Where Life Boats Ever Used on Naval Ships?

Question

My friend tells me Naval ships never had lift boats.. And I say they did if you consider there sea to shore boats that where used and I'm sure some boats today still carry inflatable boats in order to reach the shore with out docking. These boat could in turn double as life boats. Not to mention each one had an inflatable life vest. So My friend's morbid but stern opinion that naval ships never had life boat and men where just left to there deaths if a ship went down just can't be true. Or is it?

Answer 1

My carrier had life boats. So did the escort boats. (Viet Nam)

There were 2 jolly boats and the Captains gig, besides the inflatables, but not enough to carry the whole crew.

Answer 2

You are right and your friend is wrong,

Answer 3

Yes, Naval ships have lifeboats and liferafts. They (the rafts) are much easier to manage, stow, and deploy when needed.

However, from time to time in battle, a ship is so suddenly and severely damaged that it explodes and sinks before anybody has a chance to escape. Your friend apparently has only concentrated on those types of disasters.

Answer 4

Yes they were. If a ship got hit with a torpedo it usually sank fast and had very hot fires. Men would jump rather than burn to death. Some of the lucky ones could find a piece of floating debris and hold on and hope and pray to be rescued.

Answer 5

your friend is full of c**p

Answer 6

navy ships don't have the room a cruise ship has to have dedicated "life boats" for everyone. They do have between 2 to 6 motor launches that can carry probably 25% of the crews; in WW2 up to the 60's, they had whats known as Carly floats....big doughnut- letter 0 shaped things made of wood or even balsa... (you see on the turrets of WW2 cruisers and battleships, or placed around the decks of destroyers) which could support people in the water   but not keep the sharks away....see USS Indianapolis for a gruesome story......

with the tremendous advances in inflatable liferafts since WW2 Navy ships now carry inflatable liferafts for 150% of the crew.

Find a picture of a modern carrier....see all those white or gray painted cylinders around the deck edge? Look like big 55 gallon drums? Each one is a 25-50 person capacity liferaft with a canopy, food, water and med supplies.

Indianapolis sank quickly; Jeneau blew up with everyone aboard; but other than that the USN spends A LOT of effort in searching and rescuing their own..

Your friend has issues.......