Things We Didn't Know Happen in the Navy

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Whilst makeup for Navy service-women isn't entirely banned, there are strict regulations governing what is acceptable. For instance, foundation and lipstick must blend with the wearer's skin tone and appear natural. False eyelashes are not permitted.

If you're going to serve aboard a submarine, you need to be prepared for the cramped and claustrophobic conditions, as well as the fact you'll be sleeping in close proximity to a nuclear reactor core! For these reasons, no Navy servicemen-or-women are assigned to active duty on submarines, instead, the entire crew is made up of volunteers.

Of all the naval battles that took place during the Second World War, none was as significant as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. As well as being one of the largest conflicts in the history of naval warfare, the United States’ victory over the Empire of Japan finally granted the Allies complete dominance of the Pacific Ocean after years of bitter and bloody fighting.

Though more commonly known as "Leathernecks" due to their tough reputation, the Navy still has soft spots - especially when it comes to dogs. In fact, the Marine Corps mascot has been a bulldog since 1922, inspired by another nickname: "Devil Dogs", which was given to them by the Germans in World War One, out of respect for their fearsome fighting prowess.

As with all branches of the military, the Navy has its own specific terminology, either to make communication more efficient, to reduce the risk of misunderstanding or simply to hearken back to proud traditions. Naval crews don't even say left or right, rather they use the maritime expressions port and starboard.

Once the ban on women serving in combat was lifted in 2015, all branches of the armed services saw a spike in the number of female applicants, though some more than others. Only one woman applied to the Navy SEALs and unfortunately she was unable to complete the grueling training required. However, this pioneer laid the foundations for other female recruits to join the SEALs, many of whom DID make it through!

The small vertical pole at the bow (front) of the ship is known as a jackstaff, and from this the "jack" flag is flown. This can either be a smaller version of the national flag, or something with a unique design. In the case of the U.S. Navy, the First Navy Jack is flown when the vessel is docked and/or not on active duty. The flag consists of 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies, with a rattlesnake emblazoned across the stripes and the words "Don't Tread On Me" written beneath the serpent. This is a design carried over from the American Revolution’s "Gadsden" flag.