Naw News - Royal Navy · ed gales ripped into their 36ft yacht Touchdown 200 miles south-west of Brest. For three days Mr Norman had battled at the helm, and when he made the distress

Plus othercash prizestotalling£200 in ourJOKER JACKcompetition

Naw NewsOCTOBER 1997 70p

uncan andfirst Trafalgar,page 26; • • v . .

Diana'sNavydayscentrepages

Liverpoolat crisisisland

• HMS Liverpool off Montserrat -the story of the destroyer's ten daysamong the people of the island, asfears for their safety grew, appearswith more pictures in pages 12-13.

Picture: PO(PHOT) Jon Garthwaitwe

BIGGER aircraft carri-ers with more war-planes and greaterstrike capability arebeing seen by seniorNaval officers as themost effective replace-ment for Britain'sInvincible-class ships,writes Anton Hanney.

Although the three Harriercarriers have given sterlingservice over the past twodecades, the Royal Navy'ssenior staff are keenly awarethat the ships were not specifi-cally designed for the opera-tional role they are beingcalled upon to fulfil in today'sworld.

Conceived in the depths of theCold War, they were intended pri-marily as the nucleus of a taskforce to combat the Russian mar-itime threat - a job they havenever had to do for real.

As long ago as the Falkiands War,HMS Invincible was proving the needfor flexibility by launching Harriers onstrike sorties. More than ten yearslater, the class's primary contributionsto NATO's sorties over the formerYugoslavia were in the strike, patrol

'Bigger is better'belief by Fleet

and reconnaissance roles. Althoughthe British carrier-borne aircraft pro-vided only four per cent of theAlliance's air assets there, they fleweight per cent of the total sorties.

The lesson has been well learned.Though the Navy do not want to goback to the steam catapult - they fore-see the ultimate replacement for theSea Harrier as a joint UK-US VSTOL

Women in subsa long way off

WOMEN are unlikely to serve inRoyal Navy submarines for manyyears to come, Navy News haslearned.

It is understood from seniorNaval sources that although astudy into female sailors on sub-marines is progressing, no sub-marines in service or currentlyplanned are structured to acceptwomen crew members.

Plans for the new Astute-classvessels are so far advanced that itwould be difficult to convert eventhem for mixed crews.

aircraft - hearts are becoming set onan increase in carrier size and greaterJoint Service "operability".

"The ship should be able to operatethe number of aircraft that could per-form any task," says Deputy FleetCommander, Vice Admiral JeremyBlackham, one of those convincedthat bigger is better. "A larger shipwould be capable of embarking moreaircraft and would therefore be morecost-effective.

"Increase in size need not be verymuch more expensive - HMS Ocean(the new helicopter assault ship) costabout the same as a frigate to build.The cost depends on what technologyand weapons you put into the ship, notsize alone."

His view of marit ime air power isthat it can often be brought to bearquicker and nearer the target thanland-based aircraft, it needs no bases,it can avoid bad weather, and can bemixed and matched to the task inhand, using any dual-capable aircraft.

The need for the Invincible-class topack a stronger punch is emphasisedby the plan to extend the flight deckand stowage space forward by remov-

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2 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997

Design competition for Falklands chapelRESULTS of a design competitionfor the long-planned FalklandsMemorial Chapel are due to beannounced before the end of theyear.

Building of a chapel on a siteoffered by Pangbourne College, nearReading, has been fraught with diffi-culties since it was first suggestedover five years ago.

A scheme to transfer a period build-ing from Salisbury fell through, andthis year the scheme received anothersetback when a design submitted to

Radar inhunt for

Newbury District Council by theMemorial Chapel Trust was refusedplanning permission.

The local authority referred the mat-ter to the Royal Fine Art Commissionwho agreed that the chapel would be amonument of national importance andlaunched the competition in conjunc-tion with the Royal Institute of BritishArchitects.

Trust chairman, Admiral Sir JohnWoodward, said that so far 30 compe-tition entries had been received. Hetold Navy News that the winning

design had to be within the £1.1 mil-lion budget for the chapel, out ofwhich the £50,000 cost of the competi-tion would also have to be met.

A symbolic start on building workwas made in June when the chapel'sfoundation stone was unveiled by LtCdr The Duke of York. "We still needabout £400,000 of the projected costof the chapel, but we foresee thatdonations will come rolling in oncebuilding work begins," said AdmiralWoodward. "All foundation surveyswere completed for the original

design, and once the new design isapproved we hope to see the chapelbuilt in a year."

Meanwhile, Cdr Rick Jolly RN (retd),chairman of the South Atlantic MedalAssociation, has suggested that thechapel house a computerised memor-ial as well as a traditional book ofremembrance for the 257 British per-sonnel killed in the Falklands War.

"With the co-operation of families,the pictures of those who died, withtext about them, could be called up ona computer screen," he said.

The chapel will be designed to seat550, and the campaign to enlist peopleto either embroider or sponsor akneeler for £30 - or both - is continu-ing. Chapel Trust secretary AngelaPerry said 250 kneelers were stillneeded.

Donors and volunteers should con-tact her at Pangbourne College,Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 SLA.General donations to the Trust shouldalso be sent there, cheques beingpayable to the Falkland IslandsMemorial Chapel Trust.

rsRADAR equipment and tech-niques used to find the bodiesof Fred and Rosemary West'svictims may be used in a newsearch for a Royal Marinebelieved to have been mur-dered on the Falkland Islands17 years ago.

Forensic researchers equippedwith the latest technology believethat they have the best chance yetof finding the body of Mne AlanAddis.

A final decision on whether theForensic Research AdvisoryGroup will deployed will be madethis month. If they go they will alsotake be a dog specially trained tosniff out bodies, no matter howlong they have been buried.

Mne Addis disappeared in 1980after a party at a social club atremote North Arm. At the time itwas believed he had slipped andfallen into the water while drunk,or had wandered off and died inthe hinterland.

ArrestsHowever, following a campaign

by his mother, a police investiga-tion team from Devon andCornwall was sent to work withthe Islands police in 1994. Theyconcluded that it was likely thatthe marine had been murdered,but they could find no body, andthough three islanders werearrested, they were released with-out charge.

If the new search goes aheadwill begin when the forensic teamreach the Falklands in the newyear - during the islands' summer.Its members wil l include Prof.John Hunter, a forensic archaeol-ogist from BirminghamUniversity, and Sgt Mick Swin-dells of Lancashire police.

Sgt Swindells has led the field innew training methods to teachdogs to sniff out bodies. He toldNavy News: "The dog and theradar will ensure that nothing canslip by us - as long as we cast thenet in the right place."

Norfolk'sislandsduty endsHMS NORFOLK hasreturned home to Devonportafter a seven-month deploy-ment as Falkland Islandsguardship.

The Type 23 frigate was relievedon station by her sister ship, HMSSomerset, in late May, and thensailed to the Pacific via theMagellan Strait to take part inexercises with the Chilean,Peruvian and US navies.

After visiting San Francisco shebegan her journey home throughthe Panama Canal. During herdeployment she has steamedalmost 30,000 miles, spent 145nights at sea and visited sevencountries, including Brazil,Uruguay and ports in the WestIndies.

Yacht people pay tribute to helo man's courage

RESCUED FAMILY'STHANK-YOU VISIT

THE FAMILY rescued from their battered yacht byHMS Illustrious's helicopters have visited the chiefpetty officer who risked his own life to save theirs.

Don and Yvonne Newman,and their six-year-old sonDaniel, called at the Portlandhome of CPOACMN(D)Sandy Saundcrs to thank himfor his part in plucking themfrom their boat, tossed help-lessly by waves of over 30ft inthe Bay of Biscay last month.

Chief Saunders, whose braveryhas been praised by Mr Newman,was the winchman in one of 820Squadron's Sea King helicoptersdeployed from the carrier inresponse to Don Newman's dis-tress call.

The ship was 60 miles away atthe time and heading forPortsmouth after an eight-monthglobal deployment on ExerciseOcean Wave. The Newmans wereon the first leg of a planned round-the-world trip when the unexpect-ed gales ripped into their 36ft yachtTouchdown 200 miles south-west ofBrest.

For three days Mr Norman hadbattled at the helm, and when hemade the distress call he was nearto exhaustion and his wife dehy-drated by severe seasickness.

Chief Saunders was a member of

the crew of the first aircraft toarrive on the scene. "Conditionswere pretty horrendous," he toldNa\y News. "Winds were over 50knots, visibility was poor in drivingrain, the seas were huge and theyacht was pitching. It made it diffi-cult for the pilot, Lt Luke Morgan,to maintain a hovering position ashe had no reference point."

For 40 minutes ChiefSaunders was dangling onthe end of the winch, makingdozens of attempts to boardthe wildly pitching yacht. "Ihad to come in low to get onboard the small vessel," hesaid. "The trouble with thatwas that the waves wereswamping me and I wascontinually in the water."

Don Newman said: "The deter-mination on the man's face wasamazing. He gritted his teeth andjust carried on. His bravery wasincredible."

Eventually, and with ski lfulwinch operation by the squadron'ssenior observer, Lt Cdr Ian Fitter,Chief Saunders reached the yacht'scockpit and Mrs Newman waswinched up. But by that time the

CPO Sandy Saunders - 'We were in great danger of sinking.'

Torbay visits TorbayFOR THE first time in almosta decade, the nuclear sub-marine HMS Torbay has visit-ed her namesake town.

The boat moored just offBrixham breakwater on

September 18-21. Navalrecruiting staff were on handto advise the parties ofschoolchildren and SeaCadets who were welcomedon board.

aircraft was running out of fuel andhad to return to Illustrious, leavingChief Saunders, Don and Daniel tobe picked up by a second aircraft,piloted by Lt Cdr Jennings, about20 minutes away.

A container ship which had alsoanswered the distress call wasasked to provide shelter with herhigh hull. But in attempting to dothat she was blown into the yacht,nearly capsizing it.

"We were in great danger ofsinking," said Chief Saunders. "Ithought as we scraped down theside of the ship that she would snapour keel off. I'd got hold of Danieland we were all ready to jump."

Fortunately the yacht stayedafloat and when Lt Cdr Jennings'aircraft arrived Daniel was winched

up. By that time it was dark andfurther winching from the yachtbecame too risky. Chief Saundersand Don Newman had to swimaway from the vessel to be pickedup from the sea, POACMN ColinHicks bringing up Mr Newman ona double lift.

Sandy Saunders later admittedthat it had been one of the mostdangerous rescue operations hehad experienced.

Paying tribute to him, Lt CdrJennings said: "CPO Saunders isvery experienced and trained tooperate in difficult conditions, buthe was a very brave man to godown into that boat. He knew itwas the only way the family couldbe saved."

Learningthe fastway withthe NavyHIGH-SPEED training isbeing provided by theRoyal Navy's GibraltarSquadron for members ofthe Royal Gibraltar Policemarine section. They areteaching the Rock's bob-bies, and RN personnel, inthe use of high perfor-mance craft at sea - suchas this rigid inflatableboat. The course includeshigh-speed interceptionand night work, with theassistance of instructorsfrom RM Poole.

Picture: Cpl Kev Jones RAF

Award planfor sailor'sbid to saveswimmer

A SAILOR from the mine-hunter HMS Ledbury hasbeen recommended for a life-saving award after attemptingto save a drowning man in aBristol dock.

The recommendation camefrom Avon and Somerset policeafter LMEM Michael Dewardived fully clothed into the dockin a determined but unsuccessfulrescue bid.

In a letter to the Navy, thepolice have also commended theactions of the whole ship's compa-ny during the incident in lateAugust.

The Ledbury was berthed inBristol for a visit to her affiliatedvillage of Ledbury when LMEMDewar was on the dockside.Nearby, one of a group of holiday-makers who had been drinkingtried to swim in the dock but gotinto difficulties.

DiversMichael dived in fully clothed

and tried to save the man, but hesank before the sailor could reachhim. "I swam around lookingbelow," said Michael, "but it waslike there was no one there."

Meanwhile, Michael's ship-mates in Ledbury quicklyresponded to the emergency bylaunching the ship's inflatableGemini craft with Navy diversABs Daisy May and Dickie Dixonembarked. They searched unsuc-cessfully for the missing man untilpolice divers arrived.

The man's body was recoveredfrom the dock four days later.

In the letter to theCommanding Officer of the FirstMine Countermeasures Squad-ron, Supt D. Warren, Bristol'sCentral District commander,thanked Ledbury's CO, Lt CdrAnthony Cramp, and his men fortheir actions.

"Your officers and crew actedwith great professionalism and area credit to the Royal Navy," hesaid.

NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 3

HMS Invincible 'on watchfor Britain' off southernSpain, makes room lor theRAF - see page 19.

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Piped on boardPERSONAL Piper to the Queen Mother Pipe Major Ian Kingof the London and Scottish Coy, the London Regimentjoined the Plymouth Pipe Band on board HMS Argyll duringNavy Days - see also page 29).

Odessa stelinks with U

DS upkraine

HMS CAMPBELTOWN was visiting the Black Sea port of Odessa last month, furtherstrengthening the growing warm relationship between the Royal and Ukrainian navies(see also page 19).

This was underlined by thepresence on board of the FlagOfficer Surface Flotilla, RearAdmiral Peter Franklyn.

He paid calls on the Head of theOdessa Provincial Administration,Ruslan Bodelan; Mayor EdouardGurvits; Commander OdessaMilitary District, Col GenVolodymyr Shkidchenko; and theCommander Western NavalRegion, Rear Admiral DmytroUkrainets.

to study RN seamanship and dam-age control techniques and she wasopen to the public on two after-noons.

A wreath was laid by AdmiralFranklyn at the Tomb of theUnknown Sailor in the city immor-

talised in the massacre on the stepssequence in Eisenstein's filmBattleship Potemkin.

HMS Campbeltown returned tothe Mediterranean for NATOexercises and is due back in the UKat the end of this month.

Joint exerciseLater he flew to Sevastopol to

meet the C-in-C Ukrainian Navy,Rear Admiral Mykhaylo Yezheland talk with officer cadets at theNaval Institute before both joinedtalks with the defence ministers ofthe UK, Ukraine and Poland andthe opening phase of a joint peace-keeping exercise conducted by air-borne units from the three coun-tries.

During her five-day stayin Odessa the ship was vis-ited by the UkrainianDefence Minister Col GenOleksandr Kuzmuk and hisPolish and British counter-parts, Stanislav Dobrzh-ansky and GeorgeRobertson.Ukrainian Navy personnel also

came on board the Type 22 frigate

No early movefor Mary Rosemuseum plan

PLANS for a new museum to house the Mary Rose could meanthat the timbers of the Tudor warship would have to undergo amassive movement operation.

Development ideas, commis-sioned from outside consultants bythe Mary Rose Trust, include a£28.5 million, Lottery-aided pro-ject for a new building to house thehistoric warship on the PortsmouthNaval Base site currently occupiedby an early 20th centuryboathouse.

Mary Rose Trust spokesmanAndy Newman told Navy Newsthat the remains of the ship werestill undergoing active preserva-

tion and that it could not be movedfor five to six years.

Other options involved leavingthe ship in the covered dry-dockwhich it currently occupies andbuilding a new museum around itor on a site close by. He stressedthat no decision had yet beenmade. The Trustees would decideon the preferred option by aboutChristmas and submit a develop-ment plan to the National LotteryFund by next spring.

MARITIME Volunteer Serviceunits at Harwich and Ipswich tookpart in Marinex97, the five-yearlyfull exercise of the Harwich HavenAuthority major accident planwhich had a fire in the P&O ferryPride of Suffolk as its scenario.

AUDLEY Court, the newestresidential care facility operat-ed by Combat Stress, the Ex-Services Mental HealthAssociation, has opened inNewport, Shropshire.

NEW headquarters of theDefence Clothing and TextilesAgency was opened at Caversfield,Bicester by the Director GeneralLogistic Support, Maj Gen MartinWhite.

LORD Mayor of London SirRoger Clark spent a day at seain the nuclear submarine HMSSpartan during a visit to theRoyal Navy at Plymouth.

C-in-C FLEET Admiral Sir PeterAbbott met staff working on theCommon New Generation Frigateand the Merlin helicopter whilecalling at the new ProcurementExecutive headquarters at AbbeyWood, Bristol.

HMS SULTAN presented LadyFieldhpuse, new president ofthe King George's Fund forSailors SE HampshireCommittee, with £5,000, partof the record-breaking profitsfrom the Gosport establish-ment's summer show.

TANGMERE Military AviationMuseum has acquired its first heli-copter, an ex Fleet Air ArmWestland Whirlwind HAS 57, seri-al no. XN299 - the last to have apiston engine.


Drafty... Warfare and Operations

WE'RE 90 PER CENTOF THE WAY THERE!THE WARFARE DEPTdrafters at the NavalManning Agency inGosport continue tostrive to produce the'three Rs' of right per-son, right job and righttime.

Of the 9,500 ratings Dl divi-sion looks after, more than 90per cent fit the 3R target andwith your help and understand-ing of the various initiativesbeing implemented, that per-centage could rise still further.

Drafty regularly hears claimsfrom Operations Branch AbleRates that there are no moreLeading Hand courses and so it isnot worth attempting the PPE.

That is not true, but courses can-not continue for ever. The sooneryou pass your PPE, the sooner youwill be allocated a place on course.

Did you know that you can stilltransfer to the Warfare Branch?Details about sideways entry andbranch transfer opportunities areissued regularly by CND, the latestsignal being NMA Gosport231305ZJUN97. If you need moreinformation get your DivisionalOfficer to contact your CND deskofficer. The Warfare Branch needsyou!

SS(OM) SchemeIn the good old days there was

a select band of sailors, who hav-ing been recommended, wereplaced on the fast track promo-tion -ladder to leading hand. Asimilar scheme is now in force forOMs. Initial selection takes placeduring parts one, two or threetraining, but exceptional ratingsmay be considered during theirfirst sea draft. Full details are inDCI(RN) 48/97.

If you think that you have theability and potential for early

"Right on!

advancement to LOM do not hesi-tate, see your Divisional Officernow. DOs, do you have any poten-tial candidates?

RN Form C230One of the most important tools

used by Drafty, irrespective of yourrate or branch, is the DraftingPreference Form (Form C230).

This document provides themeans by which you, your DO andHead of Department are able tokeep NDD informed of your draft-ing wishes.

On occasions, vital pieces ofinformation are not known byDrafty because you have notadvised us of changes to your per-sonal circumstances.

Common examples includechanges to family details, passingor upgrading driving examinations,change of home address, prefer-ence area changes, volunteering

for LFS and volunteering for seaEOOT or at short notice.

Although you may have correct-ly updated NOK Form S537 thisinformation does not form part ofDrafty's data.

Remember, a C230 remainsextant until superseded; when didyou last submit or update aDrafting Preference Form?

RN Form C240Are you looking for a particular

course or draft? Then let us knowby submitting a C240. When con-sidering your next shore draft youmay wish to consult with yourExecutive Officer or UPO whoshould hold a copy of the WarfareDrafting Commander's 'Distrib-ution of Shore Jobs and LFS bil-lets."

This document is issued bi-annually and contains details ofshore billets, including LFS. It can-

not say when the billet is availablebut a telephone call to the appro-priate drafting desk from your DOwill provide the answer.

Unlike the C230, the C240 has ashelf life of two years so use theseforms to your advantage and keepDrafty in the picture. Remember,use the Divisional system in orderto keep all interested parties in theloop and don't forget the sell-bydates.

GappingThis has been a difficult year

with respect to WB gapping and awide range of initiatives have beenundertaken in an effort to resolvethe problem which is kept underconstant review.

If you wish to remain at sea orwould like to be through draftedon completion of your present seadraft you can help the situation. Allyou do is put pen to paper and letdrafty have a C240.

Also, if you wish to extend yourengagement your engagement orwithdraw your notice, Drafty willbe pleased to give your DO advice.

About five months before yourERD, if Drafty cannot identifyyour relief, he will signal the badnews. The signal has two aims,firstly to alert the ship to the poten-tial problem and secondly to trig-ger you into submitting a RedCross Drafting Preference Form(RXDPC). Once received, theRXDPC supersedes the last C230held on the computer and there-fore should be completed in fullstating 'none' in the appropriateboxes if no preferences are beingexpressed.

The DivisionalSystem

Finally, there now follows aparty-political broadcast from yourkind hearted, caring and under-standing drafting staff...

"All yours, Chief!

"Although we love to receiveyour signals and faxes, it wouldhelp immensely if only DOs orDivisional Coordinators establishcommunication by telephone. Onaverage, more than 1,000 tele-phone calls are logged to the direc-torate each week.

"Visits to the WarfareDepartment in CenturionBuilding are always most wel-come, but in order to gain maxi-mum benefit they are best under-taken by Co-ordinators,Divisional Officers or Heads ofDepartments."

Warfare and OperationsDrafting Directorate

D1

AD1

AD2D1A

AD1A

D1B

AD1B

D1C

AD1C

AD1W

SMA

Warfare, Ops & WEDrafting CommanderOfficer Manager/Asstto Drafting CommanderCorrespondenceDrafting Officer (R) (M)(AW) (AAW) (AWT) (WA)Drafting Section

Drafting Officer (UW) (S)Drafting Section

Drafting Officer (Comms)(CT) (Tels) (OM(C)) WEM(R)and WEM(O)Drafting SectionComms/CT/OM(C)/Tels

Drafting SectionWEM(R) WEM(O)

NMA Gosport

Cdr S Haill

CPOWTRJ ThorntonMrs S ChumbleyLt Cdr G Palmer

ROW Williams

2494

2497

24972457

2450LWWTR HutchinsonLWWTR SaundersWWTR BroadbentLt Cdr D R LongPOWTR SassLWWTR HallidayLWWTR JordanWTR J LeesonLt Cdr R Villier

POW DochertyLRO(G) WellerWWTR LewisPOW PlummerLWWTR AllenWWTR WrightFax

245421512441

2454

24422496

25112529

2449

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Oil painting commemoratesfierce attack on Foylebank

WHEN 20 Stuka DiveBombers attacked HMSFoylebank in PortlandHarbour the battle wasshort, bloody and fierce.

There were many dead andwounded on the upper deckbut hardly any survivors frombelow. Of her complement of292, 72 were killed includinghalf of the 28 officers. Almost athird of the 220 survivors werewounded.

To mark the bravery of theship's company on the morn-ing Of July 4, 1940, the HMSFoylebank Association hascommissioned a painting of theaction.

Despite appalling damageand carnage, the men on the5,500 ton auxiliary anti-aircraftship fought back with eight 4inhigh angle guns mounted infour turrets, two four-barrelled20mm pom-pom guns and twomultiple O.Sin machine guns.

Early on, bombs destroyedthe electricity supply and themain armament had to be firedmanually using ammunitionfrom the ready-use lockers onthe gun decks.

The pom poms and machineguns came under the some ofthe heaviest fire but continuedto engage the attackers untilthey withdrew.

LS Jack Mantle ofSouthampton showed out-standing courage and contin-ued to fire the starboard pompom as several of his gun crewwere killed. His leg was shat-tered by a bomb but he kept onfiring even though he was

grievously wounded again onlyminutes later. His courage borehim up until the end of the fightwhen he fell by his gun.

He was posthumouslyawarded a VC.

Two other men, LS ThomasCousins and LS George Gould

received the DSM.Both were gunners manning

the ship's close rangeweapons.

• Above: LS Jack Mantledepicted In action on HMSFoylebank by Major BV Wynn-Weminck.


Ships of the Roval Naw No 503

Victoriousgets it alltogether

Putting a powerful nuclearsubmarine together is liketaking on a rather complex

jigsaw puzzle.In July 1986 a piece of steel was

cut and rolled to a radius of 21ft -and so 16,000-tonne Trident subma-rine HMS Victorious was born.

That first piece of steel, part of thepressure hull, now lies buried within subunit 10.9, somewhere in the boat's mis-sile compartment.

Early phases of building saw theassembly of elements of the pressurehull, bulkheads, decks and other steel-work - Victorious at that stage was a col-lection of 47 sub units, including thedome bulkheads which cap the ends ofthepressure hull envelope.

These units, at an average weight of65 tonnes, were fitted together andwelded to produce 17 major hull units,some of over 200 tonnes.

These major units were married up atVSEL Barrow with other elements -including the aft end construction andmain machinery space, at over 1,000tonnes - which were shipped in by seafrom Cammell Lairds and MotherwellBridge Fabricators.

On December 4, 1987, sub unit 8.2 -part of the control room - was loweredon to the South Build Line in theDevonshire Dock Hall, effectively mark-ing the laying of the keel.

Next came the outfit phase, when con-struction of the hull and most of the fit-tings were carried out simultaneously.

Nearly 900 deck, pipe and machinerymodules were built off the boat, and fit-ted through the open ends of the mainhull units before the hull was finallyclosed up and welded together.

This reduced the amount of workwhich needed to be carried out incramped spaces in the hull, but putgreater emphasis on the detailed plan-ning and project management.

By the end of 1989 the third phase -construction - was well under way, withmissile tubes and reactor componentshaving been slipped into place, and byMarch 1990 around 90 per cent of the

pressure hull was complete, with just themain machinery space to close.

With the boat still in two pieces, finalinstallation of pipes and cables wasbegun - by the time the submarine wasready for sea she would contain 25,000pipes, 13,000 main power cables and3,000 secondary cables.

Peak manning was attained during1992, when more than 1,300 techniciansand workers were involved in the build.The missile inner launch tubes were fit-ted, and work continued on the fitting ofthe 84,000 acoustic rubber tiles whichcover the hull of Victorious.

With the reactor core shipped inJune 1993, the boat was readyfor launch by Lady Newman on

September 29, 1993, when Victoriouswas moved out on to the ship lift to belowered into the water for the first time.

She was dived in the basin at Barrowto periscope depth for the first time onJanuary 7, 1994, to check her watertightintegrity and trim and stability, and shethen embarked on an intensive period ofcontractor's trials.

Her reactor was activated for the firsttime at the end of March 1994, andshortly after, the missile tubes were suc-cessfully tested. A deep dive and goodmachinery performance caused a gooddeal of pridje in VSEL staff, contractorsand RN staff involved in the build.

Victorious commissioned on January7, 1995, and her alternating crews of135 each have now slotted into thesecret patrols which make her Tridentmissiles such a potent deterrent.

When carried these solid-fuel mis-siles, some 55 tonnes each and 40ft inlength, sit in tubes 7ft wide and extend-ing through the four decks of the boat.The tubes are capped with a six-tonnemuzzle hatch.

Whenever missile are embarked thenerve centre - the missile control com-partment - becomes a classified areawith much restricted access. The sameapplies to the navigation centre, so thatthe submarine's position, which can beplotted with pinpoint accuracy, isknown to as few personnel as possible.

Facts andfigures

Class: SSBN - ShipSubmersible BallisticNuclearPennant number: S29Builder: VSEL, Barrow-in-FurnessLaunched: September 29,1993Commissioned: January 7,1995Displacement: 16,000tonnes divedLength: 150 metresBeam: 13.2 metresShip's company: 135 (14officers) - two crewsMachinery: Rolls-Roycepressurised water nuclearreactor 2, two GEC main tur-bines, one shaft, one emer-gency propulsion motorSpeed: 25 knots divedCombat data systems:Dowty Sema SubmarineCommand SystemSonars: Marconi/PlesseyType 2054 composite multi-frequency hull-mountedsonar suite plus integraltowed array. Additionalsonars for navigation,oceanographic analysis andcommunicationsRadars: Navigation - KelvinHughes Type 1007, l-bandArmaments: 16 LockheedTrident II rockets; thermonu-clear warheads contain sixMultiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles; MarconiSpearfish torpedoesAffiliations: District ofStirling, Worshipful Companyof Gold and Silver WyreDrawers, TS Gambia, HMSVictorious (1941-45)Reunion AssociationSponsor: Lady Newman

• Guarding Britain -ballistic missilenuclear submarineHMS Victorious.

BATTLEHONOURS

RIVOLI 1812BISMARCK 1941NORWAY 1941-42ARCTIC 1941-42BISCAY 1942NORTH AFRICA

1942MALTA CONVOYS

1942SABANG 1944PALEMBANG 1945OKINAWA 1945JAPAN 1945

Doughty fightersFOUR ships bore

the name HMSVictorious before

the submarine, shar-ing 11 Battle Honours.

The first two were74-gun, two-deckthird-rate ships, thefirst being launchedin 1785 at Blackwall.

She was involved inoperations off SouthAfrica in 1795, andspent the rest of hercareer in the EastIndies, being con-demned and broken upIn Lisbon In 1803 andon her way back to the UK.

The second was launched atBucklers Hard in October1808, and gained the first BattleHonour in 1812 in the Adriaticwhen she pounded French shipRivoli into submission.

After refit, she blockadedAmerican ports, then spent 40years as a floating barracksand depot in Portsmouth.

The third Victorious was a15,000 ton battleship of the

War veteran - HMS Victorious pictured In 1958.

Majestic class, launched atChatham in 1894.

She served with the Channel,Mediterranean and HomeFleets, and on the ChinaStation; war service was low-key, and after years as a depotship she was sold in 1923.

The fourth ship, the third23,000-ton Illustrious-Classarmoured Fleet carrier,launched in 1939 on Tyneslde,played a key role In the sinkingof the Bismarck, as her aircraft

caused a fuel link inthe German ship,obliging her to turntowards the forceswhich later sank her.

The carrier, whichserved for 32 years,spent the early waron Russian convoyduties and attackingNorwegian bases.

She also escortedthe famous MaltesePedestal convoy, andin 1943 switched tothe Pacific, but by1944 was back with

the Home Fleet andher aircraft took part in theaction against the Tlrpltz. Shethen saw out the war in thePacific, proving the wisdom ofBritish armoured carriers whenattacked by Kamikaze raiders -American wooden-deck shipswere out of action for months.

In the 1950s she was virtual-ly rebuilt with a fully-angledflight deck, and In 1969 shewas towed to be scrapped atFaslane - ironically the homebase of her successor.

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Letters

With Nelsonat Tenerif e

I WAS most interested toread last month's articleon HMS Grafton's visit toTenerife to mark the 200thanniversary of Nelson'sunsuccessful attack onSanta Cruz.

My great-great-grandfa-ther, Robert FrancisSimpson, was a WarrantOfficer serving in HMSTheseus and was incharge of the boat orboats landing the storm-ing party from the ship.

When Nelson camedown to the boats wound-ed, it fell to Simpson totake him off to the Fleet,the Admiral resting on myancestor's arm as he gotinto the boat.

Simpson took part inmany engagements dur-ing his service in theRoyal Navy, including theNile, after which he was Incharge of Aboukir Islandfor a time; the relief ofAcre on the Syrian coast;and the blockade ofToulon and other Frenchports in theMediterranean.C . S . P . S h e r w o o d ,Sevenoaks.

IN VIEW of your coverageof Nelson at Santa Cruz, Iwould like to recommenda visit to the NelsonMuseum at Monmouth.

A Welsh market town 20miles inland may seem anunusual site for a memori-al to Britain's greatestsailor, but it was the life-long enthusiasm of LadyLlangattock to create sucha collection.

The museum housesthe most impressive arte-facts, including a collec-tion of fake items boughtby gullible enthusiasts.These include Nelson'ssupposed glass eye!

As your article makesclear, he lost the sight ofthe eye, but did notrequire an artificialreplacement. - R. Bowen,Blaenavon, Torfaen.

Secrets ofa flag ofcourageI WAS passed a copy of your July edition - the first one I have seen since I left the Navyin the Sixties - and noted some correspondence about concealed wartime flags.

We still have at home a very tale - and indeed did a few• ~ - . - - ago find Qne America,, ex-POWtatty old Union flag which fam-

ily tradition says was the firstone to be flown in Japan afterthe surrender at the end ofWorld War II.

My father, John A.Page, wascaptured in Hong Kong in 1941and spent his war as a prisoner invarious camps and hospitals afterthe inevitable stay in Stanley Gaol.

He survived the war to liveanother 45 years and retire as aSurgeon Captain. His medicalrecords - pencilled lists of treat-ment and recovery and sicknessand death of British, Dutch,Americans, New Zealanders,Canadians and others - are on dis-play at the Wellcome Institute inLondon.

One of his many strengthsseems to have been a detailedfamiliarity with wild plants andtheir medicinal and other proper-ties, as many of his fellow prisonerpatients learned to their benefit.

One of those properties is theirability to be used as a source ofnatural dyes, and the story goesthat in the camp in which he wasserving at the end (Kobe?Amagasaki?) the prisoners cob-bled together a Union flag, cor-rectly coloured, and kept it con-cealed, breaking it out on VJ Day.

I have sought to corroborate this

w yearsex-POV

(another doctor) in New York whoI hoped would confirm it, but hehad no recollection.

I would be interested if any ofyour readers who were POWs inJapan have any memories of this.If so, then this flag, which was for awhile displayed in the naval chapelin Singapore while my father wasserving there in the Sixties, belongssomewhere more visible than on ashelf in the back of the garage. -C.J.A.Page, South Norwalk,Connecticut, USA.

Cutback incutaway

IF THERE is a small prize forspotting an omission or error (saya four-week holiday for two in theBahamas) then I hope to have wonit.

In the cutaway of the Type 23published in the September issuethere is no accommodation for theJunior Rates. Are they all on theport side? Has lean manning goneso far that the sailors have to finda space wherever they can? - CdrH.L.Foxworthy, Forfar.

Sorry, the omission was delib-erate! The trouble with the waythis sort of drawing is presentedis that you cannot expose everypart of the hull's contents, so thata number of compartments hadto be left out. - Ed.

