I know zip about modern navy operations and would appreciate the benefit of your experience on a serious question. Even with sophisticated radars and electronic systems, do USN surface vessels still have human beings equipped with binoculars and/or night vision devices, literally “on watch” 24/7?
Yes. There are human beings on the bridge with binoculars, radar scopes, and two sailors whose only duty is to look out for anything that may come close to the ship. Our ships do not sail around on iron mike with the watch officers sitting in the wardroom watching the movie. At least they did not do that in the Navy I sailed with.