Editing Ship commissioning (section)

==Practices by nation==
===United States Navy===
[[File:USS Wisconsin in Virginia.jpg|thumb|Ships may enter preservation as [[museum ship]]s after being decommissioned, as seen here with [[USS Wisconsin (BB-64)|USS ''Wisconsin'']], on display at [[Nauticus]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]].]]
Commissioning in the early [[United States Navy]] under sail was attended by no ceremony. An officer designated to command a new ship received orders similar to those issued to Captain [[Thomas Truxtun]] in 1798:<ref name="Reilly">{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=John C. |url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/christening-launching-and-commissioning-of-u-s-navy-ships.html |title=Christening, Launching, and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |page=5 |date=23 June 2014 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|Sir, I have it in command from the president of the United States, to direct you to repair with all due speed on board the ship ''[[USS Constellation (1797)|Constellation]]'' lying at [[Baltimore]]. It is required that no Time be lost in carrying the Ship into deep water, taking on board her Cannon, Ammunition, Water, Provisions & Stores of every kind — completing what work is yet to be done shipping her Complement of Seamen and Marines, and preparing her in every respect for Sea ... It is the President's [[Executive order (United States)|express Orders]], that you employ the most vigorous Exertions, to accomplish these several Objects and to put your Ship as speedily as possible in a situation to sail at the shortest notice.<ref name="Reilly" />}}

In Truxtun's time, the prospective [[commanding officer]] had responsibility for overseeing construction details, outfitting the ship, and recruiting his crew. When a captain determined that his new ship was ready to take to sea, he mustered the crew on deck, read his orders, broke the national ensign and distinctive [[commissioning pennant]], and caused the [[watchstanding|watch]] to be set and the first entry to be made in the [[logbook|log]]. Thus, the ship was placed in commission.

Commissionings were not [[Public relations|public affairs]], and unlike christening-and-launching ceremonies, were not recorded by newspapers. The first specific reference to commissioning located in naval records is a letter of November 6, 1863, from [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Gideon Welles]] to all navy yards and stations. The Secretary directed: "Hereafter the commandants of navy yards and stations will inform the Department, by special report of the date when each vessel preparing for sea service at their respective commands, is placed in commission."<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Thompson |editor-first=M.S. |title=General Orders and Circulars Issued by the Navy Department: From 1863 to 1887 |url=https://archive.org/details/generalorderscir00unit |pages=[https://archive.org/details/generalorderscir00unit/page/11 11], 12 |date=1887 |location=Washington |publisher=Government Printing Office}}</ref>

Subsequently, various editions of Navy regulations mentioned the act of putting a ship in commission, but details of a commissioning ceremony were not prescribed. Through custom and usage, a fairly standard practice emerged, the essentials of which are outlined in current Navy regulations.  Craft assigned to Naval Districts and shore bases for local use, such as harbor tugs and floating drydocks, are not usually placed in commission but are instead given an "in service" status. They do fly the [[national ensign]], but not a commissioning pennant.

In modern times, officers and crew members of a new warship are assembled on the [[Deck (ship)#Common names for decks|quarterdeck]] or other suitable area. Formal [[Change of command|transfer of the ship]] to the prospective commanding officer is done by the Chief of Naval Operations or his representative. The [[national anthem]] is played, the transferring officer reads the commissioning directive, the ensign is hoisted, and the commissioning pennant broken. The prospective commanding officer reads his orders, assumes command, and the first watch is set.  Following, the sponsor is traditionally invited to give the first order to the ship's company: "Man our ship and bring her to life!",<ref name=dod-reagan-comm>{{cite press release |title=Navy Commissions Aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) – Release No: 473-03 |url=https://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=5502 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=February 15, 2015 |date=July 1, 2003}}</ref> whereupon the ship's assigned crew would run on board and man the rails of the ship.

In recent years, commissionings have become more public occasions. Most commonly assisted by a Commissioning Support Team (CST), the Prospective Commanding Officer and ship's crew, shipbuilder executives, and senior Navy representatives gather for a formal ceremony placing the ship in active service (in commission). Guests, including the ship's [[sponsor (military)|sponsor]], are frequently invited to attend, and a prominent individual delivers a commissioning address. On May 3, 1975, more than 20,000 people witnessed the commissioning of {{USS|Nimitz}} at [[Norfolk, Virginia]].<ref name=usn-nimitz-legacy>{{cite web|last1=Kelly|first1=Jason|title=USS Nimitz Commanding Officer Shares Ship's Legacy|url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/06/20/uss-nimitz-commanding-officer-shares-ships-legacy/|publisher=US Navy|access-date=February 15, 2015|date=June 20, 2013}}</ref> The carrier's sponsor, daughter of  [[Chester W. Nimitz|Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz]], was introduced, and U.S. President [[Gerald R. Ford]] was the principal speaker.

Regardless of the type of ship, the brief commissioning ceremony completes the cycle from christening and launching to bring the ship into full status as a warship of her nation.