Absolutely BRUTAL! Guys would be crammed on top of each other in cargo holds, in the South Pacific heat, in pools of feces, for several days. I read an account of a POW who survived four years as a POW in Japan, where he said of the four years, the 6 days on the Prison ship was by far the worst part.
About 23 years ago, I went on board a WWII Liberty Ship that was parked here in Jacksonville on the St Johns River, for a display for 2 weeks. I recall touching the wall of that ship, that was here in May or June, and it was quite hot to the touch. Because like the tour guide said, it was just an inch or so between you and the outside. The sun was cooking that steel. And that was with some fans blowing and hatches open,
