View Single Post
Old 10-09-06, 01:22 PM   #262
John Pancoast
Ocean Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Minnysoda
Posts: 3,211
Downloads: 501
Uploads: 4


Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by panthercules
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Pancoast
Iirc, wasn't a four man watch the standard in real life ?
I would think that you would want to have at least 5 under normal circumstances - 4 lookouts (1 to cover each quarter) and an officer/leader to give overall direction and also to communicate to the rest of the command crew below. According the the U-boat Commander's Handbook (para. 221), in heavy rain/seas (at least at night) there would be an extra man sent topside to keep wiping the binoculars and making dry spares available.
I seem to remember reading about the number four, but unfortunately, can't remember where or even if so.

As to the heavy rain/seas at night example, sure, but then:

a. that extra member wasn't performing watch duties per se.
b. "standard" would not necessarily include such non-standard conditions as heavy rains/seas at night.
__________________
"Realistic" is not always GAME-GOOD." - Wave Skipper
John Pancoast is offline   Reply With Quote