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The Bluejacket's Manual
23rd Edition Hardcover
AuthorThomas J. Cutler, Mark T. Hacala, and Paul A. Kingsbury
LanguageEnglish
SubjectUnited States Navy life
GenreHandbook
PublisherUnited States Naval Institute Press
Publication date
12 Apr 2023 (26th Edition)
Publication placeU.S.
Media typePrint
Pages712 (Hardcover 26th edition)
ISBN978-1-68247-843-1 (Hardcover 26th edition)
Preceded by25th Edition (2015) 

The Bluejacket's Manual is the basic handbook for United States Navy personnel. First issued in 1902 to teach recruits about naval procedures and life and offer a reference for active sailors, it has become the "bible" for Navy personnel, providing information about a wide range of Navy topics. The current edition is the 26th, published in 2023.[1]

History

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Before 1902, the Navy had at least two books for training young men in naval procedure. Seamanship, by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, was the primary textbook about seamanship at the United States Naval Academy but was not used by enlisted men; many sailors at the time were still illiterate and in any case, the oral traditions and procedures of petty officers were the basis of enlisted sailors' education. The Seaman's Handbook by LCDR Stephen B. Luce, saw general use in the Merchant Marine, but less in the Navy.[2]

1902 saw the first publication of The Bluejacket's Manual, written by Lieutenant Ridley McLean, as well as the Recruit's Handy Book. Every enlistee received the latter, and by World War I, both were being issued to every recruit. The Handy Book was discontinued in the 1920s.[2]

Some manuals published between 1903 and early 1915 have inconsistent edition numbering. The 1903, 1905, 1907, and 1908 were considered the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th editions by the authors and the Naval Institute. In 1914, Franklin Publishing was contracted to publish the 1914 and 1915 book and pamphlet manuals. Because 1914 was the first time Franklin published the manual, they published their edition as the First Edition, the early 1915 version as the 2nd, and the late 1915 one as the 3rd. A single numbering system was restored with the 3rd edition, late 1915 Manual.[3]

Centennial Edition

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The 2002 Centennial Edition (23rd edition), saw several modifications, including a reversion to its original title: Bluejacket's.[4] The "Navy Education and Training" chapter was expanded, and the "Naval Missions and Heritage" chapter was added.[4]

The current (26th) edition's authors are retired Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, retired Master Chief Mark T. Hacala, and retired Fleet Master Chief Paul A. Kingsbury.

Early editions

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Bluejacket's Manual Editions by Year
Year Edition Printing Author Foreword/Intro Publisher Printer Dated ISBN/OCLC Pages Binding
1902 1st 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI USNI 1902 OCLC 2548907 304 Envelope
1902 (reprint) 1st Reprint LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI USNI 1978 E.L. Beach ISBN 0870211072 304 Envelope
1903 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1903 P.R. Alger None 391 Envelope
1904 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1904 P.R. Alger None 391 Envelope
1905 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1905 P.R. Alger None 391 Envelope
1907 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1907 P.R. Alger None 391 Book
1908 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1908 P.R. Alger None 407 Book
1911 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1911 P.R. Alger None 407 Envelope
1911 2nd 2nd LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1911 P.R. Alger None 407 Book
1913 2nd 1st LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1913 R. Earle None 407 Envelope
1913 2nd 2nd LT Ridley McLean William H. Moody USNI Lord Baltimore Press 1913 E.J. King None 407 Book

Later editions

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Bluejacket's Manual Editions by Year
Year Edition Printing Author Forward/Intro Publisher Printer Dated ISBN/OCLC Pages Binding
1914 1st 1st (5 parts/1 vol.) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 849 Book
1915 2nd 1st (5 parts/1 vol.) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 849 Book
1915 2nd 1st (Book 1/pt. 1) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 222 Book 1/4
1915 2nd 1st (Book 2/pt. 2) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 247 Book 2/4
1915 2nd 1st (Book 3/pt. 3) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 274 Book 3/4
1915 2nd 1st (Book 3/pt. 4) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 74 Book 3/4
1915 2nd 1st (Book 4/pt. 5) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 47 Book 4/4
1915 3rd 1st (5 parts/1 vol.) None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing None Listed None 879 Book
1916 4th 1st None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing Mar 1916 None 845 Book
1917 4th 1st None Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing Mar 1916 None 845 Book
1917 5th 1st LT Norman Van Der Veer Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing Nov 1916 None 845 Book
1917 5th 1st LT Norman Van Der Veer Josephus Daniel Military Publishing Co. Military Publishing Co. Nov 1916 OCLC 14201704 845 Book
1918 5th 1st LT Norman Van Der Veer Josephus Daniel USNI Franklin Printing Nov 1916 None 845 Book
1918 6th 1st LT Norman Van Der Veer Josephus Daniel Edwin Appleton Edwin Appleton 1918 OCLC 317209669 850 Hardcover
1918 6th 1st LT Norman Van Der Veer Josephus Daniel Military Publishing Co. Military Publishing Co. 1918 OCLC 8137959 821 Hardcover
1922 6th 1st CDR C.C. Soule Edwin Denby Gvmt Printing Office Gvmt Printing Office Sep 1922 None 518 Hardcover
1922 6th 2nd CDR C.C. Soule Edwin Denby Gvmt Printing Office Gvmt Printing Office 1924 None 518 Hardcover
1927 7th 1st None Curtis D. Wilbur Gvmt Printing Office Gvmt Printing Office May 1927 None 958 Hardcover
1927 7th 2nd None Curtis D. Wilbur Gvmt Printing Office Gvmt Printing Office 1928 None 958 Hardcover
1938 8th 1st None William Leahy USNI USNI Mar 1938 None 836 Hardcover
1938 8th 2nd None William Leahy USNI USNI May 1938 None 836 Hardcover
1938 8th 3rd None William Leahy USNI USNI June 1938 None 836 Hardcover
1939 9th 4th (Rev. 8th edition) None G.V. Stewart USNI USNI Mar 1939 None 834 Semi-hardcover

