Nautical Term: Lame duck
Definition of Lame duck
The nautical term ‘lame duck’ refers to a disabled vessel that was unable to keep up with a convoy. As a result, such a vessel was forced to leave the protection of the convoy and became an easy target for submarines or other predators. For instance, during World War II, a merchant vessel was struck by a torpedo and became a ‘lame duck’ in the convoy. The crew of the stricken vessel did their best to keep the ship afloat, but with limited resources and manpower, they were unable to prevent the vessel from sinking. In such a scenario, the crew and passengers of the ‘lame duck’ vessel were left to their own devices, relying on their wits and ingenuity to survive in the face of adversity. Once the vessel had sunk, the survivors were often picked up by other vessels in the convoy or by passing ships. In some cases, however, the survivors of a ‘lame duck’ vessel were left to their own devices for days or even weeks, relying on whatever supplies and resources they could scavenge from the wreckage of their vessel. Throughout history, the sinking of a ‘lame duck’ vessel has often
Explore other nautical terms:
