What's the worst place you've slept on ship?

SSgt Obom Bowen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:34:32 -0500

What's the worst place you've Slept on ship

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Mar 9 at 2016 11:44 AM

MSgt Daniel Attilio — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:44:48 -0500

Atop my AAV in the well deck of the USS Dubuque while we did gator squares off Okinawa sometime in the summer

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 9 at 2016 12:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:02:16 -0500

I use to sleep on my tank, the hardware poking my ribs stopped bothering me.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 9 at 2016 12:08 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:08:25 -0500

SSgt Obom Bowen never ask a sailor about where they have slept on a ship. The answer is anywhere nobody is watching. Not only will a sailor sleep anywhere, we will McGyver the shit out of finding a postion to sleep in. I have slept on the safety net in the trunk next to the Sonar spaces, behind sonar equipment, Pretty much any space I had access to, I had nap time in. Some of those places, are best left unmentioned.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 9 at 2016 12:16 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:16:35 -0500

WWII vintage submarine. You slid in sideways because you couldn't turn over once you "inserted" yourself. Mattresses about 2" thick and non-giving to your back. And if you were E-2/3, you didn't have a personal bunk, you did what was known as "hot bunking", that means it was yours when you were off watch. Don't even ask where you stored your gear.

Response by PO2 Alfredo Pacheco made Mar 9 at 2016 12:19 PM

PO2 Alfredo Pacheco — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:19:56 -0500

Anywhere on a ship. Unless you are in O country or the Chiefs quarters.

If it can hold you, you can sleep on it. Hell, my cousin and his buddies used to sleep in the air vents in the boiler room on the Tarawa. That was interesting to see pictures of.

Worst overall, the back of an SH-60B. Flew that, cross country, from Annapolis to Mayport FL. Worst sleep ever. Try sitting on something that is L shaped, rigged, and you are strapped to it and can move nothing but your head. Now do that for a few hours. Oh, don't forget a hot ass gear box above your head and vibrations.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 12:24 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:24:50 -0500

As a Midshipman, I was on cruise with a fast attack boat out of Peal. It gets pretty chilly, even in a modern submarine, and I finally found a bulkhead that was toasty enough to keep me from turning as blue as my overalls. A Senior Chief walked by and said, "Hey Mid...you want to have kids someday?" confused, I said, "Er...I guess so Senior Chief." He smiled and said, "Then you might want to rack out somewhere other than on the opposite side of the reactor shielding". Oh the things snottie's will believe :)

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 9 at 2016 12:25 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:25:10 -0500

I've slept down in tanks (that's a LONG way down on super tankers)because I didn't want to make the long-assed climb back up for lunch, in the pump room, on the deck. Pretty much anywhere you can.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 9 at 2016 12:57 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:57:03 -0500

In a bed, but it was lumpy. But hey, I am in the Air Force, so it was pretty traumatic for me at the time.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 1:06 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:06:11 -0500

I suspect it was After-Steering. Granted, I had Sound-Powered phones on and I am supposed to be on watch, but the crushingly loud roar of the propeller shafts on an aircraft carrier quickly lulls one to sleep, in spite of the very cramped corner in which we half stood-half sat, but could fully sleep. Great place to read a book, though!!!

Response by PO3 David Fries made Mar 9 at 2016 1:43 PM

PO3 David Fries — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:43:36 -0500

This is going to sound a little sad for a Navy man, but I sent all of a week on ship my entire 6 years. I wouldn't have wanted to be part of ships company. I loved the green side too much. Now as far as that went, the ground on Molokai was horrible. Of course it didn't stop me from sleeping through the attack phase of a training op.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Mar 9 at 2016 1:56 PM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:56:29 -0500

Behind the air-handling unit in the 02 level, aft fanroom onboard the USS ESSEX LHD-2. I was using my DCPO tool bag as a pillow. I had hurt myself pretty good the night before and was in no condition to do maintenance on anything. Got a good three hours and nobody knew I was gone.....