Lightertouch

YOUR picture of an Americanblimp (November issue) remind-ed me of the time I was serving inHMS Stonecrop doing anti-sub-marine patrols in the Straits ofGibraltar with the River classfrigates Ayr and Odzani.

This was in spring and earlysummer of 1944 and we were fre-quently working with two USblimps who flew in tandem withthe sonar on a long cable justabove the surface.

When they got a ping the lead-ing blimp dropped a smoke flare,then the following one did thesame as it made contact and byfollowing the line of flares ourcorvette made contact with a sub.Other vessels attacked it and itwas reported sunk. - H.N.Eager,Newtownards, Co Down.

Thumbnaisketch of ahardy sou

THE ARTICLE 'New stone for a humble hero of the Redan'(September issue) states that only one man, Michael Hardy, aRoyal Marine, managed to penetrate the upper glacis, but waskilled.

Actually he was a matelot,not a marine, a fact madeapparent by General SirEvelyn Wood in his memoir ofthe Crimea. Wood was thenserving as a midshipman withthe Naval Brigade anddescribes an earlier instance ofHardy's valour which he wit-nessed while observing the fallof shot during the bombard-ment of the Redan.

"It was important to observeexactly the first impact of eachshot, which, with a steady platformfor the telescope, I was able toeffect, calling out 'Good! Ten yardsto the right' or 'Twenty yards short'as the projectiles struck the para-pet or ground.

"I was resting my left hand withthe telescope on the 8-inch gunand was steadying my right handon the shoulder of Charles -, 1stclass boy, while I checked thepractice of the centre and right-hand gun, when a man handedround the grog for the gun's crewthen out of action.

"The boy asked me to move myelbow while he drank his grog, sothat he might not shake me, and onreceiving the pannikin he stood up,and was in the act of drinking whena shot from the Redan, comingobliquely across us, took off hishead, the body falling on my feet.

"At this moment, MichaelHardy, having just fired his gun,was 'serving the vent". This consistsof stopping all current of air fromthe gun which, if allowed to passup the vent, would cause anysparks remaining after the explo-sion to ignite the fresh cartridge.

"Hardy, like the rest of the gun'screw, had turned up his sleevesand trousers as high as he couldget them; his sailor's shirt wasopen low on the neck and chest.His face, neck and clothes werecovered with the contents of theboy's head; to lift the thumb fromthe vent might occasion the deathof Nos 3 and 4, the Loader andSponger, who were then 'ramminghome'; but he never flinched.

"Without moving his rightthumb from the vent, with the lefthand he wiped the boy's brainsfrom his face and eyes as he lookedround on us. Those sitting near mewere speechless, startled, asindeed was I, for the boy was ashipmate, and I had felt the windof the shot, which passed within sixinches of my face, when we wereawakened to a sense of the situa-tion by Hardy's somewhat con-temptuous exhortation as he thusaddressed the men:

'"You — fools, what the hell areyou looking at? Is the man dead,take his carcase away; isn't hedead, take him to the doctor. Jim,are you home? - this was said tothe Loader, who was in the act of

giving the final tap on ramminghome the fresh charge, and on get-ting the answer "Yes", withoutbestowing another look at us,Hardy gave the order to his gun'screw, 'Run out, Ready'.

"I saw a great deal of Hardyafter this episode, for always goingto battery together, he carrieddown my blanket and tea-bottle,receiving my allowance of rum forhis services.

"He was in many ways a remark-able man, for, having been previ-ously stationed on shore for a littletime in Eupatoria, he collected,doubtless by questionable means,some ponies, which he used to letout on hire to the officers of thefleet for a ride.

"Brave beyond description, hewas an excellent sailor in allrespects when kept away fromdrink, but any excess rendered himunmanageable ..."

A very large proportion of thefighting done by the Royal Navy ofthe Victorian era was done ashoreby the Naval Brigades, a marvel-lous story of heroism, stoicendurance and, as might beexpected of the RN, humour.Sadly there, is, as far as I know, nobook which tells their story in itsentirety. - R.F.Eggleton,Weymouth.

All in aname

IN 1940 the cruiser HMS Ajaxwas given the unique honour ofhaving a new town in Ontario,Canada named after her, in tokenof the part she played in the Battleof the River Plate.

Further to this, all the streets inthe town, which now has some60,000 inhabitants, were namedfor officers and crew serving in theship at that time.

The town prospers and growsrapidly and the list of crew mem-bers awaiting new streets beingbuilt has grown very short.

In view of this, the list may wellbe extended to include names ofany man who served at any time inHMS Ajax during the 13 years shewas in commission.

The Mayor of Ajax, Ontario hasasked us to try and find as many ofthese men as possible as theAdmiralty has told him crew listsare no longer available.

We would need to have someproof of service - a photocopy ofthe Service Sheet would be suffi-cient - before their names are for-warded to the Mayor's office inHarwood Avenue (named afterour Commodore). - G.Deacon,HMS Ajax and River PlateAssociation, 46 Channel View Rd,Eastbourne.

avy NewsNo.519 44th year

Editorial and Business address: Leviathan Block, HMSNelson, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HH

Editor: Jim AllawayDeputy Editor: Anton Hanney

Assistant Editors: Dominic Blake and Mike GrayBusiness Manager: Anne Driver

TELEPHONESEditorial: 01705-294228/724163 Fax: 01705 838845

(Mil. PNB 24163)Advertising: 01705 725062

Distribution and accounts: 01705 724226Additional direct lines to all business departments:

01705-826040 (24-hour service)/291525Fax: 01705-830149

Train took the strain for CapetownSIXTY years ago this month occurred the epic train journeyfrom Hankow in North China to Hong Kong of 12 officers and210 men evacuated from HMS Capetown during theSino-Japanese conflict.

The Capetown was due to take up a winter deployment atHankow, the most northern navigable place on the YangsteKiang River where a cruiser could berth.

So it was that the train 'HMS Capetown II' was launched withlemonade at Wuchang Station, arrayed with the Union Flag (foraircraft recognition), a White Ensign and a commissioning pen-nant.

The train was infested with bugs - sitting on your bunk orstanding in the corridor playing cockroach races was thechoice.

There were reports of bombings up and down the line and wesaw some at close quarters, transferring to another train 60miles from Canton. It took us four days to reach the terminal atKowloon. - D.W.Large, Manadon.

• Right: members of HMS Capetown's ship's companycross the Yangtse Kiang from Hankow to Wuchang.


Letters

for everyREGARDING the article on Volunteer Bands (Augustissue), as a pre-war Chatham rating we had, in addi-tion to two Royal Marine bands (one in the oldBrompton barracks), two 'ratings bands',

One was a drum and fife band of the ArtificersApprentices and the other a Seamen's band. In con-trast to the present day volunteer bands, all this bandwere dressed as seamen. Chiefs and POs wore thisrig, but always had POs badges plus GC badges.

I met up again with a post-war Seamen's band whenI Joined the cruiser Phoebe in 1949. This was the sub-ject of a previous Navy News article and I recall InTrieste they played about five national anthems atColours for foreign warships who were there at thesame time. - J.Sharpe, Maidstone.

I WAS sorry to find no mention of the Victory BlueJacket Band in August's feature.

I served in this band between 1948-55, We represent-ed the Navy and our country on many occasions. Wewere at the funeral of King Gustav of Sweden and weopened the Festival of Britain and the RoyalTournament on at least six occasions.

I myself was an amateur, but most bandsmen werevery experienced, being ex colliery or Salvation Armybandsmen. Our Bandmaster, Mr Harrison, who lived inPortsmouth, was an ex-Royal Marine bandmaster andour training was very strict - w.Garrett, HighWycombe.

• Freezing weather for the Victory Blue Jacket Band,In Stockholm tor the funeral of King Gustav, 1950,

'No foundation' toDasher mystery,says survivorTHERE have been so many rumours and so much speculation regarding the loss of HMSDasher which have no foundation whatsoever.

I was the only Seaman PettyOfficer Leading Torpedoman tosurvive and was ordered before thecourt of inquiry held on board oursister ship HMS Archer atGreenock.

It found that the cause was anexplosion during refuel l ing, e i therby a lighted cigarette droppedthrough a fan shaft into the refu-ell ing space from the Fleet AirArm messdeck or through an elec-trical f a u l t whi le r e fue l l i ngSwordfish aircraft.

All American Lease Lend carri-ers then had their refuelling sys-tems changed and brought up toBritish standards; our tragic lossno doubt saved many lives in othercarriers of that class.

No aircraft crashed into Dasher- we had completed flying trainingand aircrews stood down at I630.Off duty crew were sent below tochange ready for one watch shoreleave on our arrival at Greenock. -J.R.Gray, Margate.

I READ w i t h interest thereport of the fate of HMS Dasherin your July edition. In March 1943I was serving in HMS Archer ,anchored in the Clyde, and on oneSaturday, I t h i n k i t was, wentashore wi th some mates.

Walking along I.args seafront wesaw a huge pall of smoke behind ahill . On return on board we weretold it was our sister ship HMSAvenger that had blown up withthe loss of about 400 crew.

The previous Wednesday therehad been a big raid on Glasgowwith stiff opposition from our

defence forces and we were toldthe Germans had sown some mag-netic mines in the river, whichcaused this disaster - or was that apiece of Ministry mis informat ion, Iw o n d e r ? - H.A.Gravett,Eastbourne.

Free forthe few

AS A Naval photographer havingrecently joined HQ C-in-C Fleetwhere there is a great emphasis on'joint' matters, I have developed akeen interest in the role of theArmy and the RAF.

This resulted in my deciding totake a trip to the RAF Museum atHendon, just a few junctions awayoff the M25. I was most surprisedand disappointed to f i n d tha twhile serving members of the RAFget in free, the other services haveto pay.

What made th i s pa r t i cu la r lygalling was the fact tha t I had justrecommended a f r iend of mine, asergeant in the RAF, to visit theRoyal Naval Museum, theSubmar ine Museum and HMSVictory. He got in free to all threeon production of his ID card andwas suitably impressed.

Is it not time, in the current cli-mate of tri-service co-operation,that the RAF Museum changedits policy to accommodate a jointservice attitude? - PO P.Everitt,HQ CmC Fleet, Northwood.

Navy News has confirmed that thereis free entry for all serving personnelto the RN and Submarine Museumsand to HMS Victory - and to the RoyalMarines Museum as well. TheNational Army Museum makes noentry charge at all - but the Fleet AirArm Museum also charges the fullprice to Army and RAF personnel.Serving RN people pay £1.50 for up tothree adults, no charge for children.

Specialthanks

ON BEHALF of SpecialOlympics thank you verv muchindeed for the wonderful outingyou provided our members.

It was just what was needed, asone of our parents said on televi-sion when asked what she wasgoing to do next week after theGames: "Things wi l l be very flatbut we can look forward to theouting to the Royal Tournamentcourtesy of /Van1 News and thatwil l help l i f t us all back again." Itcertainly did!

The whole of the SpecialOlympic movement has much tot h a n k the Navy for the role itplayed in the National Games. Idon't th ink we have ever had suchsupport in the past. Thanks for thef inancia l support from establish-ments, for providing accommoda-tion and sports facili t ies, cadetsand marshalls for the opening cer-emony - and the Royal MarinesBand as well. - C.Jones, SportsDirector, Special Olympics SouthEast Hampshire.

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People in the News

• Jamie Salmon on parade.

Youngestrecruit?

A JUNIOR member of the SeaCadets almost upstaged hisolder colleagues at the NavyDays tattoo in Devonport.

Jamie Salmon's mum anddad, Sara and Jon, helped trainthe Sea Cadets' massed bandfor the shows, and two-year-oldJamie was keen to play a minorrole.

But when he took to the fieldin front of the VIPs at theevening tattoo, he changed hismind.

"When he heard the crowdand realised everyone waswatching him, he thought 'I'mhaving some of that'," saidSara, who with Jon helps trainthe TS Cossack unit in Crawley,the 1996 national champions.

"He was supposed to marchoff with the band, but ended upmarching up and down on hisown."

carsTWO sailors on the OceanWave deployment had particu-larly good reasons for return-ing home.

There on the quayside on theirreturn were gleaming new cars -one a prize, the other a present.

MEM Barry Monk became theowner of a gleaming new Rover416Si thanks to the grand prizedraw held on board HMS Fearlessand backed by car firm SCE Ltd.

Barry (26), from North London,bought 40 £1 tickets.

"I was down in the mess watch-ing a film when they did the drawon the flight deck," said Barry.

"Three people came down totell me I had won the car, but I toldthem to get lost because I waswatching a film - I just didn'tbelieve them."

He eventually checked on theflight deck, and found it was true.

Only one problem remained."I was over the moon when I

found I had won, even though Idon't actually drive," he said.

"They were very good about it -they sold it and gave the proceedsto me. It will come in usefulbecause it's house purchase time.

"Perhaps in another year or so Imight think about learning todrive."

The prize was provided by SCELtd, who specialise in providingvehicles to Royal Navy personnelat concessionary terms - tax freeand UK tax paid.

Meanwhile, HMS Gloucester'sPTI Pete Staples had a little sur-prise waiting for him atPortsmouth when the ship arrivedback in Portsmouth at the end of along deployment.

Pete had got married to

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Michelle while they were out inNew Zealand, but wasn't expectingany late wedding presents.

"Michelle kept checking thepapers, and bought a car a weekbefore Pete got home," said friendMrs Mo Pennicott.

"She drove it for a day then hidit away behind her house to makesure no one found out about it."

While Pete gets to know his newMR2, Michelle, a nanny inHampshire, will continue in amore modest vehicle - the FiatCinquecento which comes with herjob.

• Key moment - ColinClubley of SCE hands overthe Rover's keys to winnerMEM Barry Monk of HMSFearless.

Runningon top ofthe worldA RETIRED Naval officer hasbeen selected to run in one ofthe world's most testingmarathons.

Cdr Giles Fletcher Is one ofOnly 65 non-Nepalese runnerschosen to trek 100 mites in 16days to reach the starting line,on a glacier 17,000ft up Everest

One consolation for Giles willbe the presence of his wifeWenna, a teacher, chosen as oneof the paramedic back-up team.

Giles has been pounding theafreets around his home atAlresford In Hampshire,.and Inthe Welsh mountains, in prepara-tion for the November race, whichcould raise £50,000 for charitiesIn Nepal - one of the five poorestcountries in the world.

The race will take the "grey-bearded, back-packed veteranIn the toted mtAC vest" mestandard distance of fust over26 miles - but on a demandingcourse.

"Ins going is on Ice, snow,rough tracks or open mountain-side, there are two horrendousiysteep uphill sections, severalthree-wire suspension bridges,and all at a level where there isonly 50 per cent of the oxygenat sea level," said Giles, a sub-mariner who served In HMSRorqual, Resolution andCourageous, HMS Sultan andRNC Greenwich.

At dawn on the day of the racethe temperature is likely to bebelow minus 15C, but by middayit could rise above 20C.

The record time is a shadeunder four hours, but Giles (60),said he "will be content with fin-ishing before the pubs shut"

He also hopes to set anotherrecord of sorts - he used to takehis oboe to sea end has "playedIt deeper". He will now take tt upto 5,500m for a quick recital.

Giles and Wenna have alreadyraised almost £1,500, and wouldwelcome more support He canbe contacted at WaysideCottage, Soames Lane, Ropley,Alresford, Hants $024 OER.

A PTI at HMSRaleigh has beenrewarded for helpingLondon youngsters.

WO Mickey Shonewas given theMetropolitan PoliceS u p e r i n t e n d e n t s 'Commendation forhelping organise train-ing weeks at Torpointfor children fromWandsworth, includingsailing and trekkingacross the moors.

• WO Mickey Shone receives his com-mendation from Sgt Richard Martin.

• water sport - Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnelami their families battle it out in the British Community raft race inNisida Harbour In Naples. The race, outside the NATO NAVSOUTHbuilding, Is a chance for personnel to cool off In the hot Italian sum-mer-~ and a source of puzzlement to NATO colleagues,

Day at sea for fathers and sonsSHIP'S CO David Turnerbridged the generationgap when he invited hisfather and son to spend aday on board the RoyalNavy minehunter HMSCromer.

Lt Cdr Turner organisedthe family day to give his 70-year-old father Ronald, a for-mer Navy man, and 11-year-old son Harry a chance toexperience life on a ship.

Ronald, from Halifax -who served on aircraft carri-ers during the Second WorldWar and at one time wasbased in Hong Kong - said hewas surprised to see howmuch life at sea had changedover the years.

Harry, a pupil at DollarAcademy in Scotland, was

just keen to learn all aboutDad's job.

"It was a great opportunityto bring three generationstogether and give them achance to see what life is likein today's Royal Navy," saidLt Cdr Turner, who tookcommand of the Clyde-basedship in June after three yearsserving in Saudi Arabia.

Ronald took the opportu-nity to join the ship's compa-ny for three nights as theysailed to Plymouth.

HMS Cromer was due toleave last month for a deploy-ment in the Baltic.

Lt Cdr Turner, a native ofHalifax, joined the RoyalNavy in 1974 and now lives inScotland with his wifeYvonne, son Harry and eight-year-old daughter Jenni. • Family day - Lt Cdr David Turner with son Harry and father Ronald.


People in the News

• LOM Dameon Schofield.

NVQ forGraftonsailorA SAILOR from HMS Graftonhas become the first RN com-municator to be awarded anNVQ by the telecommunica-tions award body.

LOM Dameon Schofield(26) gained a NationalVocational Qualification Level3 in operating and maintainingthe performance of telecommu-nications equipment (OTE3).

Dameon studied for thequalification during his com-munications course at HMSCollingwood, the Navy'sWeapon Engineering andCommunications Trainingestablishment at Fareham,Hampshire.

He joined the Navy in 1988in Birmingham "to see theworld", and is now married toDonna and has two young chil-dren. The family lives inHampshire.

The NVQ was awarded bythe TelecommunicationsVocational Standards Council.

• Just passing through - Dave Berry prepares for take-off at Portland in his Bucker Jungmann.Picture: Steve Belasco, Dorset Evening Echo

Rare aircraftcalls at Osprey

A FORMER Navy pilot madea surprise visit to HMS Ospreywhen the weather forced achange of plans.

Dave Berry, an ex-RN officerwho flew Buccaneer jets, hadplanned to fly his BuckerJungmann biplane from Sussex toRN air station Culdrose for the AirDays.

But at Exeter he learned thatthe weather at Culdrose was very

poor, and decided to return toSheffield Park, north of Brighton.

But as the weather deteriorat-ed, he elected to make a precau-tionary landing at Portland,where he remained for five days.

"I was delighted to arrive atPortland air station - the weatherwas really murky and my aircraftis not equipped to fly in cloud,"said Dave.

The 'plane, built under licence

in Spain in 1954, was one of about500 used as a primary aircrafttrainer by the Spanish air force.

The model remained in serviceuntil 1960.

Micky Brock, spokesman forHMS Osprey, said: "It was a goodthing that Dave was not in aBuccaneer, as their landing speedis 165mph, which is a touch high tocarry out a successful landing atPortland."

Sports meeting

• Nick Nick - PQPT Carter (left) and brother U Carter

A SPORTING finale to theOcean Wave deploymentbrought together two broth-ers with the same name.

Teams from HMS Illustrious,Beaver, Richmond andGloucester, and RFA Olna, com-peted in an olympiad which waswon by the carrier.

The olympiad pitted POPTNick Carter of HMS Beaveragainst his brother, Lt 'Nick'

Carter, the carrier's CateringOfficer who doubles as ship'sSports Officer.

The brothers previously met upon long-distance deployments in1984, when they served togetherin HMS Torquay in the WestIndies, and in 1985, again in theCaribbean, when HMS Diomedeescorted the Royal Yacht.

A third Carter brother is also aNavy man, in the SubmarineService.

Reunited - LAEM Ritchie Greengrow of 846 NAS is backwith his wife Chris and son Nathan.

'Junglies' returnTHREE Sea King helicopters and30 members of 846 Naval AirSquadron have returned to RN airstation Yeovilton after a six-monthdeployment in the Far East.

The squadron has been takingpart in multi-national exercisesas part of Ocean Wave, workingwith the armed forces of Brunei,Singapore, Malaysia and thePhilippines, among others.

Aircraft of 846 and 848 Sqdns

were familiar sights in the jun-gles of Brunei in the late 1950sand early 1960s when theyhelped counter the threat ofCommunists, earning theCommando squadrons the still-current Junglies nickname.

The squadron also helpedwith air movements for the con-tingency force anchored off-shore during the handover ofHong Kong in June.

1997THE YEAR OF

THE SEAFARER

YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROWOUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON OUR SEAFARERSThe Year of the Seafarer is the theme chosen byKing George's Fund for Sailors (KGFS) for its80th Anniversary Appeal. It is a timelyreminder of how much we depend on the menand women who serve in the Royal Navy, theMerchant Navy and the Fishing Fleets provid-ing our defences, our daily food, our goods andour leisure.KGFS is the central fund for all nautical charitieswho help seafarers and their dependants whenthey hit their own rough seas. The 1996 grantstotalled £2,736,736.PLEASE HELP US TO SUPPORT OUR SEAFARERSSEND YOUR DONATION OR ASK FOR MORE DETAILS

KING, 'GEORGE'SBINDFORSAILORS

Registered Charily No. 2MJ6

TO the Director General, KGFS,8 Hatherley Street, London SW1P 2YY. Tel 0171-932 0000.

I would like to learn more about the work of KGFS Q

I enclose my gift of £ towards the work of the Fund.

NAME

ADDRESS

YS97/NN


Last floatingdock for sale

THE NAVY is hoping to sellone of its larger sea-goingunits - one that sinks on aregular basis, writes MikeGray.

Admiralty Floating Dock num-ber 60, known affectionately asAFD60, has been a landmark onthe Gareloch at Clyde NavalBase for more than 30 years.

But now it is no longer requiredfor its primary role of dockingnuclear submarines, it is expectedto be put up for sale soon, andshould leave its home in March nextyear.

AFD60 is the last remaining float-ing dock operated by the RoyalNavy, and was completed inPortsmouth in 1966 - exactly 100years after the first such dock wasdesigned for the Navy in NorthWoolwich, and around 200 yearsafter the concept of the floating dockwas first tested.

That first Navy dock was towed to

• HMS Talent, the last submarine to beundocked from the Navy's lost floatingOOCk - AFD60 at Faslane.

Picture: LW(PHOT) June Gregory.

Bermuda, where it was replaced in1906 by AFD1. The principles arestill the same - the trough-shapeddock is flooded to a depth of up to35ft, allowing it to settle until thecustomer can be brought in.

Once the vessel is in place - andAFD60 could cope with ships of upto 9.000 tons - the dock is refloated,leaving the vessel high and dry.

Many floating docks were builtduring the world wars, as theyproved more useful than traditional,fixed, graving docks, and the num-bers AFD1 to 100 were swiftly allo-cated, though not all were actuallybuilt.

A number are still in service withforeign agencies and companiesaround the world.

MuseumThe current AFD60 is the second

to be allocated the number - the firstwas cancelled in 1945 - and she issomething of a museum for her kind,as memorabilia collected on boardincludes AFD dockings back to the1920s and the original sailing ordersforAFD2in1920.

AFD60 cost £4 million, and wastowed to Faslane where she startedwork in 1967, having been designedspecifically for Polaris submarines.

In the intervening 30 years shehas welcomed 629 'customers',including a variety of nuclear boats,surface warships, including thefrigate HMS Ariadne, diesel-electricsubmarines, foreign submarinesand Royal Maritime Auxiliary Servicecraft, for maintenance periods andexamination of grounding damage.

Apart from a three-month refit justacross the Clyde in Greenock in1977, AFD60 has been on station forthe full 30 years.

Staffing shrank over the years,particularly with the arrival of theshiplift, which has superseded thefloating dock. There are still two offi-cers - Dockmaster, Lt Cdr DavidGriffiths, and his deputy, Lt Cdr JonMerritt, and two departments headedby Charge Chiefs.

As well as technical and seamanratings for maintenance work, thereare civilian crane drivers and valve-house watchkeepers, so a dockingoperation involved RN personnel,civil servants and civilian contrac-tors.

For almost ten months over thepast year or so, AFD60 was occu-pied by a nuclear submarine - thelast being Devonport-based HMSTalent, which undocked in the latesummer.

Big switch forForces radio

NEW STUDIOS have been opened by the British ForcesBroadcasting Service at the Chalfont Grove premises inBuckinghamshire of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation.

Get Wise on DCIs

The official switch-on of the newstation was performed by ArmedForces Minister Dr John Reid onSeptember 24, marking the end of12 years of BFBS broadcastingfrom Paddington.

Also attending the opening wereDJs John Peel and RichardAllinson.

The SSVC is providing theBFBS service as part of a five-yearcontract, and decided on the moveto Chalfont Grove, near GerrardsCross, to unite all its broadcastingservices under one roof.

The six new purpose-built studioscost over f l million to build.BFBS Director, Peter McDonagh,said: "In order to stay ahead oftechnology and provide the bestpossible service to the Forces, wehave invested in the best state-of-the-art equipment."

Over 5,000 discs have beenrecorded on to the new station'shard-drive - one of the largestselections of records of any radio

station in the world. "We're alwayskeen to respond to our listeners'music tastes," said Mr McDonagh."Now they'll have virtually anyrecord at the instant touch of abutton."

New stealthship design

SHIPBUILDERS Vosper Thorny-croft have unveiled an updateddesign of their Sea Wraith war-ship.

Vosper say Sea Wraith II is theresult of further research anddevelopment following the com-pany's first radical stealth designof almost a year ago.

The re-worked design, althoughbasically similar to the first is of abigger and more capable warship -135m long with a flight deck,hangar and more powerful arma-ment, but retaining many of theoriginal, innovative features.

Warning over 'fueefficiency' productsMEMBERS of the Armed Forces are being warned not toundertake unsponsored trials with materials or equipmentwhich are claimed by their makers to improve venicle fuelefficiency.

The products tend to be mar-keted with exaggerated andtechnically unsubstantiatedclaims as to their efficiency,and come in various forms,including liquids, metal alloys,

• • magnets, and oil filtering, heat-Q j 1C ing and testing devices.™' l|wW Typical claims made are that

Fire safetycertificatesfor

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£13.85£18.50£12.50£14.75£16.50H7.50£11.50£22.50

FIRE SAFETY certification hasbeen introduced for ships, sub-marines and floating structuresoperated by the Ministry ofDefence.

A policy guidance document onthe subject was issued by theShips Support Agency in July.However, introduction of firesafety certification does not pre-clude the need to obtain MaritimeSafety Agency fire safety certifi-cates for vessels certified by mar-itime regulating authorities.

MOD certificates will be com-plementary to MSA certificates,covering any aspects not coveredby the MSA documents.

DCI GEN 209/97

FarewellceremonyTHE decommissioning of 706Naval Air Squadron will bemarked on February 27 by a cere-mony at RN air station Culdrose.Guest of honour will be FlagOfficer Naval Aviation, RearAdmiral Terry Loughran.

On the previous evening adecommissioning party will beheld at an hotel. The event will beopen to past and present membersof the squadron irrespective ofrank. A maximum of 500 can beaccepted at a cost off 10 per head.

DCI RN 122

they reduce gas emissions, improvefuel economy, extend oil changefrequency, reduce wear, or allowvehicles which use leaded petrol torun on unleaded.

Suppliers make contact with theServices at all levels in an attemptto supply the products to theForces in the hope of winning aprestige contract which could beused in advertising and promotion-al material.

Suppliers see sales to the ArmedForces as an endorsement by theMinistry of Defence that the claimsfor the products can be met. Theyare usually prepared to give awayfree samples to Service units oragencies and invite them to carryout trials.

Such unsponsored, and in mostcases unscientific, trials are likelyto lead to investigations performedin isolation, to result in false con-clusions, and may duplicate workwhich has already been carried outby other Service or civilian organi-sations.

Proper testing is very expensive,needs specialised measuring equip-ment and can only by conducted byaccredited and independent testingorganisations.

Service units, HQs and agencieshave been told that if they receive

'So the chap convinced you that this boosts any engine perfor-mance - and you accepted a trial sample, never dreaming it wasjust neat vodka?'

samples, literature, or videos fromsuppliers' representatives theyshould pass them to the secretariatfor the Land Systems Fuels andLubricants Sub-Committee, pro-vided by the Army PetroleumTechnologist at Log Sp Svcs 2d

This regular feature gives general information about newDefence Council Instructions affecting conditions of service.If they apply to you, study the full, original text.

(F&L), HQ QMG, Monxton Road,Andover, Hants. SP11 8HT.

Commercial representativeswho supply products may beadvised that they will be passed tothe appropriate Service authorityfor consideration, but no statementshould be made which could beinterpreted as an undertaking thatproducts will be tested by theMinistry of Defence. DCI JS 91/97

Minehuntershead for Gull


THREE Royal Navy mine-hunters will be embarking on amajor deployment to theMiddle East early next year.

The three Faslane-hased ships,HM ships Inverness, Bridport andSandown, accompanied by RFADiligence, will spend six monthsaway, demonstrating the UK'scommitment to stability in theGulf, conducting mine counter-measures (MCM) exercises anddemonstrating defence equipment.

The group will be joined in theGulf by Devonport-based surveyship HMS Herald.

The task group commander, CdrRichard Simmonds, and his staff willbe embarked in Diligence, alongwith Forward Support Unit 03, con-sisting of maintainers, engineers andartificers, bringing total manpowerto around 250.

Diligence and FSU03 alreadyhave experience of Gulf conditionsgained during OperationsCalendar and Cimnel.

The three Sandown-class mine-hunters were designed to operate inthe cooler waters of NorthernEurope's continental shelf, so Gulfex98 has required modifications.

HMS Sandown recently under-took the first-of-class refit atRosyth, during which she was 'trop-icalised', and she is now trialling amajor upgrade to her variable

• Almost ready - HMS Sandown nears the end of her refit.

depth minehunt ing sonar,improved air conditioning, modi-fied sea water cooling for propul-sion machinery, the fit of a reverseosmosis plant for fresh water, andawnings to reduce internal hul ltemperatures.

CapabilitiesDuring their time in the Gulf the

ships will demonstrate their world-leading capabilities in a new envi-ronment, and will conduct bilateraland mult i-nat ional exercises.

The opportunity will also betaken to advance the integration ofthe UK's MCM capabilities withthose of the US Navy.

The passage to the Gulf willitself be a considerable undertak-ing. The ships are expected to takearound six weeks, and will call at a

number of ports and countries,including Gibraltar, Crete, Suez,Djibouti, United Arab Emirates,Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

A mid-deployment maintenanceperiod is planned for Dubai.

The return leg, expected to takeup to eight weeks, will includeexercises wi th NATO in theEastern Mediterranean and a well-earned break for which the ship'scompanies are planning a runashore at Palma.

The ground-breaking deploy-ment follows hard on the heels oflast year's Exercise Purple Star,when two Sandowns, HM shipsBridport and Cromer. made thefirst Atlantic crossing of the class,and heralds the start of a new pro-gramme of one major deploymentfor the small ships every year.

Seawolf unleashedARMILLA PATROL ship HMS Westminsterhas clocked-up another first with a live fir-ing of her vertical launch Seawolf missilesystem during her Gulf duties.

The ship became the first Type 23 todeploy to the Gulf in May, and the firingcame during Gulfex 97, one of the largestexercises in the region in recent years,which was led by the Royal Navy.

Target-towing Falcon aircraft flew out fromthe UK for the first 'in-theatre' test of the mis-sile in conditions where air pressure is rela-tively high and temperatures reach 40C.

Westminster and RFA Bayleaf werejoined by the American destroyer USSMerrill, Omani ships RNOV Al Muazzar andRNOV Al Sharqiyah and the French A69Commandant Bouan.

Royal Air Force of Oman Jaguars andHawks tested air defences and, in an areawhere most operational aircraft are engaged inpolicing the no-fly zone in Southern Iraq, theirinvolvement enhanced the exercise still further.

UnpredictableLt Cdr Jim Reed, Staff Operations Officer respon-

sible for planning the four-day exercise, told NavyNews : "This is still an unpredictable part of theworld and we have a duty to maintain the very high-est standards of operational capability."

"Despite advances in ship and combat systemsimulation there's nothing quite like a missilegoing whoosh or a gun going bang to get thetroops in the mood."

Until now, most joint exercises in the Gulf havebeen limited to basic seamanship evolutions andit is hoped that Gulf Ex 97 will open the way for

HMS Westminster fires her vertical-launch Seawolf.

ven more demanding programmes in the future.Since the exercise, HM

even iHMS Westminster has con-

tinued to work closely with the Americans tobuild up a detailed picture of shipping move-ments in the northern Gulf, allowing identifica-tion of merchantmen suspected of violatingsanctions against Iraq.

Boarding parties, working in oppressive heat,have been searching up to four ships per day.

HMS Westminster has also spent time in com-pany with the American carrier USSConstellation and has exchanged personnel tosee how their opposite numbers live and work.

Westminster's port visits have includedBahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE and the shipis now enjoying a mid-deployment stand-downin Singapore.

• Chatham's sea boat is dwarfed by a merchant ship during aboarding in the Northern Gulf. picture: LAIPHOT) Chris Brick.

• HMS Chatham stands by and WEM Scarlet O'Hara guards themerchant crew as their vessel is searched. P,c/ure. LAIPHOT) CMS Brick.

CHATHAM'SHISTORIC

DEPLOYMENTHEARS END

HMS CHATHAM returnsfrom the Gulf this monthafter one of the most eventfuldeployments in her history.

