# Crew's quarters in today's (US) Navy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857 "2020-04-29T23:41:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/1 "2020-04-29T23:41:06Z")
Here’s a [pic showing some crew berths](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/QLQYFQUIGII6VAG72JFTLJLIVY.jpg&w=1440) on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Is what we see pretty much standard in the US Navy today (aside from subs) for enlisted people? I guess there’s no escaping the claustrophobia and lack of privacy. On the other hand (and providing much of the motivation for this OP), the ‘mattresses’ look interesting. I assume that the thin mattress is mostly to cushion any discomfort from a sort of shallow hammock below? (btw, crew’s or crews’?) ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/2 "2020-04-29T23:44:30Z")
Shallow hammock? Que? The area just under the mattress is the storage locker for the occupant. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/3 "2020-04-29T23:53:08Z")
So what are the grey curvy looking things right below the thin mattress? They seem to be at the top of a, maybe, 4-inch base (right in front of the sailor’s left knee). ETA: Maybe I should have said sling not hammock to describe what I thought I was seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/4 "2020-04-30T00:11:49Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > So what are the grey curvy looking things right below the thin mattress? They seem to be at the top of a, maybe, 4-inch base (right in front of the sailor’s left knee). > > ETA: Maybe I should have said sling not hammock to describe what I thought I was seeing. I think you’re seeing the edge of the mattress. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/5 "2020-04-30T00:18:40Z")
What you’re seeing in the Navy picture (I think) is the seam that runs all the way around the top and bottom of the mattress, like the similar seams you see in this picture [DIY French Mattress Cushion Tutorial - She Holds Dearly](https://sheholdsdearly.com/french-mattress-cushion-tutorial/) - in the Navy picture you can’t see the bottom seam ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/6 "2020-04-30T01:00:48Z")
There are a number of good YouTube videos showing living conditions aboard a Navy ship. I wanted to bring to everyone’s attention [Tis 1952 film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RHcz1KS7F8) showing how bad conditions once were. What you are seeing nowadays is big improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/7 "2020-04-30T01:51:56Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > So what are the grey curvy looking things right below the thin mattress? They seem to be at the top of a, maybe, 4-inch base (right in front of the sailor’s left knee). > > ETA: Maybe I should have said sling not hammock to describe what I thought I was seeing. Those are steps. To climb to the top bunks. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/8 "2020-04-30T01:57:50Z")
In this picture of empty racks, you can get an idea of the thickness (thinness) of the mattress. They are sunken into a shallow bix, so they are a little thicker than they might appear. [Picture](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_101018-N-0711P-005_Berthing_spaces_aboard_the_aircraft_carrier_USS_Theodore_Roosevelt_(CVN_71)_are_being_upgraded_to_provide_Sailors_a_high.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/9 "2020-04-30T01:58:55Z")
In this picture of empty racks, you can get an idea of the thickness (thinness) of the mattress. They are sunken into a shallow bix, so they are a little thicker than they might appear. [Picture](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_101018-N-0711P-005_Berthing_spaces_aboard_the_aircraft_carrier_USS_Theodore_Roosevelt_(CVN_71)_are_being_upgraded_to_provide_Sailors_a_high.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/10 "2020-04-30T02:03:05Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Those are steps. To climb to the top bunks. I think if he was talking about the steps he would have mentioned the red part - and the steps aren’t by the sailor’s knee. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/11 "2020-04-30T02:56:39Z")
Ship’s quarters are one of the reasons I was glad I never had to set foot on one of those damn things. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/12 "2020-04-30T03:51:31Z")
Ship crews’ quarters have pretty much always sucked. It was first often done by slaves, people press-ganged into it or at the bottom of society (sailors were associated with tattoos and those were very much at the bottom of society). With the need for stealth, I don’t know how often crews are allowed to exit the structure. Does that kind of thing matter or would a sailor’s signature just be too faint? If it’s not a big deal, then they have the immensity of the sea which must make for quite a contrast with life below deck. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/13 "2020-04-30T10:34:52Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I think if he was talking about the steps he would have mentioned the red part - and the steps aren’t by the sailor’s knee. There is also a step by the person’s knee in the picture. If not the steps, what is it you think the OP is referring to, then? Why don’t you point it out for us and identify it, please? What other curvy gray things do you see in the photo? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/14 "2020-04-30T11:04:54Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > … and the steps aren’t by the sailor’s knee. [Perhaps this will help?](https://ibb.co/WDTTt2t) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/15 "2020-04-30T11:08:46Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > If it’s not a big deal, then they have the immensity of the sea which must make for quite a contrast with life below deck. Depending on the vessel, the majority of crew do not often (or ever) get to go above deck to see the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/16 "2020-04-30T12:30:24Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Depending on the vessel, the majority of crew do not often (or ever) get to go above deck to see the ocean. Certinly if you’re on a surface ship, you can go to the main deck and look at the ocean pretty much whenever you want, as look as you aren’t on watch or working. BREAK It’s not an easy life even today. But there’s a lot of pride on working and succeeding in that environment with a bunch of men and women who, as the song goes were “best friend[s] . . . who you knew well and sometimes hated.” Glad I did it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/17 "2020-04-30T12:33:43Z")
I find it somehow kind of sad that all the lockers have those huge-ass locks on them (hence the name). Even members of a tight military crew can’t trust that they aren’t robbing each other. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/18 "2020-04-30T12:50:17Z")
It looks like the TR has the same basic berthing setup that my much old Ranger did in the 80s. It was cramped, it was tight. Finding extra places to store stuff was a big deal for those of us that lived on the ship. The metal racks are 3 high. Middle rack was the worst. Bottom got a nice coffin locker that made it easy to organize your meager possessions. Top rack meant you could sit up and often had some rafter space to store things. E-Div was 117 bunks if I remember correctly. We got a a large locker or coffin locker and a narrow locket suitable for hanging up our dress uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/19 "2020-04-30T13:19:03Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > With the need for stealth, I don’t know how often crews are allowed to exit the structure. Does that kind of thing matter or would a sailor’s signature just be too faint? If it’s not a big deal, then they have the immensity of the sea which must make for quite a contrast with life below deck. I’m no expert on detection systems, but I think if radar/sonar/thermal imaging can’t detect a 400 to 1100 ft long steel ship with multiple steam, jet turbine, or nuclear power plants, a few human beings walking on deck aren’t going to make it suddenly observable. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857/20 "2020-04-30T14:08:55Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Certinly if you’re on a surface ship, you can go to the main deck and look at the ocean pretty much whenever you want, as look as you aren’t on watch or working. Nice. I thought it was usually off limits except for certain days or special events. I’ve only talked to a few people, but they made it seem like they were never able to get above deck. Maybe it just depends on what shift a person works? Like if your particular shift means that your free time is during the 12 hours of aircraft OPs, you won’t get up there much. Or maybe they just wanted to make it seem worse than it was? Thanks for the info. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crews-quarters-in-todays-us-navy/852857.md?page=2)