Rokket is right. The term "Dog House" applied to many things. Mostly temporary structures. Like the topside watch's guard shack located either on the pier, or on the boat's deck. The tent-like structure use to keep rain out of the after battery hatch. (It was a wooden structure, when you were in the yards.) And, on Guppys, the area inside the forward most area of the sail. (That's where the door, at the front of the sail, leads to.) It was, in front of, and below, the bridge deck. Then, again, it can be any temporary, structure, placed on deck, for stowage or cover during maintenance and upkeep. periods. And, finally, the free flooding area, inside the conning tower fairwater, on the fleet boats. The question is, which is most likely the stowage area, for the rocket launcher, under way?
Now, look what you've done! You triggered another memory.
MANY years ago, in Key West (the GOOD OL' DAYS!!), when I was a young (Many many years ago) non-qual, second class, I had topside watch during a squall. While I was taking cover, inside the dog house, a gust of wind blew it over, on the door. Trapping me inside.
At this point I had two choices. Stay dry and comfortable, laying there, and await rescue, OR damage government property, to stand in the driving rain. I opted to conserve government property. And caught a nap.
Later, at Captain's mast (for sleeping on watch) I explained this to the Captain. Adding that my only excuse to damage government property would have been if I was a latent claustrophobic. But, being a Submariner, the closed-in environment didn't trouble me. And being forced into a prone position, unable to call for help, it was impossible, to avoid drifting off to sleep. (I was there 2 and a half hours, and the phone, power and communication lines disconnected, when it fell.)
The Captain stared at me for several minutes. Then said "Damage government property, Hmm?" Then another long pause.
Finally he said, "OK. I'll buy it, THIS time. But in the future, if it ever happens again, you have my pre-issued authority to damage government property, as necessary, to extricate yourself. Understood?" "Yes. Sir!" "Good! Now get out of here.
And, tell the rest of those slickos. This excuse only works once. Next time, we use the yardarm."
Being a good and respectful sailor, I didn't point out, that, subs don't have yardarms. I got the point.
Mike K.