After leaving Devonport earli-er this year she visited Cape Townto take part in the internationalcelebration of the South Africannavy's 75th anniversary.

She took charge of the ArmillaPatrol in the Arabian Gulf andconducted boarding operations insupport of UN sanctions againstIraq.

And the ship was exposed tothe full glare of the world's mediawhen she sailed into Hong Kongto play a central role in the cere-monies which marked the region'sreturn to China.

Chatham escorted HMYBritannia and Hong Kongsquadron ships to the Philippinesbefore taking a well-earned breakin Thailand.

Many wives, families and girl-friends took the opportunity to flyout to join the ship's company fora short holiday before shereturned to the Gulf to resumeher duties on the Armilla Patrol.

As Navy News went to pressthe ship was in Kuwait to coincidewith a visit by the Secretary ofState for Defence.

Chatham's next stop is Dubaiwhere Captain Chris Clayton ishanding over to Captain TrevorSoar and getting married.Command of the Armilla Patrolwill then be passed to HMSNottingham in the Gulf of Oman.

Chatham stops twice on herway home, at Massawa in Eritreaand at Gibraltar where 80 fathersand sons of the ship's companywill embark for the final leg of herhistoric voyage - reaching port onOctober 25.

' Boarding party - the team from HMS Westminster sets off to intercept a merchant vessel.

LOUISERNARD

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• GHOST TOWN (above)Liverpool's Lynx helicopterhovers over abandoned andburnt out homes on Montserrat• EVACUATION (left) AB NeilJohnson and MEM JimFletcher take Montserrat resi-dent Rose Mary through theevacuation procedure. She iscoming to the UK.• STORING SHIP (right)Liverpool takes on supplies innearby Antigua.

KING YOU T GH THE NEW YEAR by LAND, SEA aProtecting the environment is what the Royal Navy is all about. Its three core capabilities - naval aviation, submarines andamphibious forces - are designed to help make the world a safer place to live in. Less well known is the way it cares for the naenvironment. Some of the Senior Service's estates are among the country's best-preserved wildlife habitats. Even its bombiirand firing ranges allow rare species of animal and plant life to flourish, protected as they are from the more dangerous attentiof the public... It even has its own birdwatching society. Exhausted migratory birds frequently hitch free rides in HM ships, arepatiently nursed back to health and sent on their way again. All part of the service. The 1998 Navy News Calendar blends imaof units of the Fleet with others of its companions on the High Seas. And elsewhere.

£6.75 Surface

to: The Business Manager, Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, PO1 3HHCheques payable to Navy News to accompany orders. For orders outside the UK payment can be made by Cheque/International Money Order in £ sterling and drawn on UK bank. Or for payment by

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STANDING BY FOR ACTIONLiverpool aidsvolcano-hitislandAS THE PEOPLE ofMontserrat waited anx-iously for details of theirrelocation package,sailors from HMSLiverpool were ashoregiving practical help andsupport.

The ship anchored inLittle Bay in the north of theisland and teams wentashore to prepare for alarge-scale evacuation.

Tents were erected at a regis-tration centre in BradesPrimary School and the ship'scompany were instructed todirect islanders to the rightareas.

First aidersThe sailors were also given

the responsibility for ensuringthat groups boarded the rightferries and those with first-aidqualifications were tasked tosail with them on the two-hourvoyage to Antigua.

While HMS Liverpool was inLittle Bay, the ship's companyvisited shelters in the Salemarea.

At St John's Day CareCentre, where two babies hadbeen born a few weeks earlier,children were delighted by avisit from a supply departmentteam led by Lt Cdr Paul Casswho distributed freshly madedonuts made on the ship.

Meanwhile, the ship's Lynxhelicopter continued to fly sor-ties over the volcano six milessouth of the ship to support thework of an international teamof scientists based at the Mont-serrat Volcano Observatory.

As fears of a major erruptionsubsided, most islandersdecided to stay on Montserratand the ship departed forcounter-drug operations in thearea.

After a port visit to St KittsHMS Liverpool is heading forthe Turks and Caicos Islands.

But Montserrat's volcanocontinues to cause concern, sothe ship will return to the islandimmediately if her presence isrequired.

. .

;j#£*

• Above: West Indies guard-ship HMS Liverpool. The shipspent ten days anchored offMontserrat while the ship'scompany helped set up evacu-ation facilities.• Above left: LCK Gary Hallhelps local children to passthe time as they wait for theevacuation to start.• Right: sailors load baggageon to a truck before it is deliv-ered to a waiting ferry, butmost islanders opted to stayput until details of the reloca-tion package were announced.

Pictures by PO(PHOT)Jon Garth waite. DPRN

• WCH Claire Gilmore becomes the centre of attention as she dis-tributes donuts, freshly made in the galley of HMS Liverpool.

• Montserrat liaison officer Tim Cryar keeps the ship in touch with developments ashore asMontserratians prepare to leave the island.

HELP US TOKEEP YOUROPPOAFLOAT

• •

fl N B.

The RNBT helps past and present SailorsRoyal Marines and their dependants.Over the past 75 years the RNBT has given tens of millions ofpounds to help Naval people and their families in need.

We need support to continue this work and are extremely gratefulfor all contributions, both small and large.

Please help us by sending a donation to the address below.

For more information or advice call: 0170S OO0296

fYTHE ROYAL NAVALj \ BENEVOLENT TRUST' \ CELEBRATING 75 YEARS


A

FUN BAG- signed by a

GladiatorDON'T FORGETto send me yourjokes!

Each month I willjudge them onCaptain Plank'sSeafarer's scale andif your joke gets a'Crow's Nest' you willreceive a fun bag,signed by a Gladiator.

How well willyou do?

NEST - THE

CABIN

CROW'SBEST!!

CAPTAIN'STRY AGAIN

ON THE KEEL - BEREAL!

WALK THE PLANK - ITSTANK!

Thanks to BradleyWaddington (7) whosent me the followingjokes:

What do you call a manwith a spade on hishead??? DUG!!!

Captain Plank gives thatan On The Keel

What do you call adonkey with threelegs??? A WONKEY!!!

Good one! CaptainPlank gives that aCrow's Nest andBradley wins aGladiator Goodie Bag.

WELL SEE 'ere me heartys, I've got some veryimportant news for you readers - I've got m'self agood old name for my club. I had some pretty goodsuggestions from you clever bunch out there but thebest name of all, and the Editor of this 'ere paperagrees with me wholeheartedly, is The Gang PlankClub. The lucky Gang Plank member who came upwith it to win the new-fangled music Discman isVictoria Jones of Abbydale, Gloucester.

FAMOUS SHIPS

THIS MONTH we focus on the most famous Naval shipof them all, HMS Victory.

Now in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, she is the world'soldest commissioned warship and the flagship of the SecondSea Lord. Here are some interesting facts about HMS Victory:

• HMS Victory's crew ate their meals off square plates,hence the expression 'three square meals a day.'

• The reason that ships like Victory had figureheads wasthat many sailors could not read. The figureheads enabledthem to tell one ship from another.

• Thirty one flags are needed to fly Nelson's famous signal'England Expects That Every Man Shall Do His Duty' fromHMS Victory on Trafalgar Day, October 21.

• A sailor's daily ration on board included one gallon ofbeer or two pints of wine or half a pint of rum!

• British sailors were known as 'Limeys' because shipscarried casks of rum to stop them getting scurvy.

• The most common injury suffered by sailors on boardwas rupture, caused by the extremely hard and heavy work inhoisting the sails and raising the enormous anchors.

• The Victory cost £63,176 to build and over 2,000 matureoak trees were used in the construction of her hull.

• If you would like to know more about HMS Victory youcan visit her in Portsmouth, or if you have access to the inter-net, look at the Historic Dockyard's fascinating website:http\\www.compulink.co.uk ~ flagship.

TASTY RECIPE CORNERCAPTAIN PLANK says: "Chef Lewis has fair made mymouth water with all that talk of tasty food so unless hewants to be locked in the galley with only two ship'sbiscuits he better give me a recipe for me and my par-rot to try out!"

Well, here it is for you and Captain Plank to try out, butdon't forget to ask before you try any cooking....

Chef Lewis's Cheesy Hammy EggyTake a handful of grated cheese, a teaspoon of mustard, mashed

hard boiled egg. a pinch of salt and pepper and mix it into a paste.Toast a slice of bread, add a slice of ham and spread your mixture

on top. Place this under a grill and wait until the paste has melted,then place a fried egg on top - and there you have it!

Remember, don't cook without an adult being present, and grillsand frying pans must never be left unattended when you are cooking.If you have a favourite recipe - write and let Captain Plank know.

We have just foundout aboutOperation Auk, aproject in which

to look after wildlifeon the north westtip of the Britishmainland, calledCape Wrath.

IT'S YOUR WORLDEvery Year, a con- This year, the team

is organised andteams of specialistsand volunteers helpto count and ringbirds, and work inthe environment.

Jones with help fromretired Lt Cdr JimMullen. It was a diffi-cult task counting thewide variety of seabirds but it can be

dangerous to get tothe cliffs and islandsof the Cape.

For safety, the

Royal Marines fromFaslane who ensurethat everyone is fer-ried safely to andfrom the wave lashedrocks.

WOULD YOU BE - A SUBHAVE YOU ever wonderedwhat it is like to go down in asubmarine, and what kind oflife the men live who go downinto the depths?

Well, one man who is veryimportant on board a submarinein the Chef! He keeps everyonehappy by providing them with avariety of well-cooked food. Wetracked down Chef Dean 'Loui'Lewis on board HMS Torbay andasked him about his job.What does your job involve?

I am one of three chefs onHMS Torbay which is a Trafalgarclass submarine. With theLeading Chef I am responsiblefor ordering all the food, getting iton board, storing it, cooking itand doing the accounts. We cookevery six hours for the 130 peo-ple on board the submarine.There are two of us on duty dur-ing the day and one at night. Themain problems are storage of the

food and space in which to pre-pare it. We have three storerooms, a fridge and a freezer.

We keep a lot of tins in casewe have to stay down longer thanexpected. We are always open tosuggestions for menus and thefavourites on board are 'cheesy,hammy, eggy' steaks and fishand chips and beans. We bakefresh bread every morning and

are very good at hot curries.Do you need to have anyqualifications?

I didn't have any particularqualifications when I joined theNavy but was sent on an eight-week cooking course which isequivalent to two years outsidethe Navy. I also did some trainingin how to do the accounts.Did you ever get in trouble atschool? Chef Lewis says: "I wasa model pupil!"If you hadn't done this job,what would you have done? Ialways wanted to cook and myfamily said I should join the Navyso I could cook and see theworld.What kind of music do you like?Rock music, Bon Jovi, ThunderWhat is your favourite colour?Turquoise.What is your favourite item ofclothing? England Rugby shirt.

PORTSMOUTH

Your chance to win aBond Passport ticket

FLAGSHIP PORTSMOUTH - HOME PORT TOTHE WORLD'S GREATEST HISTORIC SHIPS

The World of 007, the first official James Bond exhibition, is now a licence to thrill atFlagship Portsmouth in the Historic Dockyard until next January. Boathouse 6 is thevenue for the exhibition, that celebrates 45 years of the world's most famous secret agent.

Well-known exhibits on display include:007 the Aston Martin DBS driven in GoldenEye and the forthcoming blockbuster,

Tomorrow Never Dies;007 the Lotus Esprit submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me;007 Rosa Klebb's flick knife shoe as used in From Russia With Love;007 Jaws' steel teeth from Moonraker,007 Scaramanga's golden gun from The Man With The Golden Gun.

See the hull of Mary Rose, Henry VIN's favourite warship, from air-conditioned viewing galleries in theShip Hall, where an audio commentary describes the layout of the ship and the programme now beingcarried out to preserve her delicate timbers.

Guided tours of HMS Victory vividly depict the harsh conditions ordinary seamen endured at sea formonths on end. Witness the way they lived, ate and fought on the lower gundeck. Then compare itwith the relative opulence of the Great Cabin where Nelson planned his battle strategy, which defeat-ed the Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in 1805.

Explore the four huge decks of HMS Warrior 1860, Britain's first iron-hulled, armoured battleship andthe only surviving member of Queen Victoria's Black Battlefleet. This beautifully restored, sleek, steamand sail powered ship was the fastest and largest of her day; the ultimate deterrent as she never fireda shot in anger.

To win a Bond Passport Ticket - for two adults and two children; which includes a visit to allthe above attractions; answer these three questions correctly:-

1) Which king ordered the building of the Mary Rose?2) At which battle was Nelson mortally wounded or in which year was the Battle of Trafalgar?3) Which monarch was on the throne when HMS Warrior 1860 was launched?

Send your completed entry to The Gang Plank Club' Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, PO1 3HH.

Please remember to add your age, name and address. Entries must be in byNovember 15th 1997. Employees or relatives of Navy News staff are ineligible.

Membership Application FormPlease enrol me as a member of Captain Plank's new club. I enclose a postal order/cheque (payable to Navy News) for £3.25.

Name Address

.Postcode

Age . .Birthdate

Special interests: Sport Q Music Q Film/TV Q

Friends r~] Reading Q Other

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Shoal new way of life for RoebuckNAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 15

• ABOVE: HMS Roebuck,in her new grey livery,operates within 400m ofshore using her towedsonar.• LEFT: AB(SR) Chris-topher Hadlow makes asplash by surveying thebeach gradient in theGreek surf.

Pictures: LA(PHOT) Andy White

Chatham planfor Cavalierin dire straits

AN AMBITIOUS plan topreserve Britain's lastwartime destroyer as atourist attraction inChatham is being pro-posed by campaignerswho want to keep HMSCavalier in Britain. But itcould already be too late.

South Tyneside Council hasplans to transfer ownership ofCavalier to a Malaysian compa-ny with a view to her going onshow at a maritime museum atPort Kelang, near KualaLumpur.

Navy News understands that anexport licence has been granted toStar Cruises who have agreed tomeet the costly bill to renovate theship and dredge a dock for her pas-sage out.

Cavalier is on a list of 3,000 shipsin UK that has been compiled bythe Historic Ships PreservationCommittee. With a new Lotterygrant expected as Navy News wentto press, the Committee will beable to complete its work and,through four years of assessment ofvessels dating from 1885, will nar-row the list down to a relatively few"important" ships liable to attractfunding.

However, Navy News under-stands that Cavalier is unlikely tobe chosen. She has already beenturned down for a Lottery grant,and if the Malaysian deal goesthrough will have left long beforethe committee's final report isready in 2001.

Against the odds, veterans of theHMS Cavalier Association areseeking to raise £10,000 in theshort term to provide a fightingfund to delay the export. They have

1 HMS Cavalier - campaigners fighting against the odds.

attracted the support in theMcdway towns of the area's threeMPs and leading councillorNorman Carter.

Cllr Carter said £1.7 millionwould secure Cavalier for Britainfor at least the next seven years.

He said that while public dona-tions would help, funding from theNational Lottery and the HeritageDepartment would be vital torefurbish the ship and meet theinevitable shortfall in her mainte-nance costs which could be up to£100,000 a year.

"The Medway towns havea proud Naval history, butthe one thing we lack is aship of the Grey FunnelLine," he said. "The war atsea produced importanticons, and Cavalier is one ofthem."

Chairman of the CavalierAssociation, Sid Anning, has writ-ten to Prime Minister Tony Blairappealing for a "fair chance" to begiven to those who want to see

Cavalier preserved in Britain.Responding to questions put to

them by Navy News, Star Cruises'public relations headquarters inSingapore confirmed that the com-pany had bought Cavalier, butrefused to answer any other ques-tions, as they were "finalising thedetails" of their plans for the ship

However, a spokesman forSouth Tyneside Council said thatwhile Star Cruises' bid had beenaccepted, no contract had yet beensigned and he could not say whenCavalier would leave.

Should any other, serious offerbe made before the contract wassigned it would be put before thecouncil for a decision. "The councilwill dispose of Cavalier only tosomeone who can guarantee herpreservation," he said.

The Cavalier Association is ask-ing for donations to be paid intothe 'Cavalier Fighting Fund' viadonors' bank accounts (quotingSort Code 11-08-18, AccountNo.00446158) or through anyHalifax Building Society/Bankquoting Account D/99563105-9.

FOR THE first time, surveyship HMS Roebuck hasconducted a joint survey ofan area as a possible land-fall for amphibious forces.

Since late August, Roebuckwas taking part in the NATOexercise Rapid Response 97,and with a French survey ves-sel was working on and aroundthe west coast of Greece.

Both ships tackled swell andsurf when they deployed boatsto survey the beaches.Meanwhile, Roebuck operatedwithin 400m of the coast and inwater as shallow as 10m, usingher towed sonar to check thatthe seabed was clear for land-ing craft.

The aim of Exercise RapidResponse was to develop rapid

environmental assessmentduring which NATO units com-bine to gather and processdata to provide the best possi-ble picture of the environmentto a task force commander.

During her deployment,Roebuck also investigatedshallows thought to be poten-tially dangerous to shipping inthe Mediterranean off NorthAfrica. Spiss Bank, 30 milesnorth of Tunisia, was reportedby HMS Berkeley three yearsago.

Using her Atlas DESO 25echo sounder, Roebuck dis-covered a steep coral reef ris-ing over 150m from the sea bedin less than half a mile. Theleast depth was found to bealmost 100m.

future ofhistoricdockyardCHATHAM Historic Dock-yard's future has been securedwith a £16 million fundingpackage designed to make the80-acre area a world class her-itage site.

The financing operation, whichincludes a £10 million grant fromthe National Lottery Fund, wasannounced at the dockyard byHeritage Secretary Chris Smith.

He said the Lottery grant wasthe largest the fund had made inKent. It would be partnered withfunding from the City ofRochester upon Medway Council,Rochester Bridge Trust andEnglish Heritage.

100 buildingsAdmiral of the Fleet Sir

William Staveley, Chairman ofChatham Historic DockyardTrust, said that without the grantsthe enterprise would have faced a"very bleak future".

"Instead we are now able tocontinue work on implementingour strategy to ensure the HistoricDockyard becomes a world classheritage site at the heart of theMedway towns."

He said the grants would beused to modernise infrastructure,improve landscape, and preservethe site's 100 buildings and struc-tures, many of which are sched-uled as ancient monuments orlisted as historic.

The plan includes restorationof two more of the major build-ings - No.7 Slip and Np.lSmithery - as well as completionof the restoration of the sloopHMS Gannet.

If you're physically fit, you're more likely to be mentallyfit. That's why men who train at weekends with theROYAL MARINES RESERVE often become moresuccessful in their careers. It's all to do with gainingconfidence in your capabilities AND THEN PUSHINGYOURSELF.

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KING GEORGE'S FUND FOR SAILORS d chanty NO. 226446)Presents a National Year of the Seafarer

HMS NELSON AUCTION OFNAUTICAL MEMORABILIA

and Royal Naval Philatelic Society Covers(By kind permission of the Commanding Officer of HMS NELSON, Commodore J.J. Hart Royal Navy) in

Boathouse No.4, The Historic Dockyard, Portsmouthon

Thursday 30th & Friday 31st October 1997 (Viewing only, 10 a.m.- 4p.m.)Saturday 1st November & Sunday 2nd November 1997 (Viewing 10 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. : Sale 1 p.m. each day)

Auctioneers: Reg & Wayne Coates, of Coates' Auctions, Gosport.Catalogue and Consultancy: Richard Martin Gallery and Bookshop, Gosport

OVER 2000 ITEMS DONATED SO FAR - AND MORE COMING IN - NONE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN OFFERED FOR SALE

Full details can be obtained by contacting either:Lieutenant D. A. Hall, SO(C) HMS NELSON, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. Te: 01705 724175 Fax: 01705 724607

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"GFS AUCTION, HMS NELSON, PORTSMOUTH, PO1 3HHFROM ADDRESS

PostcodePlease send me copy/copies, at £5.50 per copy to include postage, of the HMS NELSON Auction of Nautical MemorabiliaCatalogue to be published in early October 1997.1 enclose a cheque for made payable to King George's Fund for Sailors.

^Admission to the Sale by Catalogue only, price £5.00 at the door, or £5.50 by post. ^^

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Helos get real on the widescreen

FLIGHT deck training at HMS Osprey has moved intothe 21st century with PC-based Virtual Reality.

Superscape reseller and developer Applied Visuals Ltd ofBristol won the contract to develop, build and deliver the train-er to Portland.

It runs on networked 200 PCs and the virtual reality simula-tion is projected via standard data projectors onto a number ofbig screens.

The trainee Flight Deck Officer stands before these and,using simulated radio contact together with arm signals, aimsto land the helicopter image on the representative warship.

His instructions are monitored by the instructor who con-trols the simulation and enters the commands into a trainingpackage to reproduce the effects. The trainee's efforts arerecorded and can be played back to help with the learningprocess.

The trainer is able to replicate the flying operating limits ofall classes of RN ships in all weather conditions by day andnight. Stereophonic aircraft and ship noises, radios, magneticloops and telebrief facilities are provided to add to the realism.

CO of the Flight Deck Training Unit Lt John Jones told NavyNews: "Trainee FDOs only have two hours practical mar-shalling of helicopters during the training course and theadvent of this trainer will prove an invaluable cost effective aid.

"The requirement to complete training using real helicopterswill always be there, of course - but the benefits of this systemto consolidate lessons learned in the classroom will be veryconsiderable."

WORK BEGINS ON NEW-LOOK MUSEUMWORK began last month on the Royal NavalMuseum's £10m development plan, followingthe Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2,846,435last November.

The project has also been supported with £540,000from Hampshire County Council.

It will involve the complete refurbishment andupgrading of the Georgian Storehouse No 11 and theVictory Gallery Building as well as the remodelling ofthe Victory Gallery, the Lambert McCarthy andDouglas-Morris Galleries. There will be a stunningnew display - "The Battle of Trafalgar Experience"and a research centre.

Said project manager John Harris of Alex Sayer

Ltd, Bognor Regis: "The occupation of the buildingsby the RN Museum with its fascinating and uniquecollection of artefacts from some of Britain's most glo-rious achievements make the project very excitingindeed."

There will be artefacts aplenty on auction at BoatHouse No 4 on 1 November when a sale organised byKing George's Fund for Sailors with HMS Nelsonopens at 12.45p.m.

Round-the-world yachtsman Tony Bullimore -whohit the headlines in January following the capsize ofhis yacht Exide Challenger andhis dramatic survivaland rescue by the Royal Australian Navy - will openthe auction of over 2,000 donated items in aid ofKGFS's Year of the Seafarer appeal.

Another TV 'Hero' ?THE ROYAL Navy has agreed to co-operate with BBC1 ona plan to produce a new drama series based on theService.

Working title of the project is HMS Hero, the name of thefictitious Leander-class frigate which starred in the highlysuccessful BBC TV series Warship during the 1970s.

The new series will be centred around an aicraft carrier- and a an RN air station, although it will not be specifi-cally about flying.

A Royal Navy spokesman described the project as a"classy drama series" and said that discussions betweenthe BBC and the Navy had progressed well. Should theproject go ahead, a Royal Navy officer is likely beappointed as technical adviser.

Shackleton'slast flag sale

THE UNION Flag worn byShackelton's ship the Quest on hislast expedition to the Antarcticwas expected to fetch up to £6,000at an auction of exploration andtravel artefacts.

The Christie's sale was takingplace as Now News went to press,and included a number of items ofShackleton memorabilia. The flagwas presented to Sir Ernest byKing George V in 1921. justmonths before the explorer died ofa heart attack at South Georgia.

Last flyingSea Hawkgrounded

PLANS to display the only airworthy Sea Hawk fighter in theworld have suffered a setback after it was damaged as a result ofa crack in the jet exhaust.

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The aircraft, operated by theRN Historic Flight, is one of 434built for the Royal Navy in the1950s and had been restored byBritish Aerospace.

The fault was discovered duringpost-flight after the aircraft's lastf l ight at the Shut t lewor thCollection's Summer Show at OldWarden on July 6. Flight groundstaff found a large crack in the ductforming the first part of theexhaust un i t aft of the jet engine.

General Manager of the Flight,Cdr Bryan Wood" RN (retd) said:"With a normal operating jet pipetemperature of 480C it was quiteobvious that the aircraft couldhave suffered heat damage to itsstructure in the vicinity of thecrack, and on engine removalthere was clear evidence of suchdamage."

Cdr Wood said the crack did notoccur before BAe's "superb"restoration, but during the HawkerSea Hawk's last flight.

An assessment of the damage

has been made with the help of theRN Materials Laboratory. CdrWoods said the Historic Flight,with the help of BAe, will shortlydecide on how, when and whererepairs are to be made.

"Meanwhile it is one of theFlight's major objectives to contin-ue to operate a fully airworthy SeaHawk," he said.

Meanwhile HMS Seahawk's'gate guardian' at RN Air StationCuldrose, Sea Hawk LM 127 whichfirst flew in 1953, first at RNASAbbotsinch and later at RNASLossiemouth, has been give a newcoat of paint and is back in itsfami l ia r position inside theperimeter fence. One of its pilots,Lt Cdr George Barras, RN Retd,told Navy News: "Somebody atLossiemouth did a wheels-up land-ing in this aircraft - but it wasn't

'J Below: the RN Historic-Flight's Sea Hawk before it wasgrounded.

Lt Cdr LeonardTruscott MBE

LEN Truscott, theBusiness Manager of NavyNews during the 1970s,has died at the age of 80.

Lt Cdr Leonard WilliamTruscott had a 30-yearcareer in the Royal Navybefore he joined NavyNews in 1971. He retired asBusiness Manager in 1982,but continued his supportpart-time of the newspaperto within a few weeks ofhis death from cancer onSeptember 20.

He is particularlyremembered by his col-leagues for his goodhumour and his ability asmanager of the businessaffairs of Navy News as itunderwent a number ofimportant changes.

For 25 years after leav-ing the Navy he was alsosecretary and treasurer ofthe RN & RM BranchSpecial Duties OfficersBenevolent Fund.

He leaves a wife, Rita, ason and daughter, Jill andJohn, and five grandchil-dren.

Helping HandsNAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 17

Trans-Asia rideputs Tony in therecord books

A WEARY but jubilant LtTony Brooks has arrivedback in Britain after a13,200-mile charity cycleride from London toSiberia.

His epic voyage raised £5,000for the Salvation Army andputs him into the record booksas the first person to cross thewhole of Asia by bike.

Bears, bugs and belligerent bor-der guards failed to thwart hisprogress as he pedalled throughEurope and followed Marco Polo'sfootsteps along the old Silk Roadinto Asia.

He set out in January last yearand rode through central and east-ern Europe, Turkey and Iranbefore crossing the Himalayas inPakistan and skirting theTaklamakan and Gobi Deserts toreach Peking.

After a visit to Hong Kong hespent the winter learning Russianin St Petersberg before returningto Peking and followed the rest ofthe Great Wall of China to thePacific.

• RECORD BREAKER: Lt TonyBrooks is the first man tocycle right across Asia

From there he went 1,000 milesnorth through industrialisedManchuria, negotiated his wayacross the 'no foreigners' borderinto Russia and cycled through1,000 miles of forest and acrossMongolia to Yakutsk.

The final part of his journey wasthe toughest of the whole trip - tak-

Illustrious voyageproduces £17,000IF THE Lord does indeed 'love a cheerful giver' then the menand women of HMS Illustrious can look forward to a warmreception at the Pearly Gates.

During seven months on Ocean Wave '97 the ship's company raised agrand total of £17,736 for charity by every conceivable means.

Capt Stephen Mayer started theball rolling when he raised £190 byleaping over the side of the shipinto the South China Sea.

Senior ratings in 801 Squadronheld a mess dinner and raised£150 through fines for misbehav-iour.

In a traditional act of sacrifice,the two hairiest men on the ship -CPOs Peter Rosier and MickHudnott of 820 Sqn were spon-sored £1,250 by colleagues to losetheir most prized possessions.

£1,000 was raised by people giv-ing up things for Lent and half ofthis came from Naafi assistantAllison Sehar by not swearing for40 days and not allowing anyoneout of deep shelter until she hadtheir pledge.

Two members of 849B Flightlumbered up the Rock ofGibraltar firmly tied together andmade £1,600 for 'Dreamflight.'

Football memorabilia and aride in a lifeboat were auctionedin the Chief's Mess to raise anoth-er £1,700 for Fareham andGosport inshore rescue service.

And the Merlin Ward inTreliske Hospital is £3,020 betteroff after members of 820 Sqncycled up Mount Fuji.

Peter O'Sullivan's mantle of'the voice of racing' was takenover by 801 Sqn's Lt Cdr DickiePaine who's virtuoso performanceof not one but TWO racing com-mentators helped swell the charitytake at the Air and AED's AscotRace Day to £850.

Add to this the list of haircuts,slims and conventional methodssuch as Church collections (£900)and shrapnel buckets and the finalfigures snow that the ship's com-pany has, on average, given £17per person to charity and had a lotof fun doing it.

ing him to the eastern edge ofAsia's road system at Magadan.

Tony said: "This place was hometo Stalin's prison camps and wasonly opened to foreigners fiveyears ago. The 'roads' were appal-ing, long sections of the track hadbeen reclaimed by mosquito infest-ed swamp and many bridges hadbeen washed away.

Biting insects"The 'road of bones' runs for

1,000 miles across some of themost inhospitable terrain on earth.The region is snow and ice for 8months of the year with tempera-tures dropping to minus 70C andthe short wet summers are plaguedwith swarms of biting insects.

"I had to carry my bike acrossbog and rivers up to 50 times a daywhich made for slow progress andit took me a month to reachMagadan, even riding 10 or 12hours a day."

Q The voyage tested both manand machine to the limit and Tonywould like to thank KONA for theKilavea and Cinder Cone cyclesthat got him through the trip.

• A successful bid by Cdr Howard Holdsworth allowed his sonand father-in-law to meet Illustrious at sea on her way home.During the deployment the CPO's mess raised enough money toequip the boat with a night-sight and radar plotter.

In briefFASLANE's Summer Fairattracted 5,000 people andraised £11,000 for the newlifeboat house at RhuMarina, Helensburgh.

Visitors who braved theblustery weather were reward-ed with an action-packed pro-gramme which was to haveincluded a search and rescuedemonstration by an 819 SqnSea King - but it was calledaway on a real mission!

At the lifeboat house open-ing ceremony, Flag OfficerScotland, Northern Englandand Northern Ireland, RearAdmiral John Tolhurst, pre-sented the money to Mr ArchieMacKenzie, Convenor of theScottish Lifeboat Council.

a a aHMS Somerset's PO CliveHemsley has been holdingchildren spellbound in manyports of call.

Appearing as the magician'Emmazdad', he and his puppetcompanion 'Scamp' have playedto young audiences in Ghana, StHelena, Montevideo and theFalkland islands

Somerset is relieved asFalklands guardship on October 2,at which point PO Hemsley willhelp to make the ship vanish - andreappear at Devonport onNovember 20!

a a aSAILORS from HMSSouthampton raised£1,000 for a children's hos-pice by racing the shipfrom Portsmouth toSouthampton.

Fourteen runners rana relay along the A27and beat the ship by 15minutes with a time of 2hours 5 minutes.

The money was pre-sented to the Rose RoadChildren's Hospice bySouthampton's CO, CdrDuncan Potts.

60 pounds lighterHMS FEARLESS's POCA Ken Webber is not the man heused to be - he lost an incredible 63 pounds while the shipwas away on Ocean Wave '97.

He and Sgt Dickie Birch, who shed almost 50 pounds himself,raised £600 for the Patricia Mary Gammon Trust which fundsresearch into Hodgkinson's and non-Hodgkinson's lymphomacancer.

The Trust was founded by Mr Richard Gammon in memory ofhis daughter Patricia who died from the illness three years ago.He said: "We were overwhelmed by the response from HMSFearless. It was a great effort."

The Trust is currently supporting work by scientists atManchester University and would like to hear from any ship orestablishment who would like to help. Contact the Trust on 01243267660.

Fatherputs

trustA NAVY operator main-tainer who's young sonis suffering from a raregenetic disorder hasset up a trust fund onhis behalf.

OM(EW) MichaelHamilton, from the fireschool at HMS Raleigh,hopes to provide 16-month-old Luke the spe-cial equipment he needsto make the most of hisyoung life.

Luke is suffering fromTay-Sachs disease whichcauses progressivedestruction of the centralnervous system.

CureUnless a cure for the

disease is found, he willsoon be unable to crawl,sit up or turn over, and willeventually go blind andhave hearing difficulties.

Any money that is notused for Luke's immediateneeds will go towardsresearch into the illness.

Donations can be madeto the Luke Hamilton Trustby post or in person at anyMidland Bank by quotingsort code number 40-12-22account No. 11141589. Formore details, contact MrPeter Ames on 0120874949.

HMY BRITANNIATo commemorate The Royal Yacht, Willraynes was exclusivelycommissioned to design and supply to the Yacht a very specialpresentation box containing a bottle of Personal Reserve Port.

The design which includes the Royal Yacht insignia and pictures ofthe Yacht was approved by The Queen and we supplied the Yacht with

a limited edition of these presentation boxes. Each presentation box has anumbered certificate recounting the historic voyage made earlier this year.If you would like more information about Willraynes Wine Companythis very limited edition, please telephone: 01386 — 555528

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NEWSVIEVft-1Diving with DianaA personal appreciation by the Editor, Navy News

ELEVEN years ago, as now, it was hard to place anuclear submarine on the front page of a nationalnewspaper. Diana managed the trick, though.

There is no higher cause than the maintenance of worldpeace. But in peacetime the Navy needs all the help it canget to put the message across - so the Navy, like so manyother organisations, made use of her.

