THE MMUNICATOR

v0121-No3 WIruTER lgTZ

vhf/uhf multi-channelcommunications system

Plessey PVS 930 SeriesThis new Plessey system has been developedto supersede equipment currently in seryicewith the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force andoverseas naval and air forces; developedunder contract for the British services, it willbe standard fit for the RN and the RAF.The PVS930 Series provides a complete range offacilities, including remote control. It can bespecified lor small installations or as a multi-setpackage which includes antennas, multi-couplersand suitable cabinets for ship or groundinstallations.o considerable weight and size reductions over

existing ship and ground/air communicationssystems

o 100 to 155'975 and 225 to 399'915 MHzcoverage by single unit

o a.m. and f.m. voice, teletype or high speeddata transmission

c 9240 speech channels (25kHzspacing) with pre-selectedchannels (v.h.f-, u.h.f or mixture)

o digital frequenn svnthesizer ensures stabilitl'of+5ppm /year

o all transmitters. receir''ers and transceiversare solid-state (except for 100W p.a. stage);transmitter outputs of 20W or 100W u.h.f.and 10W v.h.f.

o completely compatible ii ith all airbornetransceivers

This extremely versatile s)'stenr pror ides torshipboard tactical communications ( smallcompact systems for fast patrol boats tocomplex multi-channel configurations formuch larger ships) and also air traffic controland intercept applications. Please ask for fulltechnical data.

PTESSEYAV IONIC S & COM MUN ICATIONS

Ilford. Essex. En,qland. Telex 23166.

,l* l'*'-H

4.?^\I ./

'!',

:;+* ry'.-. -L...--::? --*jir,e*--. <-::1"\

6:"'t$'ry"r *tr

ffirr-*s..-'t'

@

THE COMMUNICATORPUBLISHED AT HMS 'MERCURY'

The Magazine of the Communications Branch, Royal Navyand the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society

WINTER 1972

EotroRIe,lCaprntN R. C. Monc,qN, R.N. .

THe PotN'rs AssEssvENT on S264C ...THr, CovnauNrcrATroNs OPS POOLConuuNrcATroNS DrvrsroN

MnNncr,vaNr (CDM)So How Asour Ir TueN?l0 NATO MaRrNen'T.nNMELDE Werrravpr'Lerrsns ro rHE EolronRN CourvruNrcATroN CurEps' AssocrerroNRec'e,Nr CH,r\NcEs rN AovlNca,rrae,NrCorarvtuNtcATroN Pr-eNNrNcSr,uepHoRe, Crncn l8B9 .

WINE MexrNc - III

GotNc rne Rouxos tN Mr,ncunvFeRr,werL ro C,cprnIN Kr,Nr ...Tsp Roynl NlvA,r S,roole CLueAove,NcerraeNt RostrRs ...Tne LoNc Wrv Hove ...CaNrsEnr-ey Honsp SuowTne HrooeN Crry'PLnvsovs' Ocrosrn Ple.yna,rrr,Fleer Spcrro:lCovuuNrcATIoNS G,rzErrpCor.rrvr IsstoNrNc FonecASTSWINTER CRosswoRnDuruNc

VOL 21, No 3CONT ENT S

page

r0tt02103

104

104105

105107108t09llllltll3

poge

u3lt4ll9t2lt23125t25126127148150r5r152

Editor:A ssistnrtt Editor :

Tre asttrer:Sales Director'.Sccrelary:Busincss, Produc'tion &A dvertisemcnt Manager :

Lieutenant-Commander J. H. EutsLieutenent-Commrnder A. BnruslvSub-Lieutenant A. E. KNtcrnLieutenant M. MunpsyI-RO(T) K. J. LEwrs

Mn Eoc,tn SEncorree, 44. Abbots Ride. Farnham. Surrey

EDITORIALThe Communicator-Selling Price

Betw'een 1967 and 1977 the general cost ofliving has risen by 39.3",,, (Central InformationOffice figure). During the same period the price ofour magazine has risen by only 20'''.. An increasein the selling price of THE Cor'luuNtceron is

therefore necessary and justified, and, in thenormal course, would have applied to the nextand future editions.

In view of the Government freeze, however.and in the general interest of readers, it has beendecided to delay any increase until at least theEaster 1973 edition. In view of this all Com-municators are asked to support their magazineby buying their own c:opy instead of sharingsoinr:one else's copy.

THE 4.YEAR PLANThe introduction of the 4-year plan to stabilise

sales and facilitate accounting has got off to a

ver-v good start. During the past few months no

less than 300 Communicators have joined thisscheme which, apart from helping the editorialstaff, has advantages for the subscriber. Oncehaving made his down payment he can then relaxknowing that for the next four years, and threetimes a year, his copy of TUE CorrauuNrceron willarrive at the address he has nominated without anyfurther eflort on his part; and rvithout having topay any increases in the selling price of themagazine which may be authorised during thatperiod.

StalT/Signal Communication Officers and seniorratings are asked to encourage their staffs to be-come subscribers and to contact the sales directoreither by letter or by telephone (HMS MercurvE.x. 313) if further details are required.

The Editor, on behalf of the readers,thanks all advertisers for their support ofTng CoMNauNrcAToR.

CAPTAIN R. C. MORGAN, ROYAL NAVY

Captain Roger Morgan was born at Bourne-mouth in 1922. He was educated at WindleshamHouse School in Sussex and at the Royal NavalCollege Dartmouth, entering the latter in Septem-ber 1935. He went to sea in the Training CruiserHMS Vindictive in Summer 1939 and on the out-break of war joined HMS Norfolk as a Midship-man.

He served at sea throughout the war in HMShips Norfolk, Punjabi, Paladin and Tunurslde,seeing service in the North Sea and North Atlan'iic.

r02

lndian Ocean, Mediterranean (including Maltacon\oys and the invasion of Siciiy a;rd Itall ) andfinally in the Channel as First Lieutenant cf thedestroyer Tunutside.

Captain Morgan qualified as a Sig:al Oficer atHMS Mcrc'rrr-r' in 1945146 and then \\ent out tothe Far East as Squadron Communications O{icerin the 4th S/M Fiotilla (HMS .-1(ldtndntt and l:teras Flag Lieutenant to CinC' Far East Station(Admiral Boyd). On returnirg ttr L'K in 1949 heinstructed at HMS Mcrcurt u:rtil the end of 1950

L

THE POINTS ASSESSMENT ON YOUR 5264C - ITln the last edition of THE CouuuNtclron I pronrised you a breakdown of the meanings of the points

assessment in the S264C if i,'ou had the lowest number of points. ie, 11. The Section III of your form mightlook something like this:

'Not an outstanding senior rating with poor dress standards and little moral fibre. He is not activesocially, lacks a sense of humour and is usually first ashore. His powers of leadership are limited and he isnot recommended for promotion.'

