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> the boat operated on an 18-hour cycle Why? That seems incredibly stupid. It's unnecessary and counterproductive and the stakes are high. So why do it?

by lisper 5y ago

RappingBoomer 5y ago
yeah, it was the same back when i was on a fast attack sub in the 1970s...and here's the fun part--2 other dudes shared my bed/cot...it's called hot racking...I sleep for 6 hours, then get up and go aft to stand watch or do maintenance, and dude #2 gets in the same cot and sleeps for 6 hrs...he then gets up and dude #3 gets in for 6 hrs...you get 6 hrs in bed per day...FTN...
- lisper 5y ago
  I knew about hot-racking. That actually makes sense. But why not 8-hour shifts instead of 6?
- LoveGracePeace 5y ago
  It was like that in the 80's and 90's too. When we went on a special run, nearly the entire crew would hot rack.
iamthemonster 5y ago
I know this doesn't answer your question but I believe it's a long-standing tradition on many navy and civilian vessels across the world. I only know mariners on oil-producing vessels in Australia but they have all talked about that 6-hour roster. Others will know more than me, but I don't believe this is unique to US Navy.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  Well, I'd imagine the 3 shifts are pretty set, due to habitable space design. So X / 3 = watch duration 24 / 3 = 8 hours, which does seem long to be kept on hair trigger while performing physically and/or mentally taxing tasks. I'd like to think the military did studies on performance with respect to watch duration. Or they could have just pulled them out of a hat. Also, it seems like they might have indeed switched to 8-hour shifts: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchkeeping#US_submarine_system_with_three_sections https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchkeeping#US_submarine_sy...
LoveGracePeace 5y ago
Because the stakes are high. A pampered crew will never handle a life or death situation if their frame of mind isn't close to the verge of life or death 24/7.

> the boat operated on an 18-hour cycle Why? That seems incredibly stupid. It's unnecessary and counterproductive and the stakes are high. So why do it?

by lisper 5y ago

> the boat operated on an 18-hour cycle Why? That seems incredibly stupid. It's unnecessary and counterproductive and the stakes are high. So why do it?

RappingBoomer 5y ago

yeah, it was the same back when i was on a fast attack sub in the 1970s...and here's the fun part--2 other dudes shared my bed/cot...it's called hot racking...I sleep for 6 hours, then get up and go aft to stand watch or do maintenance, and dude #2 gets in the same cot and sleeps for 6 hrs...he then gets up and dude #3 gets in for 6 hrs...you get 6 hrs in bed per day...FTN...

lisper 5y ago
I knew about hot-racking. That actually makes sense. But why not 8-hour shifts instead of 6?
LoveGracePeace 5y ago
It was like that in the 80's and 90's too. When we went on a special run, nearly the entire crew would hot rack.

iamthemonster 5y ago

I know this doesn't answer your question but I believe it's a long-standing tradition on many navy and civilian vessels across the world. I only know mariners on oil-producing vessels in Australia but they have all talked about that 6-hour roster. Others will know more than me, but I don't believe this is unique to US Navy.

ethbr0 5y ago
Well, I'd imagine the 3 shifts are pretty set, due to habitable space design. So X / 3 = watch duration 24 / 3 = 8 hours, which does seem long to be kept on hair trigger while performing physically and/or mentally taxing tasks. I'd like to think the military did studies on performance with respect to watch duration. Or they could have just pulled them out of a hat. Also, it seems like they might have indeed switched to 8-hour shifts: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchkeeping#US_submarine_system_with_three_sections https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchkeeping#US_submarine_sy...

LoveGracePeace 5y ago

Because the stakes are high. A pampered crew will never handle a life or death situation if their frame of mind isn't close to the verge of life or death 24/7.