When living in a town with a Naval station I have observed (and had it confirmed by a mate who was an ex-officer)
that Navy Wives have a bizarre undeserved social heirarchy based on what their hubs do.

The Navy does like to encourage the families to form a social support network so that when the hubs is away for 3 months on a boat the other side of the world screwing local prostitutes, the wives looking after the toddlers back home can rely on each other for solidarity, emotional support and friendship.

Except the strange thing is, I'd assume the attitude 'We're all in the same situation, all equals' would prevail- apparently not.

It seems that if you're the wife of a Naval Rating then the wife of a Chief Petty Officer gets to boss you about and lord it over you. If you're the wife of a Commander, you're somehow automatically the Queen Bee of the group and will act as such with no other qualification than the fact you bagged yourself a ranking officer.

All wives, however, are above and beyond the Untouchables, e.g. if you're a Wren who happens to be stationed at base that rotation then you're disliked, mistrusted and excluded by the wives because obviously the only reason you joined up was to shag all the husbands when you're at sea serving on the same tub as they are.

I feel the last one is particularly undeserved, as the lads used to joke 'What do you get if you cross a pig with a Wren? An ugly pig'.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Sat 26 Jan 2013, 12:59, 4 replies)

What?
Not sure why the wives are so worried about the Wrens. Half the ratings and most the Officers are as near as dammit women anyway.

I have spent some time in the company of the Senior Service. On one trip to Gib all the pretty boys got baggsied before I arrived on board and I had to take my comfort from a Wren.

Appalling.
(Brigadier an old boot sitting on a man's face - forever, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 13:11, closed)

When I occasionally entered a Navy pub/club in Pompey
the lads would never have a problem. It was the girls who had to be careful not to get their teeth knocked out
(edit) oh and click for the wren joke
( A Rory Borealis here under duress, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 16:34, closed)

Cheers for that.
I don't really care for the general opinion on Wrens, bearing in mind that even if they work in administration, they've still had to take basic weapons training and get through the Sinking Ship simulator (the one where you're in a metal compartment that is rocking violently while high pressure water jets shoot into the room through cracks in the wall. While all this is going on and loud mechanical noises drown out any attempt at hearing orders, they have to hammer foam rubber (EDIT beg pardon, facts checked, WOODEN) wedges into the cracks to staunch the waist-deep water, at which point they pump in some flammable gas ...and then light it.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Sat 26 Jan 2013, 17:43, closed)

I have to go through the sinking helicopter simulator every few years
but that sounds far more terrifying
( A Rory Borealis here under duress, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 17:49, closed)

Totally agree with the OP
When I was in HMS Scylla my wife went to one of these gatherings. Once.
With regard the Damage Control training the simulator is actually quite good fun, as long as you do it in the summer.
In fact I'd rather do that than the Dunker (as mentioned above).

What's the difference between a wren and a shit?

A shit doesn't follow you around for a fortnight after you've had it.

And yes, the wife was a wren.
(Docofair, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 18:41, closed)

My friend was Petty Officer at Culdrose. Could have gotten further but his dislike of authority sort of sabotaged it.
Told me of the time a Sea King pilot told him he hadn't accurately calibrated the radar altimeter properly as it said 100 metres and the guy reckoned it was clearly 110.

The reply 'Fuck off' earned him a disciplinary.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Sat 26 Jan 2013, 19:29, closed)

High Pressure Hose
I enjoyed the simulator - until I got too involved in the action and forgot not to climb onto the ladder. The high pressure blast of water was not much fun.
( The_Commander_of_Skips wears his sunglasses at night, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 20:09, closed)

Ever thought of not working for a shit company?
Seems a crap place to work when company attitudes apply to wives also. I hear the company you work for are laying people off too as their paymasters can no longer justify the pittamce they pay for you to kil dark-skinned children.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 20:19, closed)

Beg pardon but you are mistaking me- I didn't work in the RN
I knew people who were. 15 years ago.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Sat 26 Jan 2013, 21:13, closed)

Yeah I hated my 26 years.
The pension,which started when I left at the age of 40 and becomes index linked when I'm 55 softens the blow somewhat.
(Docofair, Sat 26 Jan 2013, 21:16, closed)

whats the difference between a WREN and a Walrus?
One is fat,ugly ,got whiskers, massive teeth and stinks of fish and the other lives in the sea
( bigmeuprudeboy is using powerpoint or paint...have MERCY, Mon 28 Jan 2013, 11:49, closed)