Even so, back in 1986, when her unique value for publicitywas already long established, the effect of the Princess ofWales' presence still had the power to surprise.

She was to spend four hours on board HMS Trafalgar,dived on exercises in the Firth of Clyde. I was then PublicRelations Officer to the Flag Officer Submarines and I seizedan opportunity not to be missed.

"You're wasting your time," the Navy's then Deputy Directorof PR told me. The submarine was not due to return until latein the evening, we would lose the next day's papers - andthereafter it would be yesterday's news.

On top of everything else, there was no place for me onboard - a TV crew was embarked with her, working on a 'dayin the life' documentary, and they were hopping mad at thethought their scoop might be hi-jacked. So there was a 'num-bers problem', they said . . .

A submarine periscope is a paparazzo's dream stealthinstrument. You can screw a standard camera body over theeyepiece and use its long-range optics to photograph yourunsuspecting victim without breaking cover, leaving yourselfwith the best possible chance of success in evading detec-tion.

So inside a submarine there is only one picture the punterswant to see - the subject peering through the periscope. Thatwas the one I told the Navy photographer on board to captureat all costs. Diana on the other end of the lens, for once.

Meanwhile I waited alone at the end of the secure NATOjetty at Fairlie for her party to disembark. I had only a fleetingglimpse of her - flashing me the familiar shy smile - beforethe Naval equerry handed over a sealed packet: "I think thisis what you're waiting for."

( sprinted past them down the pier to my waiting car and wesped off to the Press Association office in Glasgow. It wasvery late in the evening by the time we arrived in the city.

The driver got the address wrong - and he was gone before Idiscovered his mistake. So now I was running with it, stop-ping strangers on the unfamiliar streets to ask the way.

I found the place eventually, the solitary PA staff man anx-iously pacing the floor. The RN snapper had done his jobwell - despite the angry jostling of the TV crew crowded intoHMS Trafalgar's control room - and he had only one ques-tion: "What was she wearing?"

I thought back to my brief sight of her: "A pink check shirt"(a man's shirt, you can tell from the buttons - see centrepages) "and washed-out blue jeans." The shirt might equallyhave been Turnbull and Asser or Marks and Sparks, thejeans Versace or Levis. I wouldn't know. The outfit was hard-ly haute couture, anyhow.

I limped off to catch the last shuttle flight home and got upnot so bright but very early to look over the morning papers.

The picture was high up on the front pages of almost all ofthem - headlined 'Di dives deep' and so on. A lot of sub-edi-tors must have been working extra late that night.

I never saw Princess Diana again. My young sons Nicholasand Andrew did, though, four years later when she came toPortsmouth to see the completed extension to the Anglicancathedral in the Navy's traditional home.

They spotted her arrival at the front door while walking withtheir aunt Joan to the corner shop in the High Street - andwith an instinctive gallantry never exhibited before or sincedashed in and bought her a bunch of flowers.

There wasn't much chance they would get to hand it over -until a friendly policeman told them the Princess would becoming out through a rear door, where there was only a smallcrowd who had received the same tip.

When she duly appeared, aunty Joan yelled: 'Diana!'. Shesmiled, strolled across, shook their hands, had a few words -and walked away with their bouquet.

It was a typical corner shop job - a few cheap pink bloomsshoved into a cellophane jacket. Like most of the thousandsof others she collected in her lifetime, and afterwards, deliv-ered to a 'People's Princess'.

For sheer glamour and lasting popular appeal onlyEdward VIII, later Duke of Windsor, was her equal as aroving representative of the Royal Family - and he was

the first member of that family to be exposed to the deadlyweight of mass media attention, whose punishing effects onits targets were then only dimly appreciated.

As Prince of Wales he won millions of hearts in the 1920sas the 'Ambassador of Empire', a role in which the RoyalNavy, of which he was for long its most senior Admiral of theFleet, also had its heyday.

A month before his abdication he spent a couple of dayswith the Home Fleet at Portland. The then First Lord of theAdmiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, later wrote:

"I had a unique opportunity of seeing the most attractiveside of his personality. If, on the one hand, he was, as manythought, wayward and irresponsible, on the other hand no-one could deny his surpassing talent for inspiring enthusiasmand managing great crowds. He seemed to know personallyevery officer and seaman in the Fleet.

"On one of the evenings there was a smoking concert inthe aircraft carrier Courageous .. . The vast underdeck waspacked with thousands of seamen. In my long experience ofmass meetings I never saw one so dominated by a singlepersonality. At one point he turned to me and said: 'I amgoing to see what is happening at the other end.'

"Elbowing his way through the crowd, he walked to the endof the hall and started community singing to the accompani-ment of a seaman's mouth organ. When he returned to theplatform he made an impromptu speech that brought thehouse down . . .

"There followed an unforgettable scene of the wildest andmost spontaneous enthusiasm. Here, indeed, was the PrinceCharming who could win the hearts of all sorts and conditionsof men and women and send a thrill through great crowds."

Eric opens the X Fileon 'Nemo'the robot

1

SEEING 'GEM', the Navy's cheeky promotional robot,at the Royal Tournament reminded one of our readersof an early prototype...

'Nemo' was constructed by three Tiffies in the battleship HMSAnson in 1951 - when Hollywood was starting a spate of sci-fifilms featuring metallic marauders from outer space.

Eight feet tall and clad in copper sheeting, he cut an impressivefigure when he made his debut during an 'Open Week' for schoolsin the Helensburgh area, the Anson then being moored in theGareloch as part of the Reserve Fleet.

One of his creators, ex-OA Eric Woods of Teignmouth, remem-bers that he took shape in the workshops of their accommodationship HMS Bulawayo, alongside at Faslane,

"He could talk - moving his lips - his eyes lit up and his chesthad a visual heartbeat. He could turn his head and swing his leftarm from the shoulder.

"We took turns in operating him, Reg Hart (whose brainchild hewas), Harold Clapson and I. We sat at a table immediately behindhim in the adjacent compartment, in total darkness.

"Between his legs we placed a mirror and hung black buntingbehind him except where the mirror was.Between Nemo and theadjacent compartment we had removed the bulkhead door. Hence,via the mirror we could view people coming up in front of him -but they couldn't see us in the dark, as the mirror reflected thedarkness to the onlooker, which blended with the black bunting.

"We completely baffled all the children and school teachers.They couldn't understand how we could describe what they werewearing and so on. Most of them were of the opinion there wassomeone inside the robot. We had a two-way microphone to listento them and talk back to them.

"I wonder if anyone knows what ultimately happened to him -he probably went to the breaker's yard along with the Anson?"• Left: 'Nemo' on board HMS Anson in 1951. Below: Today's'GEM' intrigues a visitor to the Royal Navy's exhibition stand.

A.\\

\

1

849ers get a grip on the fundamentalsTHE SENSE of relief was pal-pable when the lid was raisedon a nice new lav at RN AirStation Culdrose...

Jon Miller - a familiar facefrom the children's TV show'How' and a World War II airmanwho learnt the art of self controlon long reconnaissance mis-sions as a photographer andanalyst - was flushed with prideto be invited to open the integralfeature of 849 Sqn's new facili-ties.

Said 849's old friend, seenhere cutting a ribbon of materialappropriate to the occasion asits CO Lt Cdr Jon Rich demon-strates a bog standard visualaid: "I've been asked to open avariety of things in my time, butthis is my first toilet block - andit gives me great pleasure."

Invinciblefirst strikin the air


HMS INVINCIBLE embarked RAF GR7Harriers operationally for the first time lastmonth in Britain's most powerful deploy-ment of air power from the sea for 15 years.

The Ground Attack aircraftwere part of the Carrier AirGroup earmarked for themajor NATO mult i -nat ionaljoint maritime Exercise Taponoff Southern Spain.

Specialising in bombing., theRAF Wittering-based detachmentof 1 Sqn is led by Wing Cdr MarkLeakey.

Invincible will be accompaniedthroughout the four-monthdeployment by the support shipRFA Fort Victoria and will operatewith various escorts, including theType 23 frigates HMS Iron Dukeand Monmouth and the Type 42destroyer HMS Liverpool.

Some of the other key tasks forthe ship during the period awayinclude:

• Air defence exercises with theUnited States Navy, US Air Forceand other allies off the east coastof the USA.

• Operating and exercising withthe nuclear submarine HMSTriumph.

• Operating in the Adriatic insupport of United Nations forcesashore in Bosnia.

She will return to Portsmouth atChristmas.

"We wi l l be on watch in theglobal neighbourhood," herCommanding Officer Capt RoyClare told Na\y News.

"The operations conducted byHMS Invincible support UK secu-rity policy in the regions visitedand are intended to strengthen herabili ty to operate at long rangefrom home and to project airpower from both the Fleet AirArm and the RAF".

"Combining RAF jets withthose of the RN plays to therespective strengths of each."

In Barcelona in December theship would take part in a majorseminar staged by the Brit ishInvisibles to promote investmentopportuni t ies in the City ofLondon.

Two of the squadrons normallyembarked in the carrier have latelyenjoyed some unusual foreigndetachments of their own.

The Aardvarks', 849 Naval AirSquadron A Flight based at RNAir Station Culdrose, joined upwith the Royal Norwegian AirForce Station at Kjevik forExercise Marvika, in which un i t s

from France and the Netherlandsalso took part.

Air defence exercises involvedNorwegian F16 and F5 aircraftwith the Sea King Whiskey provid-

cores a

• Above: as a mark of respect to Diana, Princess of Wales, a no fly period was observedby HMS Invincible on 6 September. A service conducted by the ship's Chaplain, the RevMartin Poll, was held on the flight deck attended by a large number of the ship's compa-ny - as well as by the RAF men, whose Honorary Air Commodore the Princess was beforeshe relinquished her royal duties (note the RAF Harrier GR7s in the foreground).

A book of condolence was completed during the day and forwarded to The Prince ofWales from Cadiz. Capt Roy Clare told Navy News: "Even those of us who had never mether recognised that they had lost a friend and it was entirely appropriate to suspend ouroperations during the day and hold a memorial service on board so that we could markher passing, give thanks for her life and pray that her good work may be taken forwardby others in her name."

• Left: arriving on board for the first time in its new colours, K266 embarks with the restof HMS Invincible's Carrier Air Group. As part of 814 Naval Air Squadron, the 'FlyingTigers' Seaking had recently returned from the international Tiger Meet held this year atFairford. In the coming months it will be put to the test in exercises on both sides of theAtlantic, including the ultimate test of live weapon firings on the AUTEC ranges.

ing airborne early warning for amainly an t i - submar ine warfarefleet.

Secondary roles included sur-face picture compilation and overthe horizon targeting. Less familiartasks for the 849 crews were sub-marine transfers and mounta innavigation.

MiM

eanwhile , asreported earlier,two Seakines of814 NAS were

embarked in HNLMS Zuiderkruisfor a three month whirlwind tourof the eastern coast of the USAand the Caribbean.

It was the first deployment ofthis length involving the Fleet AirArm since 1987 - although Britishand Dutch warships have operatedregula r ly together as part ofNATO for many years.

The aircrew had to put in a crashcourse in flight safety to qualify inoperations from a smaller deckthan they were used to. TheZuiderkruis is part of theCombined Belgium Netherlandstask group, consisting of HNLMS

Tromp. Van Speyk, Van Der Zaan,Tjerkes Hiddes and BNSWestdiep.

It visited Hal ifax in Canada andthen sailed into one of the worststorms in ten years off the EastCoast.

Later the US Navy joined thegroup. Four destroyers and thenuclear submarine USSProvidence allowed the Flight achance to conduct some cross deckoperations with two Arleigh BurkeClass cruisers and continueadvanced ASW training.

West Indies Guard Ship HMSBoxer joined the group for a cou-ple of days - as did the DutchWalrus Class submarine HNLMSDolj in . The Flight supported thetask group by flying 44 CASEXswithin a ten-day period and notch-ing up over 100 flying hours -mostly at night.

• Ukra in ian AmbassadorSergei Vasilevich Kommissarenkojoined HMS Invincible for the dayshe sailed from Portsmouth. Hisvisit was part of the Ministry ofDefence's large bilateral pro-gramme wi th the Ukraine thatincluded the joint exercise CossackSteppe there last month.

> Aardvarks in the Arctic - 849 Squadron A Flight over Norway.

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20 NAVY NEWS. OCTOBER 1997

E)IANA$NAVYIICDAYS " Princess Diana at the

launch of HMS Cornwall,Yarrow's yard, Glasgow, 1985.

DiANA,

Princess of Wales' closest RN affiliations were with the Type 22frigate HMS Cornwall, which she launched in 1985, and HMS Vanguard,the first of the Trident submarines, commissioned by her in 1993.

These photographs from our archives show all the style, easy informality and senseof fun the 'People's Princess' brought to them as to every other organisation withwhich she was associated.

"Diana was of course not only Princess of Wales but also Duchess of Cornwall andso has a very special link with us," the Cornwall's Commanding Officer Capt AnthonyDymock told Navy News."She took a close interest in the activities of the ship which she visited when her

always busy programme allowed. Cornwall's captains called on her and there aremany reminders of her about the ship in the form of paintings, photographs and

remembers her with great affection for her warmth andie else, we were devastated by the tragic news which willwith, not just our own selfish sense of loss but the loss toeverybody around the world with whom she worked and

The CO of HMS Vanguard Cdr Paul Abraham said: "Everyone marvelled at howrelaxed and easy it was to talk to her. She was always fascinated to hear news of thesubmarine's programme, but more importantly of the crew ... She will never be for-gotten nor will her example fade."

The Princess inspects the Guard during the commNavy's first Trident submarine at Barrow-in-Furness.

the Guard the

" Above: HMS Rothesay,1987. On passage to attendthe Highland Games on theIsle of Bute, the Princessserved lunch to WTRsMalcolm Pounder and SeanRobinson as a reward forraising £70 for Help theAged. She was alsoDuchess of Rothesay -and Rothesay was then theoldest frigate in the Fleet.

" Left: PM CommandoTraining Centre,Lympstone, 1985. Watchedby a group of Wrens, Dianapauses to chat with CadetSteve Harrison of theLympstone RM VolunteerCadet Corps.

@ Right: HMS Drake, 1991.The Princess met the fami-lies of personnel serving inthe Gulf War -and accept-ed a bouquet from five-year-old Carrie Gould,daughter of LS Ken Gouldof HMS Brazen.

In a !

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a

NAVY NEWS. OCTOBER 1997 21m " Left: HMS Trafalgar, 1986. "I've had a ... P -

whale of a time,"joked the Princess ofWales as she disembarkedfrom a day of .,.,,

aexercises in the Firth of Clydeas theguestof the nuclearsubmarine HMSTrafalgar.The boat hadjust returned from a visit I erM.

to Brest, so she was treated to a coldbuffet which included many delicaciesbrought from France in honour of the

Ilk

She spent four hours on board -

including aperiod dived - before flyingback to Balmoral in a helicopter of the &

!f4a. vQueen's FlightThe first photograph in this sequencenext day appeared on the front pages ofalmost the entire national press.

'a..,

'.

" Above: HMSAjax, 1985.There was a surprise gift ofabox of chocolates for thePrincess when she visitedthe escort ship for theRoyal Tour of Italy inVenice - presented byCCWEA Peter Martin. )

" Right: HMSCornwall, 1988. Whenthe first of the Batch3 redesigned Type22 frigates commis-sioned at Devonportthe Duchess ofCornwall, wholaunched the shipin 1985, presenteda silver cup to beawarded annuallyto the winners ofthe inter-messsports competition.Anda Long ServiceandGood ConductMedal to P0Michael Worley.

" Below: BritanniaRoyal Naval College,Dartmouth, 1989. The18th century uniform-inspired outfit thePrincess wore at LordHigh Admiral's Divisionsbrightened up a grey Aprilday.She planteda tulip treesapling in the RoyalPlot tomark her visit.n

-'4

V

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fl


At Your Leisure

Scott 'a contrast to myartist friends. . .''Make the boy interested in natural history'

CA P T A I NS C O T T ' Sdeath is one ofthe most pub-licised individ-ual tragedies

of the 20th century, one thatstill remains firmly fixed inthe popular memory.

Only lately has the myth

been punctured - notably byRoland Huntford's persuasivestudy of Scott andAmundsen, published in1979, in which the profession-al and leadership qualities ofthe 'Viking raider' Amundsenwho won the race to the SouthPole were contrasted withScott's, to the latter's detri-ment.

HMS CENTAUR1943 ~ 1972

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But myths rely little on fact;Scott's has scarcely been deflatedas a result - and indeed still hasroom for expansion.

Beryl Bainbridge's superb fic-tionalisation The Birthday Boysis a recent example. Now comesDiana Preston's A First RateTragedy (Constable £16.95), inwhich a woman's mind again pro-vides a fresh slant on how fame,glamour and early death made fora winning combination on the eveof World War I. As it always has.

There is not actually much newinformation in this much slighterstudy than Huntford's - to whichshe makes only passing reference -but she devotes a fair amount ofspace to Scott's wife, KathleenBruce, a bohemian sculptor whoseexhuberance "liberated and excit-ed" him.

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She had "a knack of gettingaway with things which would havesunk lesser women" - yet despiteher five years study in Paris, duringwhich she was on easy terms withthe likes of Rodin, Picasso andIsadora Duncan, her diaries sug-gest she was still a virgin when shemet her future husband.

She claimed she had been savingherself for a man worthy of siringthe son on whom she had set herheart and "scrutinised any man shewas interested in with the coolnessof a genetic scientist". Which hard-ly suggests a passionate nature.

She was no clothes horse- inlater life she was described as oneof the worst dressed women inLondon. But she had sex appealand enjoyed the power it gave herover men.

The sinister self-styled magusAleister Crowley found herstrangely seductive; a frustratedyoung Swede became so enragedthat he lay in wait for her with arevolver . ..

In the end, it was Scott - "thishealthy, fresh, decent, honest,rock-like naval officer" as shedescribed him - who possessed theunlikely qualities necessary to winher heart "as a contrast to my artistfriends".

Even so, she procrastinated oversetting the date. The bohemianway of life still had its attractions.Another suitor was the youngwriter and lawyer Gilbert Cannanwho seemed to have a menage atrois in mind - "hardly likely toappeal to a man like Scott".(Cannan spent the last 30 years ofhis life in a lunatic asylum, one ofhis delusions being that he wasScott, the great explorer).

Eventually they tied the knot.Thereafter they had little enoughtime together - time enough toproduce a child, Peter, likewise tobecome a naval hero and, morefamously, a naturalist who alsoinherited his mother's artistic gifts.

After his birth,Kathleen tellinglyabserved that she'fell for the first time

gloriously, passionately, wildly inlove with my husband".

It would be nearly a year afterhis death that she learned of it,from a wireless message receivedon board the RMS Aorangibetween Tahiti and Raratonga asshe headed for New Zealand -"eager to join her husband and toshare in the triumphs of his return"an Evening Standard journalistironically noted. Britain had gotthe message ahead of her.

On his return, one of Scott'sexpedition party found "theEmpire - almost the entire world -in mourning". Indeed, the sadnews pushed much of the rest ofthe world's news off the frontpages.

Emotional crowds packed intoSt Paul's Cathedral for a memorialservice attended by the King.Within days an effigy of Scottappeared at Madame Tussauds. ByJuly 1913 the Scott Memorial Fundhad raised £75,000 - well over f 3min present day values.

Kathleen resumed her indepen-dent and gregarious life. She wonincreasing recognition as a sculp-tor, several examples of her workinevitably celebrating Scott, suchas the one in Portsmouth NavalBase. In 1922 she married thepolitician Edward Hilton Young -after considering Lawrence ofArabia as a suitor. In some waysthey might have been wellmatched.

^'Obsessively devoted to her son' - Kathleen Scott with Peter,later a renowned naturalist, artist and television personality.

She was "passionately, evenobsessively, devoted" to her son. Itdidn't seem to do him much harm.She lived to see him fulf i l hisfather's own ambition for him."Make the boy interested in natur-al history," was his precise instruc-tion in the letter addressed 'To mywidow', written as he lay dying inthe tent out on the Ice Barrier, just

11 miles from the depot of foodand fuel that might have saved himand his last companions, Wilsonand Bowers.

In achieving that ambition, PeterScott also became one of the firstand best-loved personalities of thetelevision age.

-JFA

• Kathleen Scott's statue of her husband at Christhurch, NewZealand, one of a number she completed.


At Your Leisure

Recogniseany ofthese?

"CANDIDATES like MrX do not grow on trees,they swing from them."

Following the successof his Jackspeak, RickJolly has put together InConfidence - anunashamedly politicallyincorrect (and completelyauthentic) Tri-Serviceguide to staff reportingwhich could save a lot oftime and trouble inPersonnel Assessmenttasks...

Author's royalties (seeorder form on page 16) willgo to the South AtlanticMedal Association (1982).

Here are a few more ofthe same penetratingcharacterisations - thereare nearly 600 in total - togive you the general idea:

"My Leading Regulatoris not very smart. In fact,he is depriving a policedog of a promisingcareer."

"I could not warm to thisofficer even if we were cre-mated together."

"The only person whodrinks more beer in theMess than this officer ishis wife."

"I have advised LeadingSeaman V that If they everput a price on his head hewould be well advised totake it."

"This General ListSeaman Officer Is so con-trolled, and so tight, thathe is unable to perspirefreely."

"It is stretching theimagination enormouslyto picture Officer Cadet Das the end product of bil-lions of years of evolu-tion."

"When unsure of him-self, this young Officermumbles; when in trouble,he delegates. In a peace-time Navy, he will probablygo all the way to the top."

"The AdmiraltyInterview Board's opinionwas that if Candidate Ehad just a little moresense, he could bedescribed as a half-wit."

"Wing Commander A'sfinal exit was true to formin that he failed to appearat a farewell luncheonarranged on his behalf."

"This Midshipman isrecovering from an unusu-al accident whichoccurred at sea when athought suddenly struckhim."

King Alfred classpasted the Danes

A LFRED the Great is/% often held to be the/ % original founder of

A. AJhe Royal Navy. It is aminor disappointment, then,that Vol 1 of Nicholas Rodger'shugely readable naval historyof Britain, The Safeguard ofthe Sea (HarperCollins £25)offers scant evidence to sup-port the claim.

Of course, he doesn't have muchto go on; the chief source from theperiod The Anglo-Saxon Chroniclecan be maddeningly short ondetail. It tells us, for instance:"King Alfred had long ships builtto oppose the (Danish) warships.They were almost twice as long asthe others. Some had 60 oars, somemore. They were both swifter andsteadier and also higher than theothers. They were built neither onthe Frisian nor the Danish pattern,but as it seemed to him himself

Effingin a

WHAT will language belike in a hundred yearstime? Come to that, whatwill bad language be like?

It's a minor consideration,but anyone creating a work ofscience fiction might beexpected to find some interestin the question, with the exam-ple of Anthony Burgess and AClockwork Orange beforethem.

Event Horizon, a tale of anencounter with a drifting space-craft of sinister aspect, is a case inpoint. Fortunes, evidently, havebeen spent on devising new-lookhardware and costumes; but if youturn off the image and listen to thesoundtrack only, there is no senseof the future at all, more the rou-tine profanity to be heard in thebuffet car of a 1997 football spe-cial.

In other words, this is a moviethat has been designed but notreally written. And the director's

DID YOU SERVE WITH THERN IN THE KOREAN WAR ?

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that they could be most useful."Which is all very well - but we

know next to nothing about whatis meant by Frisian or Danish pat-terns.

Alfred may well have had a handin the ships' design - he knew bothcarpentry and seafaring - and ifthey had relatively deep draughtand high freeboard they wouldhave had better stability and bebetter suited to hand-to-handfighting.

They might also have beenfaster - if they really had 60 oarsthen they would have been some ofthe biggest ships built in northernwaters in the Middle Ages.

But, as the author says, whatorganisation, if any, lay behindthem and in what sense Alfred maybe said to have had, or founded, anavy, we cannot tell.

"All that can be said is that hebrought an original mind to bearon the problems of naval warfare,which themselves were familiar to

every leader of his day."In Alfred's world no king could

survive or flourish who did notunderstand ships and the sea."

This last is the keynote ofRodger's thesis in a story that actu-ally stretches further back into theDark Ages, to the Northumbrianconquests of Anglesey and the Isleof Man, which could hardly havebeen managed without ships ...

It treats - for the first time, itclaims - the presence or absence ofsea power as "the permanent,inescapable condition of the coun-try's political existence" and intro-duces more than a few surprises tothat end.

Edward the Confessor, ofall people, is shown tohave been an astute and

capable manager of the country'smaritime strength - while Williamthe Conqueror let our sea defencesfall into such a dismal state that hehad to buy off a new wave of

and blindingblack hole

• A dramatic moment on board the abandoned spacecraft EventHorizon.use of the device whereby an omi-nous silence is followed by aDolby-assisted thunder crash is sofrequent as to constitute plain badmanners.

Fortunately the ship is crewedby the likes of Sam Neill andLawrence Fishburne, personalitiessufficiently authoratative to nego-tiate the black holes in the plot aswell as the ones the ship encoun-ters.

A l t h o u g hthere is no feel-ing of this being aBritish movie,the credits dis-close that the outer reaches of thesolar system are on this occasionlocated at Pinewood, in the heartof leafy Buckinghamshire.

Meg Ryan, familiarly perky as asquirrel, cute as a muncnkin, sub-mits to a radical image make-overin Addicted to Love.

Dressed in scruffy black leather,with ratty hair, a perpetual badtemper and a kissing techniquethat most closely resembles a head-butt, she is plainly announcing thatthe perhaps excessively lovableMeg of yesteryear is no more. Thisis a curious film, partly because itsplot turns on the deployment ofthat barely-remembered Victorianamusement, the camera obscura(itself a reminder of why our wordfor the gadget we take pho-tographs with is the Italian wordfor 'room').

And even odder is the fact that

Screen Scene

the film sets out its stall as a come-dy, even though its storyline -about obsessive love - seems alto-gether too dark and desperate toaccomodate many laughs.

A haggard Matthew Broderickand a continental actor of indeter-minate nationality named TchekyKaiyo are the guys on the scene.But this is primarily a Meg Ryanmovie.

Samuel J. Jackson also shiftsinto a lower gearin One EightSeven - thenumber is thepolice code for a

homicide. Jackson is best known asa tough guy: the super-cool hit-man in Pulp Fiction, Bruce Willis'sbuddy in Die Hard 3. But in thisrather alarming picture of theAmerican education system heplays a teacher who at first sight isaltogether meek and mild. Butreminders of the actor's previousroles begin to surface when theteacher's more violently recalci-trant pupils start to quietly disap-pear ...

This is another oddball movie,part thriller, part impassionedsocial pleading. But its intimationthat turning up for class is onlymarginally safer than hitting thebeach at two Jima and that a hun-dred lines would only be taken as areference to serious coke con-sumption must be an exaggeration.Mustn't it?

- Bob Baker.

Viking invaders with Danegeld.The end of this first volume falls

in 1649 - when the state of theNavy was such that it proves theauthor's point exactly. Followingthe execution of Charles I thecountry was ruled by a military dic-tatorship. Abroad it had no friendsand the foreign trade on whichLondon and Cromwell's regimedepended was exposed to heavyattack by Royalist privateers.

The part of the Navy whichremained in Government controlwas "demoralised, disorganised,short of money, and stripped ofmost of its experienced officers."

This was only 60 years after thedefeat of the Armada and theElizabethan glory days of Drake,Hawkins and Co. And yet:

"Whatever other verdict mighthave been passed on England by adispassionate observer early in1649, it must have seemed thatover a century's efforts to establisha permanent Navy, supported byan effective and durable political,financial and administrative sys-tem, had ended in disappointmentif not outright failure."

Which makes for an appropriatecliffhanger to anticipate Vol2 - inwhich, of course, the likes of Blakeand Pepys will begin to set thingsback to rights.

- JFA

Admiralsrate lowin the

Top 100ACCOMPLISHED generalthat he was, it is a surprise tosee George Washington head-ing a list of The 100 MostInfluential Military Leaders(Robinson £7.99).

Lt Col Michael Lee Lanning isan ex-US Army man - and heargues that without Washingtonthere would have been noContinental Army and without theContinental Army there wouldhave been no United States,today's single most influential andpowerful nation.

Well, he may have a point there.But of his hot one hundred

another 12 are also American gen-erals, there are only nine admirals(most of them near the bottom)and only two or three airmen.

Nelson heads the list of admi-rals, coming in at No 35 for "pro-viding the foundation for manytheories of naval warfare advancedby Alfred Thayer Mahan (38)."

The others are (in order)Nimitz (61), Fisher (67), Togo(68), Yamamoto (77), Doenitz(85), Farragut (87) Dewey (92)and Cochrane (98).

Saddam Hussein merits a placeon the list (81, a few points aboveDoenitz) simply by still beingthere, still posing a threat to worldpeace. Had he been "removedfrom power during the war overKuwait or had assassinationattempts been successful, it isunlikely that he would merit note."

-JFA

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"HMS. GANGES (The finalfarewell) . . video. Ideal birthday/surprise present. Documentaryincludes all aspects of GANGESbefore demolition. One tear-jerkinghour of nostalgia, produced byJOHN DOUGLAS author H.M.S.GANGES (Roll on my dozen!) &H.M.S GANGES (Tales of theT.R.O.G.'S.) S.A.E. details DouglasHse, Penmarth Redruth. CornwallTRH56NX

24 NAVY NEWS , OCTOBER 1997

• Clearly showing the marks of her 40,000-mile voyage, HMS Trafalgar isnudged to her berth by tugs at Devonport. And (right) a homecomingsalute from the Commanding Officer of HMS Trenchant, Cdr David Forbes.

Marathon endsfor T-class subsNONE the worse for wear after their trail-blazingworld deployment, HM submarines Trafalgar anaTrenchant have returned to their Devonport base.

The marathon, 40,000-mile Ocean Wave voyage took itstoll noticeably but harmlessly on the soundproofing tilescladding their casings. As well it might - Trafalgar, forinstance, spent 154 days at sea, all but 17 of them dived.

She also became the first British nuclear submarine tocircumnavigate the world via the Panama and SuezCanals, and was the first RN submarine to visit PeartHarbor, Hawaii, for 11 years. She also visited South Korea,Hong Kong and Fremantle, and took part In operations Inthe South China Sea.

Trenchant also visited Hong Kong and Fremantle - theAustralian port from where 52 years ago her wartimenamesake left to sink the Japanese cruiser Ashigara.While in Fremantle, Trenchant was host to wartime sub-mariners who now live in Oz.

Coins Outside

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Navy News —The Paper that lives up to Its name!

ning a McDonalds restaurantin Dumbarton impressed theBritish Franchise Awardspanel, chaired by Sir BernardIngham, Mrs Thatcher's for-mer press secretary and now

FIND the Joker in Navy News for three editions - and you have achance to win £500. There are also £10 cash prizes for each of ten run-ners-up, and 20 £5 consolation prizes to be won.

All you have to do is spot joker Jack - cartoonist Jugg's Navy Newscharacter - hiding in one of the other pages of this edition; then spotwhich one of three statements of Jack's is a load of old gash.

Just tell us on which other page Jack's joker character, shown here,appears. Tugg's monthly cartoon of Jack's adventures on page 6 doesnot, of course, count.

When you've found the joker figure, spot the joker in one of the fol-lowing three statements by Jack on naval matters. Two are true. Oneis wildly inaccurate. Just mark the box next to the untrue statement.

• ^M mmm ••• ••• ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^M ^*m ^M ^M •

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J The battleship HMS Warspite saw action in both WorldWars.

Q Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the bicycle to Britain fromAmerica.

LI The Royal Marines trace their history back to the 17th century.

Now tell us on which page you spotted Jack - Page

If you can fill in this coupon, the one which appeared in lastmonth's issue and the coupon in the next edition of Navy News,you have a chance of winning a £500 cash prize. The names of the winners will be select-ed at random from those who gave correct answers in the three editions.

When you have completed all three original entry forms, send them together in one enve-lope to:

Find the Joker, Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HH

They should arrive at Navy News no later than January 15,1998. Entries with all three correctanswers will be entered in a prize draw conducted at Navy News offices. Winners will be announcedin the February edition of Navy News. The first name drawn will receive a prize of £500. There willbe a prize of £10 for each of the next ten correct entries drawn, and a further 20 consolation prizes of£5.The judges' decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. Navy News employees ortheir relatives may not enter.

THREE years after leaving the Navy to start a new careerin franchising, Steve Tomlin (right) is one of nine finalistscompeting for the title of Franchisee of the Year - and atotal of £10,000 in prize money.

Steve's achievements in run- chairman of the BritishFranchise Association.

Since Steve took over the restau-rant in November 1994 its saleshave risen by 30 per cent to £1.5million, and it now deals with440,000 customers a year.

He told Navy News:"There's no doubt that mytime in the Navy with itsemphasis on efficiency andgood personnel manage-ment has helped me providethe quality of service whichhas led to the salesincrease."

When he left the Navy as aCPOAEA(WL) - including servicein HMS Hermes and HMSEndurance - he chose a career infranchising after advice via the TK-Service Resettlement Organis-ation..

After that he attended the annu-al National Franchise Exhibition atthe NEC, Birmigham to find outmore - and liked what he saw.

Starting out with limited capital,he nevertheless won theMcDonalds franchise - and soonincreased productivity in theDumbarton restaurant. He nowplans to expand his franchise to asecond McDonalds by next year.

Results of the Franchise Awardswill be announced on October 2 at

NAME.

