The Patriot Files Forums - List of Unofficial US Navy Certificates

Through the years, the wish to mark other seagoing milestones has given birth to certificates for all kinds of distinctions. Most of them are variations on the shellback theme; they document, typically in salty language, passing certain places for the first time. Some of these time-honored traditions that have come to light include:

Antarctic Circle
Crossing of the Antarctic Circle (66-32 South latitude). Also known as the "Royal Domain of the Penguin" or "Blue Nose."

Arctic Circle
Crossing of the Arctic Circle (66-32 North latitude). Also known as the "Northern Domain of the Polar Bear" or "Blue Nose."

Blue Nose
Crossing of the Arctic Circle (66-32 North latitude). See also "Arctic Circle," "Frozen Stiff," and "Northern Domain of the Polar Bear."

Caterpillar Club
Anyone who had made an unscheduled parachute jump from a disabled plane. Caterpillar denotes use of a silkworm's product in parachute construction. Club members wear a gold caterpillar on civies only, the color of the caterpillar's jeweled eyes is determined by the circumstances, i.e. ruby eyes show that the wearer has survived a midair collision.

Century Club
Pilots who have completed their 100th carrier landing. Also applicable to hurricane hunters who have flown through winds of 100 miles per hour or more.

Deep Dive Diploma
Presented to crew members for first dives, last dives, etc.

Decommissioning
Decommissioning of a ship, land unit, or squadron.

Deep Dive Diploma
Issued to crew of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) during the boat's first dive.

Double Centurions
Pilots who have completed their 200th carrier landing.

Emerald Shellback
Crossing of the Equator at the Greenwich Meridian.

Frozen Stiff
Members who have crossed the Arctic Circle and are entitled to all privileges of this frozen realm of blizzards, including freezing, shivering, starving and any other privileged miseries that can possibly be bestowed.

Golden Dragon
Crossing of the 180th Meridian (International Date Line).

Golden Shellback
Crossing of the Equator at the 180th Meridian.

Goldfish Club
Pilots who ditch and have to take to a life raft. If they spend more than 24 hours on the raft, they become "Sea Squatters."

Great Lakes
Cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes.

Icelandic Domain
Commemorating service in Iceland.

Mossback
Traversing around Cape Horn.

Neutron Owners Certificate
Plank owner certificate issued to crew of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) on 17 Jan. 1955 at latitude 40 20' 46.

Northern Domain of the Polar Bear
Crossing the Arctic Circle (66- 32 North latitude). See also "Arctic Circle" and "Frozen Stiff.

Order of Magellan
Going around the World.

Order of the Ditch
Transiting the Panama Canal. See also "Panama Canal."

Order of the Nuclear Navy
Designates the bearer of this wallet-sized card as an honorary member of the USS Nautilus' ships company. It was issued to personnel outside of the crew who had "performed feats underwater" while aboard the vessel for a visit.

Order of the Rock
Transit through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Order of the Square Rigger
Service on any square rigger ship.

Panama Canal
Transit through the Panama Canal. Also "Order of the Ditch."

Persian Excursion
Persian Gulf service

Plank Owner
Commissioning a Ship or Shore Command Special Honorary title for those certificates requiring it.

Pollywog
Member who has not previously "crossed the Line" (Equator).

Realm of the Czars
Cruising the Black Sea.

Red Nose
Member who has crossed the Antarctic Circle (66-32 South latitude).

Royal Domain of the Emperor Penguin
Crossing the Antarctic Circle (66-32 South latitude). Also "Antarctic Circle" and "Red Nose.

Royal Experiment of Guinea Pigs at Bikini Atoll
Operation Crossroads, 1946

Royal Order of Whale Bangers
Crew members who accidentally fired at a whale, unfortunately mistaking it for a submarine.

Safari to Suez
Transiting the Suez Canal.

Sea Squatters
Member who takes to the water and spend more than 24 hours on a life raft.

Shellback
Crossing the Equator. Special Gold Shellback title for crossing at the International Date Line, special Emerald Shellback title for crossing at the Greenwich Meridian.

Spanish Main
Cruising the Caribbean.

Suez Canal
Transit through the Suez Canal. Also "Safari to Suez."