Fish'eads & Crabs Terminology
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Fish'eads & Crabs Terminology
As a follow-on from the 'Tracherous Fish'ead' thread, I was trying to explain to my other half the history of the endearing terms 'Fish'eads' and 'Crabs' and had a brain-failure ! 
Would any of you kind peeps remind me please ?
Thanks in advance.
Would any of you kind peeps remind me please ?
Thanks in advance.
Fish-heads - obvious really. Used by RAF against Navy
AND...Fleet Air Arm against non-aviating naval types.
Crabs - polite one is they scuttle sideways everywhere
- real one is the RAF uniform is the same colour as crabfat -
a lotion for gential lice.
(RAF Transport is known as CrabAir - Time to spare, fly CrabAir)
Others: - WAFU wet and effing useless (used by Fishheads to FAA).
The list is endless. There's a good book by Rick Jolly called 'Jack Speak' which is pretty much a definitive guide to all miltary slang (even if it is cribbed from the crabs as it were)
And I'm sure there's more than one thread here with loads of such terms.
AND...Fleet Air Arm against non-aviating naval types.
Crabs - polite one is they scuttle sideways everywhere
- real one is the RAF uniform is the same colour as crabfat -
a lotion for gential lice.
(RAF Transport is known as CrabAir - Time to spare, fly CrabAir)
Others: - WAFU wet and effing useless (used by Fishheads to FAA).
The list is endless. There's a good book by Rick Jolly called 'Jack Speak' which is pretty much a definitive guide to all miltary slang (even if it is cribbed from the crabs as it were)
And I'm sure there's more than one thread here with loads of such terms.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Fishheads!
As I sit with Rick Jolly's "Jackspeak" in front of me (thank you Rick) the term fish head (RM/SM/FAA) has three applications depending on context:
1. Identifying label for a "skimmer*" officer or rating in "General Service*" 'Unfortunatley I've then got to go and do some fish-heading time in order to get my frigate "ticket*'
2. Army/RAF(Crab) slang for anyone in a Royal Navy uniform.
3. Fishhead Hall - The Admiralty in London (pre MOD).
*........And for those who are still confused:
Skimmer = "The Trade's" (Submarine Service) disparaging nickname for any surface vessel.
'All skimmers are just targets as far as I am concerned'
General Service = Any non specialist aspect of RN Service (in this context).
Ticket = Bridge Watchkeeping Ticket (in this context).
1. Identifying label for a "skimmer*" officer or rating in "General Service*" 'Unfortunatley I've then got to go and do some fish-heading time in order to get my frigate "ticket*'
2. Army/RAF(Crab) slang for anyone in a Royal Navy uniform.
3. Fishhead Hall - The Admiralty in London (pre MOD).
*........And for those who are still confused:
Skimmer = "The Trade's" (Submarine Service) disparaging nickname for any surface vessel.
'All skimmers are just targets as far as I am concerned'
General Service = Any non specialist aspect of RN Service (in this context).
Ticket = Bridge Watchkeeping Ticket (in this context).