ADDRESS.

TELEPHONE.

a gala dinner hosted by MidlandBank, joint sponsors of the compe-tition with the Daily Express.

First prize is £5,000 with secondand third prizes of £3,000 and£2,000 respectively.

The dinner will be held on theeve of this year's three-dayNational Franchise Exhibition atwhich Steve will this time be a pre-senter on the McDonalds stand.

The show, at the NEC,Birmingham, is on course to beeven bigger than last year's record-breaker which had 200 exhibitorsand more than 12,000 visitors.Successful and expanding compa-nies from all over Britain will takepart, all of them seeking new fran-chisees.

The British FranchiseAssociation has organised a seriesof free seminars that run through-out the three days. Details aboutthe exhibition can be gained fromthe Franchise Hotline 01203426461.

Navy andcollege innew dealon NVQsTRAINING and experiencegained in Naval service cannow count towards a NationalVocational Qualification.

The Nav^ has negotiated ascheme in conjunction withHighbury College, Portsmouth, inwhich Service expertise can betaken into account for NVQsunder the Accreditation of PriorLearning (APL) process.

The scheme involves compila-tion of a portfolio showing under-pinning knowledge and recent evi-dence of competence matched tothe range and skills stipulated inthe particular NVQ.

For an information pack andguidance contact The APL Unit,Client Support Services, HighburyCollege, Dovercourt Road,Cosham, Portsmouth, Hants.(Freephone 0500 383131).

Transporttraining

ONE OF the country's leadinglogistics companies has joinedwith Lincolnshire Training andEnterprise Council to offer train-ing for Armed Forces leavers.

The company, Transport Devel-opment Group pic, have beenworking with the TEC to refine acivilian training programme suit-able for Service leavers.

For more information contactGeoff Binnigton, Group TrainingAdminis t ra tor , TDG pic,Euro terminal, WestinghouseRoad, Trafford Park, ManchesterM17 1PY.

Uniformswitch toanimalwelfare

THIS TRIO of former Royal Navy men have switched uniforms tojoin the fight for animal welfare as RSPCA inspectors. They are(from left) ex-CPOPT Michael Garrity, ex-PO(EW) Rob Mills and ex-RS(SM) Nick Zammit.

For Rob and Nick, the RSPCA training course brought the oldfriends together for the first time in 22 years.

Rob, now based in the Chichester area, said: "We joined theNavy together and were great friends, but to have lost touch com-pletely and then just happen to join the RSPCA at the same time22 years down the line is some coincidence."

Nick has also been posted to the South-East, while Michael hasbeen stationed in north-west London.

Navy hostsequipmentexhibition

HIGH-RANKING delega-tions from foreign navieswere among those who visit-ed Portsmouth Naval Basefor the Royal Navy andBritish Army EquipmentExhibition.

Acting as a shop windowfor British defence compa-nies, the Navy had Type 23frigate HMS Lancaster andSandown-class minehunterHMS Cromcr on show, whileRFAs Fort George and SirPcrcivale also attractedattention.

Press officer George Bathsaid the maritime section ofthe exhibition had been agreat success.

"The quality of the mis-sions and overseas delegateswas extremely high," he said.

"Industry in particular iscelebrating, and the Navy puton a very good display."

The RNBAEE attractedmore than 200 exhibitors,and delegations from morethan 50 countries were invit-ed to attend.

Golden giftNAVY apprentices havehelped to create the ArmedForces' Golden Wedding giftto the Queen and Duke ofEdinburgh.

Some of the 44 torcheres -6ft tall medieval-style lamps -were made by people fromRN establishments inGosport, Portsmouth andBeith, in Scotland.

The electric lamps will illu-minate the Undercroft, a din-ing area beneath St George'sHall in Windsor Castle.

Splendid missileNAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 25

THE FIRST Tomahawk cruisemissile firing from a Britishsubmarine is due to take placein a year's time.

The Navy has revealed thatHMS Splendid has been chosen asthe submarine which will launchthe weapon during trials off theUS naval base of San Diego,California.

By the year 2003 five Trafalgar-class boats and two of the olderSwiftsure class will be equippedwith Tomahawks which couldreach any point over 85 per cent ofthe world's surface.

Decision on operational launchof a missile would be taken by theGovernment and carefully con-trolled from a dedicated bui ldingat Fleet HQ at Northwood inMiddlesex.

The communications necessaryto provide the data for a launchfrom a submarine at extreme dis-tance from UK were tested in thesummer, using HMS Trafalgar asthe receiving submarine dur ingher global deployment on ExerciseOcean Wave.

• Coming and going - Admiral Sir John Brigstocke (right) succeeds Admiral Sir Michael Boyceas Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command in a ceremony on boardthe flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Admiral Brigstocke was Flag Officer Surface Flotilla,while Admiral Boyce becomes Commander in Chief Fleet. picture: LA<PHOT> Steve Lewis, 2SL

NavySTAR links up the FleetROYAL Navy informationtechnology has taken a majorstep forward with the linkingof HMS Cardiff to theNavySTAR system.

NavySTAR is designed to pro-vide much of the Naval Service,uniformed and civilian, afloat andashore, with all its administrativeinformation systems in one uni-fied network.

That means that the Type 42destroyer, recently refi t ted atRosyth. wi l l be the first of morethan 100 ships to be fitted out,

from submarines to minor war ves-sels, including the RFA.

New vessels will already be fit-ted for NavySTAR, which plugsinto 50 existing networks ashore,using satellites where necessary.

As well as seeing to the logisti-cal, personnel and operations man-agement needs of units,NavySTAR also provides Navy-wide e-mail and office services,including word processing, throughMicrosoft Office.

In the case of HMS Cardiff, 37Hewlett-Packard personal comput-ers, each running Windows NT

3.51, together with six laptops and13 printers, comprise theNavySTAR system - a bigimprovement on the previousdumb terminals and stand-alonePCs.

Launching the Cardiff installa-tion, Commodore Robert Howell,Director , Communications andInformation Systems (Navy) said ithad been three years hard graft toreach that point, but it brought theNavy right up to date.

Early reactions from users onboard HMS Cardiff were said to beenthusiastic.

World of BondVISITORS to Portsmouth's

Historic Dockyard can nowenter the World of 007.

The official James Bondexhibition attracted some6,000 visitors to Boathouse 6during its first two weeks.

The exhibition, which ends onJanuary 11, includes O07's AstonMartin DBS, Jaws' steel teeth andScaramanga's golden gun.

There are also displays onBond and author Ian Fleming'snaval connections, and CD-ROM stations showing howthe films are made.

Tickets cost £4.50 for adults,£4 OAPs and £3.50 children.

N.I. dutiesfor Hunts

IT'S all change at theNorthern Ireland Squadronas three Hunt-class mine-hunters are set to take overpatrols from River-classships.

HM ships Itchen, Arun,Spey and Blackwater will bereplaced by HM shipsCottesmore, Dulverton andone other. Cottesmore isnearing the end of her refitand conversion at Rosyth,and Dulverton should beready by late March.

A MOD spokesman said:"As the Northern IrelandSquadron requirementbecomes updated with refit-ted Hunt-class vessels, theRiver-class minesweeperscurrently in operation willbe progressively handedover to the Brazilian Navyover the course of 1998."

Peace prize -and new nameA DATE has been set for theaward of the WilkinsonSword of Peace - shortlybefore the recipientsassume a new identity.

The prestigious peace hon-our for 1996 was won by theInshore Training Squadron,marking the professionalism,diplomacy and dedicationdisplayed by squadron per-sonnel during deploymentswhich took craft as far asRussia and Spain.

The sword is due to bepresented in Portsmouth onNovember 28 by the FirstSea Lord.

And on December 1 theInshore Training Squadronofficially becomes the FirstPatrol Boat Squadron,reflecting their broader hori-zons and the capabilities ofthe ships.

• Back home - locomotive Lord Nelson arrives at Eastleigh. Picture: Paul Watts, Southern Daily Echo.

Nelson returnsTHE LAST surviving steam locomotive of aclass which celebrated Royal Navy heroes hasreturned to its Hampshire home.

The 83-ton Lord Nelson, wi th 57-ton tender, wasbui l t in I926 in Iiastleigh. Subsequent engines includ-ed Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Lord Nelson class 4-6-0 locomotives would havebeen familiar to generations of sailors in the South, asthey hauled the most prestigious passenger trains,inc lud ing the Golden Arrow and Bournemouth Belle.

They were withdrawn in I % I and 1962. and all bro-ken up w i t h the exception of Lord Nelson.

Now the engine, the most powerful of its type in theworld at the time, has been brought by road fromLancashire, and the National Railway Museum at

York has given the Eastleigh Railway PreservationSociety permission to restore it to full working order.

The Society is keen that the engine features inM i l l e n n i u m celebrations, and also have an eye to thebicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, believing a posi-tion beside Nelson's flagship would be ideal in 2005.

In the meantime the wheels of a £150,000 restora-tion project have been set in motion, but the society iskeen to involve volunteers with engineering skills whocould work under their guidance - and with theengine's Naval l ink , apprentices or students from theNavy's engineering or training establishments whohave time to spare would be warmly welcomed.

If anyone can help, they should ring project leaderJesse Moody on 01703 614368.

Big Mac*and largefranchiseplease*,.,Satisfy your hunger for a dynamic and exciting business opportunity.

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WHEN IN 1805 Nelson fought his greatest battle, his victory obscured an earlier encounter which 200 years ago thismonth was fought with as much at stake and with tactics which were hailed as innovative when they were later usedat Trafalgar. In the earlier battle - of Camperdown - Admiral Duncan captured almost two-thirds of a Dutch fleet thatthreatened to open the way to Napoleon's conquest of our 'nation of shopkeepers'. In the latest of a series of spe-cial articles, Colin White, Deputy Director of the Royal Naval Museum, examines Duncan's bloody, decisive yetalmost forgotten victory, the scale of which was greater than any previous sea battle of the war...

On October 9,1997, early in themorning, a small

lugger, the Speculator,hurtled into YarmouthRoads flying the signal'Enemy at sea'.

She found there the NorthSea Fleet, under AdmiralAdam Duncan, taking on muchneeded supplies and waterafter a punishing 19-weekcruise.

It had been a dark year forBritain, dominated by the threat ofinvasion. First there had been thepossibility of a combined attack bythe fleets of France and Spain, butthis had been averted by the Britishvictory at 'he Battle of Cape StVincent on February 14. Then thetwo main home fleets at Spitheadand the Nore had mutinied, leavingBritain apparently undefended.The Dutch, too, had appeared tobe planning to join their ships withthe French; which was why Duncanand his fleet had been out on theirexhausting patrol. Now it seemedthe long-awaited Dutch move wasunder way - just when their backswere turned.

Hurriedly, Duncan put to sea,even leaving some of his shipsbehind in his haste. A fresh north-easterly was blowing, and so hereached the Dutch coast by dawnon the morning of October 11.There he sighted the Dutch underAdmiral de Winter about 15 milessouth of Texel, close to the Dutchvillage of Kamperdujin whosename was later anglicised toCamperdown.

The two fleets were fairlyevenly matched. By thetime battle was joined,

Duncan had gathered together 16battleships, including two smalland elderly 50-gunners. The Dutchhad 18 battleships - but a numberof these were also small and obso-lete.

De Winter expected his oppo-nent to take time to concentrate hisships in line of battle but, realisingthat the Dutch were constantlyedging away into shallow water,Duncan decided to attack at once.Hoisting the signal 'Pass throughenemy's line', he threw his fleetinto battle in roughly two groups.One, led by his own flagship HMSVenerable, attacked the Dutchcentre; while the other under hissecond-in-command, RichardOnslow in HMS Monarch, headedfor their rear.

Interestingly, the plans ofthis headlong attack lookuncannily like the familiardiagrams of the openingstages of the Battle ofTrafalgar.

Although disconcerted by thissudden onslaught, the Dutch shipsfought bravely but they were nomatch for their more experiencedand better trained opponents. Thebattle disintegrated into a series ofbloody duels between single shipsand small groups and, in such con-ditions, the superior British gun-

The battle that madeTrafalgar possible

nery began to take a deadly toll.One of the most effective Britishships was HMS Director com-manded by William Bligh ofBounty fame. Under his capablecommand she contributed to thecapture of at least three ships,including de Winter's flagship theVrijheid.

There were many acts of individ-ual bravery during the battle, butone in particular caught the popu-lar imagination. At one point the

Venerable's colours were shotaway. A young seaman fromSunderland, John Crawford,immediately took a new flag fromthe locker and gathered togethersome nails. Climbing to the maintopgallant masthead, he thennailed the new colours in place. Hisexploit was depicted in specialprints and on commemorative jugsand ceramics. And when we speakof 'nail ing our colours to the mast'we are, perhaps unknowingly,

referring to Crawford's special actof gallantry at the Battle ofCamperdown.

After a fierce conflict in whichthe total casualties were well over2,000, the Dutch lost 11 ships.Admiral de Winter, whose flagshiphad been set upon by three Britishships, finally went on board theVenerable to surrender. Duncancourteously refused to accept hissword and shook his hand instead.As they stood there on the battered

quarterdeck - two burly men wellover 6ft - de Winter commentedwryly how remarkable it was thatthey had managed to escape with-out a scratch.

E leven ships captured out of18 was a magnificent total,far exceeding any previous

battle of the war. And, for the sec-ond time that year, the threat ofinvasion had been averted. Whenthe news reached home there waswidespread rejoicing. Duncan wasmade a viscount, gold medals weredistributed to the admirals andcaptains, and presentation swordswere presented by the City ofLondon (Admiral Onslow's medaland sword are on display in theRoyal Naval Museum).

As was customary, London wasbrilliantly illuminated to celebratethe victory. There were bonfires,special displays on public buildings,and candles were placed in the win-dows of private houses. At onepoint a mob rampaging throughthe streets noticed that the win-dows of No.141 Bond Street werestill darkened. They hammered onthe door, demanding to know thereason for this lack of patriotic fer-vour, and were told that a Navalofficer who lived there was in bedrecovering from a dangerouswound. When they heard his namethey went quietly away muttering:'You will hear no more from ustonight'.

The officer's name was HoratioNelson, then still recovering fromthe loss of his right arm, and con-

vinced that his career was finished.In fact, of course, his great momentof glory at the Battle of the Nilewas less than a year away.. .

Warshipsto visitDundeeTHE DUTCH frigateHNLMS Van Nes will jointhe British Type 22 war-ship HMS Montrose atDundee for the city'sweekend commemora-tion of the 200th anniver-sary of the Battle ofCamperdown.

Both ships will haveadmirals embarked - FlagOfficer Scotland inMontrose and a Netherlandsflag officer in the Van Nes.

Members of the ships'companies will be presentfor the unveiling at Dundeeon October 11 of a 7ft statueof Admiral Lord Duncan

Courtesy calls and good-will visits will be made bythe RN and Dutch naval per-sonnel, and the people ofDundee will get an opportu-nity to visit the ships whenthey are open to the public.


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HOW TO ADVERTISE: Simply write your message (10 Words), enclosecheque/PO for £9 and send to: 'Penfriends', Navy News, HMS Nelson,Portsmouth PO1 3HH. Replies to your box number will be forwarded ondaily. (Payment by credit card/switch please use coupon on page 4 )HOW TO REPLY: Any person who writes to an advertiser must use astamped envelope bearing the advertisers box number clearly in thebottom left hand corner. The letter should then be enclosed in asecond envelope and addressed as above. We cannot guarantee thatunstamped letters will be redirected.

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28 OCTOBER 1997, NAVY NEWS

Education and Courses

Peter socks it to'em in Pompey!L

IKE all other ships of her day, HMSWarrior (1861) would have beenplagued with rats - they might havesteered clear of Peter Newman,though.

The winner of pur May education competition isa student at Christ's Hospital School, Horshamwhere the uniform has not changed much sinceits foundation in 1552.

It originally featured yellow stockings (nowsocks) that were dipped in a solution designedto keep rats from biting your ankles!

Peter (15) went on board HMS Warrior atPortsmouth to receive his prize - a set of theChildren's Encyclopedia Britannica - from SarahJacobs and Lisa Taw.

And to give the girls a quick flash of his highly-coloured hosiery...

He also received a set of tickets to visit the restof the historic ships - HMS Victory and MaryRose - donated by Flagship Portsmouth.

Peter comes from a naval family and is a keenrugby player looking forward to joining theschool team on a three week tour of SouthAfrica.

Christ's Hospital had its origins in the City ofLondon where it was formed to keep the childrenoff the streets! It is now based in Horsham, set infour square miles of scenic countryside, and has850 co-ed students.

It still keeps close contacts with the City,though, through its marching band which annu-ally leads the Lord Mayor's Show and this yearwas invited to play at Lords cricket ground.

' ST DUNSTAN'S ABBEY v

SCHOOL PLYMOUTHDAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 2'/2 - 18

& High Academic StandardW Dyslexia Unit•£ Drama A SpecialityW Single Bedrooms

Telephone for a prospectus: 01752 201350A Cliuril\ prtiyiilint; <tiitilit\ fi/nci/tion for children. /

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•f Exclusively for the sons and daughters of members andretired members of the RN/RM, RAF and British Army

•f 490 pupils 11+ to 18 all boarders, 110 Sixth Formers

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4- Pupil: Teacher ratio 10: 1. Average class size 16

•*• Excellent record in GCSE, BTEC, National Diploma,

GCE A Level and in the numbers entering university

•f Low fees of £275 per term whether serving or retired

•f Ask about the value added dimension to our academicwork.

Further enquires to:Headmaster - The Duke of York's SchoolDover CT15 5EQ

Phone: (01304) 245024

• The socks say it - Peter Newman collects his prize onboard HMS Warrior at Portsmouth.

3Soys & §irCs 2^/2-11. ('Boarding from 6/?)

* Beautiful, secure setting

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* Excellent academic record

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For further details please contact Mrs Collins 01626 ~7~'

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Trinity School is a charitable institute for the education of cluldrenMember oi ISA — Reg Chanty No :76%0 — Accredited by ISJC

Christ's Hospitalwarmly invites families to an informal

OPENAFTERNOON

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER 12.00 - 5.00PM

Children of Royal Navy, Royal Marines,RFA and RNR personnel currently servingor having served are given specialconsideration for places atChrist's Hospital

Co-educational hoarding schoolEntry at age 11 and sixth formFees are assessed accordingto income97% of pupils furthertheir education atUniversity

Christ's Hospital exists toprovide education with carefor children from all walksof life.

Registered CharityNo. 306975.

PLEASE SEE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL ADVERTISEMENT ON PAGE 37

NewlandsAn education for life

Day & boarding for girls and boys 2'li -18 years

* Fees in line with the BSA

* A high percentage ofFORCES boarders

* One 21 acre campus

* High academic standards

ISA 1996 Best GCSE Results

* Quality art, drama & music

* Strong sporting tradition

* Our DYSLEXIA Centreoffers specialist teaching

* Supportive caring familyatmosphere

Travel and escort arrangements include airports. Fareham.Ronisey. Aldershot. Maidslone and Victoria Station.

Tel: Susan on (01323) 490000for a brochure or to arrange a visit. Fax (01323) 898420

Newlands School. Eastbourne Road. Seal'ord. E. Sussex. BN25 4NPNcwlaruls provides education for hoys & girls. Reg. Charity No. 297606

Public NoticeCHARITY COMMISSIONCharity: Hervey Black Fund

Scheme to provide for distribution of Fund on closureof the Royal Naval College Greenwich.

Ref: RM/43681/SC

The Charity Commissioners have made a Scheme for thischarity. A copy can be seen for the next month at the officeof the Civil Secretary, Royal Naval College, Greenwich, LondonSE10 9NN or a copy can be obtained by sending a stampedaddressed envelope to Woodfield House, Tangier, Taunton,Somerset TA1 4BL, quoting the reference above.


Compulsory testing team is sweeping through the Royal Navy

The drugbustersIT MAY not be as spectacular as the drug

squad's dawn raid, but the visit of the CDTteam can be just as devastating.

As you start work, you are told your name is on theteam's list. If you are clean, it's a minor inconvenience,and you will soon be back to work.

If you are a drug misuser, you'll be kicked out of theNavy, probably within a month.

Many members of the Navy lie within the criticalage groups for drug misuse, and an anonymous sweeplast year showed that nearly two-thirds of new entryratings and Royal Marines other ranks claimed theyhad taken drugs at some time in their lives.

RiskSurveys indicated that the problem in society was on

the increase - but the vast majority of Navy personnelwere in favour of weeding out the misusers, who couldpose a risk to themselves and others in their unit.

The result is a CDT programme which is scrupu-lously fair, entirely random - and brings a swift andignoble end to the careers of those who misuse drugs.

Not only is CDT designed to catch the guiltyunawares, but it also acts as an effective deterrent.

At least four or five units are visited each week -two overseas visits were made to Ocean Wave units -and there is no pattern to the visits, so a ship or estab-lishment could be tested two days running.

One early finding from the programme, which

MIKE GRAY watches the work ofthe Compulsory Drug Test team atHMS Dryad. Pictures by LA(PHOT)STEVE LEWIS (2SL).

began on April 1 this year, is that drug misusers in theSenior Service would seem to be few and far between.

More than 100 units have been tested so far, yetonly 11 people have tested positive - 0.12 per cent,compared with, say, the 15 per cent of 20 to 25-year-olds in the general population which the 1994 BritishCrime Survey classed as regular drug misusers.

The key to RN CDT policy, as formulated byDirectorate of Naval Service Conditions (DNSC) deskofficer Lt Cdr Sally-Anne Keefe, in partnership withthe existing Army programme, is the element of sur-prise. No one escapes the net if it closes on them, manor woman.

Even the First Sea Lord was randomly selected fortesting during the CDT team visit to MOD.

"We have been to ships and shore establishments,large and small, at home in the UK and abroad, ashoreand at sea," said CDT team leader WO Keith Laycock.

"Once we have targeted a unit, a software pro-gramme generates a list of personnel in randomorder," said Lt Cdr Keefe.

"We will have decided what percentage to test, andthen it is simply a matter of starting at the top of the

list and going down until we havereached that figure.

"The present incidence ofmisuse, 0.12 per cent, is very low.It's good - it's very encouraging.

"We didn't introduce CDTbecause we thought we had aproblem. It's because drug mis-

Taking on water - CPO(R) Bren Phelan is encouraged to provide a specimen.

use in civilian society, our recruiting base, is on theincrease, and we have a duty of care as an employer."

The CDT team of four arrives at a unit and sets up,briefing unit personnel who will act as monitors andcollection assistants.

"We think it is important that the unit is involved - thepartnership shows that the unit is fulfilling its responsi-bility in trying to combat drugs," said Lt Cdr Keefe.

Those to be tested are briefed, then each is assigneda monitor, who stays with them throughout.

BarcodeA specimen is produced by the individual, which is

divided between two bottles. The bottles are sealedand labelled with a unique barcode - no names areused - and the specimens are taken in secure boxes tothe Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

The results, still identified by barcode, are then graft-ed on to the CDT team's data, and passed on to DNSC.

Results should be ready in ten days - and the con-sequences of wrong-doing are almost as swift.

A positive result is relayed to the individual viaDNSC and the individual's Commanding Officer, andwill almost certainly bring about anAdministrative Discharge SNLR(Services No Longer Required) forratings, or Discharge (Misconduct)

for officers - more cost-effective than trial by courtmartial.

If the individual appeals, the second bottle may betested at an independent laboratory at his or herexpense. If that proved negative, the cost would bereimbursed and no further action taken.

"Fairness to the individual is our creed," said Lt CdrKeefe. "We are doing this for the benefit of the Serviceas a whole, but not at the expense of the individual."

Refusal to provide a specimen can prove morepainful than a positive result - disobeying orders bringsthe distinct possibility of a spell in the glasshouse, aswell as dismissal. No one has yet refused.

Although CDT avoids Regulating Branch territory,there is still scope for a full investigation, if, for exam-ple, a large number tested positive from one mess.

The normal disciplinary procedure, plus the threatof detention and dismissal, will still apply for possess-ing or supplying drugs - though these offences are notrecorded in the CDT figures.

The 11 caught to date are all male junior ratingsshowing traces of cannabis, with two also testing posi-tive for amphetamines.

'Victims' support CDTSupport for CDT seems widespread among the 150 selectedfrom HMS Dryad personnel and those visiting on courses.

Cdr Mike Pearey, on the Commanding Officer Designatecourse, said: "As someone going back to sea to command aship it's a tremendous confidence booster to know your peo-ple are being subjected to this, and it's good for them, too.

"For example, they are able to better reject peer pressureat home, because it could result in them losing their job."

Colleague Capt Richard Ibbotson echoed those thoughts:"It's the first time I have been through this system - and I'mheartened to see the checks and safeguards involved."

OM2 Jon Harvey said: "It's important, because you do notwant your oppo having flashbacks or suddenly going wrongon you and getting you both killed."

• Time's up! AB(EW) Tom Pennington is reminded by a CDTmonitor that the process is simple - and quick.

Crowds flock to Navy DaysPLYMOUTH Navy Days enjoyed a huge upturn in visitors with morethan 55,000 people pouring into Devonport over the late August BankHoliday.

New attractions, such the chance to go below decks on the SSNs HMS Torbayand Valiant, guided coach tours of the heritage displays and boat trips to RFAOlwen proved extremely popular.

A 3,000-seat purpose-built stadiumin the main arena, the four marchingbands, and daily air and sea display bySea Harrier, Sea King and Lynx air-craft and RM rigid raiders addedgreatly to the success of the event.

RN ships on show included every-thing from frigates to survey vesselsand minesweepers.

Parachuting displays by the RoyalNavy Raiders and the Red Devilsthrilled the crowds, and the presenceof three large sailing vessels and shipsfrom foreign navies gave the visitors

plenty to see.Highlights of the arena events

included a military tattoo, mini-fieldgun competition and a displays by theMOD Police and RMR.

In a signal to all involved, DirectorGeneral Fleet Support (Ops) RearAdmiral Brian Perowne said: "Thequantum leap in visitor numbers,against the recent trend to decline,bears huge credit to everyone's hardwork and re-establishes Navy Days inthe forefront of RN-in-the-public-eyeevents."

• Past and present - Type 22 frigates HMS Brave (far left),Coventry (centre left) and Cornwall, contrast with sailingships Lord Nelson (above, foreground) and Endeavour.

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LADIES SCARVES100% polyester twill, flat scarf 52"x9". White Ensign onNavy blue background running diagonally separated byred/white/red stripes.

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CALLING ALL NAVY NEWS SUBSCRIBERS !!^ Did you know that by quoting your unique subscriber number, you are^ entitled to 10% OFF any of NAVY NEWS OWN promotional items

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Or for payment by Credit Card/ Switch, UK & Abroad, please use coupon on page 4. PLEASE ALLOW 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY.


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REGIMENTAL TIES, blazerBadges, Cuff-Links, Buttons,Medals, Cap Badges, Militaria.£1.50 for list. Cairncross (Dep. NN),31, Belle Vue St., Filey, N. YorksY014 9HU.

LOST TOUCH with friends orcolleagues from your service days?We are dedicated to helping you getback in touch. Forces ConnectAssociation, 57 Norwich Close,Lichfield, Staffs.WS13 7SJ (SAE ).

NAVY NEWS CALENDAR - don'tforget to order your 1998 calendarsoon; see details on page 12.

WARSHIP SLIDE COLLECTORseeks to purchase naval vesselsall countries. Anthony Young.14, Appin Terrace, Perth. PHI 2LS.Tel: 01738 634906.

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NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997

At Your ServiceOver to You

HMS Glorious, Ardent, Acasta: Wouldsurvivors and relatives of those killed inaction on June 8 1940 please contact GerardSalt, 18, Abbey Fields, Wistaston, CheshireCW2 8HJ, tel 01270 652252.

Thomas Cusack: Thomas's great-nephew Brian Forristal is trying to gatherinformation on his RN career. Thomas wasborn in Waterford City in 1898, and died 20years ago. During the last war he served inHMS Lowestoft and HMS Valiant If anyonewho served with Thomas can help, pleasecontact Brian at 7, Glen Terrace, WaterfordCity, Ireland, tel 051 79849.

HMS St Vincent (1927-68) Association:For further information about membershipplease contact the Membership SecretaryMike O'Leary, 322 Lauderdale Tower,Lauderdale Place, Barbican, London EC2Y8NA, tel/fax 0171 628 1473, e-mail106373.321 ©CompuServe.com.

National Maritime Museum of Ireland:Cdr Sam Hawkins, RNR (rtd) recently visitedthis museum in the Mariners' Church at DunLaoghaire. The museum is collecting ships'badges of Irish-named HM ships, and if any-one would like to donate one, the address isthe National Maritime Museum of Ireland,Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin,Ireland.

North Shield Squadron: The JohnWayne Cancer Institute in California is study-ing the genetics of a Belize-based family withPaget's disease, and they have traced detailsback as far as a man named William Leslie,form Scotland. He was said to be the captainof the barque Hopewell, and a commander inthe Northshield Regiment. He died in 1843 inBelize. If anyone can provide information onthe barque Hopewell, the NorthshieldRegiment or the North Shield Squadron ofNavy ships, please contact Allie Coronis on310 582 7117 (calls will be returned immedi-ately), fax on 310 449 5259, or e-mail [email protected].

HMS Wlshart and Wrestler: RobertHodgkinson is seeking any information onthese World War II destroyers, and particu-larly on the incidents of May 2, 1942, whenthe ships finished off U-74 in theMediterranean after his father's Gibraltar-based Catalina flying boat had depth-charged it. Contact Robert at 119, ParkerDrive, Prince George, BC, V2M 4S7,Canada.

HMS Fidelity: Genuine researcher seeksinformation from ex-officers and crew of this0-Ship who served with Supply Assistant ,later AB, James Millar between July 1941and December 1942. Also seeking photos,documents or correspondence, and copy ofthe hardback book HMS Fidelity by MarcelJulian. Contact G.G. Millar, •White Gables",Arncroach, nr Anstruther, Fife KY10 2RQ, tel01333 720260.

HMS Dutverton, November 1942: If any-one has a photograph of this destroyer,Bletchley Park Museum would like to hearfrom them as they are anxious to add a copyof such a picture to the display on the jointattack carried out with HMS Petard. ContactJohn Gallehawk at the Museum, BletchleyPark, Milton Keynes MK3 6EF, or telephoneon 01908 640404 or 0181 842 3278.

Calling Old Shipmates

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Moorlands WRNS' Quarters, Havant:Mr G. Maidment is researching the history ofthis building, which now houses HavantMuseum, but was used as a wartime WRNSquarters; he would like to hear from anyonebilleted there. There will be a small exhibitionon its history from October 7-11. Contact MrMaidment, Senior Museum Assistant, HavantMuseum, 56, East St, Havant, Hants PO91BS, tel 01705 451155.

Sidney Morrison: Sidney's granddaugh-ter is seeking naval pals of the stoker, whoserved in HMS Calcutta, Cardiff, Pembroke,Foxhound and Achilles, and was killed inHMS Whirlwind in 1940. He married Gladys,nee Field, originally from Gosport, last knownaddress 56, Ordnance St or 123, Pagett St,Chatham, Kent. Any information on them andtheir children gratefully received on 01247821574.

Cheltenham Sea Cadet Unit is compilinga Roll of Honour for ex-cadets who haveentered the Royal Navy or Royal Marinessince the unit was formed in 1939. Ex-cadetscan contact the Commanding Officer,Cheltenham Sea Cadet Unit, Stoneville St,Cheltenham, Glos GL53 8PH.

HMS Codrlngton, June 12-13, 1940:This vessel was the flotilla leader of a team ofsix British and two Canadian destroyerswhich took off some of the remnants of theBEF from Le Havre and conveyed them toCherbourg - can anyone tell Mr L. Harris thenames of the British destroyers involved inthis action? Replies to Mr Harris at 17,Chichester Rd, Tilehurst, Reading RG304XN, tel 0118 942 1562.

CPO E. Purchase, 299457: A Stoker,believed to have served on the 1896-1926HMS Dido and in the Great War. Would anyliving relative please ring the RN CareersOffice in Essex on 01245 355134 to discussthe return of his medals.

CPO T.C. Wormleighton: Roy Sheldrakebought a clock at auction in Gretna Green in1995. A brass plate on the clock states:"Presented to TC. Wormleighton CPO byCaptain and Ship's Company, HMSSturgeon, April 17, 1922", and on the back"From Hoetler and Co, 45 MarlboroughStreet, Davenport, March 25, 1922." MrSheldrake wonders why such a presentationwas made. Any information on the clock, theman or his family would be welcomed at 7,Ramin Park, Drumahoe, Londonderry, N.Ireland BT47 3RZ.

James Johns: Mr R. Chalwin is hoping totrace descendants of J.W.S. Johns, born inCo. Durham in 1887, moved to Cornwall1901, married Nellie Cottle in 1909, at whichtime he was serving in HM Submarine C24.Brothers and sisters were John Henry Arthur,Edward Edwin Gordon, Ada Jane and Albert.Please write to 4, Sycamore Close, Shipham,Winscombe, Somerset BS25 1TY, or tele-phone 01934 842653.

SS Umvuma: Mrs T. Duxbury is seekingany information or survivors from this ship,torpedoed off Mauritius by German U-boat inAugust 1943 - her brother was on boardwhen it was attacked. Contact Mrs Duxbury,nee Quinn, at 30, Charnwood Rd, Huyton,Liverpool L36 2NU, tel 0151 289 2681.

