Quote Originally Posted by Frank S View Post
I seam to remember <snip> only easy way to descend them was to hook your boots on the railing and slide down at the risk of being written up of course.
Written up? Lol. First off, could depend on watch reliefs 15 minutes before hand. Could always find some kind of entertainment until 5 or 10 minutes after. Then Seabiscuit was in the gate.
On carriers, the ladderways are positioned [mostly] alternately from the hanger bay up the tower, usually 10 or 11 levels. With signal bridge and navigation bridge at the top I'd drop through one floor hatch and swing around at each level for the next. Like Popeye I'm not tall, so didn't hook boots, just straight-armed them. Usually whooop-whooping Curly style silently. Real fast because I banked in the turns.
Well, Captains elevator is in the same space. Almost nailed once, stepping into hanger seconds before elevator car opened. Skipper and Navigator awaited the car in the tower, I didn't slip handrails until one deck below. Men don't wink at each other, but there's a look from superiors that means "We know."