A reply by Anonymous has prompted me to look further at the COVID-19 social distancing pressures on submariners, their families and other loved ones.
I imagine all these restrictions and worry about family on COVID restrictions (from Fleet Base West at HMAS Stirling (below) to Perth CBD) are playing on submariners' minds as they go on their next mission.
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Pete
Hi Anonymous
Yes, no doubt, colds and maybe flu (?) may impact crews on missions doubly.
But COVID-19 is a greater order of risk. I hear submarine crews are now required to go into individual quarantine for 2 weeks Before the 2 to 3 month SSK mission.
2 weeks quarantine on top of the usual hardship of separation from families (and other loved ones) couldn't be fun.
Also even the downtime R & R onshore is compromised by the Western Australian government's understandable COVID-19 restrictions. Hitting the town is severely limited.
Onshore families are likely feeling the pressure of social distancing restrictions. Maybe ones spouse has lost her job in Perth. The freedom of kids going off to school may now change to stay-at-home learning. The extra money (pay for hardship) submariners generate now cannot be spent in the usual way.
Pete