The wardroom is the mess cabin or compartment on a warship or other military ship for commissioned naval officers above the rank of midshipman. Although the term typically applies to officers in a navy, it is also applicable to marine officers and coast guard officers in those nations that have such service branches. On larger vessels, such as aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, there may be more than one wardroom. It may also be used on stone frigates to refer to similar officer mess facilities at naval, marine, and coast guard installations ashore.
Wardroom of the Royal Navy submarine depot ship HMS Forth (A187), from a series titled 'The Royal Navy during the Second World War'.
Royal Navy officers seated toasting the King, from a series titled 'The Royal Navy during the Second World War'.
The wardroom on the Bangladesh Navy corvette BNS Bijoy
Alex Trebek in Wardroom II of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
The mess is a designated area where military personnel socialize, eat and live. The term is also used to indicate the groups of military personnel who belong to separate messes, such as the officers' mess, the chief petty officer mess, and the enlisted mess. In some civilian societies this military usage has been extended to the eating arrangements of other disciplined services such as fire fighting and police forces.
Stand easy in the stoker's mess of the corvette HMCS Kamsack, 1943
A sailor aboard the destroyer USS RADFORD (DD 968) enjoys a sandwich at a picnic lunch prepared for the crew during naval exercise Unitas XXI circa 1980. Near his foot a can of Nehi Berks County Root Beer is visible.
Fort Bragg NCO Club in 1954