Section II would have the following assessments:

and then (as Lieutenant-Commander) had a spellin the Signal Division, Admiralty. This wasfollowed by two years in the Home Fleet TrainingSquadron (HMS Implacable) as Flag Lieutenantand Staff Ccmmunications Officer and a furtherspell of a year instructing at HMS Mercury, teach-ing the RN Long Course. At the time of Suez in1956 Captain Morgan was serving as FirstLieutenant of HMS Urtdirte and was promotedCommander in June 1957.

As a Commander he served for two years inCyprus as Commanding Officer HMS Aphrodircand Chief Staff Officer to Flag Officer MiddleEast; for two years in the Signal Division atAdmiralty; for two and a half years in Washing-ton DC and finally two years as Executive Officerof HMS Lochiny'ur.

A sscssmentPoor knowledge of his jobNeeds constant supervisionShows little interest in his jobSomewhat dullA poor organiserNot a good leader --- does not achieve adequate

resul tsDoes not work well with othersTends to be set in his waysNot very reliableLikely to play safe -- may fail under stressPoor personal qualities

On promotion to C.aptain in June 1966 CaptainMorgan did the Senior Officers' War Course anda year at the Imperial Defence College beforegoing out to Singapore for two years on the Staffof CinC Far East at Phoenix Park, as Directorot Signals (Far East). Before assuming commandc-,f HMS Mcrcrrr-r' on October 24 1972, he wasDeputy Director Naval Operations Requirementsin the MOD for over two and a half years.

Captain Morgan was married in 1950 and hasa daughter born in 1952 and a son born in 1954who is nou' in the Royal Navy.

Captain Morgan lives in Haslemere and haslired there for l6 !'ears. He relieved CaptainB. H. Kent RN as captain of HMS Mercury onOctober 24, 1972. Captain Kent. rvho retires inJanuary 1973, lives in Petersfield.

M euningCould not describe a bi-stable trigger circuit*Drank the SCO's tea at Action MessingAsked for a dal"s leave to r.'isit a sick wifeHas onlr three'O' levelsComms team lost the inter part soccer finalWorks harder than his subordinates

Called the CY a '****' over cleaning stationsSmokes a pipeChatted up SCO's bird at staff run ashoreBacks the favourite in the big raceSeen wearing a sweater and jeans ashore

Quiet and soberGets his suits through slopsReads Plnyeoy magazineHobbies include stamp collecting, do-it-yourselfDoes not laugh at SCO's sick jokesPlans his work wellSoft spokenFace does not fit

And of course the amplification remarks in Section II[:Not an outstanding senior ratingPoor dress standardsLittle moral fibreNot active sociallyLacks sense of humourUsually first ashoreLimited powers of leadershipNot recommended for promotion

So you see, things are not quite so bad as they ma)' seem, so there is no need to slink into the cornerand sulk. Of course, if you compare the meanings of the highest score and the lowest score you willprobably agree that the chap who is a good all round average rating with a score of 55 is the chap who isreally doing well and a useful member of the team !

*A trigger circuit which has two quasi-stable or stable states and which requires an appropriate excitationin each state to cause a transition to the other. The successive transitions may be caused by the appropri-ate excitation first of one and then of the other of two input circuits, or b-v the alternation of two dillerentexcitations of a single input circuit.

103

THE COMMUNICATIONSOPS POOL

The Comnrunication Branch. unique as usual.has had an operations pool of manpower forabout 25 years: an arrangement which is the envyof many other Branches and perhaps about to becopied by sonre.

This pool. usually known as the OXP consistsof abor-rt 50 Communication ratings ranging froma Chief Radio Supen,isor (there has never beena CC Y in the pool) down to RO2s of all subspecialisations. Unfortr,rnately there seems to besome n-:ystery about their terms of reference andthe method of obtaining their services. This isnot surprising as these are contained in DCI (R)13i68 which is unlikely to be still available inmanv p)aces. lt is not possible to quote the DCIin full in this short article but. briefly, applicationsmay be made for additional Communication rat-ings for national and NATO exercises, for specialtrials and for augmenting complements in emer-gencies or special operations. Applications must,of course, be made through the appropriate chainof command and the earlier made. the greater thechance of success. Ships should lirst consult'FLAGO 0911'. It is always prudent, on ever-vapplication. to include Centurion and Mercury as

information addresses.

The current DCI is being rewritten. Where thenew version will end up is not yet decided. Itmay go into BR 14 (the drafting regulations) orbe published as another DCI. What is known isthat the rules will not be materially dilTerent fronrthose existing at the moment.

What about the men in the pool? Althoughthey are drafted in to the OXP as part of theirnormal drafting cycle, the turbulence associatedwith the job is recognised. For this reason, timein the pool is recorded as Port Service, with a

roster adjustment toward sea time. Sometimes thisturbulence can be acute. One LRO(T) left Mer-cury on a loan. OXP draft. four months and fiveships later. we got him back. Another memberof the OXP, a Radio Superviser was mowinghis lawn one Sunday afternoon. two days later hewas on a Beira patrol. However, it is not all graftand this year has seen members of the OXP inNaples. the West Indies (twice), in London, wherethe dress of the day is lounge suits, up the Gulf.in Singapore and Portugal. not to mentjon suchwell-known flesh pots as Rosyth, Malta, Gib,Pli,r-nouth and Portland. All that is required fromthe OXP is a stiff upper lip, a concise knowledgeof travel expense claim regulations. a good kit.a stout suitcase, a long suffering wife and a

nodding acquaintance with the 'X' factor. Butabove all. a sound professional knowledge of hisjob.

104

CCMMUNICATIONS DIVISIONMANAGEMENT (CDM)

Only the name has changed, the managementproblem has been with us for years.

A new sec':icn was established in G Sectionciurir:g the Spring Term to take over the PJTtrairrirg of senior r;ttes and career courses in('onrms Div Managenrent. The aim of the sectionis to ensure that the senicr rates of all sub specsunderstand the need for management u,ithin hisown sub division. the Communications Divisionand the ship, and to:

L act as a divisional senior rate.2. be able to match the comms ratings and

nraterial in a ship to meet the communica-ticns requirenrents.

3. be acquainted with the ship managementsystems being introduced into the fleet.

'fhe above aims are similar to all the coursescareer for PJT, the content varying to suit theneeds of the various courses.

The PJT is now of two weeks' duration. week I

nrainly receiving information on the aim andweek 2 in praciising the planning me'h:ds taughtin week l.

Whilsi on about the management systems beingintroduced into the Fleet, here are scme Iight-hearteC definitions for 'in' management words orterms : -MbO M,rNaceN4ENT By Os.,EcrroNs. This entails

leaving the making of constructive sug-ges';ions to others and confining oneself toa critical appraisal of them. It is related toIMF (lnverted Micau'ber Factor-alwayswaiting for somethir:g to turn down.)

