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from the plenty-of-time-to-sleep-when-you're-in-the-ground dept.
The Virginian-Pilot reports: https://pilotonline.com/news/military/local/article_eec71122-ecfd-11e8-bc0e-73bf42b0bc87.html
Anyone who has driven home late at night after being up for more than 18 hours knows the inevitable drooping eyelids and wheel jerking that can result. I was once in a conversation where the argument was made that driving tired was far more dangerous than being drunk (YMMV)
In recognition of this truth that all late night drivers realize sooner or later, the U.S. Navy has decided that driving their ships should only be done while alert and awake. To this end:
All Navy sailors working aboard aircraft carriers are now being given the chance to get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep per 24-hour period after a change in policy in the wake of two fatal collisions that killed 17 crew members in the Pacific Fleet in summer 2017.
The change extends to all carrier sailors, not just those working in aviation-related jobs, said Lt. Travis Callaghan, a spokesman for the Pacific Coast-based Commander, Naval Air Forces. It also makes it mandatory that all aircraft carrier sailors are not to be scheduled for more than 18 hours of continuous duties requiring them to remain awake. Previously, that was a recommendation that only applied to flight crews.
The article continues
"The longer you're awake, you're just basically, essentially, performing under the influence of your own fatigue, but just not alcohol," Rice said. "No one would say, 'I'm driving a little drunk,' to your skipper but we often will say, 'I'm a little tired.' "
I'm not sure why one would intentionally run sailors routinely to the point that if they had to keep going during an emergency they would potentially be starting in a sleep deprived state, but there you are. Perhaps someone that has more perspective on the Navy can explain it.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by VLM on Monday November 26 2018, @12:20PM (5 children)
Yeah that's pretty much the point. You "merely" have to steer the ship or whatever, not figure out mysterious damage control problems during battle or otherwise think things thru, so its supposed to be training.
The Army does 24 hour cq (charge of quarters) basically baby sitter / receptionist service, generally a (near-)NCO and a runner or two as servants, obviously driving home after would be counter-indicated so non-shitty leadership assigns one of the next shifts runners first job is driving home the previous shift (and traditionally stopping for breakfast along the way...) shitty leadership merely lets the kids crash their cars then blames the kids. Similar concept, we'll give you an easy job, or supposed to be easy anyway, then you can semi-safely experience lack of sleep.
From what little I know of the Navy, the real problem isn't the kid with hands on the wheel snoozing a bit, the problem is everyone else in the control room not noticing leading to collision and death. Oh wait there was an investigation, what a total freak'n surprise all the blame fell on the lowest ranked squid in the room, huh I'm sooooo shocked. As far as I understand it, the person to blame was the officer of the deck who's theoretically responsible, not some overworked kid. Ships don't move quite as fast as race cars or jet fighters, you're maneuvering in close quarters there should be several guys saying "wtf" when the kid fell asleep.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 26 2018, @04:02PM (2 children)
All that still doesn't explain why 3 US warships, at different times, were apparently conducting maneuvers, in the middle of the night, in the middle of major commercial ship traffic lanes, with the AIS turned off. Who ordered that?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 27 2018, @02:52PM (1 child)
Depends on where they were. Maybe they were on anti-piracy patrol? If you're hunting bad guys, you probably want to give them a chance to come in visual range before they realize you are there.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday November 27 2018, @11:31PM
Goodness! I had no idea the MPAA and RIAA were engaging our armed forces to enforce their wishes!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Monday November 26 2018, @05:07PM
Insightful. I wonder just how much insight you have into that. Pretty much everything at sea seems to be slow motion. Even jet fighters, believe it or not. There are no mountains, trees, skyscrapers, nothing for helicopters or jets to hide behind. Once they clear the horizon, the fastest aircraft still have a fair distance before they arrive. Call it a minute and a half, for a fast jet. Call it 30 to 45 seconds for an inbound missile. Another ship? If you're both running hellbound for a close encounter, it's still a quarter hour away when you make visual contact. From land-ho to landfall might be two hours.
Part of the key here is, mass. As agile as a destroyer might be, in comparison to a battleship, you still have five thousand tons +/- of mass that simply doesn't stop, start, or turn on a dime.
Those members of the crew who were most alert saw the crashes coming, as much as two minutes before impact. And, all they could do was warn their mates, and brace for impact.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 26 2018, @08:31PM
"As far as I understand it, the person to blame was the officer of the deck who's theoretically responsible, not some overworked kid."
Politics has invaded the armed forces! RUN!