==--- _ ;~~~~~FcaJ' ~~~~ics for Engineers. 

I 

Third Edition, by Seely and En- sign. Spherical Trigonometry Plane and Spberlcal Trigonometry, 

s1l:re 1ii':S!: ~'!!:.:r'!~ci Table•. Electricity and :.Ia.gnellsm _ -- -

Economics ------ - United States Foreign 

Polley --- -- Personn.l. social. naval. _and military higiene.. 

$ear's Principles or Physics, Vol. ll. Electricity and Magnetl!1111. De- partment's Electrical Laboratory Manual. 1947 edition. \Vhlttaker's Elements of Economics. 

~'z;;'erl"ca1~~';~uc History or 

Hayden'• Elementary Hygiene. Gen- eral and Naval. 

SECOND TER:ll 

Leadership 

N&'\•·lgatlon --

Ondenvater Ordnance_ Exterior Ballistic~ _ Rockets, Spatting, Sboro Bomba.rdmenL 

Fluid Mechanics and Heat Energy Analysis 

Navo.l alr organization and operntlone --- .Airborne communlca- Llons and electronics 

E'~i,g,c~a;.~d ___ _ 

Electrical Englneurlng 

r~uropt•nn Literary Mn..."'t<'rPl<-ces .. 

~lodern NS.val Leaderah1P. Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, by Dutton. H. 0. 214 American Nautical AJmanac. Department o! Ordnance & Gun· 

g,~~: ot t~~~kce A: ~~~ne~~: terlor Ballistics. 19(6. Department or Ordnance & Gunnery's textbooks 19(7). Fluld Mechanics, 1947, by Binder. 

E(mK) A~:1Y21:~t;:,~~ ~~ac~~~~ Engineering. Thermodynamic Propcrlles or Steam 

GJfJ~ lo bf:.a~!T~~~1:t/gn~eys. 

Tactical Use of Radar ln Alrcra!t (RAD-2A). Sea.r's Principles or Physics, Vol. TI. Electricity and Magnetism, 1917 edlUon. 

Fitzgerald's Ba.sic Electrical Engi- neerlng, 1945 edition. Department's Electrical Laboratory Manual. 1947 edition. ~ervantes' Don Quixote, Ibsen'8 Plays, Goelhe's Faust. Balzac-. Pere Gorlot, TolstoYa Annn Kn.renlna. 
I )epn.rtmenlll 

E xecu ttve Searn.,.n1h ip and NaviQ.ltlon 

Ord n:ance ;ind Gunnery 

Marine E ngineering 

A v ia tion 

Elec trical Engineering 

English . H ist ory and Government 

Executive 

S e amanship and Nt1vigat 1on 

Ordnan c e ;md Gunnery 

M01rine 

Engineering 

Aviat ion 

Electrical E ngineering 

English . H istory and Governme n t 

UN!TI<m STATES NAVAL ACADE?.IY 

FOl"RTH YE AR -FIRST CLASS 

IR~T TERM 

Sut.Jt..-cts 

Lcnt.lerllhip _ !-'Pnmo.nship: ~tratcg)' 

nn<l taCLl<"B. communi· c:,tlons. 

Elements oC Fire Con· trot .. . .. 

I 

l•:le\'o.kd T rilJecton: _ J•~Jro C:ontrol Hndnr _ Encr1~· ~\nnly11lt11 of Navnl ~t1u·h111ery 

Xnvu.I aviation - em· 

~m~~1ent 111 th~ ra. 1 

,\ lthorne Ell'ctroni<'ll .\Jtcrnt\tlng C11rn·nt 

~-;::~~ 1~ 1~~. t run Ir,; 

:-;avnl Hl!>ton: nnd Uc\'dopmcnt • 

• \fte-r·tlinncr l!-l'en.king 

Textbooks 

llodt:rn );"-n.vo.I Lentlt•r.:l'hip Xaval Tactfc5 & Opt·rntio11~. l!SX.\ b}~ Dept. of Sea. & ;'\;a.\· 