O&M OpposrrroN ,rNo Moorpr(,{TroN. The classictechnique for rendering harmlc-ss proposalsto change things. Sufficient opposition isapplied to blunt the attack u'hich is thenmodified, piecemeal. to the point where itis actually going in the opposite direction.

CR OpEN Restsre,N(-E. A more b:rsic techniquethat denies the enemy entry so that hecannot even collect any facts on which tobase an attack. In effect you say 'You comeinto my department over my dead body'.Be caref ul; they may think this is anattractive route.

Management. Cetting things done within anorganisation despite people.

Delegaiion. Playing it pear shaped.Whatever you think of management and its

techniques remember it does give you 'integratedmanagement options, total organisational fleri-bility with a systematised monitored capabilitl'.So at any given time you can have a srnchrcnisedincremenial projection using conrpaiible thirdgeneration hardware to give a balanced policyconcept using functional digital programmingclLrring an optional transitional time phase.

Remember, 'Award yourself r CD\l'-(course).

SO HO1V ABOUT IT THEN?by RS Jones

ln the 'good old days' of communications-sothey say-when Lord Louis was out in the Medand all was well down the Gut, circuits there-abcuts r,rere efficient, speedy and disciplined-heldtogether. would you believe, by , little thing calleda 'Nifty Pink Chitty'. Any errors, p,rocedural orotherwise, so we're told, were pointed out to thePO(Tel) of the guilty vessel, by a Nifiy Pink Chittythrough the mail to the effect that 'Your operatoron circuit at time. did etc. etc. . .'There were nasty consequences---dog watch biffersand things, but the Chitty was obviously effeciive.

Today. we need a Nifty Pink Chitty. or some-thing very much like it, more than ever. Only thistime, not for the benefit of erring operators orindeed Communicators in general, but for thebenefit of that star of Stage, Screen and RNCP 9--The Releasing Officer! !

Fleet Broadcasts are becoming, on occasioi:s, sool'erloaded that re-runs can't be fitted in, and aMinor Relay station showed a rumoured trafficload increase of 149;1 last year. Next year, it couldincrease again.

But how can this be? Our ccmmunicationssystems are faster and nrore elllcient than everbefore. Quile s-mply. too many signals are beingmrde. More precisely. too many ututecessery sig-na s are being made. Scmethirg really has to bedone about it. But what?

One answer could be to ask the addressee whoreceives a signal, the contenis of which he knowscould very well have been passed by nrail, to letthe originatcr know about it. A Nifty Pink Chitty'l

cg, It is considered that the below mentioneds'gnals released by your office were un-necessary and the contents could have satis-factorily been passed to the addressee bymail. Your l313l7Z Jun, 1519152 Jun andl3l414Z Jun refer.

Y'see, most of them know not what they do. they only need telling. Then, most importantof all, having been told, offered an alternative.

As a possible alternative, how about this bril-liant idea of the '70s: let the MCO deal with thesesignals acceptable for transmission by mail. (Noextra work for our Rel Off friend whatsoever!)They could then be put in standard messageformat, distributed in the normal way on receiptand despatch and filed in the MCO as for ordinarysignals. This probably sounds silly, but a signalsent by Air Mail could be called- 'for want of a

better word, an 'Airgram' . . by ordinary mail,how about calling it a 'Postagram"l

It's generally agreed that something is needed torelieve the present traffic load on communicationscircuits by cutting down on these unnecessarysignals and y'never know, this 'Airgram-Postagram'idea could very well catch on. and perhaps helpenormously.

Y'know, it's funny why no one else has thoughtof it before!

Although. just a moment! Is all this really sucha 'new idea"l

You're dead right! Someone has thought of itbefore and it's still a vital part of this com-munications system of ours-but is it?

How often is it used?Right again ! ! Hardly ever! !

So how about it then?

IO NATO MARINEFERNMELDEWETTKAMPF

by Lieut SD(C) CollinsOn Thursday, June 22, 19'72, a typically coo[,

wet, English-type summer day. a small band ofmen, ROs Ham. Morris and Johnson led by CRSKen Ashcroft, left the cloistered comforts of theSTC HMS Drake. Ahead of them lay a shortinitiative-cum-orienteering test organised throughthe well-known travel combine SABC/BAOR. ViaLondon, Luton, Hanover, Hamburg and Nuimun-ster, by a permutation of feet. coach, train andaircraft, they eventually arrived at their goalFlensburg, on the German-Danish border.

The route taken is believed known to navigatorsas a perverted great circle track, but the 36 hoursinvolved were worth it in the end. En route. apartfroin enhancing one member's education by learn-ing what RTO stood for, al1 w'ere goggle-eyed atthe impressir,e cleanliness of public areas andtran:portation. and the smartness and obviouspride in their environment of public employees.That was east of the English Channel of course,lrence the oft heard remark to the effect 'lf onlyUI( were like this'.

Anyway, wishful thinking gets you nowhere:the quiet. smooth running, continuous track,German railway did. To the MARINEFERN-I'','IELDSCHULE, MURWIK, FLENSBURG, thealma mater of German Communicators, just in timefor the welcoming reception held in the CPOs'Mess for all the teams contesting the lOth AnnualNavcomcomp. [ncidentally, all members of com-peting nations were victualled and accommodatedin the CPOs' mess irrespective of rank. Withoutfear of contradiction it can be recorded that agood time was had by all, even by the member wholost a little weight due to the shortage of roastbeef and Yorkshire pudding (or was it 'oggies').Like the man said 'Beer may be Best' but the'Wurst is Worse'.

So to the Competition. The response to the callfor volunteers to uphold the good name of theBranch was a welcome improvement on previousy-ears, especially when you consider that MorseCW and Flashing are fast becoming dying arts andthe standards required are very high. Regretfullyonly the best three volunteers can be enteredannually but the team that represented you all inno way let you down. For example. to collect a

105

THE TRAINING TEAMTHE TRAINING TEAM AT THE STC HMS 'DRAKE' BEFORE THE COM-PETITION STARTED

Standing, L to R: ROI(G) Ham, HMS 'Albion', RO2(G) Morris, HMS 'Albion',ROI(T) Gray, HMS 'Euryalus', RO2(G) Barlow, HMS 'Dolphin', RO2(G) Cross,HMS 'Albion', ROI(D Johnson, HMS 'Fife'.Seated: Commodore S. F. Berthon, COMDRAKE, Lieut D. Flower, Training Offi-cer at STC, CRS K. Ashcroft, RN team trainer, CCY J. Silvester, assistant trainer.

