The most convincing answer I can find is that originally, submarines were launched from ships, and you can't launch a ship from a ship.
Does this make sense as to why they'd still be called boats (I gather naval traditions die hard), or is there another reason?
...then whoa, differences...
The simple answer is that they are not watertight and will sink (though by design) if the deck is underwater. If a boat is pushed beneath the surface of the water it's design would cause it to fill with water and sink. If a ship was pushed beneath the surface of the water then the design of it (watertight hulls, etc) would cause it to pop back up and float.
shareForgive me for thinking that seems like an unlikely and convoluted reason to call them boats.
...then whoa, differences...
In German military language, the term "Boot" here is used similar as the English "unrated ship". The German term "Boot" has a broader meaning (word field) for example as a "Beiboot", which is the usage already mentioned. But smaller independent military vessels are still "Boote" while larger are "Schiffe", equivalent to "rated ship".
One important indication that submarines of most German types (as VII) were only "Boote" is that there is no "Erster Offizier" (1st Officer). The second man on board is the "1 WO" (1st watch officer), a sensitive difference.
There were a few U-Schiffe in German service especially in WW I, but only a handfull. I'm not sure if the WW II submarine type XXI was considered to be a ship.
Best regards
Dietmar
Interesting, thanks!
...then whoa, differences...
Then again, like the previous responder making up a convoluted answer...
The German words, "Boot" and "Shiffe" are simply "Boat" and "Ship" in German.
The truth is that it is simply tradition.
Submariners are always a breed apart from your typical sailor. Calling them boats set them apart from regular "ships" which stay on the surface and can only sink once.
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!
While I said it was interesting, I can't say I was convinced that was the origin. It seems less than likely that after the events of the first and second world wars that allied militaries would be embracing or adopting German naval tradition too readily.
...then whoa, differences...
Hi there, I was in the navy too. Boat and ship I remember were always used interchangeably and we knew we just meant the same thing with either word we used. Some people used to say it was disrespectful to refer to a ship as a boat but in the navy I remember we did that all the time. We always referred to our ship as "the boat".
Yes you are reading my signature.
Hello,
I stumbled (again) on the definition of "Boot" and "Schiff" in German military context when there was a discussion in Germany to classify the new corvettes of the K130 class ("Braunschweig"-class) either as "Schiffe" or "Boote" (they are now "Boote"). But German bureocratic correctness always made a sensitive difference in official naming. For example destroyers were "Boote" in WW I (Große Torpedoboote) while they were "Schiffe" in WWII due to the much larger complement and therefore deeper officer structure.
In fact "Boot" and "Ship" are direct translation of the English terms, but the meaning differ in the field of "rated". As a general term, submarines are always named "U-Boot", regardless of their size as standard naming convention.
I checked the Gröner (Erich Gröner: Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 Band 3) for Uschiffe: Pr. 42 were considered Uschiffe (completed U136, U136 in 1918) Pr.46 (U139-U141 1918), U151-U157 (former trading submarines), Type IX (! Nickname "Atlantikboot" against their classification) since 1936, Type X, the "Seekühe": Type XIV-XVI (Supply boats) and in fact type XXI.
Best regards
Dietmar
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The first ones were too small to be referred to as ships. They were boats. This became tradition even after submarines grew ship size. PT boats are also boats.
shareIt's just how it's done I suppose.
"Lakers" that are "Downward Bound" in the Great Lakes are called "Boats". They can be over 1,000 feet long, but they are still boats. They are fresh water. You always call them "Lakers" or "Boats". If they go through the St. Lawrence Seaway and travel across the Atlantic, then they are called "Salties" But, if you're in fresh water, you're a "Boat".