For a U.S. military branch that has been in service to this nation since 1775, the US Navy has proud of a rich and storied legacy; here are 11 things you may not know about the United States Navy.

1. Submariners Volunteer for Service

You are not by chance working on a submarine. Due to the cramped and complicated nature of the job, which requires service members to spend weeks or months below while working eight-hour shifts, every US Navy man serving on a submarine volunteers to do so.

2. The First Admiral Was a Civil War Hero

David Farragut, the son of a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, had a lengthy military career that spanned the War of 1812 and the Civil War and finally led to him being named the first admiral in the US Navy.

Farragut, who served as a pallbearer at President Abraham Lincoln’s burial, actually enlisted in the Navy when he was just nine years old. He continued to serve until his death at age 69, outliving the president. In the Battle of Mobile Bay, the admiral is perhaps best remembered for ordering his Navy men through Confederate lines by yelling the catchphrase, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

3. The US Navy Has Its Own Way of Saying “Well Done”

Throughout World War II, the codeword “Tare Victor George,” which stands for “well done,” was used to recognize sailors who had performed admirably. After the war, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created to standardize communications. NATO created B-flags to facilitate administrative communication. The last B-flag was BZ. The Allied Naval Signal Book developed the phonetics for each letter, and BZ became Bravo Zulu.

4. Navy Gun Salutes Have Different Meanings

The 21-gun salute is arguably the most well-known salute. The 21-gun salute, which is frequently mistaken for the three-volley salute observed at military funerals, is a totally different ritual and is recognized all over the world as a mark of honor. The 21-gun salute’s origins can be traced to Navy customs that date back to the era of wooden ships and broadside guns.

During those times, if a ship fired a salute volley, it would exhaust all of its ammo, rendering it essentially defenseless for up to 20 minutes as it reloaded its cannons. The shore batteries and forts would know the ship posed no threat when incoming ships fired this volley. As time went on, both land and sea batteries exchanged odd-numbered volleys of fire as a sign of respect.

These days, the decision on which ships and stations can fire gun salutes is made by the secretary of the US Navy. On the birthday of President George Washington (also known as Presidents Day), Memorial Day, Independence Day, and to commemorate the president or heads of other states, a 21-gun national salute is fired. Ships may also give senior officers gun salutes utilizing the following procedure with the office of the secretary of the Navy’s approval:

• Admiral: 17 guns
• Vice Admiral: 15 guns
• Rear Admiral (upper half): 13 guns
• Rear Admiral (lower half): 11 guns All gun salutes are fired at five-second intervals and must total an odd number.

5. Fouled Anchors Aweigh!

When an anchor is fouled, the line or chain has been tangled up between the fluke and shank arms of the anchor. This shows that the anchor is no longer usable. On bases or in Navy communities, these decommissioned anchors are typically on display for ornamental purposes. The insignia for the chief petty officer rank includes the emblem as well. The fouled anchor is a tattoo that represents crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

6. The Meaning of Navy Tattoos

Getting tattoos on their own bodies is a long-standing cultural tradition that sailors have engaged in since the dawn of time as a means to memorialize their travels, experiences, and duty. The American military’s Navy service now has the laxest tattoo regulations. Listed below is a succinct (and by no means exhaustive) collection of tattoos Navy sailors frequently sport along with a quick explanation of what they mean:

• Swallows: Home (each tattooed swallow denotes 5,000 miles underway at sea)
• Compass/Nautical Star: Worn so that one would never lose their way back to port (each compass/nautical star denotes 10,000 miles underway at sea)
• Trident: Special warfare
• Rose: A significant another left at home
• Twin screws or props on one’s backside: Propels one forward through life
• Rope: Deckhand (often tattooed on the left wrist)
• Octopus: Navy diver
• Dolphin: Wards off sharks
• Sharks: Rescue swimmer
• Polar Bear: Sailed the Arctic Circle
• Dragon: Sailed the Pacific
• Fouled Anchor: Sailed the Atlantic
• Shellback Turtle: Crossed the equator
• Gold Dragon: Crossed the International Dateline
• Gold Turtle: Crossed the International Dateline and the Equator where they intersect
• Emerald Fouled Anchor: Crossed the Prime Meridian
• Emerald Turtle: Crossed the Prime Meridian and the Equator where they intersect
• Full-Rigged Ship: Sailed around Cape Horn
• Helm: Quartermaster
• Hula Girls: Sailed to, or ported in, Hawaii
• Dagger Through a Swallow: Signifies a lost comrade
• Pig and Chicken/Rooster: Superstition to keep from drowning
• The Words “HOLD FAST”: Signifies a deckhand’s tight grip on the lines

7. Mind your Ps and Qs

This is a warning to sailors to act appropriately rather than a grammar rule. According to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, it was used to maintain the integrity of seaside bar bookkeepers and their nautical patrons. Bartenders used to write down each patron’s name next to the letters “P” for a pint and “Q” for a quart when sailors frequented pubs. “Minding one’s Ps and Qs” meant paying your debts and remaining sober enough to track your intake and conduct yourself as a respectable member of the U.S. Navy.

8. The Civil War Saw Significant Naval Battles – and Strategy

Even though battles in places like Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, are frequently linked to the American Civil War, the Atlantic Ocean also played a part in the struggle. The Union, or the national U.S. Navy, increased by 600% to meet the demands of the Civil War and began the battle with a plan to blockade the Confederacy’s coastal ports while also marching south along the Mississippi River. In the end, the U.S. Navy significantly contributed to the Union’s victory against the rebellious Confederate army.

9. The Navy Superstition of Throwing a Dixie Cover Under the Bridge

For many beginning sailors, crossing the Coronado Bridge in California or any other bridge close to their home port is a moment of reflection. Should the sailor remain in the Navy or leave? As a result of their propensity for superstition, many sailors throw their sails into the water before making a choice. If it floats, the water is pleading with them to stay. If it sinks, it’s time to cease serving.

10. There Are No Windows, Walls, or Bathrooms in the Navy

Don’t mistake the Navy’s extensive vocabulary for the fact that sailors must learn a new language once they join. Bulkheads replace walls on ships. Ships don’t have windows; they have portholes. Your port side is on your left, and your starboard side is on your right. On the mess deck, people eat and move about. Your head is covered by an overhead, not a roof or a ceiling. There is a toilet in the skull as well, but if you need one, you must sleep in the rack.

11. The Legend of Bill the Goat

The U.S. Naval Academy’s mascot, Bill the Goat, has represented the institution since the early 1900s. The story goes that a navy ship once had a goat as a pet, but the goat died on the way back to port. This goat was so beloved by the sailors that they decided to conserve its skin and mount it when they returned. Two ensigns were given the goat skin, but a Naval Academy football game kept them from getting to the taxidermist in time to have it stuffed.

During halftime, one of the ensigns made the choice to put on the skin and rush through the crowd. The audience enjoyed it, and in large part as a result of the goat’s antics, the Navy went on to win the game. Since that time, goats have continued to serve as the U.S. Naval Academy’s official emblem.