Why do they can the men in the, U.S. Navy,who serve on destroyers "Tin Can Sailors?

Answer 1

I believe because destroyers are small ships with little armor who lead the pack in locating and eliminating submarines.

Answer 2

In the early 60's I served aboard a Gearing class destroyer that was commissioned in 1945. The destroyer was lightly armored, thus the name Tin Can, and built for speed and maneuverability. The thickest armor on the ship was the front of the gun mounts and the director, 1/2 armor plate, thicker then the hull. Even being over 15 years old she could do well over 30 knots. She served the Navy for 34 years being decommissioned in 1979. She went on to serve the Greek Navy for a number of years after that. The last operational Gearing is with the Mexican Navy about 60 years old.
As to you sewer pipe sailors, not meant to be derogatory as I am sure you had some choice names for the surface fleet, we were not that easy target you say. During an ASW exercises we got a nasty message from the sub chewing us out for firing a torpedo and not letting them know to prepare for impact. Funny thing was we did not fire a torpedo. When the sub surfaced there was on of our hedgehogs lodged in her deck plates. She was never able to get into a position to fire at us.
Tin Can sailor and proud of it.

Answer 3

Apart from the thin armor and the fact that they sail like tin cans in heavy seas, they and their crews are expendable and are usually at the spearhead of any attack, and their job is to attack the enemy at point-blank range. The tin can sailors' swagger and bravado is a direct result of that fact, and any sailor on the 'Big Boys' who ever has to ride a destroyer for any length of time will attest to the fact that just being in one is a job in itself. I'm proud to be a Tin Can Sailor!

Answer 4

Actually that term was primaraly used for sailors aboard destroyer escorts (a smaller version of the destroyer). Destroyer escorts had almost no armor, minimal firepower and very shallow drafts. they said that it was like being in a tin can (my Friend's grandfather was a tin can sailor and he agreed).

There is a book called "the last of the tin can sailors" that you should check out, or even "Ocean of thunder(?)". the first one discusses where the name came from in better detail.

On a side note, those books are about the greatest act of heroism in modern American naval history. A small flotilla of Destroyer escorts attacked a much larger fleet of enemy ships, the DE's only had speed and a hand full of torpedoes on their side, their guns were completely incapable of damaging the heavy Japanese ships. but they turned and fought, they helped break up the attack that would have killed thousands of US marines had it succeeded.

Answer 5

There was a book published many years ago called "Destroyers and Destroyermen" which had that same nickname. These ships have been called tin cans for years, partly because they were built for speed. Destroyers were meant to chase smaller ships (PT-boats, German E-boats and the like), also submarines. They didn't have near the armor plating of cruisers and battleships. Hence the nickname.

Answer 6

Back when destroyers were much smaller, they were stable but were known for taking heavy rolls. It was said theybobbed around like tin cans in the ocean.

Answer 7

The derivation of the term is derogatory from those in the armored battleships and cruisers in the years following World War ONE... it was popularized during World War TWO as an honorific following the destroyer's actions in the later days of the Pacific War.

It refers to the "flimsy" construction of early destroyers and their lack of armor.

Now a days destroyers (and frigates) are also referred to as "Small Boys".

Gee thanks to the "BUBBLEHEAD"... you all refer to ALL surface vessel's as "targets"

Answer 8

Whats the question?

Tin Can Sailors go out, look for submarines, and get sunk by them.

ADDED: This is for you Robert S
There are only two types of ships in the world, Submarines and Targets!

We refer to the ship as a target, but the crewmen as "Skimmers"!

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Tin can is the nick name for destroyers.