#39: “Hot Racking” Can Lead to Strange Sleepovers
When bunk space is limited, sailors share beds in shifts—a practice called “hot racking.” As one sailor wakes, another takes their place, often while the mattress is still warm. But schedules can overlap, and more than one groggy submariner has slid into a bunk only to find it already occupied.
Rather than fight it, some choose to nap side by side, silently acknowledging the mistake. It’s awkward at first, then oddly normal. Personal space is a myth in terms of steel walls and constant noise. Hot racking is part necessity, part comedy, and a reminder of how close submarine life gets.
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