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 2:13 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:13:52 -0500

On a Fat Chick

Actually, On top of a High Pressure Steam Line that fed the Forward Catapults (on the USS John F. Kennedy). It was cold and that fat chick was already taken.

While on the USS America's Flight Deck, I fell asleep in an Aircraft Electrical Servicing Station Trunk.

Response by CSM William Payne made Mar 9 at 2016 4:07 PM

CSM William Payne — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:07:24 -0500

When I was in the Army stationed at Fort Bragg 1973 – 1977, I had the opportunity to “volunteer” to attend basic amphibious training at the Little Creek Amphibious School at Little Creek, VA. A provisional company was assembled at Bragg, we borrowed some vehicles and convoyed our way up the old 301 and took 58 into Hampton Roads.

Being a Navy brat and having grown up in that area I was looking at this as an excuse to spend some time up in my former AO.

Part of our training was to go out on a cruise on the USS Fort Snelling, LSD-30. The Snelling had just recently come out of the shipyard after an overhaul and we were on what was basically a shakedown cruise.

For billeting we had the minimal racks stacked six high and although I am 6’3” Ours were against the bulkhead and I was assigned the lowest bunk which was basically inches off the deck and I had to basically low crawl into it.

While I had grown up around ships, boats and the ocean, for many of my Army brethren this was a first time experience. During our first night at sea, many of my comrades proceeded to get sea sick which made for a very nasty and uncomfortable situation.

The only saving grace for me is that there was a fresh air ventilation vent right next to my head, providing we with fresh air that was able to hold the smell of vomit at bay.
I will never forget that night.

Response by PO3 Jeff Spiewak made Mar 9 at 2016 5:11 PM

PO3 Jeff Spiewak — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:11:45 -0500

Shelf in the paint locker

Response by Sgt Christopher Colbert made Mar 9 at 2016 5:31 PM

Sgt Christopher Colbert — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:31:14 -0500

On top of Quadcon in the lower V

Response by Sgt Cody Dumont made Mar 9 at 2016 7:44 PM

Sgt Cody Dumont — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 19:44:44 -0500

Any place on ship is the worst place !!

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Mar 9 at 2016 7:57 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 19:57:32 -0500

USS Fremont APA....My bunk was on the top next to the loud speakers and all those dam whistles' going off every hour gave me a head ache. I heard those dam whistles for months after leaving her However the Boats or Master at Arms was blowing his whistle must have had a strong pair of lungs & lucky for him I never met him or else I would have tossed his whistle overboard.

Response by PO2 Nick Burke made Mar 9 at 2016 9:15 PM

PO2 Nick Burke — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 21:15:17 -0500

In a dry, clean bilge pocket between watches. Ahh the joys of being an engineer!

Response by PO2 Michael Berry made Mar 9 at 2016 10:26 PM

PO2 Michael Berry — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 22:26:55 -0500

As most everyone has previously stated it is amazing were you can and do sleep in the service. I always lived by the rule of sleep anytime and anywhere you can and eat everything all the time because you didn't know when you would get another chance to do either.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 10 at 2016 11:01 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:01:00 -0500

In a bunkroom on a sub where all the sonar equipment vented right into my rack. It was sweltering there - and we were under the ice where the whole boat was freezing - solid ice in the bilges, etc...

Response by 1SG Jack Crutcher made Mar 10 at 2016 1:21 PM

1SG Jack Crutcher — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:21:00 -0500

I was infantry, the worse place I slept was in a rut on a dirt road during a heavy rain storm while waiting on transportation to pick us up. I was so tired, by the time I woke up I was already soaked so I just went back to sleep.

Response by FN James Goodman made Mar 10 at 2016 1:37 PM

FN James Goodman — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:37:06 -0500

I fell asleep in the weps departments elevator machinery rooms. Leaned against hatch

Response by PO2 John Crutchfield made Mar 10 at 2016 4:18 PM

PO2 John Crutchfield — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:18:25 -0500

Wedged in between a Miltopes tape drive and a bulkhead inside the computer room on the Enterprise. The drives were loud enough to mask your snoring and warm.

