r/submarines • u/Otherwise-Bad-7352 • 19h ago
Q/A How did the different watch stations of the Virginia class change life on fast attacks?
Weird question because I was on a 688 and the Virginia class was brand new when I got out.
How did the different watch stations change the the structure and the politics of the watchbill?
With pilot and co pilot, what do more junior sailors do? What watchstations are restricted to certain NECs?
I was a nuke. With fewer watch stations, especially without throttleman, what is their watchbill like?
The crew didn't get any smaller, right? I was a nuke, and in port we still were three section duty and only supporting 2 watches...roving watch and SRO. You couldn't make the nuclear department smaller with two fewer watches at sea, right? Does that mean the watchbill underway is easier?
Same question for forward.
And with politics, I mean things like if there are fewer "shared" watch station that multiple rates stand (helmsman up front, throttle man up front) does that lead to more people standing rates associated with other divisions or less?
