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Originally Posted by LoBlo
Here's another question (I have a billion of them... becuase I live vicariously thru other people :p ... and I'm researching for the sub novel that I will one day write when I'm old enough to retire  )...
... since subs aren't deployed year-round... how much time off do sailors get between deployment?
For example, I've heard that USN SSBN have two entirely different crews... what does the 2nd crew do during six whole months of shore time?.... besides party? I'm thinking training of course, some paper shuffling problably... but other than that seems like there should be a lot of opprotunity to relax with the family and friend for the next 6 months. Am I right? |
I was on a fast boat and we had a saying....
One Boat, One Crew, One Shaft and One Screw
We had the boat 24/7/365 and if you were not deployed you were working up to deploy, working up for a cert (TRE,ORSE, Etc etc). In port my boat was on 3 shift duty days. Meaning every 3rd day you were on the boat 24 hours. When you did not have duty you mustered at 7am and left when the job was done. We did not have things like 'day after duty' when you left as soon as you were relieved. So as you can see, it was not uncommon to have a 110 hour work week.
When you were on duty you had to stand watches and handle the normal day to day things. Sometimes you could have the non-duty people help you but they did not have to if they had other jobs they had to do. Once they left for the day the duty section had the whole show.
By doing the 3 day watch rotation, they always had enough crew on-board to get the boat underway in an emergency. It would not be fun, but you could do it (I did it once and it sucked.. NO watch relief!)