Response by SMSgt Ryan King made Mar 10 at 2016 5:01 PM

SMSgt Ryan King — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:01:45 -0500

As a PO3 on CVN72 I would sleep in my storeroom during GQ drills and even found it easy to use the dog bars to keep the doors locked from the inside. The ribs on the walls made a cool but comfortable place to catch a quick 20 mins.

Response by CPT Drew Allen made Mar 10 at 2016 5:11 PM

CPT Drew Allen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:11:51 -0500

Back of my soft top HMMWV during an ice storm at Ft. Sill, OK. Temp got down to single digits for days and we were equipped for our deployment to Africa (Djibouti) not Afghanistan. Not having cold weather boots and socks will keep you miserable a log time

Response by PO1 Stephanie Dears made Mar 10 at 2016 10:58 PM

PO1 Stephanie Dears — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 22:58:55 -0500

Top of port wingwall on RESOLUTE (AFDM-10) at my docking station during a blizzard waiting for a sub to come in. Don't remember what I was sitting on, but I do know it was freezing.

Response by PO3 Chris Scheide made Mar 10 at 2016 11:23 PM

PO3 Chris Scheide — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 23:23:30 -0500

I caught one of the Firemen under me sleeping on a stringer (I-beam) in the bilge. Also caught the same guy sleeping in women's berthing! In his brother's girlfriends rack.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Mar 11 at 2016 1:02 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:02:41 -0500

Well, the question isn't the coolest, or sneakiness but rather the worst so, LPH-7 Iwo Jima deployed to NewOrleans for Hurricane Katrina. We had wonderful venting of a bilge into our sleeping compartment. Yea!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2016 1:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:34:03 -0500

Poop deck.

Response by SSgt Obom Bowen made Mar 11 at 2016 7:35 PM

SSgt Obom Bowen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 19:35:15 -0500

Thanks to everyone For sure for helping me go back. Nothing beats the good ole days. Semper FI

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 11 at 2016 7:38 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 19:38:30 -0500

SSgt Obom Bowen On a the 2nd 'rack' of a stack of 6? on the Gen. William Wiegal (sp), enroute to Korea. The salt water showers and brown soap ruined my hair and convinced me to go to a crew cut for the next 18 years!

Response by SSgt Obom Bowen made Mar 11 at 2016 9:31 PM

SSgt Obom Bowen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:31:28 -0500

Thanks for all that great comments PO3 Steven Sherrill

Response by PO3 Christopher Fiorella made Mar 11 at 2016 9:50 PM

PO3 Christopher Fiorella — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:50:16 -0500

torpedo racks

Response by SSgt Obom Bowen made Mar 11 at 2016 10:02 PM

SSgt Obom Bowen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:02:17 -0500

SSgt Sean Perry What ships were you on brother?

Response by SSgt Obom Bowen made Mar 11 at 2016 10:02 PM

SSgt Obom Bowen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:02:56 -0500

what about you SGT Private RallyPoint Member What ships were you on brother?

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2016 5:45 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 17:45:35 -0500

Well, as most have stated. Your rack itself is torture enough, but the one place I can think of was when I was with S-8 for a RAS. Trying to find a good spot to sleep on either Non-skid or metal drums of paint was an annoying process. Needless to say, I accomplished my goal and made a hammock out of the blue foul weather jackets.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Mar 13 at 2016 9:58 AM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 09:58:40 -0400

On top of a group of MK 48 torpedoes. While wearing an EAB (emergency air breathing apparatus). For three hours.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 15 at 2016 7:30 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 19:30:56 -0400

SSgt Obom Bowen - Slept in the a MK-48 tube aboard the USS Haddock (SSN-594). The ships doc said the background radiation levels were "acceptable."