THE RN TEAM FLENSBURG GERMANY AFTER THE CO}IPETITIONRO2(G) Morris with third prize for morse reception; Captain B. H. Kent ADC CSS;ROI(T) Johnson with communication quiz trophy; Lieut C. S. Collins team mana-ger; ROI(G) Ham with second prize for teletype transmission; and CRS K. Ashcroft

team trainer, with trophy donation document

106

Tjtr

-fu@

cigarette case as the third prize in Morse CWreception, as did RO2 Morris of HMS Albion,lor 98 per cent accuracy at 36 wpm for a periodof 20 minutes, is no mean feat.

The whole statistical story is printed in RNSO56 72, which you will have read long before thisarticle is printed. However. it is only right to men-tion once more the outstanding achievement ofthe RN team, the winning of the very eleganttrophy you may have admired in HMS Drake ormore recently in HMS Mercury, that was forcoming top in the Communication Quiz. Whichonly goes to prove that not only can you handlea firearm efiectively and swim a little faster thanmost, but you also know your books and proce-dures.

It is well known that 'all work and no playmakes Jack a dull boy', and as is usual with theNavcomcomp the happy medium was achievedduring the nine day stay in Flensburg. Apart fromthe weekends. all forenoons and three afternoonswere taken up with ceremonial and various com-petitive events, and the remaining hours of each24 lef t no room for boredom.

A tour of Flensburg and adjacent areas on thefirst Saturday afternoon enlightened everyone asto the delights of Baltic coastal resorts. and of thecloseness of the Danish border. The Fjord is thenatural border, supplemented by a narrow spit ofland, and the natives ply back and forth acrossboth with the minimum of inconvenience, freelyenjoying the best of both worlds. Although anotable Lord may not agree that that which greetsyou immediately on crossing into Denmark iseither the best or enjoyable. Certainh there u'ereno complaints at the Competition wash-up.

Sunday was devoured b-v* a first class tour ofthe district of Schleswig-Holstein. which man.v* ofyou will know: the K iel canal runs through it.

LETTERS TODear Sir.

Henley-on-Thames RNR CTC is still advancingslowly towards completion, an op,eration which hasnot been particularly helped by various strikes, goslows etc.

We would still like any eligible ex Communi-cators residing in the Thames Valley area who areinterested in continuing their connection with theRN by giving their spare time services to theRNR, to contact us. We could do with someexperienced personnel to help utilise to the fullwhat should eventually be a very fine Clentre.

It may be of some advantage to all Communi-cators to know that Henley ( TC has a fairly largecar parking area and any of them visiting thetown for business or pleasure would be welcometo use this facility on production of ServiceIdentification.

J. W. E. KnsoN. CRSPermanent Staff Instructor.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the OlympicSailing Village and Basin. My literary talentwould not do justice to such a magnificent placebut anyone interested in the organisation of anepic starting from scratch, or with boats, wasreallf in his element. No doubt press and TVcoverage will have filled in the gaps for me.

On the Wednesday afternoon, all teams attendeda civic reception in the town hall. given by theMayor. Apart from being the classic example ofall local government offices centralised under oneroo[, in a fine modern building together with hallsand parlours for civic functions, it was especiallyinteresting to the RN team. Flensburg has a twincity liasion with Carlisle, of rvhich they are veryproud, with regular exchange visits taking placeat all levels of the communitr'.

Add to the above the many close friendshipsestablished between members of the various teams,and the unstinted hospitality of our German hosts,you have yet another great happening for thememory bank.

Sorry you didn't make it. How about next yearthen ?

The detail and venue for the '73 competitionhave yet to be decided, but it is hoped that theDCI will be out before long. In fact you may haveread it before this article goes to print. Whereverthe I I th NAVCOMCOMP takes place you can restassured it will be well worth aiming now to beone of the team.

The 'Challenge Trophl for Good Communica-tions' is still firmlr in the grip of ltal1, for thefourth consecutive )ear. Just a little more en-thusiasn-r and a spot of hard work on your partcould help move it to this side of the Channel.Brush up your natural ability now and volunteerat the first opportunity. Having read this article,'you know it makes sense'.

THE EDITORDear Sir,

In answer to the question in TsE Corvlr'tuNr-cAToR, 'Why did the semaphore have three arms?'.The answer would appear to be that the thirdarm was probabl-v used for Special Signs.

CCY Ball.(see page I 10)

Dear Sir,It would seem that the Royal Nall' has a new

method of signalling groups from the InternationalCode. During the ship's stay at Gib it was notedthat a Leander class frigate was fl_ving PennantFour Romeo Yankee. This from a Captain 'F' aswell - it must be right. If this method of signal-ling is to become the 'in' thing, request the rele-vant publications be amended and the Merchantfleet be informed. The oifending ship's pennantswere put at the dip but this was not recognised.

R. Fonnrsrrn, SigRFA Relianr

107

Dear Editor.Can you please enlighten us and, I believe. a

lot of Communicators who have yet to see thelatest developments at Leydene

- Why is the

officer of the watch office situated on a publicroad and a good 200 yards from the entrances toHMS Mercury?

Perhaps this could be the subject of one of 1'ourcompetitions with perhaps a prize of an 1S-monthspell of duty as OOW. QM, BM or OOW's mes-senger according to rate held by the competitoror judged to have given the best answer.

Yours perplexed,JouN TnouAS, RO2

HMS Mercury.Dear Sir,

I don't know if you are publishing the officialphotograph of the comms department here atHeron in the next issue, but if you are, perhapsyou would also like to publish the unofficial oneof 'B' watch (as it used to be before leave). As youcan see. Long John Silver still lives.

Yours faithfully,ANN Ponrgn.

(Bt, Ed Happy to obligc.)

RO Stan Barlow, LRO Jan Steer, RO2 Ted Elliott

RN COMMUNICATION CHIEFS'ASSOCIATIONby the Hon Secretary

In October we bade farewell to our retiringVice-President, Captain B. H. Kent, MBIM, RNon his relinquishing command of HMS Mercurl,anC vr'elccmcd Captain R. Cl. Morgan RN as hissuccessor. Before his departure Captain Kentkindly accepted an invitation to become oursecond Honorary Life Vice-President.

We have also had to wish 'bon voyage' to one

108

of the keystones of our Committee. the formerMess President. Fleet CRS Bill Bernard. Bill hasbeen a tou'er of strength at the last two reunionsbut he and his family are now enjoying the sun-shine of Mauritius and we envy them everyn-roment of it. If not a rest it is at least a changeto arranging about 70 bed and breakfasts forIong distance travellers to the reunion and all theother details rvhich, of necessity, fall on the MessPresident's shoulders. We welcome Fleet CRS JohnEiibeck as his successor to our Committee andknow that we will receive the same kindness andco-operation which his predecessors have given us.

