Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, IncJul 21, 2018

How Sleep and Tiredness Affect Team Performance in Submarines

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Fatigue from sleep loss and circadian disruption may significantly impact submarine team performance.

Team performance in submarines is influenced by both physiological and cognitive fatigue.
Sleep and circadian rhythms of submariners are affected by unique factors related to the submarine environment.
There is substantial evidence that individual performance declines due to fatigue from sleep loss and circadian disruption.
Understanding the effects of fatigue on team dynamics is essential for improving operations in submarines.
Future research should explore the relationship between sleep protection and team performance in submarine settings.

Simplified

Successful submarine operations rely on the performance of tactical teams who must work under conditions of physiological and cognitive fatigue. Sleep loss and circadian disruption contribute to fatigue in this setting and, although the effects of this fatigue have been studied extensively in individuals, little is understood about how fatigue impacts team performance Рespecially in a submarine environment. The present review provides an overview of the fatigue on submarine teams and is divided into four main sections: 1) A discussion of factors that should be considered in team fatigue research. 2) An outline of how sleep and circadian rhythms of submariners are impacted by submarine-specific factors. 3) A discussion of the known effects of fatigue from sleep loss and circadian disruption on individual performance. 4) A consideration of how this fatigue impacts team performance. As the submarine force has recognized the need to protect submariner sleep and improve team dynamics, it is vital that future research accounts for the interplay between these two factors.

How Sleep and Tiredness Affect Team Performance in Submarines

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