Correct number of officers on a fleet boat?

Zero Niner · 05-03-10, 08:35 PM

Does SH4 have way too many officers on the boat? 3 in the control room, 3 on watch, 3 more in the conning tower... iirc, there are 6 officers only:
CO
XO
Weapons
Engineering
Navigator
One more...

Thinking of changing my crew next time I'm in base to reflect a more appropriate number.

ETR3(SS) · 05-03-10, 08:43 PM

I think RFB has it right if I remember correctly. I know on a modern boat though there can be as many as 12 officers. Not that that helps here.

virtualpender · 05-03-10, 11:13 PM

Six was the design complement of the GATO-class originally and is (generally) accurate through about mid-1942. The numbers increased over the course of the war and 10 officers was routine by the end of the war.

In 1945 the wardroom might look like:
- Captain
- XO / Navigator
- Engineering officer
- Asst Engineering officer
- Torpedo & Gunnery officer
- TDC Operator
- Communication officer
- Asst Communication officer
- Commissary officer
- Prospective Commanding Officer

It varied from boat to boat depending on timeframe, ship's equipment, and task force/squadron personnel availability but hopefully this helps.

LukeFF · 05-04-10, 03:27 AM

To add on to virtualpender's post, yes, the average number of officers on a fleet sub in 1945 was typically 8-10 (one OOD and Junior OOD per watch, plus the captain and XO). A PCO (Prospective Commanding Officer), who was an officer being considered for the command of his own boat, could also be among the complement of officers.

fred8615 · 05-04-10, 08:22 AM

Was an officer really posted in the engine room? The game always has one in there by default, but I always thought CPOs commanded in the engine room, so I remove him in a career.

05-04-10, 12:43 PM

The US Naval Academy at Annapolis MD, had a world class engineering curriculum and unlike the RN or KM, virtually all American naval officers (Academy graduates at least) did a tour at some point in their careers as Chief Engineer or commander of the Engineer Division. So having engineering watchkeeping officers in Fleet Boats is perfectly fine and realistic.

virtualpender · 05-04-10, 01:29 PM

To tack on to Luke's post - the Engineering officers did not stand watches in the engine rooms. They were responsible for overseeing that division but the watches were run by the chiefs. As Luke mentioned, the officers all stood watches as OOD or Assistant OOD in addition to their division officer duties.

During general quarters, the officers' battle stations were all generally on the bridge, in the conning tower, or in the control room. I have seen mention in a couple sources that late in the war a junior officer was assigned to oversee operations in the firing torpedo room but I believe that was the exception and not the rule.

05-03-10, 08:35 PM	#1
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Correct number of officers on a fleet boat? Does SH4 have way too many officers on the boat? 3 in the control room, 3 on watch, 3 more in the conning tower... iirc, there are 6 officers only: CO XO Weapons Engineering Navigator One more... Thinking of changing my crew next time I'm in base to reflect a more appropriate number.

05-03-10, 08:43 PM	#2
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	I think RFB has it right if I remember correctly. I know on a modern boat though there can be as many as 12 officers. Not that that helps here. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

05-04-10, 03:27 AM	#4
LukeFF Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Riverside, California Posts: 3,610 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 5	To add on to virtualpender's post, yes, the average number of officers on a fleet sub in 1945 was typically 8-10 (one OOD and Junior OOD per watch, plus the captain and XO). A PCO (Prospective Commanding Officer), who was an officer being considered for the command of his own boat, could also be among the complement of officers. __________________ ROW Sound Effects Contributor RFB Team Leader

05-04-10, 08:22 AM	#5
fred8615 Saint of the seas Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sorrento, Louisiana Posts: 1,320 Downloads: 265 Uploads: 127	Was an officer really posted in the engine room? The game always has one in there by default, but I always thought CPOs commanded in the engine room, so I remove him in a career. __________________ Frederick J. Barnett Radio Stations & Music Captain's Desk Photos FJB Camera Pre Pearl Harbor Career Start Office links, Info Boxes, & 50 cal Crew Rank Fix Sub Class Info Real Subs SH4 Randomizer Sub Images Office Images Sub Pinups & Pics 24 Hour Clocks Office Posters Nav Map Make-Over Add-ons FJB Navigation Maps Office Window Chronographs Someone's got to take the responsibility if the job's going to get done! Do you think that's easy?! - Gregory Peck, The Guns of Navarone.

05-03-10, 11:13 PM	#3
virtualpender Sonar Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 381 Downloads: 281 Uploads: 0	Six was the design complement of the GATO-class originally and is (generally) accurate through about mid-1942. The numbers increased over the course of the war and 10 officers was routine by the end of the war. In 1945 the wardroom might look like: - Captain - XO / Navigator - Engineering officer - Asst Engineering officer - Torpedo & Gunnery officer - TDC Operator - Communication officer - Asst Communication officer - Commissary officer - Prospective Commanding Officer It varied from boat to boat depending on timeframe, ship's equipment, and task force/squadron personnel availability but hopefully this helps.

05-04-10, 12:43 PM	#6
Randomizer Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	The US Naval Academy at Annapolis MD, had a world class engineering curriculum and unlike the RN or KM, virtually all American naval officers (Academy graduates at least) did a tour at some point in their careers as Chief Engineer or commander of the Engineer Division. So having engineering watchkeeping officers in Fleet Boats is perfectly fine and realistic.

05-04-10, 01:29 PM	#7
virtualpender Sonar Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 381 Downloads: 281 Uploads: 0	To tack on to Luke's post - the Engineering officers did not stand watches in the engine rooms. They were responsible for overseeing that division but the watches were run by the chiefs. As Luke mentioned, the officers all stood watches as OOD or Assistant OOD in addition to their division officer duties. During general quarters, the officers' battle stations were all generally on the bridge, in the conning tower, or in the control room. I have seen mention in a couple sources that late in the war a junior officer was assigned to oversee operations in the firing torpedo room but I believe that was the exception and not the rule.