British Navy Salute. The reason being that the hands of the sailors in the navy get dirty due to the use of grease. The transition from palm forward to palm down in the u.s.
The history of the military salute of the army and royal navy are as different as chalk and cheese. The salute is a courteous exchange of greetings, with the junior member always saluting first. A soldier’s salute reflects his pride in himself, his unit and shows confidence in his ability as a soldier.