7. Lockwood ensured his crews received adequate rest and recreation
In the first two years of the war, submarines departing Pearl Harbor for war patrols were expected to be at sea for 9 weeks or more. Due to their limitations, submarine cruises offered spartan accommodations for the crew. Inadequate storage prevented fresh fruit and vegetables after the first few days. Powdered replaced fresh milk. Unlike surface ships, which often carried ice cream machines, large refrigeration units, and frequently replenished at sea, submariners endured a restricted diet, little personal space, and most canned food. Submariners relaxed with games of cribbage and acey-ducey, watched movies, and worked on qualifications.
Lockwood recognized the need for rest when the crews returned to Pearl Harbor. Submarines arrived at the pier to piles of fresh fruit, crates of vegetables, ice cream, and other amenities long absent. He arranged for returning crews to enjoy stays of two weeks at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, a Honolulu landmark leased by the Navy during the war. Lockwood frequently stood on the pier as the submarine worked in, ready to greet the officers and crew and discuss their completed patrol. He maintained discipline, but supported the men under his command, especially in conflicts with bureaucrats and others in Washington. He also strictly controlled information released to the press, firmly establishing the submarine force’s reputation as the “Silent Service”.