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In my ongoing quest for non-American starship names, I came across the following, written right after 9/11 by an ensign on the USS Winston Churchill, about a German destroyer Lutjens. What I would like help with is a German translation of the phrase "We Stand By You," for the dedication plaque of a starship Lutjens.
Babelfish renders it as "wir stehen sie bereit," but that's Babelfish--need I say more?
Also, any idea what or who Lutjens might be named for?
Thanks in advance, Marian
quote:"Being isolated, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects [of 9/11]. About two hours ago, we were hailed by a German Navy destroyer, Lutjens, requesting permission to pass close by our port side. Strange, since we're in the middle of an empty ocean, but the captain acquiesced and we prepared to render them honors from our bridgewing. As they were making their approach, our conning officer used binoculars and announced that Lutjens was flying not the German, but the American flag. As she came alongside us, we saw the American flag flying half-mast and her entire crew topside standing at silent, rigid attention in their dress uniforms. They had made a sign that was displayed on her side that read, "We Stand By You." There was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and saluted. It was the most powerful thing I have seen in my life. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to think that only half-century ago things were quite different."
Admiral G�nther L�tjens (1889 - 1941) was commander of the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen and died when the Bismarck was sunk.
Registered: Mar 2000
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Just a note: if, as Spike says, the name is actually "L�tjens", you might want to spell it "Luetjens" (unless you want to include the umlaut).
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote: In my ongoing quest for non-American starship names
this site may help. It's got most of the RN sections from the 1919 edition of Jane's on it. Mostly British in origin, of course but a good few are from the Dominions and colonies.
-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:This site may help. It's got most of the RN sections from the 1919 edition of Jane's on it. Mostly British in origin, of course but a good few are from the Dominions and colonies. [/I]
Cool, thanks!
USS Amaryllis, USS Gentian, USS Isinglass...and that's just sloops. OTOH, I doubt the "USS Cowslip" would strike fear in Romulan hearts... But this will be very useful.
It's easy to find ship names, and people and places to name ships after, if you're willing to take a few minutes with Google. My ship list includes the Vittorio, Courbet, and Pelayo, after 20th century battleships, and the Monoceros class USS Cheng Ho, after a 14th century Chinese admiral who circumnavigated Australia.
I wish the TV producers would take the time. I swear, one more Intrepid and I'm going to scream!
capped
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one day soon i'll be finished with my three super-over-obsessive-compulsive-hyper compiled class, registry and ship name lists and strike fear into the hearts of the google searching public, as well as striking dents into my bandwidth.
-------------------- "Are you worried that your thoughts are not quite.. clear?"
Registered: Sep 2001
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Earth names are easy, and in my version of the Star Trek universe, Centaurus is an Earth colony. The real stumper is thinking up Andorian, Tellarite, and Vulcan names.
Anyway, I agree coming up with good alien names is tough. Andorian names aren't so hard, since there have been a few examples in TOS and Series 5; Just start with Shr and end with a consonant. Tellarites are a bit harder since all we have is Gav (and whatever they used in series 5). I haven't named any of my warships after Vulcans though.
PS: Thanks, Marian.
-------------------- When you're in the Sol system, come visit the Starfleet Museum
Registered: Oct 1999
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