On Saturday September 9 the Association heldits fcurth annual re-union in the Mess. l8Cmembers attended and spent a very enjoyableevening. This, in spite of an interruption during theevening which, in its way, added a little to theexcitement and made the older members realisethat discipline still exists especially when anauthoritative voice says 'Clear the Mess'. TheMess was duly cleared with an alacrity they hadnot thought possible.

That same afternoon about 40 members assem-bled in HMS Mercrrr,v to be shown around theEstablishment and see something of present dayccmmunications. The oldest of these was aged 8land his remarks defy imagination. Fleet CRSDave Bignell. serving in HMS Fife, very kindlyarranged for about a dozen of this party to goonboard and see the Communications lay-out ofa modern warship. This opportunity was greatlyappreciated by everyone who attended. This pre'lude to the evening's re-union set the seal on a

very enjoyable day which it will be hard to repeat.Our sincere thanks to all those who gave up anafternoon's leave to make this possible.

Shcrtly after the re-union a letter was sent toHMS Mert'ury' informing us of the whereaboutsof an ex Chief Yeoman of Signals aged 9l livingin Bournemouth. This old gentleman, a Mr Austin,joined the Navy in 1898 and went to pension in1922. We have been in touch with him throughTom lves. one of our members who lives inBournemouth. Tom has been to see him on severaloccasions. We presented Mr Austin with anAssociation Tie and he was invited to visit HMSMerutry. Unfortunately although mentally 100",,he has difficulty getting about but he hopes to beable to come this way in the Spring or earlySummer next year.

It may seem strange in these days of modernand speedy communications but Mr Austinsent us a very worthy addition to ourMuseum in the shape of an official 'PIGEONSERVICE MESSAGE FORM' which had been inhis possession for over 50 years. This Form showsthe Latitude and Longitude in which the pigeonswere released. wind speed and direction and theDate/Time of release.

On behalf of all Members of the RN Communi-cation Chiefs' Association a very Happy Christmas.a good leave and all goocl fortune in the New Year.

RECENT CHANGES IN ADVANCEMENT(By T2)

WHICH AFFECT YOU

f,.ri

PIt( )\'. r..\,\\r *7 t".ul.s ,,,

/l'.tlt t L\l I'.\::I

l.2.

J.

4.

\, rtt::

For full details, see DC[ (RN) 767l7]. CLrrrent DCI's. RNCP 15 Chap 4, and BRI066 Chap ll.Ratings who pass the Provisional Examination for LRO must also have passed NAMET beforethe-v can be rated ROI and be eligible for scaleA pay.(DCI) (T) 827 lT2refers.Passing the Provisional Exanrination also establishes a Basic Date for Advancement to thenext higher rate.

Ratings who fail their Professional C-'ourse, lose their Basic Date. ROI's rate and scale A par. ThelmLlst reapply. and. if they pass a Provisional Eramination they do not qualify'for scale A pal'or ROI's rate until they pass the Professional Examination. The-v do hou'ever establish a BasicDate for Advancement.

Application for recommendation for the next higher rate (and pror,'isional,'professional exanrina-tion), may be made at any time after being rated RO2.

The same basic cycle applies to LRO's appll,ing for the PO Rate.

5.

6.

109

l,t(()\. 1 \.\\l "L ":/ .ii,r,u',];' j11;

\ ''''

r/\l."rl,, r/

Lxc R()l Ratt. Strlt' ,\ par & I3r.ii

Eo

UIPM

'*,

TIME IN HOURS OR DAYS

0800 0900 t000 I 100 1200 r 1300

Txl RATT S/5 4821 kHz Fl/850/2/75 KEYCARD

NAMCOORD3221 kHz Al EAW

MAINTENANCE SUB SAFETY 4881 kHz ETA

TAC UHF 299. I MHz

REPORTING UHF 328.6 MHz

FRU I

376.1 MHzl-+

HOA327.6 MHzt-+

ASW .A'

287.1 MHz HOA

TUGTUG CHI3 cH r6 URG CH6 CH I3

500 kHz L/S D.P.

BIIA HF FI/850/I/75 KEYCARD

Ix2CJA 2

Tx3CJA 3

6er (l )

6er(2)

6e2(tlRC5

6e2(21RCS

689

FMI6SQA

CJDCJA7&8

SERtAL/

EXERCISE'OPERATION

0800 09i:

loo rooo , lrtoo : r2ooi r:oo:SERIAL:SERTAL I i qrnral i- i;i' ;206 : : .-?g_8_--._:_-_----_..i

.-...-...--": :--.- - - -. - -i

BAR CHART

A - REMOTE USERS STATEBOARD

CIRCU IT REMOTE USER

TF/TGTAC UHF

COMMS YEOMAN

BRIDGE

TF/TGREPORTING UHF SPS SPC SPR

ASW "A" ASWPS ASWPC

FRU 1 FC APC ASP

B - FORCES TAKING PART

SERIAL 206 208 212

AJAX / I tANTRIM /

KENT / /

LEANDER /

OTUS /

TIDESURGE /

/ =ocE

LEGEN DI SET AND CEASE WATCH

-.-- READY FOR INSTANT USE_ CIRCUIT IN USE+ CEASE WATCH TIME UNKNOWN

lr0

COMMUNICATION PLANNINGby CRS Challinor (X Section)

One of the constant problems facing Communi-cators over the years has been to present ancquipment stateboard which would give an instantpicture to the Communicator and other users ofequipment allocation and availability. The use ofthe 'Bar Chart' method of presentation has beenwelcomed in ships and particularly in HMSDryctd, for its simple and clear form of presenta-tion along with the instant indication of whichequipments are most readily available to meetwhatever exigency occurs.(See Bar Chart on facing page)

It will be seen from the example that this formof chart has the following advantages:

l. Communicators and non-communicators canunderstand it.

2. There is a quick and easy reference toequipments and circuits in use.

3. The chart can cover a whole operation/exercise as opposed to giving a purely day-to-day state.

4. Highlight heavy loading periods.5. It is easy to correct in the event of changes.The items the bar chart fails to cover are the

remote user positions and the forces taking part.Allowing for the fact that a circuit is nearlyalways remoted to the same user position, a stateboard similar to that shown below. (A) can bedisplayed in the MCO and in the Ops room as

can a simple indication of those forces which aretaking part in the various serials (B).

Comments on the use of this system would bernost welcome from the users at sea.

SEMAPHORE - CIRCA 1889by TI

Our illustration in the Summer Edition of TrtECoruuuNtce.roR showed signalmen and a mechani-cal semaphore of the period. In those days the'Mechanical Semaphore' was known as 'FixedSemaphore'.

The machine is unusual in appearance to thoseof us who used the two-armed mechanical sema-phore which was in use immediately before andduring the last war, in that it has four arms. Thesearms were used as follows.

