Mess deck life on a Corvette

This drawing is timed at 1600 hours - 4 pm - teatime, when the matelot "wets the leaves" and the day's deck work is over. Hammocks may then be slung and those off watch can get their heads down for an hour or two. Generally, at 1600 hours the ship is awake and, in the drawing, a watch keeper , who has just come off the afternoon watch and had his tea, is seen hoisting himself into his swinging hammock. On board a Corvette, Indian Ocean.