HMS Spartan: Sunk Anzio, January 29,1944 - possible book. Please help with mem-ories, thoughts, info. Contact Pat Smith on01277 225342, c/o 27, Gerrard Cres,Brentwood, Essex CM14 4JU - she is nieceof the late W.B. Smith PO Radio Mechanic.

Splthead Royal Review 1953: Mr PercyScott would appreciate copies of press cut-tings, photos and any other information aboutthe Royal Review at Spithead. He was onboard the midshipman training ship INS Tir.

iim at 2, Woolfield Cres, Kerrempsey,Contact him at 2,NSW 2440, Australia.

Ship's leaflets: Michael Sanchez collectsRN information leaflets, and is seekingleaflets or 'Welcome Aboard' pamphlets forHMS Intrepid and the following classes: Type42 destroyers, Type 21 frigates, Leander-class frigates, Rothesay-class frigates,Tribal-class frigates and Country-classdestroyers. Write to Michael at PO Box 455,Gibraltar.

Royal Navy and French Navy: AuthorAnthony Clayton is researching the relation-

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We have over many years been associated with the Royal Navy, holding Reunions for:HMS EXETER, HMS SHEFFEILO, HMS NEWFOUNDLAND, HMSTENBY,

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STOP PRESS !!! After last year's successful Naval Reunion "Showcase", held forOrganisers of Reunions, we are repeating the weekend on January 23th-26th 1998.

For Information please Contact:BRYAN PITMAN- GENERAL MANAGER. TEL 01803329292

ship between the two navies in the period1919-1939. and would be grateful for any rec-ollections, records etc. Contact Dr A. Clayton,CSRC, RMA Sandhurst, Camberley, SurreyGU154PQ.

HMS Jervis Bay: Mr F. llderton recallsreturning to base at Queensborough after anevening out during World War II, and hearingsailors in a pub sing a moving song about thearmed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay.Does anyone know the actual words of thissong? Contact Mr llderton at 17, Sabina Rd,Chadwell St Mary, Grays, Essex RM16 4PJ.

Camouflage: Alan Raven would like tohear from anyone who served in any vesselof the Home Fleet in 1940 as to the colourand/or camouflage that their ship may haveworn. Contact Mr Raven at 35, Arthur Ave,Lynbrook, NY 11563, USA.

The Laughing Cavalier: Does anyonehave a spare copy of The Laughing Cavalier1970-72, the end of an era? Ex-CPO Fred'Slinger' Woods left the ship before he couldcollect his copy of the end-of-commissionbook, and never received one. Contact him at62 Leng Cres, Eaton. Norwich, Norfolk NR47NY, tel 01603 453268.

Johnny King: Eddie Cartwright isresearching a book on the life and career oflate, great British bantamweight boxingchampion Johnny King, who served in theRoyal Navy and survived the sinking of HMSPrince ol Wales. Any shipmates or oppos withstories or anecdotes about Johnny are askedto contact Mr Cartwright at 27, Baywood St,Harpurhey, Manchester M9 5XJ, tel 0161 2059107.

Barbara Austin: Mrs Mary Windle, wife ofex-CPOWTR J. Windle, wants to traceBarbara, wife of ex RPO Bunny Austin, lastknown when he was based at HMS Tamar,Hong Kong, in 1972. They emigrated toAlabama, USA, from Chatham in the late1970s, when he had completed 22 years' ser-vice with the RN. Contact Mrs Windle at 10,Gleneagles Ave, Glenrothes. Fife KY6 2QA.tel 01592 756314.

Junkers bomber crash: Early on April18, 1944, a lone Junkers Ju188 was broughtdown by RAF Typhoons and AA fire, and itcrashed near Exbury House in Hampshire,which at that time was HMS Mastodon. JohnStanley would like to hear personal accountsof that crash, or who attended the crashscene or treated any of the survivors, whodied soon after. Contact him at 179, NewBarn Lane, Prestbury, Cheltenham, GlosGL52 3LH. tel 01242 520456.

HMS Staffa's flag: During World War IIthe town of Leiston in Suffolk adopted HMSStaffa. and at the end of the war the ship'scommanding officer visited the formerLeiston-cum-Sizewell Urban District Councilto present a number of items, including a flag.There have been approaches in the past tothe new district council seeking the return ofthe flag, which could not be found. But now a4ft by 5ft 9in Hag, faded blue, with a UnionJack quarter has been found at the offices,and the council would like to pass it on to aStaffa contact for safekeeping. Contact TownClerk David Gooderham at the CouncilChambers, Main Street, Leiston, Suffolk IP164ER, tel 01728 830388.

Naval memorial: Midshipman CharlesSlade Moorman, an ancestor of RobertMoorman, was mortally injured at the Battleof Camperdown on October 11, 1797. whileserving in HMS Monarch. He was buried withfull honours of war at Minster Church, on theIsle of Sheppey, on October 23. and a memo-rial was erected by his brother officers. Thememorial was removed from the church inthe late 1950s, and possibly moved toChatham Dockyard, but Robert can find norecord of where it is today. If anyone can helplocate it. or recalls having seen it, contactRobert at 24. Braemar Road, Gosport, HantsPO13 OYA, tel 01705 287774.

HMS Neptune: Eric Franks' brother-in-lawwas serving in HMS Neptune which wassunk off Tripoli on December 9, 1941. afterhitting mines. He would like to hear from anysurvivors of the ship, or anyone with anyknowledge of the incident. Contact him at 4,Audley Rd, Alsager, Stoke on Trent ST7 2QL,tel 01270 873483, fax 01270 882466.

C. Knutten's medal: Mr E. Craske hascoma across a World War I Royal Navymedal, bearing an inscriptioon on the edgewhich includes the name C Knutten anddetails of rank and port division. If anyonewants further details, contact Mr Craske atFlat 17, Trinity Court, Albion St, Crowland,Peterborough PE6 OEA.

Missing book: Ronald "Dixie" Dean wasreading a book, given him as a prize, in hishammock while serving in HMS Eagle 1952-54. He fell asleep, and the book disappeared.Now he would like it back - condition imma-terial. The book was called The Baltic Spy byC. Oman, and it had his name and the dateon the flyleaf. His hammock was slung on 4Deck, starboard side, bulkhead no 123.Contact him at 64, Huntingdon Rd. Upwood,Huntingdon, Cambs PE17 1QQ. tel 01487711203.

HM ships Breda, St Helena, Miltord:Does anyone have a photo of HMS Breda in'war guise' or any information about HMSMilford or HMS St Helena? If so, please con-tact Mr. M. Garland at 27, Skipton Drive. LittleSutton, South Wirral L66 4SP, or phone 0151339 5374.

POSTD A. Burcheall: Bob Wiltshire iscompiling a family history, and is seekinginformation on POSTD Burcheall. who joinedthe RN in 1933 and drowned in Rio deJaneiro on November 2. 1952, while his ship,HMS Snipe, was visiting Brazil. He also pos-sibly served in a King George V battleshipclass. If anyone can provide any further infor-mation, please contact Bob at 8, Yardley Rd,Cosgrove, Northants MK19 7JF.

Destroyer and Escort Group funnelmarkings: Mr R. Groves thanks all who haveso far provided him with info on destroyerflotilla funnel markings, but still needs toknow the markings ol the 23rd Flotilla (S-class), 24th (T-class) and 27th (W-class), alsoany info on escort groups. Please write to MrGroves at Battramsley House, SouthamptonRd, Boldre. Lymington. Hants S041 8ND.

RCL Arezzo: D. Carter is building a modelof a landing craft, the Ramped Craft Logistic(RCL) Arezzo. built lor service in March 1987and operated by the Marine Division of theRoyal Corps ol Transport from their base atMarchwood Does anyone have any books ormagazines which might give details of ser-vice history, or photographs showing itscolour scheme? Contact Mr carter at 46.Brackenhurs) Rd. Coundgn, Coventry CV62DR.

HM Submarine Warsplte 1969-75: Anyold crewmates going to Dolphin reunion inOctober, especially 'stokers', please contactAlan Wait on 01323 892201 after 8pm.

HMSFIsgard, May 1954: Series 21Artificer Apprentices, joined HMS FisgardMay 10, 1954 - anyone interested in a classreunion? Contact Colin Smith at 7, SlindonGdns, Havant, Hants PO9 1HT, or Geoff(Jan) Grigg, 10, Culver Close, Crownhill,Plymouth, Devon PL6 5NL, tel/fax 01752769580, e-mail [email protected].

266 Kings Squad passed for duty onOctober 9, 1937 - 60 years ago. I wonderhow many of us there are left? Ken Yorkwould be pleased to hear from any old squadmates; telephone 01223 811367.

HMS Shlppigan: An unnamed stoker ofthis World War II Bangor-class minesweeperof the 16th Flotilla is seeking old shipmates.He went on to work on Fleetwood trawlers,and now lives at 6A, Tango Place,Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand.

HMS Anson Association is still lookingto increase membership. Phone Fred on01438 233074 or write to Ken Whiterod at 3,Deniston Ave, Bexley, Kent DAS 3HL

The new HMS Sparrow Association islooking for anyone who ever served in her,any commission. Quite a few have alreadyjoined. Full details from John 'Lofty' Draper,"Aysgarth", Cross Lane, Bexley, Kent DA51 HZ, tel 01322 523438.

HMS Submarine Ultimatum (P34) inMediterranean 1943-44: Recent reunion withCaptain Kett, Lew Armstrong, Les Hewitt andIan Stewart was a big success - they are nowseeking others of the crew. Contact JimWade on 01509 230050.

Jack Hlder would like to hear from any-one who served with him in HMSTransylvania, to send them a copy of thestory he has written about his life with theship, and also anyone who served with him inHMS Pearl and HMS Hartland Point. ContactJack at 30, Orchard Ave, Brantford, Ontario,Canada N3R 4X6, tel 519 753 5004.

HMS Loch Fada, all commissions:Anyone who served between 1944 and 1967interested in a reunion should contact Bob'Bogey' Harris at 12, Alandale Rd, Sholing,Southampton SO19 1DG, tel 01703 391848.

HMS Penelope: Those serving May 10,1982 to Jury 1,1982 are asked to contact ex-POMEM Ron Thomas about a possiblereunion next year; telephone 01454 614051or write to 13, The Avenue, PatchwayCommon, Bristol BS12 6BD.

Bounty Boys: Were you an ex-Sea CadetComms who volunteered for the RN duringWorld War II? Join the Association - contactHon Sec Jack Brown at 115, Eversleigh Rd,London SW11 5UY, tel 0171 228 7237.

Defence NBC Centre Instructors: TheDefence NBC Centre at WinterbourneGunner is holding a reunion of all pastinstructors in May next year. Two are provingelusive - CPO A.J. Horn, last known of atHMS Nelson, and CPO D.G. Twist, last seenin SwanseaContact CPO J. Wood at the

Defence NBC Centre, Winterbourne Gunner,Salisbury, Wilts SP4 OES, tel 01722 436223.

HMS Eagle 1963-66: Would any mem-bers of 4Qzo Mess during this period contactTony Roberts with a view to a possiblereunion. Contact Tony at 47, Bendon Way,Rainham, Kent ME8 OEW, tel 01634 361549.

HMS Striker LST3516: Ted Owen wouldlike to hear from shipmates Brum Harverson,Gary Grant, Redpole Parker, Harry Apletonand many others with a view to a get-togeth-er. Phone evenings on 01869 324511 or writeto 14, Falcon Mead, Langford Village,Bicester, Oxon OX6 OYU.

HMS Tlree, craw of 1955-56 are invitedto contact "the Buffer", Lofty Oliver and MrsKath Oliver, with a view to a reunion. Write to40, Wayne Rd, Parkstone, Poole, DorsetBH12 3LF, or ring 01202 730598.

Michael Stafford (Jan): Served HMSCutlass Gunners Yeoman June 1, 1973 toNovember 1974, would like to trace ship-mates for 50th birthday in January 1998.Calls to Veronica on 01761 435161.

LCT138: Ex-AB Fred Adams HO (ex-Rhodesian), Box 161, Kadoma, Zimbabwe,would be pleased to hear from old shipmatesto communicate on incidents that happenedduring the voyage from Castelrosso Island toFamagusta in Nov/Dec 1943 which he wouldlike to include in his memoirs.

HMS Constance 1945-51 Association isseeking G.R. Sims AB, Doc Whybrow and allwho served during this period to join. Pleasecall Ernie on 01529 413410.

HMS Unicom Association is seeking"Flash* Loe from Bamsley, Pete Vaughn,Norman Treece, Jim Preece, Doubleday, allBrummies, from 36 Mess 1950. Also JanMedland, Buckfastleigh, Taff Griffiths,Wrexham, Pete Lamboume, Otley, Rowe,Torquay, Boy Brookes, Dudley, Taff Jope,Shiner Wright, Brummie Abiss, Walker-Catchpole for Nick Nichols. Ring 01992647963, 0151 7339131 or 01442 255821.

HMS Ganges, 11 Mess, ColllngwoodDivision 1942-43: Any old messmates still

ReunionsOCTOBER

The Survey Ships Association reunionis on October 25 at the King Charles Hotel,Gilllngham. For info on membership sendSAE to trie secretary, SSA, The Elms, 48,Victoria Road South, Southsea, HampshirePO5 2BT, or telephone 01705 823924.

HMS Bruce: HMS Bruce register will holdthe third reunion and AGM at theAmbassador Hotel, Scarborough, on October26-28. For details of membership ring 'Bruce'Morris on 0121 3829837.

Westkapelle: Support Squadron EasternFlank unveiling of memorial WestkapelleWalcheren on October 31. Former crews andnext of kin of Landing Craft Headquarters,Landing Craft Support and Landing CraftRocket who fought at Westkapelle onNovember 1,1944, please contact Charles J.Brown, 63, Wells Rd, Walsingham, NorfolkNR22 6DX, tel 01328 820799.

around and interested in a possible get-together? Call 0181 529 7750 or write toCharles Hitchcock, 28, Valance Ave,Chingford, London E4 6DR.

HMS Ganges Association: The Fulhamand Chelsea Division of the HMS GangesAssociation has changed venue. Meetingsare now held at the RNA Club, 137, Batter-seaHigh St, London SW11 1SS, and are nowheld on the third Thursday of every month.Details from Dave Carr, on 0181 788 2870.

HMS St George: Mr P. Miller would like tocontact Classes 771 and 772 who joined theNavy on March 13 and March 20,1947, at StGeorge's in Gosport - he is hoping to see aget-together after 50 years. Contact him at36, Summerfield Rd, West Wittering, SussexPO20 SLY, tel 01243 513072.

HMS Cumberland Association: A heartywelcome awaits all ex-Cumberlanders.Newsletters, memorabilia, members' lists andreunions are all on offer. Full details fromJohn Draper, "Aysgarth", Cross Lane, Bexley,Kent DAS 1HZ, telephone 01322 523438.

JME G. Adams (1961): Ian Smart is hop-ing to trace an old shipmate of his, known asAds Adams, who joined HMS Ganges inJanuary 1961; both were in Duncan Division,under Lt Gowan. Ads was a boxer, and pos-sibly a Londoner. Other names that come tomind are Stacey, Femley, Scobie, Hansenand Woodcock. Ads, possibly Graham, leftthe Navy in 1972. Contact Ian at 215, ArcherRd, Stevenage, Herts, tel 01438 233401.

HMS Ceylon 1958-59 commission:Calling Tommy Dentith, -Millie* Miles, JerryMyers or any other shipmates from thehangar deck messes for a possible get-together in 1998. Contact Dave Whitfield at88, The Crofts, Silloth, Cumbria CAS 4HA.

HMS Ganges 1938-39: Hawke Division,47 Mess Classes 283-4, Instructors Sparkesand Crawford. Any "survivors" from these V/Sand WH' Classes still about? Any informationto ex-CCY C.R. Tug Wilson, 168, Avon Road,Chelmsford, CM1 2LD.

The Green Beret Association: GrandReunion meeting to be held in the RBL Club,Deal, on Friday, October 31. Details fromJohn Beech on 01843 581894.

HMS Illustrious Association: Reunionweekend will be held at the Grand Hotel, TheHoe, Plymouth, from Friday, October 31 toMonday, November 3. The AGM will takeplace on Saturday at 10.30am. Details fromColin Pickford, Moss Cottage, AshboumeLane, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak,Derbyshire SK23 OPA, tel 01298 814472.

NOVEMBEREW Branch reunion for all serving and ex-

(EW) Branch senior rates/SD(EW) officials,will be held on November 29 at HMS Dryad,Southwick, nr Portsmouth. ContactCPO(EW) Wallace at HMS Dryad, EWSection, Lewin Building, Southwick,Fareham, Hants, tel 01705 284517.

AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL NAVY No 12

i The Skua was the Royal Navy's first operational monoplane.

Blackburn SkuaALTHOUGH the Blackburn Skua was infront-line service for a relatively shorttime - and with only three squadrons - ithas its place in the history of the Fleet AirArm.

The Skua was the Royal Navy's first opera-tional monoplane, and the first British aircraftspecifically designed as a dive-bomber toenter service.

Equipping HMS Ark Royal at the outbreak ofwar, the type scored an early success when aSkua became the first FAA aircraft to openaccounts with the Luftwaffe by shooting downa Dornier Do 18 flying boat off Norway onSeptember 25,1939.

More notably, 15 Skuas of 800 and 803Squadrons sank the German cruiserKoenigsberg in Bergen Fjord, Norway in April1940; and during the Dunkirk evacuation 801Squadron Skuas operated from RAF Detling onbombing and fighter sorties, the Skua'srespectable forward armament of four

Browning machine-guns affording it someextent of flexibility in its role.

The aircraft were also in action during the ill-conceived Dakar operation in the followingSeptember, during which they bombed theVichy French battleship Richelieu.

By May the following year the obsoleteSkuas had been replaced in front-line serviceby more potent Fulmars and Sea Hurricanes,although they continued in service for severalyears as target tugs.

The two-seat Skua was of all-metal stressedskin construction and powered by a BristolPerseus XII engine producing 890hp. Topspeed was 225mph at 6,500ft, initial climb ratewas 1,580ft a min., range was 760 miles andservice ceiling 19,100ft.

Besides an armament of four machine gunsin the wings, the observer/gunner was armedwith a Lewis gun for rear defence. One SOOIbbomb was carried beneath the fuselage andthere were racks for eight 30lb practice bombsunder the wings.

NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 3:

Roval Naval AssociationINJURED SAILOR'S THANKS TO RNA

'THEY TOOKA SAD SONGAND MADEIT HAPPY'

A MOVING letter of appreciation to shipmates of No.6 Area and the RNA in gen-eral has been sent to Navy News by Paul (Tug) Wilson, the sailor who suffered aparalysing injury in a fall during a mast manning display two years ago.

PICTURE PUZZLE

MYSTERY PICTURE 32

Name...

Address.

My answer.

WINNER of the NavyNews Picture Puzzle com-petition in our Augustissue is Mr. C. Summer ofAlton, Hants.

He identified the crashedaircraft as a SupermarineAttacker and correctlyanswered that the type wasthe first jet to be standardisedin service with the Fleet AirArm's front-line squadrons.

Mr Summer's reply waschosen at random, and hereceives our cash prize of£25. We offer a further prizefor a correct solution to thismonth's puzzle. With whatname did this ship start hercareer - and with what namedid she end it?

Complete the coupon and sendit to Mystery Picture, Navy News,HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO13HH.

Coupons giving correctanswers will go into a prize drawto establish a single winner.Closing date for entries isNovember 15. More than oneentry can be submitted, but pho-tocopies cannot be accepted.

Do not include anything else inyour envelope: no correspon-dence can be entered Into and noentry returned. The winner will beannounced in our December edi-tion. The competition is not opento Navy News employees or theirfamilies.

TUg was 'adopted' by No.6Area and became a member ofLuton & Dunstable branch. Wepublish his letter in full:

"As I am sure you are all aware,in September 1995 I sustained aspinal cord injury which has subse-quently left me wheelchair-bound.If there is such a thing as fate, and Iwas supposed to have my accident,somebody up there must have beensmiling on me. Firstly, it only hap-pened one mile from StokeMandeville Hospital; secondly -which proved just as important - Icame down to earth in Area 6.

"Now I am sure after meetingother members of the RNA fromall over the country, the help andsupport I received would have beenthe same - but as it was Area 6 thatI landed in, I cannot help but singtheir praise.

Stormy waters"From Day One, even though I

did not know it at the time, thewheels were starting to turn to help,not just me but also my family,through the stormy waters that layahead.

"To go from an all-singing,all-dancing matelot oneminute, to a young manseverely disabled, is a hardpill to swallow as you canimagine. For my family, theirson and brother would nolonger be the same.We all needed a shoulder to cry

on from time to time, and someoneto talk to. This is where the ship-mates of Area 6 played their part inhelping, not only me but everyonearound me, to pick ourselves upand smile once again.

"The friendship, support andencouragement I got during a longsix months in hospital was morethan enough - but not for the ship-mates in the Area. They set up acollection for me and during thelast 18 months, all sorts of fund-raising events were carried out. The

Remember TheGood Old Navv

Branch NewsSt Helens

Members of the branch whoserved on convoys to Russia duringWorld War II and suffered greathardship gave a party for a groupof Russian children fromChernobyl who were visiting thearea.

The children departed ladenwith gifts - including many items ofclothing - presented by the Mayor.

Welshpool

• Tug Wilson - 'RNA gave meback part of my life.'

end result of everyone's efforts wasa collection of £7,150.

"To say I was surprised would bean understatement. This money hasenabled me to get a multi-gym, anew sports wheelchair, and a bicy-cle connection for my currentwheelchair. In effect the RNA hasgiven me back part of my life - theability to once again take part insport.

"I cannot say thank you enoughtimes to my shipmates in Area 6.No one will ever realise what theyhave done for me and how much Iappreciate the support given to myfamily, especially my father. Theytook a sad song and made it happy.

"As I have said to many people,the RNA is a credit to the Navy,and its shipmates a credit to theRNA. The shipmates of Area 6have done you all proud, and may Ibe the first one to pat them on theback."

After a six-year interval thebranch was recommissioned byShipmate Roy Wood, NationalCouncil member for No.7 Area. Itnow has 24 members who meet atWestwood Park Hotel, Salop Roadat 2000 on the first Wednesday ofeach month. For details contact thebranch secretary, Shipmate ChrisWhitehouse, on 01938 810789.

Redruth &CamborneMembers held an evening of

music and song at the POs Mess,RN air station Culdrose to markthe branch's 50th anniversary. Thebranch's stall at the establishment'sAir Days racted many visitorsand enquuics resulting in manyhappy encounters with formershipmates and friends.

Carlisle & DistrictTo mark the branch's 50th

anniversary, its standard wasblessed at evensong in CarlisleCathedral by the Dean, the VeryRev. H. E. C. Stapleton.

The standard bearer, ShipmateRowland Fleming, was escorted bythe vice chairman, Shipmate JohnWinter, and by Shipmate FredSmith. The lesson was read byShipmate John Montgomery, thebuglers of TS Vanguard soundingthe Last Post and Reveille.

At the reception which followed,the Mayor of Carlisle presentedShipmate Angus Steele with amedal and citation awarded by theRepublic of Greece for his wartimeservice. After the presentation,'Up Spirits' was piped.

• Shipmate ahoy! - Crosby Chairman Dave Palmer (left) and vicechairman Claude Harden at the wheel of the replica of CaptCook's ship, HM Bark Endeavour, after spending two weekendsas volunteer guides, helping to show thousands of visitors overthe ship when she berthed at Liverpool.

AberdeenShipmates had a busy time dur-

ing the visit to Aberdeen of the TallShips - an event which attractedhundreds of visitors and a largecontingent of Sea Cadets fromInverness, Dundee, Newcastle,South Shields and NorthernIreland.

The cadets, who took part inmany events, and put on a dailyfield gun display, were catered forin the evening by the branch, whichorganised a barbecue for them atCadet HQ. The branch alsomanned a stall on the jetty whichraised £350 for charity.

CrawleyMembers took part in several

parades in the summer, includingtwo to mark 50th anniversaries -one of Crawley New Town and the

other of Lowfield branch of theRoyal British Legion, ending with abuffet reception and socialevening.

Members paraded again for thethird time in a month at a SeaSunday service held at LowfieldHeath church.

Tenbury WellsThough Tenbury is far from the

sea and a small town with a popu-lation of just 2,000, the response tothe branch's street collectionraised £400 - £250 for the branchwelfare fund and the rest beingdivided between the Royal NavalBenevolent Trust and KingGeorge's Fund for Sailors.

DerehamA bursary has been established

by members in honour of the lateShipmate Tom Deeks - a driving

force in the branch for many years- and to mark the branch's 40thanniversary. As a result £500 wasraised for TS Lord Nelson, theNorwich Sea Cadet unit.

The money, which will be usedfor sea training on board the sailtraining ship TS Royalist, was pre-sented by the branch's Sea Cadetliaison officer, Shipmate RonCopping.

CambridgeThe bell of the River-class

frigate HMS Cam is now displayedat branch HQ. It was discovered ina Ramsgate pub by Shipmate DougNewell who served in the Cam as aleading torpedo operator.

TauntonThanks to the town's motorway

services management, memberswere permitted to make a collec-tion which raised £600 for chari-ties, including the local Sea Cadetunit. The branch's monthly raffleraised £50 for the KGFS Year ofthe Seafarer.

CowbridgeSea Cadets provided a guard of

honour at a gala social in honour offounder member and secretaryShipmate Ian Lewis, and his wifeBronwen, who have both made agreat contribution to the branch.Ian was awarded life membershipand Bronwen received a certificateof appreciation.

HinckleyWatched by over 140 shipmates

and wives, the final of No.8 Area'sfirst Uckers competition was wonby Hinckley, with Telford as run-ners-up. The event was held at theRoyal British Legion Club, ShardEnd, Birmingham.

Canada visit byNC chairman

Framed Photographs11 UMffli

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CHAIRMAN of the NationalCouncil, Shipmate FredChambers, received a warmwelcome when he visitedVancouver Island branch whiteon holiday in Canada with hiswife.

Members turned up instrength to greet Fred and toget an up-to-date briefing on

RNA activities across 'ThePond'. He in turn was toldabout the activities of the 68-strong Vancouver branch.

The branch welcomes anyshipmates visiting the area -such as Bob Woodford, ofSouthend-on-Sea branch, whocalled in with his wife while onroute to Hawaii.

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NoticeBoardPromotions to Chief

ACTING CHARGE CHIEF ARTIFICERAUTHORITY was issued by CommodoreNaval Drafting in September for the followingto be advanced to Acting Charge ChiefArtificer.

To ACCMEA: A.N.S. Tate (VanguardPort), A.J. Pollard (Sultan).

To ACCAEA: R.J. Gibbons (820 Sqn),D.R. Struthers (771 SK5 SAR), P.E. Hodgson(815 Sqn HO)

CHIEF PETTY OFFICERAUTHORITY was issued by CommodoreNaval Drafting in September for the followingto be promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

OPERATIONS (SEAMAN GROUP)To CPO(EW)(O) - M.A. Jones (PJHQ)

To CPO(SR) - R.A. McGovern (RNHydrog Schl).

PointsTHE FOLLOWING list shows the total pointsof the men and women at the top of eachadvancement roster for Petty Officer andLeading Rates in September.

Intermediaries (Int) indicates that person-nel can be advanced before they are eligibleto receive merit points or before the rostercan be adjusted to take account of them.This means that personnel are advanced inbasic date order. Dates shown against "int"rosters are the basic dates of the top eligiblepersonnel. The lumber following the points(or basic date) is the number advanced inSeptember.

CCMEAML - Int (13.1.97). Nil;CCMEAEL - Dry, 1; CCMEAMLSM • Dry,Nil; CCMEAELSM - Dry, 1; CCWEAADC-Dry, Nil; CCWEAWDO • Dry, Nil;CCWEAADCSM • Int (18.7.97). Nil;CCWEAWDOSM • Int (18.7.97), Nil;CCAEAM - 152 (1.9.95), 2; CCAEAR • 260(1.5.94) 1; CCAEAWL - 385 (1.9.92), Nil.

PO(EW)(O) -337 (13.7.93), 1; LS(EW) -130 (14.2.95), Nil; PO(M) - 112 (14.2.95),Nil: LS(M) - Int (12.9.95), Nil; PO(R) - 428(10.11.92), 1; LS(R) - 281 (13.7.93), Nil;PO(S) - 130 (14.2.95), Nil; LS(S) - 415(16.2.93), Nil; PO(D) - 637 (6.12.91), 1;LS(D) - 704 (28.9.90), Nil; PO(MW)(O) - Int(16.7.96), 4; LS(MW) - Int (10.9.96). 6;PO(SR) - 340 (15.6.93), 2; LS(SR) - 281(15.6.93), Nil; PO(SEA) - 571 (14.1.92) Nil.

POCY-489 (13.10.92), Nil; PORS - 569(24.9.91), Nil; POCO - 183 (11.10.94), Nil;LRO - 347 (8.6.93), 18, (See last paragraph);POPT • 482 (13.10.92), Nil; RPO - 573(10.3.92), Nil; POMEM(L)(GS) - Dry, 1;LMEM(L)(GS) - Int (19.7.97), 9; POMEM-(M)(GS) - 503 (1.7.92), 10; LMEM(M)(GS) -297 (9.12.93), 9; POWEM(O) - 251 (4.1.94),5; LWEM(O) - 159 (12.11.94), 6: POWEM-(R)(GS) - 286 (2.11.93), Nil; LWEM(R)(GS) -282(17.1.94), 7; POCA(GS) 621 (21.6.90),Nil; LCH(GS) - 434 (27.9.92), Nil;POSTD(GS) - 688 (28.8.91), Nil: LSTD(GS)- 303 (17.6.93), Nil; POSA(GS) - 462

Deaths11. AB(S) Martyn Terrell, HMS Beaver. Sept.

Admiral Sir Derek Empson KCB, GBE,C-in-C Naval Home Command in mid-1970s.Served 1939-76, joining as rating, commis-sioned 1940 as FAA pilot. Ships: Hermes,survivor ss City of Nagpur, Eagle, with 813NAS in N. Africa for Torch landings (shotdown in Swordfish), Argus, Vengeance,Fulmar (CO 767 NAS & 814 NAS), Falcon,Centaur, Naval Asst to First Sea Lord 1959-61. Apollo (CO), Eagle (CO). Made total of782 deck landings without mishap. FOAircraft Carriers 1967-68, Asst Chief of NavalStaff (Air) 1968-69. Commander Far EastFleet 1969-71, Second Sea Lord 1971. Aged78.

Rear Admiral David Dunbar-NasmithDSC. Flag Officer Scotland and NorthernIreland 1970-72 and wartime destroyer cap-tain. Son of Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith. Served 1934-72. Ships: Barham,Cossack, Rodney, Kelvin (Crete, Sirte),Petard (Sicily, Salerno, Aegean), Haydon(CO), Peacock (CO), Moon (CO, Rowena(CO). Enard Bay (CO), Alert (CO), Berwick(CO), Commodore Amphibious Warfare1966-67, Naval Secretary 1967-70. Aged 76.

Cdr William Lawson (Billie) StephensRNVR, DSC and Bar, served 1929-46.Commanded a column of motor launches onSta Nazaire raid in 1942. Captured and suc-cessfully escaped from Colditz Castle lessthan two months after being imprisoned

COMMS, REGULATING AND PTTo CPOPT - C.S. Barnes (Excellent),

G.D. Longhurst (2SL/CNH FOTR).

SUPPLYTo CPOSA: A. Dryden (MOD DFS(CIS)

Bath).To CPOWSA - G. Valentine (Nelson WF).

MARINE ENGINEERING BRANCHTo CPOMEM(M) - D.J. Edwards

(Excellent), PA. Plart (Montrose), F.E. Neep(Sultan), D. Young (York), R.L Dakin(Guernsey), C.P. Latimer (Collingwood), S.RPickford (Chatham).

MEDICALTo CPOEN(G) - C.T. Dooley (RH Haslar).

SUBMARINE SERVICETo CPORS(SM) - T.R. Blagg (FOSM

Northwood Ops), S.C. Rowlands (FOSNNIOps CFS).

(4.11.92), Nil; LSA(GS) - 261 (19.2.94), Nil;POWTR(GS) - 451 (1.3.93), Nil; LWTR(GS)- 351 (10.8.93), Nil; POMA - 86 (14.3.95),Nil; LMA 93 (9.5.95), Nil.

PO(S)(SM)(O) - 646 (19.12.91), Nil;LS(S)(SM) - 589 (7.11.91), Nil; PO(TS)(SM)- 357 (10.6.93), Nil; LS(TS)(SM) - 412(19.1.93), 3; PORS(SM)-611 (11.2.92), Nil;LRO(SM) - 439 (13.10.92), 4; POMEM-(L)(SM) - 161 (5 10.94). Nil; LMEM(L)(SM) -89 (224.95), 2; POMEM(M)(SM) - Int(17.10.96), 2; LMEM(M)(SM) - Int (3.7.96),Nil; POWEM(R)fSM) - 486 (3.11.92). Nil;LWEM(R)(SM) - 821 (25.6.90), Nil;POSA(SM) - Int (4.11.96). Nil; LSA(SM) -242 (27.3.94), 1; POWTR(SM) - 397(11.3.93), Nil; LWTR(SM) - 448 (31.12.92),

Rear Admiral R. B. Lees to beChief Naval Supply Officer. Sept.5.

Commodore A. M. Gregory tobe promoted Rear Admiral and tobe Flag Officer Scotland,Northern England and NorthernIreland. Sept. 30.