The lower, short horizontal arm was an indica-tion to the receiving operator, on which side thecycles of semaphore were starting, ie, 'A' wason the reader's left as he faced the transmitter.The alphabet was formed using two of the upperarms in the same manner as is used in theINTERCO today. The fourth arm was used toaugment those arms used for alphabetical signs.in order to produce 'Special Signs'. The SpecialSigns were used to signal data from particularchapters of the Auxiliary Signal Book, GeneralSignal Book, Boats Signal Book, VocabularySignal Book and List of Navy. They were alsoused to indicate the characteristics of aiter course

signals such as the tslue Pendant. Numerals wereindicated by the use of a two-armed sign, theonly one unused in the alphabetical cycles, ie,D and E signalled together as one sign, this wasknown as the numeral sign. Flence by use ofspecial signs and numerals the fleet in thosedar s could be manoeuvred by semaphore.

The coming of sunset each evening in no waylimited the use of this versatile machine, at nightthe arms uere illuminated and transmissions weremade b1 the usual dal light method. After sunsethowever its nanrc changed to, 'Electric Sema-phore'. would rou believe? . . .

WINE MAKING IIIb.y Lieut-Comdr G. F-roud

In this article I shall deal rvith the hy'drometerand making a typical wine.

The hydrometer is a scientific instrunrent usedfor measuring the specific gravity (the density orweight) of a liquid in which it is floated. Thehydrometer is a great help in ensuring consistentresults. Don't be put off by the fact that it is a

scientific instrument, in principle it is quite a

simple device; by means of it the wine makercan:

a. calculate how much sugar there is in anynatural juice or 'must';

b. determine how much sugar to add to a juiceto produce a wine of the desired strength;

c. check on the progress of a fermentation;d. calculate within reasonable limits the strength

of a finished wine.The hydrometer consists of a short, hollow,

glass tube about J" in diameter, weighted withmercury and attached to a long narrow stem abouti" in diameter containing a graduated scale orscales. normally printed on rvhite paper. It is usedin conjunction with a glass te'st jar of about 11"in diameter and approximately an inch taller thanthe hydrometer. The jar is used to contain theliquid to be tested and in which. the hydrometeris floated.

As defined in Tne Cor,tvuNlceron Winter l97ledition, fermentation involves the conversion byyeast, of sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.It follows therefore that if we c:In discover howmuch sugar is used up during the course offermentation, we can calculate the amount ofalcohol that has been produced, or how strongthe wine is. The more sugar there is in a liquid,the thicker and denser it will be, ie, the greaterits gravity the better it wrll support anythingfloating in it. To measure different gravities wemust have some sort of scale and the most con-venient basic standard from which to start is thatof water, which is therefore given the arbitraryvalue of 1.000. In water the hydrometer floats atthe mark on the top of the scale at 1.000. Inliquids the density of which is greater than water,the hydrometer floats higher and in a liquid less

dense than water, the hydrometer will float lower.It f ollows therefore that in a liquid containing

111

fruit juice and sugar (which is denser than water)the hydronreter will float at a point on the scalecorresponding to the quirntity of sugar dissolvedin the water. On the other hand. if the liquid is awine in which all the sugar has been fermentedto alcohol (which is lighter than rvater) then thereading witl be Iess than I .000.

To use your hydronreter. pour some of thejuice to be measured into the test jar. spin thehydrcmeter to get rid of any air bubbles clingingto its sides (these can seriously aftect the reacling).When the hydrometer is still, take the readingwith the eye at surface level, the true reading iswhere the main surface level of the liquid cutsthe scale.

Space allows me to quote only one example inthe use of the hydrometer and perhaps the mclstinteresting one of all is how to calculate withsome degree clf accuracy the strength of yourfinishecl wine. This can only be done if yourecord the specific gravity of the 'must' aftar lhesugar is added but ltelorc fermentation has begunand by taking the specific gravity again at the enclof the fermentation. The final reading is sub-tracted fronr the Iirst, giving the 'drop' (causedby the fernrentation), which is divided by 7.36,giving the percentage of alcohol by volunre in thefinished wine.eg, The initial specific

The fina I ..

Drop

gravity : I .100.. E 1.000

: 100100

7.36

by volume.Should we wish to turn the strength in percent-

age of alcohol into terms of proof spirit. wemultiply by 7la.cg. I3.5",' alcohol by volume : 13.5 x 7

4: 23.6'proof.

The above exanrple is of course approximate butwill in nornral cases be accurate enough for theaverage rvine maker.

\{aking A Typical WineIn view of the time of the year, I have chosen

for your first effort. Parsnip Wine.INCREDIEN-TS4 Ib parsnips (scrubbed

and slicecl)3 lbs sugarI gallon water2 lemonsMETHOD

Boil the parsnip slices and the thinly peeled rindsof the lemons and orange in the water, until theparsnips are just tender. Do nctt overboil or youwill have trouble in clearing your wine. Strainthe liquid onto the sugar ancl stir well. Whenlukewarnr (70'F) add the yeast and the fruitjuices. l-eave f or 24 hours. well covered in a warm

112

place. Pour into a fermenting jar and fit an air-lcck. [-eave to ferment to a finish in a warmplace. Remove to a cooler place for a week or sobefore siphoning off into a clean storage jar. Fillthe jar to iust below the cork. Leave for six monthsthen siphon oll into bottles, then 'Cheers'.

Beer MakingMany C onrnrunicators will remember Lieut

A. W. (Bcrt) Garton. Bert is well known in thePorismouth and Fareham districts as an out-standing beer-maker. I'm sure you will be pleasedto learn that he has recently qualified as aNational Beer Judge. This is no mean feat and weoffer him our sincerc congratulations. I am pleasedto inform you that he has very kindly agreed tocover the sublect ol Beer-Making in the next twoeditions ol THe ColrvunlcaroR, ie, Spring andSummer 1973. and for thosc interested in thishobby, this offers an ercellent opportunity to learnsomething to advantage.

CROSS NUMBER( otrrpiled hy l-t ('dr M H J W'ill(:ox

Across sqllare root ofl. Aperfectsquare lldn,1. Square root ol I ac ltt. A prinrc number

X squarc root Downo[ -5 ac l. A perfect square

-5. A perfect square l. A perfect square7. Turn around 3 ac -1. A prime number8. A perfect square 4. A prime number9. A prime number 6. (The square of

10. A perfect square 3 ac) * 10,0001 I. A perfect cube I l. 7 ac squared13. Twice 9 ac - -l ac X 9 ac15. An even number 12. A perfect cube -

16. (The fourth root half ol 8 acof 8 ac) X 7 ac 13. A prime number

17. Turn round the 14. A prime number(There are NO ZEROS in the solution)

I orangei oz Bakers yeast

(Sherry or Burgundyyeast is also suitable)

GOING THE ROUNDS IN MERCURY

The CaptainCaptain R. C. N{organ

TheTraining Commander

Commander[. F. Grant

CBO Mr W. C. BuggGl Lt-Cdr D. F. CaveGCl Lieut M. MurphyGMI Sub-Lieut T. PrattIDO Mr R. R. Davies

The CommanderCommander

P. A. C. Harland

KELLY SQUADRONThis term has been a quiet one all in all. The

comings and goings of instructors and officersgoes on as always and of course the departure ofNew Entry Communicators to their first ships.

