Officers' bunks and their lack of curtains.

[Lumber]

We're going back almost 40 years to a time before I was born: A question that has always bothered every naval and MH officer I know, but for which no one has ever had an answer.

The officers' cabins aboard the Halifax class present a curious contrast. Despite their inherent elegance, an unexpected sight disrupts the ambiance—a testament to the resourcefulness of the officers. In the absence of built-in privacy curtains, makeshift solutions take center stage. Strings, blankets, curtain rods, and black-out curtains become the creative tools of the occupants, resulting in a scene reminiscent of improvised constructions in distant lands.

Within these refined cabins, a symphony of ingenuity unfolds. Strings crisscross the room, securing billowing fabric folds, while blankets hang unevenly from hooks and nails. Precariously balanced curtain rods traverse the space, challenging gravity. Amidst the orderly surroundings, bursts of color or pattern from black-out curtains paradoxically serve as both barriers and decorative elements, adding an unexpected charm.

The officers' quarters embody a captivating blend of elegance and improvisation. These ad hoc curtain systems, born out of necessity, symbolize the officers' adaptability and resilience. It is a visual narrative that reveals their resourceful nature and transforms the ordinary into an extraordinary testament to human creativity within the confines of a structured hierarchy.

Seriously, does anyone know anyone who was responsible for either designing the officers cabins or choosing the bunking system and know why they decided to forgo this feature?

Seems like either a really dumb idea or a really a stupid oversight. Did they think we wouldn't want them?

 

[Eaglelord17]

How many people are in the officers cabins? The answer could be as simple as you don’t have 20 other people in a really small space and therefore isn’t as necessary as elsewhere.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

On the CPF? Most cabins were never supposed to have more than one occupant for any length of time. That went out the window quickly when the reality of crewing came into play.

Also, with most cabins having settees/fold up bunks, I am not sure how that would work.

 

[Halifax Tar]

We're going back almost 40 years to a time before I was born: A question that has always bothered every naval and MH officer I know, but for which no one has ever had an answer.

The officers' cabins aboard the Halifax class present a curious contrast. Despite their inherent elegance, an unexpected sight disrupts the ambiance—a testament to the resourcefulness of the officers. In the absence of built-in privacy curtains, makeshift solutions take center stage. Strings, blankets, curtain rods, and black-out curtains become the creative tools of the occupants, resulting in a scene reminiscent of improvised constructions in distant lands.

Within these refined cabins, a symphony of ingenuity unfolds. Strings crisscross the room, securing billowing fabric folds, while blankets hang unevenly from hooks and nails. Precariously balanced curtain rods traverse the space, challenging gravity. Amidst the orderly surroundings, bursts of color or pattern from black-out curtains paradoxically serve as both barriers and decorative elements, adding an unexpected charm.

The officers' quarters embody a captivating blend of elegance and improvisation. These ad hoc curtain systems, born out of necessity, symbolize the officers' adaptability and resilience. It is a visual narrative that reveals their resourceful nature and transforms the ordinary into an extraordinary testament to human creativity within the confines of a structured hierarchy.

Seriously, does anyone know anyone who was responsible for either designing the officers cabins or choosing the bunking system and know why they decided to forgo this feature?

Seems like either a really dumb idea or a really a stupid oversight. Did they think we wouldn't want them?

I'll happily trade you my space in 3 or 17 mess for your curtainless bunk in one of the two or one person cabins.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I never even used a curtain, would just lay there in my underwear on the top rack with a little red light I strung across the deckhead.

I saw it as a form of active defence against busy bodies busting in to my cabin when I'm off watch

 

[daftandbarmy]

I never even used a curtain, would just lay there in my underwear on the top rack with a little red light I strung across the deckhead.

I saw it as a form of active defence against busy bodies busting in to my cabin when I'm off watch

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I didn't go full Army though, never implemented Commando Tuesdays or Thursdays

 

[brihard]

At least it was a red light and not a black light.

 

[Navy_Pete]

It's because they are fold up racks, and generally the bunking is done so that the people sharing the cabin are either on the same schedule or alternating watches, so usually not a big deal.

Unless you are a CSE, in which case it's always sleepy time, but then they have sleeping superpowers. Sharing a cabin with the CSE was depressing, realizing I was going to bed hours after while waking up hours before, and somewhere I choose poorly. Still hard to beat 50,000 shaft horse power!

 

[Kilted]

The Navy is allowed makeshift curtains? We get in trouble every time we try to have them in Meaford.

 

[Halifax Tar]

The Navy is allowed makeshift curtains? We get in trouble every time we try to have them in Meaford.

I've seen them in the Army too... But it was always when deployed...

 

[daftandbarmy]

I've seen them in the Army too... But it was always when deployed...

The Army believes that we need to tear down walls, not build them, between each other so we can fight as a stronger team. Viz

 

[OldSolduer]

I've seen them in the Army too... But it was always when deployed...

I suppose this the time when someone says "You had a bedspace? Luxury!! I shared a cardboard box with my cousin"

 

[Grimey]

I never even used a curtain, would just lay there in my underwear on the top rack with a little red light I strung across the deckhead.

I saw it as a form of active defence against busy bodies busting in to my cabin when I'm off watch

One of my more rotund mess mates did the same, sans underwear. Shakes were interesting.

 

[Grimey]

It's because they are fold up racks, and generally the bunking is done so that the people sharing the cabin are either on the same schedule or alternating watches, so usually not a big deal.

Unless you are a CSE, in which case it's always sleepy time, but then they have sleeping superpowers. Sharing a cabin with the CSE was depressing, realizing I was going to bed hours after while waking up hours before, and somewhere I choose poorly. Still hard to beat 50,000 shaft horse power!

That came across as a bit whiny

 

[medicineman]

The Army believes that we need to tear down walls, not build them, between each other so we can fight as a stronger team. Viz

In 29 Palms and Camp Pendleton, when confronted with this, I always had a newspaper or large magazine as my privacy walls.

 

[SupersonicMax]

These problems don’t exist at Marriott hotels. Just saying.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

One of my more rotund mess mates did the same, sans underwear. Shakes were interesting.

I mean, I'm not saying that didn't happen in the tropics

 

[KevinB]

In 29 Palms and Camp Pendleton, when confronted with this, I always had a newspaper or large magazine as my privacy walls.

In Bridgeport at the USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center, I found bringing a porn mag and announcing I was going to crank one off, usually provided a lot of privacy to have a dump in peace.

 

[RangerRay]

In Bridgeport at the USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center, I found bringing a porn mag and announcing I was going to crank one off, usually provided a lot of privacy to have a dump in peace.

I know a guy who did that in the shacks in Wainwright…and we had private stalls! I’m not sure he did that to have a dump in peace though…