WWII Editions

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Bluejacket's Manual Editions by Year
Year Edition Printings Author Forward/Intro Publisher Printer Dated ISBN/OCLC Pages Binding
1940 10th 5 None G.V. Stewart USNI USNI 1940–43 OCLC 560958256 784 Hardcover
1943 11th 7 None A.T. Church USNI USNI 1943–44 OCLC 155725915 1145 Hardcover
1944 12th 1 None A.T. Church USNI USNI 1944 OCLC 9358944 585 Hardcover

Post-war editions

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Bluejacket's Manual Editions by Year
Year Edition Printings Author Forward/Intro Publisher Printer Dated ISBN/OCLC Pages Binding
1946 13th 3 LT Charles Ross A.T. Church USNI USNI 1947–48 OCLC 801977902 622 Hardcover
1950 14th 27 None Hon. Francis Matthews / J.W. Roper USNI USNI 1950–57 OCLC 3032167 828 Semi-hardcover
1957 15th 7 CAPT John V. Noel VADM James Holloway USNI USNI 1957–59 OCLC 20269963 647 Semi-hardcover
1960 16th 4 CAPT John V. Noel VADM W.R. Smedberg III USNI USNI 1960–62 OCLC 17452212 641 Semi-hardcover
1963 17th 6 CAPT John V. Noel VADM W.R. Smedberg III USNI USNI 1963–66 OCLC 11142117 684 Semi-hardcover
1968 18th 3 None MCPON Delbert Black USNI USNI 1968–69 OCLC 1468065 756 Hard or softcover
1973 19th 8 LCDR Arnold S. Lott MCPON Robert J. Walker USNI USNI 1973–77 ISBN 0870211099 644 Softcover
1978 20th 21 Bill Bearden MCPON Thomas S. Crow / MCPON W.H. Plackett USNI USNI 1978–89 ISBN 0870211129 611 Hard or softcover
1990 21st 9 Bill Bearden MCPON John Hagan / MCPON Duane Bushey USNI USNI 1990–96 ISBN 0870212591 771 Hard or softcover
1998 22nd   LCDR Thomas J. Cutler MCPON Jim Herdt USNI USNI 1998 ISBN 1557500649 643 Hard or softcover
2002 23rd[5]   LCDR Thomas J. Cutler MCPON John Hagan USNI USNI 2002 ISBN 1557502218 648 Hardcover
2009 24th   LCDR Thomas J. Cutler MCPON Joe R. Campa, Jr. USNI USNI 2009 ISBN 1591141532 694 Hardcover
2015 25th[6]   LCDR Thomas J. Cutler   USNI USNI 2017 ISBN 1612519741 784 Hardcover
2023 26th[1]   LCDR Thomas J. Cutler, USN (Ret); MCPO Mark T. Hacala, USN (Ret); MCPO Paul A. Kingsbury, USN (Ret)   USNI USNI 2023 ISBN 1682478432 712 Hardcover

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Bluejacket's Manual, 26th Edition".
  2. ^ a b Faram, Mark D. (JO1) (June 2008). "The Bluejacket's Manual Turns 100". All Hands. Archived from the original on 2002-07-14. Retrieved 2008-11-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Weenink, R.A. "The Bluejacket's Manual". Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Bluejacket's Manual, United States Navy". United States Naval Institute (25th ed.). Retrieved 2018-03-23.[dead link]
  5. ^ blue jackets manual 2002 wayback.archive.org 2012-08-07
  6. ^ The Bluejacket's Manual, 25th Edition

[1]

  1. ^ Faram, Mark. "A Sailor's Classic Turns 100". U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 29 Oct 2023.
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