On the sporting front the Squadron has been

well represented in Establishment teams for soccer,

rugby and cross-country and those selected haveacquitted themselves well. In the RN Youth CupMcrcury is through to the semi-finals. Sorry welost.

Within the Squadron the inter-division soccer

matches have been keenly contested with Somer-ville winning the 7-a-side competition.

One event which is awaited at the time of rvritingis the amalgamation of the Kelly Club with theMercury Club. This will give the Squadron morefacilities, especially in off duty hours. and a morepermanent feeling of belonging to the Ship'sCompany.

Those who have been in the Squadron over thep,ast year will be pleased to hear that K3 (Sub-LtWilton is now Lieut Wilton.

STAFFKl Lt-Cdr A. G. M. A. ProvestMACO Lt-Cdr R. A. ThompsonOl Lt-Cdr O. D. Sommerville-JonesSA(FT) Lieut C. S. CollinsSORT Lt-Cdr C. W. WilliarnsSOTAC Lt-Cdr B. Burns

SOTD Lt-Cdr P. ClarkTl Lt-Cdr D. DobsonTPO Lieut M. A. NugentTRO Mr C. P. OliverWl Lieut T. B. Mitford

CI{RISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZATradition denrands that the annual Christnras

Stage Show should be of the highest standard. Weare assured by the producer (Lieut Derek Sayer) thatthis year's extravaganza will uphold the tradition,and appeal not only to the inmates ol l-eydene,but to a much wider audience.

Five performances are anticipated, with separateshows being given for children and the local areaSenior Citizens. The Mercury players intend toprovide a sparkling opening to the 1972 Christ-mas season and we prclmise a full report (includingphotographs) of 'ALADDIN' in c'rur Spring edition.

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONAcross: I. Riband; 5. Penal: 10. Decimal cur-

rency; ll. Amn-runition: 12. Much: 14. Steward:15. Swingle: 16. Oneness: I8. Musical: 20. Note:ll. Full result: 23. Traditionalists: 24. Yards: 25.Codist.

Dowrt: 2. Incompetent man\: 3. Anrnroniated:4. Dilated: 5. Plunrous: 6. Norm: 7. Languagecourses: 8. Ideals: 9. Ly chee; I 3. Misspelledl 16.

Ornate: 17. Studies: lt3. Melanic: 19. Latest: 22.Liar.

113

ffi

FAREWELL TO CAPTAIN KENThand of officer). Needless to say, as

the result of further study by l9erudite Signal Officers it was foundnecessary to issue Change I by 'rush'distribution the following morning !

At 1400 on October 24, CaptainKent was towed away in his officialcar from the Main House by all theofficers of Mercury and he was some-$hat m\stified when the driver thentook him on a long and unfamiliarroute to his home. This allowed timefor the Signal Officers of the 'Fleet'to proceed with despatch by bus toPetersfield. When Captain Kent ar-rived at the jetty. eight boats werein FORM I (Tl--Guide). The mainbody. rejoicing in the name of 'LadyPenelope'. was manned with the Com-mander and Commander X in theengine room harnessing the enormousengines of one oar power each, withthe Training Commander weighing

The Flagship. A happy and efficient ship

Captain B. H. Kent, ADC, Royal Navy wasrelieved by Captain R. C. Morgan, Royal Navy as

Captain. Signal School on Thursda),. October 24,1972.

Prior to this date various suggestions w'ere madeas to the t1,pe of 'send olI'u'e should give CaptainKent on his retirenrent after 32 years service in theRoyal Navy. 2-5 of which were served as a SignalOfficer. Some suggestions were uninspiring, otherswere good but impracticable, and whilst it is tradi-tional to row the Captain ashore for the last time.attempting this fronr the second highest hill inFlampshire presents difficulties even inthe wettest cloud which normally en-shrouds the Alma Mater. However.some 72 hours before Captain Kent'sdeparture a decision rvas made to rowhim on the last stage of his journeyacross the vast expanse of PetersfleldLake to his home which borders theSussex Road along the water's edge.

Eight rorving boats (tu,o-seater) andone barge (four-seater) were calledout of reserve. The Commander(Commander Patrick Harland). Conr-mander X (Commander Hugh Faulk-ner) and Training Comnrander (Conr-mander Ian Grant) and I6 SignalOfficers were appointed for immediatesea service and summoned to a secretbriefing on October 23 in the SeniorOfficers' Presentation Room where a

number of complicated manoeuvres\\rere devised. argued and exercisedat marching pace on the floor of theauditorium.

The formations were drawn oLlI(lor ease of reference) and issued (b-v

114

down the stern as OTC.As soon as Captain Kent embarked, the Fleet

got underway witnessed by a large gathering ofrather startled ducks. A number of intricatemanoeuvres followed. each one executedmeticulouslr b-v the OTC raising a silk hand-kerchief with his right hand, repeated similarly inall 'ships' and then hauled down. Captain Kentwas heard to shout 'Station' from time to time, butFORM F DIV and a final Gridiron were achievedwith precision and without collision ! (For therecord: one signal officer was heard to remark

The Main BodyCaptain Kent signifying approval of a particularly intricatemanoeuvre just carried out by the main body. The engine-roomstaff ready to meet any order - especially either ahead or astern,and the Command indicating its intention to go ahead

- with alldespatch. Keeping a go,od look-out, a ship of the screen

Enemy in SightSubmarine periscope in sight bearingRed 135. The main body and screenabout to take the necessary steps to

comb the tracks

afterwards that he had achieved hislifetime ambition of performing aGridiron for the first time since hehad joined the Royal Navy in 1939-albeit in a rowing boat on Petersfieldl-ake.)

The event was given good pressand TV coverage and the Gridironcame out remarkably well in SouthernTV's 'Day by Day'.

Captain Kent was greeted rvithchampagne as he stepped (safel) )

ashore - a fitting end to a happl

commission and a distinguishedcareer. All Communicators wish himgood fortune in his new career anda long and happy sojourn in his houseoverlooking the scene of his lastNaval occasion.

And Just RewardsCaptain and Mrs Kent, CommanderHarland and Lieutenant-CommanderDaubney enjoying a glass of cham-pagne and a good ioke. A good time

was had by all

ADYANCEMENTList 'A'Rostcr for: Total points of

top eligible man.

