Crossing the Line, in which veteran Sons of Neptune, termed Shellbacks, initiate Pollywogs, sailors who have never crossed the Equator, into the Kingdom of Neptune upon their first time reaching that line, has been around since at least the 1800s and has been celebrated in a number of navies. It has remained even as warships moved from oak and canvas to iron and steam and now non-skid and gas turbines.
Here are a few from the U.S., German and RN fleets from the last century.
Neptune, Amphitrite and the rest of the court on the USS Alabama for ceremonies on January 5th, 1908
Crossing the line 1920s, likely a RN vessel. From the NSW Archives
Barbers of Neptune! Crossing the Line ceremony on USS Nereus
The Doctor, Dentist, and Scribe of Neptunus Rex taken during a Crossing the Line ceremony on USS Nereus
U177
U177
U177
Crossing in the U-177, WWII
Equator crossing ceremony aboard Wasp, Jul 1942
USS George Washington (CVN 73) – WOG DAY!! 2013
