Why the 1348 form is the Navy's standard for transferring material afloat

The 1348 that keeps afloat: a practical look at the DOD SLIRRD

If you’ve ever watched a carrier glide through calm seas or a destroyer slip past a pier in the dark, you’ve seen logistics in motion. It isn’t glamorous in the movie-trailer sense, but it’s the quiet engine that makes missions possible. At the heart of afloat transfers sits a single document that, like a dependable map, tells everyone where a shipment started, where it’s going, and what’s been exchanged along the way. That document is the 1348 form—the DOD Single Line Item Release/Receipt Document, also known as the SLIRRD. Let me explain why this form matters and how it fits into the bigger picture of Navy logistics.

What the 1348 does, in plain terms

Think of the 1348 as a formal handshake between two sides of a transfer. When material moves from one place to another—between ships at sea, from ship to shore, or vice versa—the 1348 records the exact item, quantity, and condition of what’s being released and what’s received. It’s a simple piece of paperwork, but it carries weight:

• It creates a clear, auditable trail. If something goes missing, or if a shipment arrives with a discrepancy, the 1348 is the first reference point for accountability.

• It supports inventory control. Operators know what’s on deck, in hold, or at a pier side, so ships don’t end up with double-counts or gaps.

• It keeps the supply chain moving smoothly. When everyone in the chain uses the same form, there’s less confusion and more room for timely decisions.

In practice, the 1348 is widely used to document transactions involving inventory items across afloat and ashore contexts. It’s the go-to record when material is issued, issued and received, or released for movement. That’s why it’s foundational for Navy logistics specialists who need reliable data to support operations.

1348 vs the other forms: what’s the difference on the water?

Like any good toolkit, naval logistics uses a few different documents for slightly different situations. Here’s a quick navigation guide to keep straight the main players you’ll hear about on the deck:

• 1348 (the one we just described). This is the universal workhorse for transferring material afloat. It’s designed for broad use and clear, consistent documentation of what’s issued and received during a transfer.

• 1348-1. This version is used under particular conditions or for certain units when issuing/receiving material. It’s important, but it doesn’t carry the same universal reach as the 1348 for afloat transfers.

• P485. This publication relates to inventory management in a broader sense. It’s a helpful companion in keeping stock levels, classifications, and administrative controls in order, but it isn’t the sole document that records a specific transfer afloat.

• NAVSUPINST 4440.115. This instruction governs various Navy supply operations, including the administrative framework around handling, transferring, and accounting for material. It provides the rules of engagement for how documentation like the 1348 should be used.

If you’re ever unsure which form to pull, the default assumption is that the 1348 is your primary record for an afloat transfer. The others come into play when your situation is more specialized or when you’re aligning with a particular unit’s procedures.

From deck to desk: how the 1348 actually gets used

Here’s a practical snapshot of a typical transfer scenario:

• Issuance on the ship. A department on one ship needs, say, spare parts for a critical system. The supply clerk prepares the 1348, listing the item, part number, quantity, unit of issue, and the condition of the material.

• Movement and verification. As the cargo is loaded and moved to another vessel or onto a transfer barge, the receiving party verifies what’s being moved against the document. This is where a good 1348 saves time and prevents miscommunications.

• Receipt and reconciliation. On the receiving end, the team signs for what has arrived, updates the inventory, and notes any discrepancies. The 1348 becomes part of the official chain of custody, a simple but powerful ledger of “what left” and “what arrived.”

In short, the form is a connective tissue. It ties together deck operations, material control, and command-level accountability. And yes, it’s replicated in the mess of paperwork and digital systems that fleets rely on, but the core idea remains the same: a single, trusted record that makes a transfer traceable.

A few handy tips to keep the flow smooth

• Keep the basics tight. The 1348 should always show item name or part number, quantity, unit, issuing and receiving activity, and any pertinent lot or serial data. Small omissions can ripple into bigger delays later.

• Maintain consistency. If your unit uses 1348-1 for a subset of transfers, be sure you know when to switch to the 1348 and why. Consistency reduces questions during audits or after-action reviews.

• Cross-check early. A quick verify at the point of transfer saves hours of reconciliation later. It’s worth the momentary pause to confirm item condition, quantity, and destination.

• Tie it to the big picture. The 1348 isn’t just a piece of paper; it feeds inventory records, maintenance planning, and mission readiness. Think of it as a thread that runs through several parts of the operation.

A little human perspective: why this matters beyond the form

There’s a certain poetry to the way simple documents support complex operations. When a ship’s crew knows exactly what’s leaving and what’s arriving, they can align maintenance, spares, and consumables with operational tempo. The result isn’t just fewer errors; it’s smoother missions, safer sailing, and less stress for the people who keep the logistics engine humming.

It’s easy to overlook the quiet accuracy of the 1348, especially when you’re surrounded by the bustle of a busy port or the hum of a ship at sea. But that attention to detail—recording, tracking, verifying—translates into real-world impact: fewer supply shortages during critical moments, quicker fixes for damaged equipment, and a clear, auditable trail for audits and after-action discussions.

A quick ramble that still comes back to the point

There’s something grounding about focusing on a single document in the chaos of logistics. It’s a reminder that big peace-of-mind moments often start with small, repeatable steps: fill out the form correctly, attach the right supporting documents, and hand it off to the right people. Do that consistently, and you’re building trust across the chain—between ships, between shore facilities, and between the hands that issue and the hands that receive.

If you’re curious how this kind of knowledge fits into the broader Navy logistics landscape, you’ll find that other tools and procedures exist to support inventory control, accountability, and supply chain visibility. The P485, NAVSUP instructions, and related publications provide the framework for those activities. But at the moment of transfer, the 1348 is the one that actually captures the transfer in a way that’s universally understood across units and locations.

Where to look for more context

• NAVSUP and Navy supply chain resources. Official guidance and forms are the most reliable way to see how afloat transfers are documented in practice.

• Real-world examples. Case studies or after-action reports from ships or logistics hubs often reveal how the 1348 interacts with other processes during a mission.

• Glossaries and part catalogs. Getting comfortable with the lingo and the item identifiers helps reduce a lot of back-and-forth when a transfer is underway.

In sum: respect the 1348, and the logistics thread you pull through the Navy’s supply system becomes visibly stronger

If you’ve ever stood on a pier at sunset and watched a ship’s cranes stroke the harbor air, you’ve caught a hint of the discipline behind naval logistics. The 1348 form isn’t flashy, but it’s dependable. It makes a transfer afloat legible to all the hands involved—deck crew, supply, maintenance, and command. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t roar loudly, but when it’s present, you notice the difference in how quickly and cleanly a mission progresses.

So, next time you hear talk about afloat transfers, you’ll know what everyone’s nodding toward: the SLIRRD—the 1348 form—that keeps the movement of material transparent, traceable, and accountable from keel to quay. And that, in the end, is what good Navy logistics is all about: steady hands, clear records, and a fleet that stays ready. If you want to go deeper, start by getting comfortable with the 1348’s structure, the scenarios in which 1348-1 comes into play, and how NAVSUP-based guidance shapes every handoff you’ll encounter on the waterfront.