At the time (Late ‘60s) I stood deck watches and got to JOOD then OOD, before going to JOOD (Junior Office Of the Deck) we had to have 30 hours (if I remember)observation on the Bridge. We also had a workbook the size on a phone book which had to be completed with a min grade of 85.You had to show proficiency of navigation, meteorology,radar navigation ,on & on. then you were qualified to be come the OOD’s gopher. once three Watch standing OOD’s signed you off you were qualified to “Take the Con”. (Senior enlisted Seaman on the bridge watched you like a hawk)
My point is this, you had 8-12 people on Bridge watch, another 20 or so in Combat Info Center, when transiting a shipping lane or harbor approaches we fired up the short vrange Radar just off the Bridge.
We ran the ship not much difference then what was don in WWII.
Have we designed these new ship with so much automation and electronic gizzmos like GPS,reduction if crews,etc that we have lost the old Watch Standing standards
Nope. Conning officer / OOD still gives rudder and speed orders.
Typical Watch was beefed up for transit of a major straight.
A standard watch included 2 forward, 2 port, 1 on the bow, 1 on the stern, a rover/runner (which checked to make sure they were alert and where they are supposed to be), a Watch Supervisor which all had to check in and be logged in the Ship’s Log every 5m with a report.
This was in 1991.