Xaval Communicnt1ons. US~.\. l1y 

Dept. of Sea. & ~u.v 

Nf>~.lg~~lft~n~d NaultC'tll .\s1ru110111y 

H. 0. 2H. H. 0. ~I~ . ...\merlca.n Air .AJnurnnc America.n ~a.uUco.J .\l11mno.c. 

Na.\"n.I Ordnance & Gunnery ( :0.:o.\"f'rr.i 

lGllGA) 

Department of Orclnuncc & Gun .. ncr y'.s Pamphh·t· Dtpnrtment or Mo.rt1w l·~nginl·t~rlng'~ 

Energy Analysis or Naval :\lachln- ery crnlO). Keenan n.nd Keys' Thermodynruni~ 

P r opertl<•R or Stcnm (1036). N'O.\"al Aviation ope:rrLtion~ nn1l t"'On · trol. 

CH..\.D-G; RAD SJ. Dawes' Electrical Englne<:rlnt:. \'ol. II. Alternating Currents, ·lth edi- tion. Depa.rlrncnl'"'" Electrlcnl 1 .• nhora1ory ~lanual, t9rn edition . I>t::partmenl ·s na.,1c El•-<:trunh:s Departm(·nl'11 El~ctronlca Lnb .. •ru.tor\' 

)(anual. 19'7 edition 

Stevens and \Yestcott'.s .\ Jli~tory of Sea Power. "'estc-ott (£>dlted by) American Sea Powt•r Sine•• 1775 . Department Pamphlf:t "Hfnt21 on ..Af1er-Dinner S.peakln,.::." 

l<l·:Cl)X D Tl::R~! 

1 ... nd1:r11hip I \lotlern Xn\'n.l .Lendt.'rtihlp. St!IHnnnt1h1p: Huie~ of Seaman.ship, b:io• Training Uln~ion , 

lhe road, military law. Bureau or ="a\"n.l P1•rsonn1•1. 

I 

naval orJ;"anlzatlon and1 U. S. !°l:avy Rcgulauons. r11lmlnl!'lrn.Uon. ~a\·al Justice. Naval Courts and Bollrd!. Xn\'IJ.:"ntlon Navlgn.tlon and Xn.ullcnl A!itronomy, by IJutton. Tide To.hies and Current 'l'ahll"~. 

u.s.r..&G s. American Nautical .\Ima.nil<" .American Air .Alnmnnc. H. 0. 21 1. H 0. 21-1 Dt:pnrtment pn.nwhlct - Loran n.ml Ratltt..r. Th11 T•'lrc Control Prob~ Xaval Ordnance & Ounru·ry <NnvPt·r"' h.•m lGllf.A). ::;;urfru.·1 nnd Anti·nir Department of Ordnanc£> X.· nun 

rrnft I nery's Pamphlets. H1•lnth"c rate A.A Fire Control. ·;11f'r~·-y .,\nalyRIA of Oepartnumt of !11arlnl· i.;ngln«rrlng'11 

:-.:-n\'fll .:\1o.chlnen·. EnerJ.,.ry .Anal)-"818 oC Na\"8.I )lm·hlna en· (19101 Keenan and K(•)'es' Thc·rmod) nrunh.· Propertle!' of ~lesun 0936), ti; f"IC nJ:hl1·r d1rt-ctlon_ Xaval A\'fb.tlon-op1·rntlons n.ml ron· trolR. 

I ta.sic- Eh .. -ctronlcs. 

rR . .A])-{i; HAD R J Department'lil nn..lc J·:lrctronf<"S. Departmf'nt'11 1-:11~tronlca T..aborator)· 

)(anua.l. rnn t"tlltlon. 

