Talk:Glossary/@comment-9676492-20141104063215

"Birthdays" shouldn't be represented by date of launch, but by Date of Commissioning. While launch is one of the three major points in a Ships' construction, it's probably the least logical of the threeto equate to birth.

Laid Down: Construction begins, her keel is placed and creation of the ship around this centrally important piece begins. This is somewhat parallel to 'conception' in humans.

Launch:  The ship is put to sea for the first time. She does not have a name, nor all of her equipment and is really just a shell still being fitted out. This is somewhat parallel to 'viability' in humans.

Commissioning:  Formal ceremony of naming the ship and assigning officers and personnel to her. It's not until she's comissioned that she's considered 'completed'. This clearly most accurately parallels 'birth' in humans.

Just my 2 baux.