The traditional watch rotation in the Navy is called “five and dime.” Sailors serve five hours on watch, followed by ten hours off. However, during those ten hours, they often have other duties, so it’s not uncommon to work a 20-hour day. The result is sleep deprivation, which in turn leads to accidents, such as the recent ones that claimed many sailors’ lives. Some ships are now changing to a “three and nine” watch schedule. Read more about the traditional Navy in WWI in On the Shore (NOVELS) and the dangers of “five and dime” in BEHIND THE STORY.
