Life in the lower levelsof a warship

The prospect of a small steel-enclosed world crashing in around a man has a useful way of concentrating the mind. Men whose stations were in belowdecks compartments, situated below the waterline and sealed in at battle stations by airtight doors, were keenly aware that they already lay in their tombs should a torpedo hit.
(from Neptune's Inferno, by James D. Hornfischer)


Sleeping quarters belowdecks

“Below decks it was HOT, no air conditioning. Air was taken from topside (outside) and blown into the living compartments. At night when you slept in your bunk, you sweat. Your mattress would get real damp. When you got up the first thing you did was cover up your mattress with a fireproof cover. This would be almost airtight and after a few weeks your bunk became pretty ripe. First chance you had the ship would air bedding. You would take your bedding topside and air it. I had a large air duct alongside my bunk. I cut a small hole in it and fitted a piece of a tin can to divert some air onto me. It helped.”
William Taylor, Boatswain’s Mate 1/c, on the battleship North Carolina

More HERE on warships.