Elf'tnenta o( :\°fltlonal I Sprouts'. Foundnt ons of :'\allonal rower and J·;xPOstllon. Power Depa.rlment"s Handbook of 1-:xvo•l- llon. After-dinner epeaktng_ Department pamphlet "l Un ta on Aftrr-Dlnner ~pellk!ng •• 
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G:'.'llTED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 87 

S 1lidshipman P»aclice Ctzuise 

Near the end of May each year a force of carriers, battleships, 

cruisers and destroyers steams up the Chesapeake and anchors in the 

roadstead off the Naval Academy. The time has arrived to end the 

routine of studies, embark in ships, and head for the open sea and 

foreign ports. 

Practical shipboard training iu lhe naval profession is an important phase of the Naval ,\cademy cou1·se. Midshipmen embark on 

active ships of the Fleet. for a period of three months each summer, 

at the conclusion of their first, second and third years. The three 

cruises are designed to supplement, with practical training. the 

theoretical and academic study of the preceding year. They are 

planned to provide an understanding of foreign people and their 

countries, a lmowledge of much importance to the naval profession. Active midshipman participation in all phases of air and ship 

operations is the keynote of each cruise, to the end that each midshipman may "learn by doing" and graduate \\ith an intimate appreciation of the separate tasks which comprise the whole. This is 

achieved by the integration of midshipmen into the operating air and 

ship organizations of the practice squadron. 

The first cruise is designed to introduce the midshipman to life 

aboard a man-of-war. Ile is assigned a batUe stalion in a turret. or 

on an anti-aircraft gun, and becomes a member of the Damage Control Party so vital to the safety of our ships during the last war. In 

addition, he stands instructional watches, when he may serve in such 

assignments as lookout, member of a lifeboat crew, burner tender at 

a steaming boiler, or engine room assistant. Interspersed with drills, 

gunnery firings and watches are periods of scrubbing decks, cleaning 

boilers and overhauling machinery to provide a fundamental knowledge of the essentials of keeping a man-of-war shipshape and maintaining her complex machinery. The battleships and cruisers on 

which this cruise is made provide the finest laboratory for such 

training. 

The second cruise is planned to prO\ide training in the aircraft 

ran·ier component of the Fleet. with the midshipman as a member of 

the carrier's air squadrons during part of the period, and in the carrier 

ship organization for the remainder. During the time in the air 

squadrons, he flies in a torpedo plane or dive bomber, takes off and 

lands on the ran-ier flight deck and takes part in tactical flights of 

rarrier aircraft. The midshipman does not pilot the plane during this 
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UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 89 

training, since it is not intended that he receive pilot instruction, but 

ralher that he become familiar with the role of aircraft in modern 

naval tactics and gain an appreciation of the problems which confront the pilot as he executes his mission. ft'antiliarization with 

flight deck operation in launching, recovering and servicing planes 

is accomplished. A second phase of this cruise, in which the midshipman becomes a member of the carrier ship organization, pro-

\·idcs a progression into more advanced duties and responsibilities, 

extending and broadening the pattern of training initiated on the first 

cruise. Termination of the carrier cruise is followed by a short period 

of Indoctrination in amphibious warfare. Embarked in attack transports and the many types of landing craft, the midshipman participates in amphibious operations similar to those which were of such 

importance in World War IT. 

The program of the third and last cruise is planned to project the 

midshipman into the sphere of duties, responsibilities and leadership 

required of the junior officer. Th.is cruise, made on battleships, 

cruisers or destroyers, provides the opportunity to take charge of 

groups of midshipmen, to direct them in routine shipboard duties 

and to na\'igate at sea. Standing watches as officer of the deck, 

as engineering officer and as radar officer, under the supervision of ship's officers, pro\ides practical exercises in the combination of knowledge and leadership essential to the successful performance of duty as a junior officer. A more responsible battle station in 

the gunnery fire control organization, the radar organization and the 

damage control organization. highlights the training of th.is cruise. A 

period of indoctrination in submarine and anti-submarine warfare 

concludes the cruise. 

