[OCCASparky]

Actually, both of my boats had Deck Div, but yeah, mostly unrated strikers (A-Gang, junior sonarmen, etc).

I was lucky enough to not have to worry about that much--just sit at the panel and listen to everything over the 7MC whilst I sat in maneuvering (RO) and watched the throttleman go insane.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Maneuvering watch (on the easy coast, er east coast) was a royal pain because you couldn't submerge until many hours of surfaced running got you clear of the continental shelf.

But the topside watches were normally under decks when leaving Norfolk, for example, well before you crossed the tunnel and Fortress Monroe. Sometimes before you got away from the NAF, Norfolk actually.

That left only OOD, CO, and one lookout up in the sail.

Figure here a short port, rough seas, and a rogue wave. The CNN writeup is useless and foolish: they were "overboard" but were washed over, then held to the boat (while in the water/under the waves at least part of the time apparently) by their life-lines.

Can't tell why the rest of the crew didn't get them out of the water - instead of waiting for a surface boat to come alongside, unless those same seas prevented them from opening a hatch. Maybe the topside watch didn't see them? Seems any number of volunteers would have strapped on and gone to get them, regardless of seas, if they knew.