Cdr N. S. Pearey to be COHMS Northumberland. Jan. 14.

Cdr The Hon Michael Coch-rane to be CO HMS Somerset.Jan. 13.

Lt Cdr A. Wallace to be COHMS Cattistock. Aug. 22.

Lt M. R. Broadhurst, QICUniversity RN Unit Newcastleand CO HMS Explorer. Feb. 3.

there. Ships: Caroline (Ulster RNVR), Hornet(Coastal Forces), St Christopher. ML 192(CO). Aug. 3, aged 85 at his home in France.

Cdr Hilary Boase OBE, DSC and Bar.Engineer Officer 1st MTB Flotilla, Malta,1939; Ships: Beehive (Felixstowe), Ithuriel(Harpoon Convoy to Malta), Laforey (Anzio;survivor), Solebay, Crossbow, Battleaxe,Theseus. Member of Association of RNOfficers. Aged 86.

Lt Cdr Peter Jones DSC, as Swordfishobserer took part in Fleet Air Arm raid onTaranto, 1940. Served 1939-58. Ships:Hermes, Illustrious (819 NAS), Eagle,Formidable, Furious (823 NAS). Hannibal,Begum (Far East), Bambara. Magpie. Aged78.

Lt Cdr George Goslln (Toby) MartenMVO. DSC. As First Lieutenant of HMS Pennin 1942 boarded the burning tanker Ohio toattach a tow during the Pedestal convoy toMalta. Saw action in Greek islands. Otherships: Sussex, Watchman, Wilton. StVincent. Equerry to King George VI 1949.Left Navy after Korean War. In 1954 becamefirst member of public to force a Minister toresign - over handling of dispute about own-ership of Crichel Down, Dorset, compulsorilypurchased in 1937 by Air Ministry. Memberof Association of RN Officers. Aug. 15, aged78.

Lt Cdr Leonard William Truscott.Business Manager Navy News 1971-82.Served in RN for 30 years. Former secretaryand treasurer of RN & RM Branch and

%THE ASSOCIATION OFROYAL NAVY OFFICERS

PatronHer Majesty The Queen

ARNO, the Officers' Charitable and Social fellowship, is open to all Serving andRetired Commissioned Officers of the RN. RM. WRNS, QARNNS and theirReserves.

Formed in 1925. ARNO's primary purpose is to assist Members includingHonorary Members (the widows of former members) with grants and bursariesfrom the proceeds of its assets which exceed £2 million, wherever there is a need.

Today the financial advantages of membership comfortably exceed the annualsubscription (£10 per annum or £150 for Life) and include: * AutomobileAssociation Membership at less than half price in many cases * House Purchase(ienerous cash payments with mortgage and with Life Assurance, and competitiveconveyancing costs. * Legal, Financial and Medical Consultations at free orfavourable rates * Trade Discounts in a wide range of services including insur-ance, travel, hotels, clothing and hirewear, car hire, medical, jewellery and manymore. A List of Members and a high quality interesting colour Year Book areissued, and ARNO organises ^Regional Social Functions and Group Holidays *A list of members worldwide who would like to exchange homes for holidays *Mail redirection * Swords and uniform items for sale * an ARNO credit card.

To: LT Oik 1 M P CCXIMBES RN. ARNO. 70 PoKCHESTER Tit, LONDON W2 3'ITPlease send me details ami a membership applicaiion form:

CPO ARTIFICER/TECHNICIANCOMMODORE Naval Drafting has been noti-fied of the following advancements to ChiefPetty Officer Artificer/Technician which weremade by Commanding Officers.

To CPOMEA: P. Newton (Captain SM2),D. Pitts (CFM Portsmouth).

To ACPOMEA: C.J. Bradley(Gloucester), J.P. Davison (Sultan), R.D. Keir(Raleigh), S.J. Quinton (Gloucester).

To CPOWEA: C. Hay (Chatham).To ACPOWEA: W.S. Peake

(Collingwood), D.A. Robertson(Collingwood), S.J. Spence (Coventry).

To CPOAEA: M.A. Bates (771 SK5 SAR),A.G. Duthie (801 Sqn).

ToACPOAEA: D.W. Wright (820 Sqn).To CPOCT: R.D. Gunther (Coventry).To ACPOCT: D. Solley (Brave)ToACPOMT: I.R.J. Werren (RH Haslar).

Nil; POCA(SM)- Int (8.11.96), 2; LCH(SM)- 845 (29.7.90), Nil; POSTD(SM) - 693(2.12.90). Nil; LSTD(SM) - 1415 (16.6.87),Nil.

POA(AH) - 1080 (22.8.88), Nil; LA(AH) -645 (8.11.91), Nil; POA(METOC) - Int(5.11.96), Nil; LA(METOC) - Int (2.10.95), 3;POA(PHOT) - 911 (6.2.90), Nil; POA(SE) -765 (24.10.90), 2; LA(SE) - 414 (8.7.92), Nil;POACMN - 528 (7.11.91), 4; POAEM(M) -332 (4.11.93), Nil; LAEM(M) - 477 (29.5.92),Nil; POAEM(R)-Int (3.10.96), 1; LAEM(R)-577 (31.10.91), Nil; POAEM(L) - Dry, Nil;LAEM(L) - 364 (25.2.93), Nil; POAC - Dry, 2.

POW(R) - 416 (7.2.93), Nil; LW(R) - Dry,Nil; POW(RS) - 662 (3.12.91), 2; LWRO -754 (4.12.90), 3; POWPT - 697 (11.6.91),Nil; RPOW-526 (10.3.92), Nil; POWCA-Int (15.6.95), Nil; LWCH • Dry, Nil; POWSTD-851 (16.7.90), Nil; LWSTD - 525 (20.2.92),Nil; POWSA - 247 (8.3.94), Nil; LWSA-313(17.6.93), Nil; POWWTR - 410 (26.3.93), Nil;LWWTR - 278 (28.2.94), Nil; POWWTR(G) -Int (11.7.97), Nil; POW(METOC) - Dry, Nil;LW(METOC) - Dry, Nil; POWPHOT - 283(5.10.93), Nil; POWAEM(M) - Int (20.3.97),Nil; LWAEM(M) • Dry. Nil; POWAEM(R) -Dry, Nil; LWAEM(R) - 657 (14.12.90), Nil;POWAEM(L) - 952 (20.8.89), Nil;LWAEM(L) - Dry, Nil; POWETS - 990(7.1.90), Nil; LWETS - 422 (22.9.92). Nil.

LWTEL - 545 (3.12.91), Nil; POWWA -409 (10.3.93), Nil; LWWA - 549 (30.10.91),Nil; POWDHYG-Int (14.12.95), Nil; POWD-SA - Int (8.8.96), Nil; LWDSA - Int (31.5.96),Nil; POEN(G) - Dry, Nil; LEN(G) - Dry, Nil;PONN - 280 (9.11.93), Nil; POMA(Q) - Dry,Nil; LMA(Q)- Int (14.3.95). Nil.

PO(AWW) • Int (17.12.96), Nil;LOM(AWW) - Int (27.11.96), Nil; PO(AWT) -Dry, Nil; LOM(AWT) - Int (11.3.97), Nil;PO(UW) - Dry, Nil; LOM(UW) - Int(15.10.96), Nil; PO(EW) - Dry, Nil;LOM(EW) - Int (22.4.97), 4; PO(MW) - Int(15.7.97), Nil; LOM(MW) - Int (15.7.97), Nil;PO(C) - Dry, Nil; LOM(C) - Int (10.6.97), 12;

Special Duties Officers Benevolent Fund.Sept. 20. aged 80.

Lt Jack Wynne May RNVR. served 1942-46 in RIN. Stage, screen and radio actor; For46 years played Nelson Gabriel in Radio 4'sThe Archers.

Lt John Ellsworth Scott DSC, WWIIFleet Air Arm fighter pilot. Served in 804NAS, flying Fulmars and Hurricanes from cat-apult armed merchant ships; 888 NAS(Formidable, Madagascar, N. Africa landings,Sicily, Salerno; 846 NAS (Tracker, Arctic con-voys), D-Day; Trumpeter. Paintings done inFormidable are exhibited in FAA Museum.Aged 77.

Frank Miles DSM, ex-Cox'n submariner,served 1925-50. Boats: L71, Otway. Phoenix,Parthian, Regent (8 war patrols in Med.),Tribune; post-war personal cox'n to AdmiralSubmarines. Member of Basingstoke branchof SOCA. Aged 87.

Cdr Henry Brian MacDonald Butter-worth, MIMechE. Ships: Hermione (sur-vivor), Orion, Vanguard, Mauritius, Grenville,Glory, Daring. Aged 77.

Cdr Clifford Lawson Jordan OBE. Shipsincluded Sirius (Normandy), Defender. Aged77.

Gilbert James Kelland CBE, QPM,served in RNVR, including aircraft carriers inFar East, WWII. Former AssistantCommissioner (Crime), New Scotland Yard.Aug. 30, aged 73.

John Maxwell Poulton Garnett CBE,served WWII as a rating in HMS Malaya andlater as officer commanding a small ship inclandestine operations to and from occupiedFrance. Director of Industrial Society 1962-86. Aug. 15, aged 76.

Lt R. A. (Ray) Osment, MEO, ex-ERA.Served 1955-76. Ships: Newfoundland,Theseus, Sheffield, Victorious, Adamant,Maidstone, Striker, Defender, Pembroke,Brighton. Aug. 2. aged 62.

F. J. (Nick) Adams, ex-Sig., served 1947-56. Ships: St Vincent, St James, Wakeful,Consort (Yangtse Incident). Member of HMSConsort Association.

John Faeber, ex-PO/Sto. submariner(WWII). Member of London branch of SOCA.Aged 83.

Donald Rowlands, ex-LS submariner.SOCA London branch committee member.Aged 67.

Ray Winfleld, ex-CK, served 1944-46.Ships: Drake, Eland, Kilchattan, Heron,BYMS 2188. April 22.

Don Jacobs, ex-POGI, served 1947-90.Ships: Charybdis. Lynx, Charity. Aug. 16,

Jim M. Garside. LST & Landing CraftAssociation member (LST 303).

Jack (Curly) Joseph, one of first CERAsin nuclear submarines. Also HMS CaledoniaHowe Div. apprentice, and HMS Sheffield.Aug. 22. aged 69.

Ronald Randall, ex-CPO. Ships: Jaguar,Armada. Vanguard. Trials engineer for S.African Navy. Member of Jaguar and StVincent Associations. Aug. 17 in S. Africa.

Tabs Tabener, ex-POPTI, member ofLondon & Medway RNPTIs, Aged 73.

Leslie Dickinson. ex-LTO/LEM, served1937-45 and 1951-53. Ships: Griffin,Salamander. Glen Avon, Tartar, Loyal. Apollo.Aged 80.

Albert Ernest (Darky) Prudden, foundermember of North London (Edmonton) branchof RN Patrol Service Association. Ships:Liberia. MLs, boom defence vessels. Aug 14,aged 88.

Stan Hall, ex-POCK. Ships: Challenger,Fritillary, Actaeon. Member of Flower ClassCorvette Association. Aug. 22 in. S. Africa,

• HMS Resolution, the Royal Navy's firstPolaris submarine, commissioned on October2, 1967.

NAVY NEWS looks back through itspages to recall some of the Octoberheadlines of past decades . . .

THE TIME OFYOUR LIVES

40 years agoHMS Hornet, Gosport home of the Navy's CoastalForces, decommissioned after 32 years.

With over half the men of the Royal Navy sleep-ing in beds or bunks, it was thought likely that thehammock would soon disappear from the sailor'spersonal luggage.

30 years agoHMS Resolution, the RN's first Polaris submarinewas commissioned at Barrow-in-Furness. Built byVickers, her cost was given as £52 million.

The Royal Marines of 45 Cdo were to be thelast UK troops to leave Aden when SouthernArabia gained independence after 128 years ofBritish rule.

20 years agoA BAN on pets was imposed on British warshipsamid fears over the spread of rabies abroad. Untilthe new regulations, UK-based ships had beenpermitted to keep dogs, cats or other animals onboard, although they were advised to land thembefore sailing for foreign ports.

PO(SSM) - Dry, Nil; LOM(SSM) - Int(1.5.96), Nil; POfTSM) - 95 (3.11.94). Nil;LOMfTSM) - Int (24.10.95), Nil; PO(CSM) -400 (8.6.93), 2; LOM(CSM) - Int (27.11.96),Nil; POfWSM) - 378 (5.1.93), Nil;LOM(WSM)-586(17.11.91), Nil.

The Basic Dates quoted for the femaleratings in the following categories, whichhave no examination for the next higher rate,are applied in accordance with BR1066Chapter 22:

POWTEL • 685 (28.4.93), Nil.It should be noted that the number of

B13's issued in the female categories arethose advanced from the female ShoreRoster.

It should be noted that all RO(T)1 andRO(G)1 ratings who have passed for thehigher rate who have completed or are yet tocomplete the cross-trained LROQC havebeen transferred to the cross-trained LROadvancement roster.

aged 77.Matthew Robertson, ex-CPO. Served

1938 to 1960s. Ships: Havant (survivor),Whaddon, Caradoc, Fara, Emerald (sur-vivor), Rupert, Seagull, Unicorn, Ocean,Cumberland, Eagle (1958-60).

Dennis Lathi-ope. ex-LSig HMS Shillay1945-46. Member of Algerines Association.Aug. 1.

Vernon A. Wjllcox, Sto.1, HMS Maenad.Member of Algerines Association. Aug. 16.

William Vandenberghe, ex-AB, HMSCockatrice 1943-46. Aug. 23.

Ronald (Alfle) Penney, ex-LS. HMSAries 1943-46. Aug. 25.

John (Jack) Brlndley, ex-L/Sto. Mech,served 1926-49. Ships: Emperor of India,Despatch, Iron Duke, Hood, Effingham,Sardonyx, Abelia, Enchantress, SouthernPrince, Chameleon. Aug. aged 88.

Arthur Russell, ex-PO, served 1928-45.Ships: Rodney, Cairo, Exeter, Newcastle,Jamaica. Member of HMS JamaicaAssociation. Aged 84.

Roy (Taff) Rowland, served in AircraftHandler branch 1962-72. Member of AircraftHandlers Association. Aug. 24.

Tom Percival, ex-AB, served in LST 12.Member of LST Club.

John Chesher. ex-LME, served 1951-60including Korea and nuclear tests. Shipsincluded Newfoundland, Broadsword, alsoFalsane. Member of Newfoundland Assoc-iation. Aug. 18, aged 62.

David Gratton, ex-MAA. Ships:Glamorgan, Intrepid, Coventry, Fearless,Manchester. Left in 1992 for MOD GuardService. Aug. 21, aged 44.

Barry (Pony) Moore, ex-PO, served1962-86. Falklands War veteran, served inHMS Herald. Aged 50.

Waiter (Wally) Ford, served in HMSCumberland and minesweepers. Member ofHMS Cumberland Association. Aug. 23.

Dick Fry, ex-CERA. Ships includedImplacable, Hornet, Ausonia. Sept. 9.

ASSOCIATION OF RN OFFICERSCdr. J. K. Cannon. Ships: Formidable,

Eglington, St Merryan, Glory. Also 825 NAS.Lt Cdr Carmlchael OBE, DSC, served in

NASs 802, 889, 1834, 766, 738, 806. Ships:Implacable, Theseus, Ocean.

Cdr A. Crawfurd. Ships: Ceres, Benbow,Victory, Effingham.

Lt F. W. C. Enders. Ships: Kent,President, Adamant, Centurion, Dolphin.

Lt F. W. Habgood RNVR. Served in HMSEffingham.

Lt Cdr D. C. James. Ships: Narvik.Bellerophon, Cadiz.

Lt Cdr W. Matthews. Ships: Barmond,Barcarola, Mars, Welfare, Defiance.

Capt R. E. G. Meaby RM. Served in HMSWarrior.

Lt Cdr G. M. W. Rowbotham. Ships:Scythian, Tireless. Belton, St Vincent,Victory, Warrior.

Lt K. J. Steward RM. Served in RMEastney, London RMR and 43 Cdo.

Second Officer K. Stewart MBE, RD,WRNR.

Miss D. A. Stoy RRC, QARNNS.

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATIONAlf Hurdley, chairman and life member

Shrewsbury, W. Midlands vice president,Area delegate and welfare visitor. Ex-Yeoman, served 1939-45. Ships: Hero,Hotspur, Hasty. Avon Vale. MidlandsShipmate of Year 1993-94. Vice chairman ofShropshire branch of Burma StarAssociation, member and past chairman ofShrewsbury branch of RBL, chairmanShrewsbury Poppy Day Appeal, secretary of

Swop draftsLWEM(O) Turnbull (4.5in trained), 3HA

Mess, HMS Campbeltown, BFPO 248, draft-ed HMS Manchester, Jan. Will swop for anyPlymouth ship deploying or not.

LWEM(R) Laidlaw (1007 PJT. RadarSection), 3S Mess, HMS York, BFPO 430,deploying March. Any ship considered.

AB(M) Taylor, 01705 359386, draftedHMS York, Sept. Will swop for HMS Fearlessor any other non-deploying ship.

A/LOM Rattenbury (AWW), HMS Drakeext 5832, drafted HMS Richmond, Feb. (GSA8). Will swop for any Devonport ship.

LRO(G) Heron, Commcen Faslane ext6729/6741, drafted HMS Guernsey. Jan. 20.Will swop for any Faslane small ship.

AB(EW) Owen, 93749 7070/2, drafted'express' Nov./Dec. Will consider anyDevonport ship deploying or not.

KGFS (Shropshire), committee member ofRNLI (Shrewsbury). July 11, aged 83.

Francis James (Jimmy) Scullion, Tyneand oldest member No.11 Area. Ex-CPOSto., served 1918-45. Ships: Ark Royal (sea-plane carrier), Caradoc, Iron Duke, Nelson,Bodicea, Fowey, Ark Royal (carrier, survivor),Findborn. Oldest member of Wartime ArkRoyals Association. Aged 96.

K. A. G. (Tiny) Davis, vice chairmanHastings. Ex-Tel(S). Ships: Indefatigable,Flowerdown, Victory. President Hastingsbranch of Burma Star Association. Aged 72.

Reginald Coombes, associate memberBletchTey. Ships: Maidstone, Peacock.Member of HMS Peacock Association. July15, aged 67.

Martin D'Rozarlo, St Austell. WWII ser-vice in Middle and Far East. July.

Arthur William (Digby) Withers,Leicester. Ex-FAA. Ships included HMSSparrowhawk. Aged 74.

Leslie C. Ensbury, Wittering. Aged 74.Jack Jordon, Stourbridge. Ex-Sto.1.

Ships: Warwick (survivor), Abercrombie. Aug.8.

Albert Smith, Stourbridge. Ex-Sto. 1.Served in Combined Ops and LSTs. Aug. 19.

Fred (Moff) Morten, Blackpool. Ex-Sig..served 1939-46. Ships: Antelope (Arctic andMalta convoys), Chamois, LST 3019. Aug.14, aged 74.

Charles W. Swann, Vancouver Is., for-merly Southend-on-Sea. Served 1943-46 inRN Patrol Service and Minesweepers.Wounded in HMS Cap Feral, Seine River,1944. Aged 72.

Donald W. Burton, Vancouver Is. Ex-CPO Mech, served 1949-58 including Korea.Aged 66.

Norman Luff, founder member and chair-man, Winchester. Served 1947-71. Ships:Miner V, Triumph, Tamar, Barcarole,Redoubt, Cambrian.

Jack Smith, Kendal. Ex-LS in HMSHowe, 1943-46. Aug. 14. aged 72.

Charlie Roberts, rum bosun Bloxwich(associate member). Aged 71.

Ronald (Ron) Saych, Chelmsford. Ex-ABjoined 1943. Ships: Pembroke, Cyclops. July29, aged 71.

Don Kltchlner, committee memberLetchworth. Aged 77.

Don Cawdron, treasurer Stevenage. Ex-Gl. Ships included HMS Belfast. Aged 68.

Pat Ould, Brentwood.Dougle Goodhew, founder member and

committee member Walton on Naze. Ex-AB,served 1943-46, including HMS Dido. Aged71.

Paul Mazzlna. Willesden. Ex-PO SBA.Aged 63.

I. Millar, HO Roll. Ex-AB. Ships:Obedient, Sussex, Pioneer. Sept. 7, aged 74

WOM(AW)1 Allen, PTS Admin, Marlbor-ough Building, HMS Collingwood, draftedHMS Ocean, Dec. Will swop for anyPortsmouth ship.'

WWTR1 J. R. Upson (non-sea), HMSNeptune Registry ext 3280, will swop for anyPortsmouth area draft.

LSTD Lower, 4K1 Mess, HMS Fearless,BFPO 283, will swop for Portsmouth shipdeploying or not.

LSTD A. Russell, HMS Neptune ext 6258,drafted HMS Manchester, December (deploy-ing Jan.). Anything considered.

LWWTR Helm, HMS Nelson ext 22774,will swop for any Faslane draft.

LMEM(L) Nolan. HMNB Portsmouth ext22362, drafted HMS Fearless, March 30. Willswop for any Type 42/23 deploying or not.

CH Wilkins. 2Q Stbd, HMS Cardiff, BFPO249, will swop for any Scotland-based ship orship that is in Scotland for a long period.

POWAEA(L) J. A. Bell (call Jacqui onRNAS Culdrose ext 2435), drafted 819 NAS,Jan. 5. Will swop for any front-line Culdrosedraft.

LMEM(M) Edwards (LMEM QC 29), HMSSultan ext 2229, drafted HMS Hurworth, Dec.Will consider any swop.

AB(D) Devlne, HMS Hurworth, BFPO300, will swop for any non-deploying ship orship in refit.

WSA Graham (non sea), Naval Stores,RNAS Yeovilton, will consider any smallershore base anywhere.

LSA Kennedy, HMS Neptune ext 6583,will consider any Plymouth/Portsmouth areadraft.

POMEM(M) Taylor, Gosport 429253,drafted Faslane NTD. Oct. 13 (shore). Willswop for any Portsmouth shore draft.

MEM(M) Selby, HMS Grafton, BFPO 291,deploying next year. Will swop for any Type42 or small ship, preferably not deploying.

POWTR C. Skinn, HMS Invincible, BFPO308 or MENTOR ext 230. drafted 2SL/FOTR,Portsmouth, Jan. 19. Will swop for Northwoodor any other London area draft.

LWEM(R) Bradbury, 3Q Mess, HMSSouthampton, BFPO 389, drafted HMSEdinburgh, March 3, deploying April. Willswop for any ship which is in UK on July 25(wedding).

STD M, S. Wood (Scale A), RoyalStewards' Mess, HMY Britannia, BFPO 239,drafted RNAS Culdrose, March 3 until Sept.98. Will swop for any Portsmouth shore base.

LRO(G) N. Bell, Commcen. Gibraltar,BFPO 52, ext 5788/5229, drafted HMSEdinburgh, March. Will consider anyPlymouth shore draft or ship, deploying ornot.

WEM(O) Green (SMAC 233), EMI Office.CFM Portsmouth, dratted HMS Cardiff, Oct 8.Will swop for any Scottish draft.

LMEM(M) Souter, 4 Mess. HMS Grafton,BFPO 291, will swop for any small shipdeploying.

WMEM(L) Walton, 3 Mess, HMS Grafton.BFPO 291, will swop for any Plymouth ship,preferably Type 22.

AB(M) Durney, HMS Boxer, Devonportext 554070, drafted HMS Fearless, Nov. 19.Will swop for any Devonport draft.

WWTR S. Brlerley, 4L1 Mess, HMSFearless, BFPO 283, drafted to HMS DrakeD. Logs, Jan. 5. Will swop for Portsmouthdraft.

LWSA Ward, HMS Fearless (HMNBPortsmouth ext 22901), drafted HMSNeptune, Oct. 2 (ext 6523). Will swop for anyPortsmouth shore base.

POMEM(M) S. J. McGreevy, HMSSandown, BFPO 379 (until Oct. 27), draftedHMS Bridport (Faslane), Dec. 15, deployingJan. Will swop for any Portsmouth orPlymouth ship not deploying.

FRAME YOUR OWNMEDALS...^ NICELY PACKAGED

k. IDEAL XMAS GIFT

in minutes, and remove them to wear in seconds. Easyquick assembly. 5 sizes available. Viewing widths are:(seepicturre) 55mm - 105mm - 155mm - 205mm - 240mm at acost of £13.95 - £17.50 - £18.50 - £20.00 and £21.50respectively. Measure across your medals and order the

size to suit. Prices include p & p and BFPO add £1 for overseas postage,cheques or postal orders to ; M.F.K., 5 St Chads Crescent, MiddleHarrington, Sunderland, SR3 3TR. Tel/Fax: 0191 520 1003

4AVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 35

Accommoda tion

Jfleet ClubMorice Square

DevonportPlymouth PL1 4PG

Telephone inquiries only Plymouth 01752 562723

All booking requirements in writing only, enclosing £5 depositon each Family Room enclose a S.A.E. for your receipt.ACCOMMODATION: For Service Personnel, their families anddependants plus ex. serving personnel and R.N.A. memberswho may be visiting the Plymouth area.FUNCTIONS: We cater for all types of functions at very com-petitive prices. Ships Functions, Mess Parties, Wedding Recep-tions, Reunions of ships, past and present, we offer an idealfacility.

ASK FOR QUOTATION, CONTACT THE MANAGER WITHOUTDELA YTOA VOID DISAPPOINTMENT

SUPPORT YOUR CLUB

"Aggies" Rosyth

Your chance to takethe pressure out of service

life for a few daysAggies' Rosyth is designed with naval

personnel in mind and is as well equippedas any small hotel with two family units andtwo double rooms with en-suite bathrooms;restaurant; lounge; coffee bar; multi-gym;snooker room; laundry room; a meeting

room and a chapel.

Call now on 01383 413770, to book

some time at "Aggies" Rosyth the next

time you're ashore.

The Royal Sailors' RestRosyth, Ferry Toll Road, Rosyth,

Fife KYI I 2XF.

Serving the Royal Navy since 1876

ALBATROSSGuest House

51 Waverley Road, SouthseaHants PO5 2PJ (01705) 828325

Prop Ann BakerCar Park on premises

You are guaranteed a friendly welcome inthis home from home in Southsea. Eachbedroom has been decorated with a nauticaltheme and has all the atmosphere of thegreat Naval traditions of this area. There arealso cable TV's, private washing facilities, teaand coffee, and full central heating ineach room. Special rates for Winter months.

SOUTHSEASOLENT HOTEL

14-17, SOUTH PARADE(Opposite the Pyramids)TEL: 01705 875566

Special rates for alt service personnel andFamily £22JOp.p. in full ensaite double or

twin-bedded room.* 4 crown seafront hotel* Colour TV, lea/coffee facilities•*• Games rooms - full size snooker table•*r Ideally situated near all local attractions

and its nightlife.

Province Of Natal Hotel5, Greenhill, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7SR

. :•;- The rtgstel.was a gift after World War 2

f Its purpose is to provide holidays and short breaks for all'"serving and ex-serving RN, RM, WRNS or QARNNS

^rsonnel and their reservists, families and close relatives.H*- *5Q;yards from-beach; Safe swimming and fine sands.

»^3!»»Half a mile from the shops and station.*AII rooms en-suite with tea and coffee facilities and colour TV"Lift to all floors 'Residents bar *Children and Pets welcome

*Double, Twin and Family rooms available*We cater for small ships re-unionsGroup booking discounts available

For more information Tel: 01305 784108 of Fax: 01305 770575Registered Charity No 226446

•——^. t Do*>yi11"i ^Snea**^* ; ive Entertainment

Hampshire Court Hotel29/31 Hampshire Terrace, Southsea PO1 2QF

Delightful listed building, 1823. Central for seafront,stations, city centre, ferry ports etc. Private car parking

Tea/coffee making facilities, colour TVs in all rooms + fullEnglish breakfast

Prices from £16 per person per night

Telephone (01705) 823522

PORTSMOUTH •EVERLEY GUEST HOUSE

01705731001

Garian House Holiday FlatletsSelf-catering flatlets, near sea and shops. Fully equipped. Colour TV, fridge,

cooker, linen, etc. Ideal for a visit by family or girl friend.

MINIMUM 2 PERSONS OR CHARGE FOR' WEEKLY JULY & AUGUST £701 WEEKLY OTHER MONTHS £60

NIGHTLY (Out of holiday season) £10jposit: £10 per person

ALL WITH OWN BATHROOM AND TOILETGuests, who anticipate a late arrival should inform the management

(01705-733581)S.A.E. please giving dates and number

MR CURTIS, 70 RESTING GROVE, SOUTHSEA, PORTSMOUTH 733581

HOTH.AA PLYMOUTH HOE RAC* Lockyar St. PL1 2OO *

Telephone: (01752) 227311Elegant Victorian Building with 22Bedrooms - 5 Ground floor. Nauti-cal Flavour Cocktail Bar. ColourTV Radio Tea/Coffee/ Telephoneall rooms. Most en suite. Largecar park. Navy News Readers10% Accommodation Discount. AllCredit Cards accepted

Brochure & or Booking contactLt. Cdr Alan Jones RNR (Ret'd)•A 'Personal Service' Comfortable Holer

PLYMOUTHOsmond Quest Mouse

42 'Pier Street, 'West Jioe

01752 229705Bed and Breakfast from £13.00

Seafront. Courtesy pick-up fromstations. 4 poster bed. All rooms

CTV. Tea/Coffee making. /\ Some En-suite. Parking, /^

DISCOUNT TONAVYNEWS

•OWN KEYS - NO RESTRICTIONS'*H/C, TEA/COFFEE, CTV & SKY TV ALL ROOMS*

"ENSUITEAND FAMILY ROOMS - COTS*EASY PARKING *10TH YEAR SAME OWNERS*

33, RESTING ROAD, SOUTHSEA.HANTS. PO4 ONG

"Away days in Plymouth"Small triendlf Guul House overlooking HitHoe and Sealronl. A good bed and 4 coursebreakfast, colour TV, lea/cottee Itcllltlu, c/h,

en-suite rooms available. Parking.From : £26 Double, £14 Singles

Tetephont tor Broclwn01752 660675

Edgcumbe Guest House50, flu St, West Hoe, Plymouth PL13BT

SOUTHSEARED TUBS GUEST HOUSE52 WAVERLEY ROAD, SOUTHSEAWarm and friendly run Guest House, ideallysituated for the Naval Base/shoppingcentres/Continental Ferry Port/beachesetc.Own keys, no restrictions, colour T.V. inall rooms & C.H. Holiday or short breaksJUNE & TERRY (01705) 832440

THE ELMS Guest House48 Victoria Road South, SouthseaA small, friendly, f a m i l y run Gucsl Houseoffering B&B (overnight or weekly rates).

Close to Naval base, station, shops andnightlife. Colour TV, tea/coffee

facilities in all rooms. Some roomsen-suite. Own keys, limited parking.

Paddy and John (Joe) ErskineTel / Fax Portsmouth (01705) 823924

-AUSTIN HOTEL3 CLARENCE PARADE

SOUTHSEALicensed

Welcomes the Royal NavyAll rooms bright and modern

Colour TV in all rooms, centralheating, seafront position.

No restrictionsDiscount allowed for Serving

PersonnelTelephone Portsmouth 821785

SHROPSHIRE COURTGUEST HOUSE

33 Granada Road, SouthseaFriendly family run, 2 mins, from sea andentertainments. Close to ferries, Navalbase, shops, etc. Own keys, Satellite TVall rooms, no restrictions, B&B. Holiday orshort stay. Ample private car parking

Mrs Pat Green (O1705) 731043

SoutHsea

SpecialWinterBreaks

For Naval Personnel£32 per room

(one or two persons)Central for all Southsea amenities andentertainments. Quality en-suitebedrooms, Satellite TV's all rooms,tea/coffee facilities, lounge, private carpark

•k Attractive Bar *•k Delightful restaurant *

Clarence RoadSouthsea

PO5 2LQTel: 01705 833018

LADY HAMILTON21 The Hard, Portsmouth

Ye aide alehouseReopened after more than

70 yearsFree house and B&B

•Jr special rates naval personnel -Tel: 01705 870505

PLYMOUTHMOUNTBATTEN

3 Crown CommendedTel: 01752 563843 Fax: 01752 606014

Royal Fleet Club & Naval Basewithin walking distance.

•AllRooms CTV, Tea/Coffee& Phones. Mainly En Suite.

* Free Parking * Bar* Credit Cards Accepted

52, Exmoulh Road, Stoke, Plymouth, PL1 4QH

Canterbury Bell\Guest House

29 St Simons Road,Southsea, Portsmouth

Modern, Comfortable En-Suiteaccomodation. All rooms have

Satellite TV, Tea/Coffee makingfacilities & are centrally healed.

Private car parking. Studio Flats areavailable for self-catering. Rooms

from £15 p.p. per night.Phone/Fax Catriona Randall on

v (01705) 351277 ./

WEYMOUTHPHILBEACH GUEST HOUSE

11 Waterloo Place, Weymouth DT4 7PDYards from beach, short walk to RNAClub. All rooms CTV, T/making, B&B

evening meal. Reasonable rates.Warm welcome.

Jean and James Barnett01305 785344

Members of Weymouth RNA

TO ADVERTISE01705 724226

PLYMOUTH ~ HOEGATE HOUSESituated the Hoe t Barbican area, close walking distance to city centre, bus, station.

Rooms of high standard with showers, colour TV, HtC, tea/ coffee facilities, CH..

