The Ship of Sloth

4 hrs. 42 min.

Humor & Satire

Language Russian

Author Alexander Pokrovsky

Narrator Alexander Smollett

Description

The wonderful prose writer Alexander Pokrovsky, in his new book, appears before the reader in the familiar role of a narrator whose sparkling tone is recognized instantly. The 1990s—the beginning of a new millennium. The fleet is different now, but people remain the same—with their dreams, their work, their problems, and their understanding of duty.
“By the pier and on the technical side, the ship has nearly been completely looted by the staff—and now they’re also taking away the people. In short: crap.”

Navy notes, naval terms

Starpom— the senior assistant to the ship’s commander. The commander runs the ship in battle and during transitions; the starpom is responsible for the rest of the time. He knows everything and is responsible for everything.
Зам or замполит— deputy commander of the ship for political affairs. He is responsible for political training and the crew’s morale—political classes, political information briefings, reports on discipline, showing films. Otherwise, as a rule, he’s useless. Maybe that’s why deputies aren’t loved.
Начпо— head of the political department, the main one over the political deputies of all ships in a formation.
Капраз— captain 1st rank, colonel, on land. Accordingly, capdv and captri are lieutenant colonel and major. Captain-lieutenant is also on land: captain.
БЧ-1— combat maneuver section—navigators and helmsmen.
БЧ-2— rocket-artillery combat section.
БЧ-3— mine-torpedo combat section.
БЧ-4— communications combat section.
БЧ-5— electromechanical combat section—power installations and life-support systems.
БЧ-6— aviation combat section.
БЧ-7— control combat section—radar stations and others.
Chemist or начхим— head of the ship’s chemical service. On a submarine, he’s also responsible for air regeneration.
Flagman’s— staff officer for a specific specialty (navigator, artilleryman, chemist, etc.). Oversees the activities of the corresponding specialists on ships.
Dof— House of Officers, something like an officers’ club: a concert or cinema hall, restaurant, library, cloakroom, and amateur hobby groups.
ПКЗ— floating barracks. I don’t know how it works on nuclear submarines, but on diesel ones there’s one bunk for two or three sailors; at sea they stand watch and sleep in turns. In the base, personnel live in shore barracks or in the ПКЗ.
СКР— guard ship. A small ship used to guard the border, ports, and larger ships against submarines, torpedo boats, and aviation.
“Request permission”— navy “pomp”—used instead of “Permission, sir/please” when addressing someone of higher rank. Also said: “Request good will.”
“Chestnut” — a fixed intercom communication device.
Подволок— ceiling; similarly: deck—floor, bulkhead—wall, comings—door threshold.
Обрез— a bucket or basin for cleaning.
Голяк— a broom; “to голячить” means to sweep.
Лагун— a food tank, for slop and so on.
Leers— railings— tightly stretched ropes to prevent falling overboard, like handrails.
ГодОк— sailor of the final period of service, basically a long-timer.