Luke, Rip, and Stealhead,
I had to do some poking around on the issue of watchstanding organization. In the 1980's we had some pretty strict guidance as to how to set up the watch stations, and this continues to an even greater extent today.
In the 1940's, a Ship's Organization Manual existed (specific for each class or type of ship) that, among other things, outlined the watchstanding requirements for the ship. This was the guideline for the captain, the XO, and the COB when they organized the watches. Prior to the war, this was pretty rigidly enforced and all of the boats should have been organized the same.
Once the war started, because they had more pressing things to worry about, the navy brass kind of let some of the rigid inspections go by the wayside. As long as the captain could demonstrate that he could safely operate his boat, and as long as he could sink ships, he was given a fair degree of latitude to organize the way he wanted to. This would account for the variations that you guys have noticed. I should emphasize that the SOM was a document borne out of experience and in all reality you can't deviate a whole lot from it without becoming inefficient or unsafe.
Without having the manual in front of me, I would say that the typical fleet boat engine room would probably have a 1st Class Motor Machinist Mate in charge in the room, along with two to three assistants, 2nd class and below. This would be duplicated for the other engine room, with one Chief Petty Officer in charge of both rooms. This arrangement would be duplicated again for the other watch sections, which there was usually three.
The control room would typically have a Motor Mac at the air manifold, one at the trim and drain manifold and 1 to 2 Quartermasters at the chart table for navigation (in the Navy a Quartermaster is a navigator, not a supply clerk). Once the boat submerged, the lookouts would come below and man the diving planes (these could be any rate, it didn't matter), and a Chief or officer would become the Diving Officer, supervising the planesmen.
The Chief of the Boat (COB) was the senior Chief Petty Officer on the boat. This position was appointed by the captain and he acted as a liaison between the crew and the officers. Since he was the one who was the most familiar with the capabilities and qualifications of the crew, the COB was the one who maintained the Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill. This was a large organizational chart that divided the crew into watch sections, told them which watch station they were assigned to (for normal steaming, battle stations, maneuvering watch, etc.), which rack they were assigned to, and what their assignment was for Field Day (cleaning up the ship). The WQSB was usually posted in Crew's Mess and the Control Room.
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