£14. P.P.P.N standard double or £15 with showerSAE for Brochure. Tel: 01752 661033

Hoegate Street, The Hoe, Plymouth. PL1 2JB

The DorcliffeLicensed Guest House

42 Waverley Road, Southsea, PO5 2PPComfortable, friendly, Licensed Guest

House Ideally situated. BB & EM variedmenu. All rooms colour TV, tea/coffeefacilities. En-suites available. Dogs

welcome. Special weekly rates.Tel: Ellie 01705 828283

************

************

Special Events& Holidays Abroad

MALTA MELLIEHA. Luxury 2-bedroom flats to let. Sleeps 4-5, onemile from the best beach in Malta andclose to local amenities. Flights canbe arranged. Telephone 0181-5675824

KARGO BOAT CRUISES. Relaxand enjoy the romance of the seaonboard a working cargoship. Fordetails telephone 01325 377199

WANTED MALES/FEMALESin sponsored sail for charityaround British Isles. S.A.E pleaseto BOX. No. 9642

T O A D V E R T I S E Y O U RSPECIAL EVENT tel: 01705724226 and aslc to speak to Sarah.

THE GRAND HOTEL:Plymouth

Accommodation & Full English BreakfastOff Season (November—March)£20.00 per person in a double/twin

Special Discounted Rates offered for 1 night or morebetween Thursday — Sunday

Built in 1879 with 77 bedrooms and convenientlysituated on Plymouth Hoe

Telephone:(01752)661195

ETB

5 Crowns commended

SPECIALISE IN REUNIONS?Advertise your facilities to the many

Naval Clubs and Associations that readthis page, Telephone for details,01705 724226. Fax: 01705 830149

HOME FROM HOMEACCOMMODATION SEEKERS - READ ON 111One of the many Naval Community Services provided in the Portsmoutharea, is the Short Term Family Accommodation Centre. (S.T.F.A.C.)

S.T.F.A.C. was originally set up in 1981, under the name of the DameElizabeth Kelly Centre, to help alleviate separation between servicemenand women and their families. The name was changed in July 1983.

Based at Rowner, in Gosport, S.T.F.A.C. provides fully-furnished twoand three bedroomed accommodation, to a high standard and atreasonable rates. Presently, a two bedroomed flat, which sleeps four is£17 per night (two night minimum) inclusive of fuel, light and bedding. Acolour television is provided. For customers who require a longer stay,there are monthly rates, which compare favourably with the privatesector. Further details on monthly rates can be obtained from theS.T.F.A.C. Manager (see below)

40% of customers visit solely to see a husband, wife, son or daughterbased in the Portsmouth area. A large proportion stay to attend Passing-Out Parades, Weddings and Families Day., while several use the facilitywhilst searching for a more permanent home.

Subject to availability, S.T.F.A.C can also be used by Ex-ServicePersonnel, Foreign Military Personnel and MOD Civilians.

For further details, write to:

The Manager,Mrs G.M. Loughrey

25 Frobisher Close,Rowner, Gosport,Hampshire, PO13 8EH.

• Or Telephone/Fax her on: 01705 528235.

PLYMOUTHAdjacent to the Hoe and Park. Friendlyfamily run Guest House offers you awarm welcome and personal service.

Facilities include residents lounge, TV,Radio, TeaCoffee. Licensed. Central

Heating all rooms. From £13pp.THE FIRS 13, Pier Street, West Hoe.

TEL: 01752 262870

GOSPORT'CHERRY TREES' 15,Linden Grove, Alverstoke. ETB 1crown. Family run guest house. Allrooms H/C, tea making. Englishbreakfast, children welcome. Closeharbour, Haslar, Dolphin, Sultan. £13p.p. Lin 01 Steve Gell, Tel: 01705521543.

IROOMSITO

FILL?

I FOR GOOD ADVICE |

ON HOW TOPROMOTE YOUR

I ACCOMMODATION |

TO THE NAVY

TELEPHONESARAH, on

01705 724226


NEWLY RESTORED - A NAVAL RELIC OF GALLIPOLI AND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Monitor ina class ofher ownIN THE SHADOW of HMS Victory, Portsmouth's

fourth historic ship, the World War I monitor M33, isset to become a permanent memorial to the Gallipoli

campaign - provided ways can be found to conserve her82-year-old hull.

The University ofPortsmouth is analysing sec-tions of plate to identify a suit-able system to clean and pro-tect it. This will set thetimescale for the project torestore her as far as possible tothe way she would haveappeared in 1915 and open herto the public as a museum andcommemorative gallery.

Hampshire County MuseumService is taking the lead in this,with various RN inputs, includingthe loan on an opportunity basis ofartificers from HMS Sultan.

"After a slow start considerableprogress has been made," therestoration supervisor, ex-WOMEA(H) Brian Wines, toldNavy News.

"Many of her upperdeckarrangements removed or alteredduring her 1924 conversion andlater uses have now been returned

to their original configuration."It was in 1924 that M33 was

renamed HMS Minerva - thename by which she is still bestknown. One of only two Britishwarships of World War I survivingtoday - the other is the cruiserHMS Caroline, headquarters ofthe Belfast RNR - the 177ft vesselwas built in 1915 and used as naval

f unfire support in the Dardanelles,he later saw service aiding the

White Russians at the Dvina River.She was part of the major pro-

gramme of ship construction thatfollowed the outbreak of war in1914. Included was a fleet of shal-low draft coastal bombardmentvessels and M33 was one of fivesmall-gun monitors ordered fromHarland and Wolff, Belfast andsubcontracted to the neighbouringshipyard of Workman Clark Ltd.

Ordered on 15 March, 1915, shewas launched on May 22 and com-pleted on June 24 - a remarkableachievement even for such a small

• Last voyage of World War I survivor - the monitor M33 on the move to Number One Dock in Portsmouth Naval Base.ship.

Under the command of Lt CdrQ.B.Preston-Thomas she finishedher fitting out and left England inJuly to play her part in one of thewar's most tragic and controversialcampaigns.

The life story ofHMY Britannia

An 178pagefull colour

family album&/ike worldsmost famous

yacht

The Editor ofNavy News,Jim Allaway

takes youthrough fortyyears of naval

history.. *?::

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HMSA TRIBUTETO ONE OF jjBRITAIN'S ILASTWOODEN \WALLSAND ACELEBRATIONOF THE TON

CLASS ______"This little book has jogged a few happymemories for me. I hope it will give a clue to thepast life of a great little ship and her people, andbe treasured as a tribute to the remarkablysuccessful Ton Class and all who sailed in thelast of the Royal Navy's wooden walled ships."

• HRH The Prince of Wales

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WHITE ENSIGN ~ RID PKAGONThe History of the Royal Navy in Hong Kong 1841 ~ 1997

A concise historyof Hong Kong, withpersonal accounts ofsailors' experiences

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ALL ORDERS TO: Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, PO1 3HH =Cheques to accompany orders made payable to Navy News. For orders outside UK, payment can be made by Cheque/International Money

Order in £ Sterling and drawn on UK bank. Or for payment by credit card/switch (UK or abroad) please use the coupon on page 4.

She supported the landings inSuvla Bay and for the next fourmonths patrolled the coast wheremen from Britain, Australia, NewZealand, India, Africa and Francefought Turks and Germans in sav-age trench warfare.

Following the withdrawal fromthe Gallipoli peninsular early in1916, M33 served with variousdetached squadrons in theMediterranean and joined anAnglo-French force to neutralisethe Greek Fleet in Salamis Bay on1 September that year.

She was paid off at Mudros on10 January 1919 after three and ahalf years' active service. Duringthat time she earned the reputa-tion of being a 'lucky' ship, havingsurvived dozens of near misseswhile sustaining no serious damageor injuries.

^k fter a qui/-\ England :

JL AJ>ack in acl

luick overhaul inshe was soon

action. Under thecommand of Lt Cdr K.Mitchell shesailed for Murmansk in NorthernRussia where she supported thewithdrawal of Allied troops on theDvina - and here she sustained herfirst damage, albeit without seriousconsequences. Following the Navalwithdrawal from Archangel in

September 1919 she returned toEngland.

She was converted as a mine lay-ing training ship in 1924 andrenamed HMS Minerva. With theoutbreak of World War II she wasput to use as staff offices and thenconverted again as a boom defenceworkshop designated C23(M) andtowed to the Clyde.

Returning to Portsmouth afterthe war - with her name changedagain to RMAS Minerva - sheremained as a floating workshopand office at the Royal ClarenceVictualling Yard, Gosport until herdisposal in 1987.

In July of that year she wasloaded onto the Dutch bargeGoliath and along with HMSFoudroyant (now renamedTrincomalee) transported toHartlepool for restoration.

Appreciating the importance ofher history Hampshire CountyCouncil bought her in 1990.

Her forward six inch gun may berecognised by many naval person-nel - it was formerly at HMSExcellent, Whale Island where itwas in use until 1974. Loaned tothe Museum Service as a vital partof the restoration, it was putonboard in 1992.

The 47ft forward and 19ft aftermasts were reconstructed by the

Mersey Maritime MuseumWorkshops and installed in Julylast year.

The anchor winch was acquiredfrom a chandlers in Canada spe-cialising in maritime artefacts andtransported back to Portsmouth inHMS Lancaster. This was stripped,refurbished and put in place justbefore she came into Number OneDock.

• For further information onM33 contact the Project Manager,c/o Treadgolds, Bishop Street,Portsmouth tel 01705 824745 orthe Restoration Supervisor on01705 722508.

• M33's sister ship M30 in the Dardanelles, 1915. She was sunk by shore batteries in the Gulf ofSmyrna on 13 May 1916 Inset: in the same time and place, Signalman Mulligan on board M33 (photosupplied by his family).

OCTOBER 1997, NAVY NEWS 37

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Sport

Indoor rowingrecord fallsROYAL Marine Cpl NigelOwen has set a new worldrecord for indoor rowingafter by clocking up100,000m in 7hours 57 sec-onds.

After his marathon row,Nigel (30) from Upton StLeonards, said: "I wanted tojump up and punch the air butall I could manage was to dropthe bar and lie back."

In the process, Nigel raised£170 in sponsorship for thecounselling service Relate.

Selected forSouth AfricaSCOTLAND-based sub-mariner Bud Flannagan hasbeen selected to represent theRoyal Navy in a prestigioussailing regatta in South Africa.

Bud (39) is the only personfrom Scotland selected for theevent which wi l l see a ten-strongRN team racing dinghies againstsailors from 25 dif ferent nations.

The regatta is one of manyevents marking the 75th anniver-sary of the South African Navy.Bud said: "It's a great honour tobe selected, part icularly as it is thefirst time for many years that theRN Dinghy Team has competedinternationally.

Called up forNl ServicesPO Doc Cox was votedMan of the Match afterbeing called up to play forNorthern Ireland CS RugbyXV.

The ex-Devonport Servicesflanker was presented withthe award by former BritishLions and Ireland CaptainWillie John MacBride after anarrow defeat by a well-drilledUlster Development XV.

Gritty performancefrom cricket squadTHE HIGHS and lows of the RNcricket team's season were re-experienced at this year's inter-service festival at Aldershot.

After playing themselves out of troublewith a gritty performance by the lowerorder batsmen in the opening matchagainst the RAF, an excellent all-roundeffort in the field saw them to a 30-run vic-tory.

But in a rain-reduced match against theArmy, a poor batting display saw the Navysoundly beaten by 70 runs, and the Armywent on to become this season's champi-ons after defeating the RAF by six wickets.

On the opening day, the RAF won thetoss and put the Navy in. This was to provea sound move as Phillips ripped out thetop order of the Navy batting to reducethem to 66 for 6.

Lt Cdr Piers Moore provided the back-bone of the innings, making 45 in 2 'Ahours. He added 49 for the 7th wicket withMne Andy Procter (31).

Lt David Pinder (34) playing in his first

INTERSERVICES CRICKETBY ENTAILLEUR

senior inter-service match added 40 withskipper Lt Cdr Chris Slocombe for the 9thwicket as the Navy totalled 192-9 fromtheir 55 overs - a very good recovery afterbeing 115 for 7 at one stage.

The RAF scored freely at the start oftheir innings and reached 159 in 12 overs,but lost 4 wickets in the process, Pinderstriking twice in his opening four overs.

Riddell and Phillips added 83 for the5th wicket before Pnillipswas out for 50with the score at 135-5.

Against the oddsMne Greg Owen, in his first interservice

match, then bowled the Navy to victorywith 3 for 27 in nine overs.

The RAF lost their last four wickets for10 runs and were all out for 162. The Navywon the match against all the odds by 30runs, to the delight of their supporters.

The Navy won the toss in their 45-overgame against the Army and put them in tobat.

LS Steve Miles, replacing the injuredGarbutt, bowled his nine overs for just 23runs and the Navy bowlers kept the earlybatsmen in check. After 30 overs the Armywere 95-4 with Cotterill out for 50.

Mne Owen again bowled well for theNavy, taking 4 for 35 from his nine oversas the Army totalled 171 for 8 from their45 overs - they lost four wickets to runouts.

Owen and S/Lt Tim Berry, anotherdebutant, began well but Owen was out for25 with the score at 40 for 3, only Mne TimBurt (25) and Mne Procter (12) reacheddouble figures as the Navy batsmen failedto respond to the challenge in the face ofsome tight bowling and fielding.

The need for players to learn to pace theinnings was demonstrated clearly as theywere dismissed for 101 with nearly 10overs of their allocated 45 remaining. TheArmy won by 70 runs to become 1997Interservice Champions.

Lady golfers swinga decisive victoryTHE RN women's golf team won this year's interservice title inan exciting three-day event at the Gainsborough Golf Club inLincolnshire.

On paper, the team were the underdogs but the event was played in asimialr way to the Curtis Cup on a no-handicap 'scratch' basis but theybeat both the Army and the RAF by five matches to four on theAmerican pattern course with large bunkers and water hazards.

Many games went to the final hole and victory was clinched by CaptainPippa Duncan who sankl a 6ft put across a slope on the final green.

The team were Captain Pippa Duncan, PO Wren Pam Jack, Cdr MoiraHoath (team cpatain) Wren Wendy Briggs, PO Wren Riz Davis, Lt KateWheater and LWren Caroline Mclndoe.

VICKI IS FASTESTFORCES FEMALELWW VICKI NORTON was the fastest forces female In thefirst London Triathlon on September 21.

Vicki, from HMS Drake, completed the 1,500m swim, 40km cyclerace and 10km road run in just 2hours 13 minutes 1 second.

A total of 31 Navy triathletes competed In the event and on cur-rent form Vivki should have no trouble defending her title as theladies number one at the Interservices triathlon at SherbornCastle, Dorset, on October 1st.

Vlck! has been competing in triathlon for four years and wonthe Navy championships earlier in the year. She also came sec-ond in the Guernsey Middle Distance competition and was sixthin the national duathion championships.

Athletics Club bounces backTHE ROYAL Navy Athletics Club completed a memorableseason by gaining promotion back to Southern League Division2 after only one season in Division 3, writes Lt Cdr BobChapman.

The fifth fixture in Oxford got off to a good start with CSgt Williams1st and LPT Edwards second in the 400m hurdles. The 800m sawmore good points with LCH Potts 2nd and LPT Breed 3rd and a bril-liant performance by Lt Gough earned him 1st place in the 5,000m.

The most pleasing result of the day saw two first places in the 400mby LPT Hoi and OM Turner. Futher winners were CPL Hope (110mhurdles and pole vault) the 4xlOOm relay team, OM Spencer-Smith(long and high jump) and Sgt Gibbs (pole vault).

All these, plus some other excellent performances saw the RNACfinish second, just one point behind the afternoon's winners, OxfodAC. The man of the match award went to CSgt Williams who has pro-duced great results in both hurdles events throughout the season.

To add to the agony, RNAC were unable to field any athletes in the300m steeplechase. If any two runner had completed this event, theminumun score of two points would have been enough to clinch the fix-ture. The result kept the RNAC in fourth place in the league and pro-motion depended on the final fixture at Victory Stadium.

Q Round 5 Results: Oxford 130pts RNAC 129pts Queens Park 110Windsor 86 Diss 82.

The Club fielded a strong side on a sunny day at their home groundand after studying the league position it was calculated that they need-ed to finish in the top two to gain promotion.

After a shaky start in the 400m hurdles RNAC got back into theirwinning ways with Ists from LPT Hoi (100m and 400m) LPT Breed(800m) Mid Blackburn (200m) 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay teams, MneWright (long jump) Cpl Hope (pole vault) OM Spencer-Smith (triplejump) Mr Mitchell (hammer) Mr Green (javelin) and CPO Mortley(shot putt).

Strong supportOnce again the winners were all well supported by the rest of the

team (nine ssecond places) and this meant that throughout the after-noon the RNAC were never out of first place.

Even more pleasing was the fact that the club won the fixture by 17.5points and clinched promotion back to Division 2 after one season inDivision 3. The man of the match award was presented to LPT Hoi forproducing the fastest 400m (50.2s) in the RN for several seasons.

Q Round 6 Results: RNAC 137.5 pts North London 120ptsSerpentine 93.5 Metropolitan Police 93.5 Walton 83.5.

This helped the RNAC climb one place to finish third in the finalleague with 25 points, behind winners Winchester with 26 andSerpentine with 25.5. j

In briefDates for skichampionshipsAS Navy News went to pressthe RN/RM Dry Slope SkiingChampionships were ge 'underway in Plymouth.

For a full report, and informa-tion on the RN Winter SportsAssociation Learn to Ski Weekand Alpine Skiing Championshipsin Valloire, France, from January 3to 17, look out for the Novemberissue.

Navy crewnets new titleTHE ROYAL Navy's 16-strong team in Stavanger,Norway, were invited totake part in a fishing com-petition between the RAFand the Army.

WO Len Smith, LW Si Henry,RS Bryan Parry, CPO DaveHadland, LW Andy Boiling andRS Gary Young won the com-petition, and RS Young wonthe individual competition aftercatching a Sib cod.

Barbarians tovisit PompeyON THE same day that theRNRU U21 flew to Italy for atwo-match tour, the worldfamous BA BA's RFC con-firmed that they would playthe CS Senior XV at 1800 onWednesday November 11 atBurnaby Road, Portsmouth.

Chairman of U21 rugby, Lt CdrPhil Noble, said: "The tour to Italywill be no 'players jolly. The twomatches are high profile and areagainst strong divisional opposi-tion, Rovigo RFC and TrevisoRFC."

Squash finalsat TemeraireTHE ROYAL Navy SquashChampionships are to beheld at HMS Temeraire fromOctober 24 to 26.

For further details, contactthe RNSRA Secretary, Lt CdrSteve Fuller on 01705 723741or internally on 9380 23741.

Scott hoststop playersSTAR players from PlymouthRaiders basketball team willbe visited the Navy's brandnew survey ship HMS Scott inSeptember.

The trip was arranged mv engi-neering officer Lt Jim Davfes justbefore the start of the new season.

Players toured the ship anddemonstrated their skills to mem-bers of the crew using a basketballnet in the ship's games room.

Sports lotteryneeds supportTHE Sports Lottery pro-vides grants worth £150,000towards equipment pur-chases and expeditioncosts.

But the organisers are keento remind all personnel thatthis is only possible with theirsupport.

Applications for grantsshould be made to the LotteryManager at HMS Temeraire onapplication form (SCB) Form 1which are available through PTOffices, UPOs or direct fromthe lottery manager.

SportNAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1997 39

Air Forceputs Navypilots to

flightAFTER a rainy trainingweek, the InterservicesHang GlidingChampion-ships inSouth Wales took placeover five days of glori-ous sunshine.

The Open Class com-pleted 8 tasks in five daysof flying, but the lift wasgenerally light and pilotshad to fight hard for everymile flown.

For the first time in sev-eral years, the two NavalRobs did not dominate theChampionships. Lt CdrRob Dowdell was at seaand the RAF's Fit Lt GaryWirdnam was flying sowell that Lt Rob Schwab of899 Sqn had to be contentwith second place and halfthe points of his rival.

CPO Mike Wood (Drake)S/Lt Alex Cross( L o u g h b o r o u g hUniversity) and CPOWayne Holmes (Talent)were all in the Open Classfor the first time and flewwell to finish 6th, 10th and11th respectively.

In the IntermediateClass, Lt DominicHurndall, Lt Dave Moodyand CPO Al Huteson strug-gled to overcome thestrong Army presence for5th, 6th and 7th.

High hopesThe Army had also

packed the Novice Classwith new pilots and hadhigh hopes of winninguntil CPO MikeOusby(MOD London) tookoff. Flying consistentlywell, he kept the othereleven Army pilots at bayand won the Novice Class.

The RN Team wasplaced second, just behindthe RAF. Unfortunately, LtCdr Pete Stewart of SM1,Faslane, sustained theonly injury of the fortnight,when he broke his armduring an awkward landingin the Black Mountains.

It was also an unluckyyear for another couple ofRoyal Navy pilots whodamaged their gliders bydropping them, either onlaunch or landing. Detailsof hang gliding andparagliding courses at theJoint Services Centre inWales are detailed in JSP419.

Yachtsmen readyfor rivals in OzTHE RN sailing team hasbeen training hard for aprestigious race seriesin Australia later thisyear.

The Southern CrossChallenge is a nine-race eventwhich culminates in thefamous Sidney to Hobart racestarting on boxing day.

The RN team have been putthrough their paces by skipper LtCdr Mike Broughton and havealready achieved some notablesuccesses.

Fastnet resultBorrowing the yacht Assuage,

owned by the Commodore of theRoyal Ocean Racing Club, MrTerry Robinson, the team werefirst in class in the Fastnet Raceand 6th overall out of 280 yachts inthe international field.

And Cdr Broughton also skip-pered the boat to first overall inthe Swan EuropeanChampionships held at Cowes.

SAILINGROUND-UPQ Meanwhile, more details of

the Interservice Inshore andOffshore Regatta have reachedNavy News.

Cdr Broughton skipperedGauntlet of Tamar to victory in theinshore Princess Elizabeth Cup forthe second year running despite aForce 6 and torrential rain.

And Rapana, skippered by CdrMike Shrives, was the first teamboat in Class 3, second fastest oncorrected time both in class andoverall, and were the first JSASTCVictoria 34.

But the offshore race turned outto be as much a lesson in sea sur-vival as racing tactics.

Benign weather at start turnedout to be the lull before the stormand as the yachts reached acrossthe Channel the wind increased togale force with a confused sea,

and seamanship and safety of thecrew became paramount.

The Army yacht Parthia wasknocked flat in the night and wasrescued by Alderney Lifeboat.

The lifeboat cox'n said hebelieved Parthia had rolled a full360 degrees and praised her crewfor their professional handling ofthe situation.

The RN Nicholson 55 Chaserled for over half the race until aspinnaker downhaul snapped, andwith ropes whipping round in thewind the problem took 2 'A hoursto sort out.

Gauntlet took the lead and heldit almost until the end of the racewhen a reefing line snapped, leav-ing them with an unmanageablemain and robbing them of a placein the prizes.

Rapana battled on through 50knots of wind, making LittleRussel a daunting place to be atnight with wind over tide. Later,the skipper reported that he hadnever been so pleased to finish arace and that he regarded being aprizewinner as a bonus.

Rugby teams on formTHE Royal Navy Portsmouthand the Royal Marines tookthe honours at the VosperThornycroft Army RugbyUnion Inter Corps 10-a-sidetournament at Havant RugbyClub.

The Royal Marines retained theVosper Thornycroft Cup. Led byman of the tournament Cpl BobArmstrong, they were the eventualwinners by 24 points to 12 over theRoyal Logistic Corps.

RN Portsmouth, led by the vet-eran CPO Eddie Over, won theBowl Competition 17-12 againstthe Irish Infantry. The game wentto extra time and LWEM TomArnold scored the winning tryafter a scything break from the halfway line.

This sets up the RNRU InterCommand Competition for theBlakeney Cup. Last season theRoyal Marines won by defeatingPortsmouth in the final match by23 points to 20.

Rugby LeagueThe fledgling RN Rugby League

team faced their toughest test todate when they took on the mightof the Barla under 23s at Burnabyroad.

• Royal Navy Portsmouth in action during the VosperThornycroft Army Rugby Union Inter-Corps ten-a-side tourna-ment at Havant Rugby Club.

The RN gave Barla U23 causefor concern in the early stages ofthe match but at the end of the daythe visitors' fitness and experiencecarried them through to a 38-12victory.

After early successes in ninesand tens competition, the Navy putup stiff opposition in their first 80

minutes together as a full squad.Navy Captain Andy Steel said:

"For the first ten minutes I thinkeveryone was overawed by thesituation. We came back from itbut at the end of the day, over-laps, fitness and experience onthe Barla lads side side won it forthem and all credit to them."

"We've got a lot of union play-ers but there's only a smatteringof Rugby League players and itwas the first 80 minutes we'vehad together. You can't justthrow a side together and expectresults but I think we did bril-liantly , the lads showed a lot ofheart.

"That was probably going to beone of the toughest games wereever going to have. The next peo-ple we've got to beat are theArmy and the RAF and I don'tthink they're going to be as fit asthese lads.

Barla U23 Captain Phil Crainehad high praise for the Navysquad. He said: "They had usworried- they are a good side.

"We scored a couple early trysand we thought we were going towin it easy, but they came back atus, and shook us up.

"You could tell that they werea bit raw, but I'm sure that after afew more games they'll be there."• Left: RN Rugby LeagueCaptain Andy Steel interceptsa pass as the Navy feel theweight of Barla U23.

• The Royal Navy sailing team are put through their paces ONAssuage by skipper Lt Cdr Mike Broughton. The boat is on loanfrom Royal Ocean Racing Club Commodore Mr Terry Robinson.

Pompey reach out totheir overseas fans

PORTSMOUTH Football Club has launched a specialdeal for supporters serving overseas.

The Club is offering mem-bership of the Blue Army sup-porters club for £15 instead ofthe usual £20.

Members get a discountedprogramme subscription ser-vice, free match reports by fax,special offers on club videosand discounts on Pompey mer-chandise by mail order.

The club will also supplyposters and banners for mess

quarters and members will beable to book advance ticketsby credit card for all-ticketgames if they know they'll behome for the match.

To join the Blue Armysupporters club, return theform below or telephonePortsmouth Football Club'sMembership SecretarySharon Knight on 01705825016.

BLUE ARMYBRITISH FORCES

APPLICATION FORMSeason 1997/98 Adult £15 Junior £8

ARE YOU a Pompey fan? Fed up with getting second-handnews about the club and dated match reports? Why not jointhe thousands of other loyal Pompey supporters who'vesigned up for the Blue Army, Portsmouth F.C.'s own officialsupporters club?British Forces Members receive:• Official membership card• Exclusive membership gifts• Priority booking for games• 10% off all Pompey

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• FREE Travel Clubmembership

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(by arrangement) includingdiscounted local accommodation,a tour of the ground and ticketsfor a match

BFPO name and address (block capitals please)

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nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnCard expiry date D D / D D

Signature DateSend your application form and payment to Portsmouth F.C., Frogmore Road,

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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. PLAY UP POMPEY!


Ocean Wave ships return - 45,OOO miles later

The Forceis with youJETTIES at Plymouth and Portsmouth were crowded withhundreds of families welcoming home ships of the OceanWave task group at the end of August.

From his flagship HMS Gloucester and the frigate HMS

Picture: LA(PHOT) Richard Thompson

SIZING-UP CARRIERS• From front page

ing the Sea Dart surface-to-airmissile system which, in the cur-rent climate, is regarded asexpendable in carriers.

Typically, this would allow threemore Sea Harriers or RAF GR7Harriers to be embarked, withmore storage space for weapons,without affected helicopter com-plement. At present an Invincible-class can embark up to 18 fixedwing aircraft, but in practice rarelycarries more than 12 - and oftenless than that.

Navy News understandsfrom reliable Naval sourcesthat the alterations are like-ly to start with HMSIllustrious, but the first tobe refitted may be HMSInvincible which goes intodock in the new year.

The refits will enhance capabili-ty to sustain the further operationof carrier-borne GR7s, the successof which is proving to be a mile-stone in RN-RAF co-operation(see page 19).

Meanwhile, discussions havebeen opened with the Army aboutthe possibility of operatingApache attack helicopters in asimilar way.

"The carrier is a highly mobiledefence airfield, not an RN asset,"says Admiral Blackham.

"That is why I am so enthusias-tic about our current operationswith GR7s. They are proving agreat success, and the RAF isenthusiastic about them, too."

MOD watchon homessell-off dealTHE MINISTRY of Defence iscontinuing to monitor the effec-tiveness of the arrangements fol-lowing the sale last year of 57,000married quarter homes in Englandand Wales.

A spokesman for MOD toldNavy News that the presentGovernment accepts the sell-off asan "accomplished fact" and willensure that the arrangement pro-duces the best deal for bothService families and taxpayers.The homes were sold for £1,662million to Annington Group,MOD paying £100 million a yearto rent back the 55,000 dwellingswhich were not disposed of imme-diately.

Crew shortageskeeping shipsout of exercisesSHORTAGES of Warfare Branch ratings have led to some Royal Navy shipsbeing prevented from taking part in training exercises.

There is a total shortfall of600, with Warfare Branch gap-ping accounting for two-thirdsof that. The Royal Marines,too, have been hit, and are 340under strength. One RM offi-cer has described the situationas "very serious".

To help keep up the strength ofthe Commando at highest readi-ness for the Joint RapidDeployment Force, theCommando at lowest readiness hasbeen cut by 30 per cent.

Cause of the shortages is beingput down to the block on recruit-ment during manpower cuts and to

Four RN shipsin search forboat survivors

FOUR Royal Navy ships took part in a large-scale search for 30illegal immigrants after their wooden craft was swamped in thestrait between Morocco and Spain.

The sweep for survivors from the25ft Moroccan boat was.-co-ordi-nated by HMS York. Also involvedin the search were her Lynx heli-copter, the Gibraltar Squadronpatrol craft HMS Trumpeter andHMS Ranger, the Lynx from HMSLondon, which was alongside forminor repairs at the Rock, and fourGibraltar police boats.

Spanish vessels and aircraft, anda French yacht, were also involvedin the operation in which nine sur-vivors and six bodies were found -one by the York. The remainingboat people are still missing.

Brave boundfor FalklandsHMS BRAVE was visiting Brazil,on route to the Falkland Islands,as Navy News went to press.

After a year in dockyard hands,the Type 22 frigate is taking overSouth Atlantic guardship dutiesfrom HMS Somerset. During herseven-month deployment she willalso visit Salvador in Brazil, LasPalmas in the Canaries andMontevideo in Uruguay.

9"770028"167054"

Royal Yacht makingher farewell tour

EIGHT ports around the UKwill be visited by HMYBritannia when she makesher farewell tour of Britainthis month.

The Royal Yacht is sched-uled to call at Portsmouth -where she is based -Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow,

Aberdeen, Tyneside, Londonand Plymouth.

As Navy News went topress there were no detailsas to whether her visitswould involve any membersof the Royal Family. Britanniais due to decommission inDecember. j

other funding factors.Ships undertaking current mili-

tary tasks are unaffected, as theircomplements are being kept up tostrength as a priority. And there islittle leeway for gapping in thelean-manned Type 23s.

Vigorous efforts are being madeto redress the shortages. TheWarfare Branch problems are like-ly to level off shortly, while reten-tion is encouragingly normal - withonly about seven per cent seekingpremature release.

Recruiting driveThe Marines, too, are undertak-

ing an intense recruiting and reten-tion drive. However, a knock-oneffect of the RM trickle draftinginto units to maintain top-readi-ness strength has resulted in a largemeasure of turbulence, with per-sonnel being transferred betweenScotland and the South West ofEngland.

One member of the Corpssaid: "Our men do not enjoybeing shifted in large num-bers between these twoplaces, and so we're lookingat ways of getting around it,and moving fewer people."

The Navy is also concernedabout ageing equipment - particu-larly 996 air/surface search radarwhich equips the Type 42 anti airwarfare destroyers. Work to main-tain the system's reliability wasnow proving costly.

And by the time HM shipsAlbion and Bulwark enter service,the vessels they are replacing -HMS Fearless and Intrepid - willbe 35 years old.

• Defence Secretary GeorgeRobertson said he recognised thatundermanning was a serious prob-lem.

In a speech to the Royal UnitedServices Institute, he also said thatthe current Strategic DefenceReview would look at how Britainshould modernise force structuresand capabilities in the light of thescale of deployments we shouldplan.

Illustrious, the Commander ofthe UK Task Group, RearAdmiral Alan West, said thatduring their eight months awayhis ships had taken part in 24major exercises with the armedforces of 20 countries - and fornearly five months the grouphad been the most powerfulnaval force in the region, apartfrom the US Seventh Fleet.

Illustrious had steamed45,400 nautical miles and hadbeen visited by more than30,000 members of the public.Her ship's company of 1,200had raised almost £18,000 forcharity during the deployment(see page 17).

The carrier entered Ports-mouth with the destroyer HMS

Richmond. Their ships' compa-nies had raised a total of morethan £3,500 for charity.

On the same day anotherOcean Wave frigate, the Type22 HMS Beaver, returned toPlymouth with the tanker RFAOlna. During her deploymentBeaver became the first Britishwarship to visit the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam, her tripcoinciding with British Week inHo Chi Minn City.

RFA Sir Percivale, too,returned to her Marchwoodbase after supporting thelargest Royal Marines exercis-es in the Far East for over 20years.

• The submarines return -page 10.

With the spars of HMS Victory in the foreground, Ocean Waveflagship HMS Illustrious comes home to Portsmouth.

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