As a lad I saw lots of pictures from Boys Own Annual etc that showed fierce naval battles with sailors on the deck.
It was some years later that I was told that when a major warship fired from her main turrets anyone on the deck anywhere near would have been either blown or sucked overboard. When a major ship is at battle stations most of the crew are below* and often in the most vulnerable compartments of the ship. *(Aircraft carriers excepted!).