Response by 1stLt John Nicholas McIntosh made Mar 23 at 2016 8:29 AM

1stLt John Nicholas McIntosh — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:29:35 -0400

As a 19 year old, I went to sea on a merchant ship working on the deck gang. So my most uncomfortable sleeping place was the rope locker where the hawsers were stored. Didn't say I wasn't able to get to sleep, just that it was uncomfortable. That experience was good training for being a Marine grunt in Vietnam for 6 months.

Response by CPO Joel Bentley made Mar 23 at 2016 3:21 PM

CPO Joel Bentley — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:21:16 -0400

Fantail of a guided missile ship in the Red Sea. I had to tie myself to my bunk
Twenty-four in the Navy, a lot ships, carriers guided missile destroyers, amphibious ships, etc.

Response by CPO Curt Kuhn made Jul 2 at 2018 7:27 PM

CPO Curt Kuhn — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 19:27:15 -0400

Inside a fully loaded missile magazine or launcher, wherever it was cool. The worst place was your rack because that was the first place they would look for working party "volunteers"

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Sep 11 at 2018 10:19 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 22:19:04 -0400

Took a nap in after steering prior to standing UNREP watch. Slept outside in an inflatable surf boat. Most innovative place was on top of marijuana bales as leader of custody crew after a nine ton MJ seizure. Below decks were quite foul, so I pushed bales together and laid on a tarp. We were fed from passing a bucket of food down the towing line.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2018 7:28 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 07:28:01 -0400

Grunts can sleep anywhere, including standing up in chow line, or armory. Sailors have a tough life too.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Feb 22 at 2019 11:09 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 23:09:19 -0500

Slept inside the RHIB aboard 82ft Patrol boat. My rack was chain mounting in focsle. First time I slept there underway, I woke up bruised from hitting the chains all night. The RHIB had fresh air and cushioned sides.
Aboard USCGC Eagle, the favorite place to sleep was the sail locker. Many slept on deck when possible.

Response by MSgt Gilbert Cordova made Sep 4 at 2019 10:09 PM

MSgt Gilbert Cordova — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 22:09:19 -0400

LST!

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Feb 7 at 2020 4:40 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 16:40:26 -0500

I slept well on the ship's TP supply sotred in the foc'sle locker !!!

Response by PO1 Jerome Newland made Feb 14 at 2020 8:52 AM

PO1 Jerome Newland — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 08:52:16 -0500

You mean, there's a good place?? Jerry

Response by PO2 Don Scott made May 3 at 2020 2:03 PM

PO2 Don Scott — Sun, 03 May 2020 14:03:14 -0400

Forward gun mount.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made May 3 at 2020 2:44 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sun, 03 May 2020 14:44:41 -0400

Bottom bunk, 6 high, on a troop ship USNS Pope, from Oakland Army terminal to Vung Tau. Puke on floor was horrible.

Response by PO3 Andrew Kelly made Aug 15 at 2021 9:10 PM

PO3 Andrew Kelly — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 21:10:09 -0400

I was not the one sleeping in this case but during a cruise on the USS America, one of the plane captains found someone taking a nap in the intake of an A-7. (He was supposed to be cleaning out the oil that tended to collect just before the blades) As a lesson, the PC tapped the electric starter just long enough to get the blades moving. The kid came barrelling out of there backward and landed right at the feet of his chief and got taken up to heaven (O9 level) to talk to God (The Air Boss) before he was turned back over to his chief.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 27 at 2022 2:38 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:38:16 -0400

On an LPH, in my stateroom, underneath the flight deck, during flight ops.

Response by PO3 Scott Karl made Jan 30 at 2024 5:15 PM

PO3 Scott Karl — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:15:46 -0500

On a WestPac cruise on board USS Ranger, I once fell asleep in the RIO seat of an F-4, on the flight deck and woke up a couple of hours later on the hangar deck. May back hurt for the rest of the day.