Real Submarine Technology & History Q&A

[Redmane]

Yes, the actual term is "General Quarters" and every member of the crew had an assigned station, depending on rate and rating. Rating refers to your specialty, rate is rank, with respect to enlisted personnel. I was a Gunner's Mate, and since I was on a supply ship from which the AA gun mounts had been removed I was assigned to one of the damage control parties, which were stationed at various places throughout the ship. But yes, during General Quarters, everyone is expected to be on station and ready for action.

[fireftr18]

Originally Posted by Redmane

Yes, the actual term is "General Quarters" and every member of the crew had an assigned station, depending on rate and rating. Rate refers to your specialty, rating is rank, with respect to enlisted personnel. I was a Gunner's Mate, and since I was on a supply ship from which the AA gun mounts had been removed I was assigned to one of the damage control parties, which were stationed at various places throughout the ship. But yes, during General Quarters, everyone is expected to be on station and ready for action.

My understanding, on subs, most of the crew members had two jobs. One was a day to day job that's covered by regular duty shifts. Then, for lack of better term, a "general quarters" job. Which was covered by the members while "off duty." Is that accurate? Is it the same on a surface ship?

[Redmane]

Originally Posted by fireftr18

My understanding, on subs, most of the crew members had two jobs. One was a day to day job that's covered by regular duty shifts. Then, for lack of better term, a "general quarters" job. Which was covered by the members while "off duty." Is that accurate? Is it the same on a surface ship?

Yes, I think this is fairly accurate. I'm not so sure about subs, since I was never on one, but I don't see why it would be much different. The crew is divided up into divisons, which relate to specialties. You have a normal work routine, which for the most part involves maintanence. For watches, your particular division, depending on what its specialty is, would be assigned a specific duty, for instance, deck division would handle all the lookout posts. As a gunner's mate my division was assigned to maintain the radar contact status board on the bridge. For General Quarters, once again the assignments are made, though this is based on the performance of the crew at their different jobs, that is, how efficient are they at doing "X?" Then there were some different aspects to the whole workings because being on a supply ship we also did underway replenishment. Transfer of supplies to other task force units while moving at sea. Once again, deck division would handle rigging and operating the tranfer equipment. I as a gunner's mate had the fun task of using a line throwing gun to send a starter line to the ship along side which would eventually be used to get the span-wire for a fuel hose or a high-line across and secured on the other side. So given the general purpose of the ship in question, some of these things would vary of course, but that's pretty much how it went in my experience.

[Nuc]

This is an interesting post war (1949) training film featuring footage of Tench, Balao and Guppy boats. It does describe wartime organization and support.