the.com/merchant navy
The sailors who move everything you own and get none of the glory.
means The fleet of civilian ships and crews that transport cargo and passengers for trade rather than for war, keeping global supply chains afloat.
from From 'merchant,' tracing back through Old French 'marchant' to Latin 'mercari,' meaning to trade or deal — the same root behind 'market' and 'commerce.' 'Navy' comes from Old French 'navie,' from Latin 'navis,' meaning ship. The phrase 'merchant navy' itself is a relatively modern administrative label, formalized in Britain in the early 20th century to distinguish trading fleets from the Royal Navy — giving commercial sailors an official identity, even if the glamour stayed with the warships.
- not military
- civilian ships, but drafted into wars anyway
- wwii losses
- higher casualty rate than most armed forces
- global trade
- carries over 80 percent of world goods
- flag of convenience
- ships often registered abroad to dodge rules