Jackspeak of the Royal Canadian Navy

Boatswain call

Often referred to as a Boatswain's pipe or whistle, it is non-diaphragm type of whistle used on naval ships. It consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a "keel", a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together, and the "shackle", a key ring that connects a long silver or brass chain that sits around the collar, when in ceremonial uniform.

Added: 2014-11-01 Last modified: 2014-11-01