The foregoing presents briefly the characteristic program of 

purely professional training. The phase of broad general education 

in the people, customs and geography of foreign countries is also emphasized on each cruise. This phase may be best illustrated by a 

brief description of a recent cruise. During the passage across the 

Atlantic to northern European ports, short talks covering points of 

historical interest, language and customs of the countries to be visited 

\vere delivered. These talks were illustrated by photographic slides 

and supplemented ''ith descriptive pamphlets. Upon arrival at European ports, which included Edinburgh, Goteborg, Oslo, Copenhagen, 

Portsmouth and Plymouth, opportunities were presented for tours 

through the Scottish Lake Country, visits to London and other tours 

into the countryside nearby to visit interesting historic points. 

Dances and parties of many varieties ashore and on board ship at the 

various ports o{ call provided opportunities for many pleasant 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADE:\IY 91 

associations which serve to familiarize the midshipman with the customs, language and ideas of the countries visited. ,\fter a stay of 

three weeks in European ports, the squadron got underway for Guantanamo Day, Cuba, and Xorfolk, \'a., for a period of gunnery firing 

exercises. 

,\fter completion of the exercises, the squadron headed for Annapolis lo d.isembark the midshipmen. The day of disembarkation 

marks the beginning of the annual September leave. Reveille comes 

early and is eagerly awaited. After breakfast the rapid stowing 

of clothing and gear, and the boat ride to the dock, are accomplished with dispatch. .\ shift of uniform and departure on leaYe 

follow in rapid succession. The thirty-day lea,' e period scatters the 

Brigade to all parts of the United States, there to recount the stories 

of ports visited and to display the purchases made in foreign countries. To no group, however, is this leave period more exciting than 

to the new third class. They ha,·e completed their first year at the 

Kava! Academy and their first tour of sea duty. 

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY 93 

Conclusion 

For over a hundred years the United States Naval Academy at 

Annapolis has been the repository of the Navy's great traditions of 

devotion and sen·ice. From its founding, the Naval Academy assumed the na\'al traditions which were established in the early life or 

the Republic. The midshipmen of the United States Navy have the 

responsibility of carrying forward and maintaining the inspiring 

precedents set in this rank by Jarvis, Porter and Farragul 

Midshipmen acquire concepts and loyalties, as to their role and 

responsibilities, which represent genuine spiritual values. Just as a 

church, with Its tradition and liturgy, is the medium through which 

devotion is expressed, so like,vise Is the Naval Academy a medium 

through which our youth from early years transmit devotion to their 

country. Here Is developed that tone and esprit which are the very 

essence of professional attitude and pride in the Service. A singleness 

of purpose and an education in a way of life make it both appropriate 

and essential that the Naval Academy and its graduates lead in areas 

both professional and inspirational, acting as a unifying force in the 

Navy. 

Without prejudicing the immutable standards which have contributed so much to the development and attainments of its graduates 

In the past, the Naval Academy assumes its essential and appropriate 

role in the over-all Navy plan of education, and reviews and restates 

its objectives, taking into account the broader scope of education and 

training required for our future naval officers. 

Discrimination and judgment are end results of Naval Academy 

education. Knowledge is an important means in the attainment of 

the desired goal, and mathematics and the engineering sciences, together with the professional studies, supply the background of facts 

and scientific thinking which are fundamental. The huma nities and 

social studies explore and clarify the realm of human values. Moral 

courage and physical fortitude are of the essence in leadership and 

since the naval officer is constantly In the role of the man who must 

make decisions, he must be provided with the perceptiveness to recognize the proper course of action and the strength of character to carry 

through a task unremittingly to its optimum conclusion. rt is in the 

combination of technical knowledge and appreciation of human 

values that there is developed the critical sense which must be 

intuitive In men exercising command. 

U .S.N.A.-3·2H 8- 60,000