Bob Godfrey
Member
There were two lookouts on watch in the crows nest at all times of the day and night. 6 men were employed as lookouts, each pair working four 2-hour shifts per day. They had no other duties. At the time of the collision, Fleet and Lee were on the 10-12 watch; they had taken over from Symons and Jewell, who had the 8-10 watch, and were due soon to be relieved by Hogg and Evans on the 12-2 watch.
Michael H. Standart
Member
And I would point out that when they weren't on watch, they were probably turned into their bunks catching up on some sleep. The two on four off rotation wasn't as brutal as some watches were, but it did make it a certainty that you wouldn't catch the six to eight hours uninteruppted sleep we tend to take for granted almost as some sort of birthright.
Bob Godfrey
Member
Apart from sleep, there were the traditional seaman's leisure activities of eating, drinking tea, smoking and complaining! Along with conversation and reading, there wasn't much else to do when off-duty.
Michael H. Standart
Member
Seamen manage to indulge in the activity of complaining on and off duty. Trust me on this one!
Ana Florencia Pinton
Member
First hand experience? 
Robert T. Paige
Member
Are lookouts in crow's nest still present on any ships- military or civilian ?
If not, when were they last present ?
If not, when were they last present ?
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Robert T. Paige
Member
I don't know about merchant marine, but I had a bit of personal fiirst hand experience when I was in the U.S. Navy.First hand experience?
I was the Acting Division Senior Petty Officer during the last months of my enlistment and I heard plenty of complaints - off duty and on duty.
I think a lot of it had something to do with an old navy term called "scuttlebutt."
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Robert T. Paige
Member
Thanks, Bob-
I am assumimg - under normal conditions on a normal 24 hour day - that Symons and Jewell would be back on the 2-4 watch and the cycle would repeat ?
Did the lookouts have duties when the ship was in port ?
Was there such a thing as "Liberty" for the Officers and Crew on those ships while in port?
How did they manage their meal times ?
Old Navy Joke-
Captain to the Crew : "There will be no Liberty today ! "
Voice from someone in the Crew : "Give me Liberty or give me Death !"
Captain to the Crew : " Who said that ? ! "
Voice from someone in the Crew : " Patrick Henry ! "
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Michael H. Standart
Member
No U.S. Navy vessel has a crows nest...anywhere....unless you're talking about the old sail frigate, USS Constitution. Lookouts, where and when needed can be posted on the fantail, the bridge wings or in the case of a low visibility watch, all the way up forward in the very eyes of the ship.
Jim Currie
Member
Hi, Robert.
In port. most of the crew were on day work. and went ashore in the evening. There was also a night Watch...6pm to 6 am. This was manned by a skeleton crew of ABs. and a gangway Quartermaster. The lookouts were also ABs so I suspect they would take a turn. it depended on whether there was any overnight cargo work being done or there was hold cleaning needing doing, etc.
