Sir, – I read the excellent articles, ‘Sleepwalking into a Crisis’ by Lt Cdr A R Munro [113/2, p. 231] and ‘Fatigue: The Maritime Stalker’ by Lt Cdr Kirk Macrae in Volume 113/2 [p. 198] with mixed emotions. Both address what I have long regarded as the most insidious issue in the Fleet; the mismanagement of sleep and its effects on fighting efficiency. I am glad that the authors have directed attention to this issue but sad that it remains largely unaddressed, especially in submarines. As a submarine warfare officer I saw the changes in attitude described by Lt Cdr Macrae: in the early part of…
