Classic Sailor Tattoos and What They Mean

Pig and Rooster Traditional Navy tattoos for good luck symbols were a pig on one foot and a chicken on the other – when ships of old sank, the pigs and chickens survived because they were in crates that floated – therefore, the tattoos were to help keep you from drowning. One variation was to have a tattoo of a pig on the left knee and a rooster (cock) on the right foot signified “Pig on the knee, safety at sea. A cock on the right, never lose a fight.” Pig on the left foot, rooster on the right. This duo was believed to prevent drowning. The rationale behind this is that pigs and roosters cannot swim, so they would find the fastest route to shore and bring the mariner with them.   Twin Propellers RMS Olympic, sister ship of Titanic, photographed in Thompson dry dock. Just like the pig and rooster, they were also thought to protect seamen from drowning, only a bit more extreme since they were tattooed on each butt cheek.   A Swallow with a Dagger Young soldier at Ancient Art Tattoos with swallow tattoos on his chest.  Swallows are old Navy tattoos. ©Tony Alter from Newport News, USA / Wikimedia Commons A swallow with a dagger pierced through the breast would be inked to sailors in honor of a fallen comrade. This is probably one of the most sentimental tattoos a sailor could get.   Golden Dragon A gold tribal dragon design/pattern. Photo from freesvg.org The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line that crosses the mid-Pacific Ocean and follows 180 degrees longitude north-south line on the Earth. When a navy sailor crosses the IDL, he gets to wear the golden dragon tattoo. This is different from a regular dragon tattoo that indicates a sailor has served in China or has sailed to a Chinese port.   Crosses Cross tattoo design on leg. ©Tony Alter from Newport News, USA / Wikimedia Commons Usually found on their feet, the superstitious belief is that they will ward off sharks.   Rope Rope knot tattoo on the arm. Photo; Tattoos Time Tattoed around the wrist, this denotes that wearer was a deckhand. A deckhand is someone responsible for maintaining the hull, decks, superstructure and mooring, and handling cargos. There are many others to speak of as well. For example, the ancient tattoo of crossed cannons on one hand once represented service aboard a warship, and its use predates the United States.  When in the U.S. Navy, it came to signify that the Sailor was rated as a Gunner’s Mate, and his tattoo would appear on his dominant hand on top between the thumb and forefinger. You might wonder why.  The Navy paid out an indemnity bonus to Sailors who lost a limb in the performance of their duties.  There is a payment for losing an eye, another for a foot or leg, and another for losing a hand or arm. However, the payment was a bit higher if the hand you lost belonged to your “Gun Hand” or your dominant hand.  Sailors being sailors, the Navy found that they always seemed to be losing their “Gun hand” in battles(since it paid better), so the Navy demanded that sailors mark their dominant hand. Back in the day, when tattoos in American society were fairly rare, they represented a kind of rebellious counter culture of non-conformity.  Now tattoos are so common that the display of non-conformity today might be having no ink at all.  In the military, just 25-30 years ago, many visible tattoos would be disqualifying for enlisting, while any ink on the body at all would disqualify those seeking a commission as an officer. But the Navy was different.  It actually permitted tattoos to be visible while in uniform but required that they be appropriate and/or historical in relation to the naval service. No naked Hula Girls tatted on your bicep that would dance when you flexed(it was a real thing once), but a fouled anchor on your forearm or the Battle of Manila Bay covering your entire back was just fine. If you have any stories about tattoos you encountered while serving, share them in the comments.