RS 213

LRO(G) r r 8

LRO(W) rNT (BD 2t.t.7 t)CY I5ILRO(T) 66

t*."lit ::

s

ROSTERS

&

List 'B'Roster for: Total points of

top eligible man.RS(W) te2

Total points of men on rosters in List 'A' are ad-justed in accordance uith DCI(RN) 76'7 71. Pointsshou'n against nren on List'B'are as held atNorember 30. 1971. ir,, total points gained up to.and including. those aw'arded on Form 5507 forMal 1971. Dates shown against INT rosters arethe basic dates ol the top men.

115

_'*&

Ullfiywait

till lumorrow?.lt's

yrilrtrs trrilfly wtth

II/,/lTI,tt$I/Ill{lr/llT

$BEIllI *'r,r,r,,:#L Make your choice

-*f*. from the wonderful variety'tt,_ of household and personal-'$* goods costing f l0 or more*15* . which Naafi offers''d:i#j*i?ifr& i ;t';*;rr.

.

I/lacanc ies for Ex-servicemenAirwork Services Limited offer employmentto Ex-Servi ce Ai rcraft and Electro n ic Tech n ician swho wish to continue their tradeafter termination of service.

;\.- Opportunities exist in many parts of*) the UK and overseas ofrering' accompanied and unaccompanied

posts.Enquiries shouldto the Personnel

$ERUICE$ tTD

Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport

l-,'L\ at-r\-.li \' '

'. , iji' i.lfI,{ l\r,i i

1,,:$*$*--

be addressedManager

.1

tF) "/i\l/r

t

tr;o)^-Yt

V

THE FLEET CHIEF PETTYOFFICERS'AND CHIEF

PETTY OFFICERS' MESSThe Prasidcrtl; FCRS J. E. Eilbeck

Vice-Presidcrrt; FCCY T. C. W. HankeyMess Murtogcr': CRS R. K. Cinns

Mess Sec'lTre,us: CRS .1. HilderM t,s.y ('orttntiltea:

CME(M) B. Adlam. ('RS(W) J. Lepparcl.Staff Sergeant J. Ross

E n t t, r t u inm c tt t s (- o nt nti t I <' t :CRS P. Shuttlewood. C.RS D. Smullen. R. Mech.

K. Allen, CRS I{. S. Harris

The first edition of TUE ('onuuNr<'AloR appearedon April lZ, I947, without an article from themess. it was not until the Summer edition of I948that the first Chief's article appeared the idea beingand I quote 'To keep our ex and future messnrateswell informed of the latest affairs of the mess'.Well here goes with the info from the Mess Man-ager's jotter.

On the mess altairs side of life the major eventhas been the change of Fresident as FCRS BillBernard is required for duty in Mauritius. Notonly a change of President but also of tradition.No longer does the President run the affairs fromhis office, this is done by the Mess Manager whilstthe President carries out his training staff duties.FCCY Paul Kitchen resigned as Vice-President inanticipation of his appointment to HMS lla.r.

The mess also said farewell to Captain B. H.Kent on his retirement and as a memento the nresspresented him with a barometer. The followingday the new ('.S.S. Captain R. C'. Morgan wasintroduced to the mess menrbers.

On the social scene, events were soon unclerrvaywith RN(ICA Reunion 72 on September 9 (Twomembers did arrive on the l6th!:) Sonrething dif-ferent this year in the ways of drinks in the carpark with members of the RNARS whilst Mount-batten Block was searched for an IRA bomb.fortunately a hoax.

The major event of the calendar year was theannual cocktail party which took place October I I

and as usual an ercellent evening spent with local

Retiring president FCRS Bill Bernard handingover the reins to FCRS John Eilbeck

John and Mavis SmartWe hope he will be as happy as what we all

thought we were going to be!

councillors. teachers. cltrctors etc. This year thelocal M.P. for Peterslield Miss .1. Quinnell joinedus and no doubt picked up some hints f or herparty conference which she attended the followingday.

The filnr and bufiet evenings continue and thisterm we have seen and heard 'The MackenzieBreak' ancl either seen or heard 'Butch Cassicly &the Sundance Kid'. Hallowe'en is next and commit-tee wives and children have been busy nrakingspiders webs and masks etc. To see us through tothe end of term we have the Xmas draw onDecember l3 and EOT Christmas Dance onDecember 20. We don't usually run to a hatches.matches and despatches column but we mustcover the match of CCY John Smart who has atlong last joined the married men. He had hiswedding blessed in the Mercury chapel and hisreception in the mess lounge. A day that neitherJohn nor his civilian guests will forget. ln closingI uould like to reiterate my predecessor's com-ments on the social calendar irnd I quote 'Anymembers who would like to join us at our socialhours need only write to the mess manager whcrwill be happy to despatch a copy of the socialcalendar to you'.

Tup ( or'.tr{LINI('AToR is a good nleans of keepinga history of the Branch and in particular the mess.To help me compile a complete series of Conr-NI-JNI( Ar'oRs for the mess trophy case I would

117

:,:. : l

€*4X *.,n., {

w

#

ll,lSURAt'lCE BR0I(ERS tYlORTOABE BROI(ERS

11 PINE WALKSARISBURY GREEN

SOUTHAMPTON SO3 6DN

TELEPHONE LOCKSHEATH 3324

H. [l.

PAR

tlllEDOE&

T1IlER$

ALL FORMS INSURANCE

NEGOTIATED AND ARRANGED

PRIVATE DWELLINGHOUSEAND

COMMERCIAL MORTGAGES

BUILDII,IO SOCIETIES Iilt|ESTt{lEilT AOEilCItS

DAL]FMANTAILORS AND OUTFITTERS TO THE

ROYAL NAVY FOR OVER 50 YEARS

H.M.S. ..MERCURY" SHOP(Manager: Mr. A. C. Waterman)

Novol Allotment ond other Credit focilities ovoiloble

Heod Office:

20 QUEEN ST., PORTSMOUTHTelephone: PORTSMOUTH 21830

Members of the I nterport Naval Traders Associatlon

1t8

welcome any old copies you have.Ins: FCCY Hankey, FCCK Carfrae. CRS(W)

O'Clee, CRS Harriss, CRS(U0 Belcher, CRSSteel, CCY Steel, CCY Robinson, CCY Howard.CRS Williams, CCY Wilesmith. CCY Betts. CPO(WTR) Bradford, CPO(WTR) Mepham. REMNIWoollard.

Outs: CRS Collinson, CRS(W) Edgell, CCYStanding, CCY Wombwell, CCY Dommersnes,CCY Partington, CRS Granger.

Releases: CCY Wright, CPO(WTR) pinnel, CRSBanwell, RMECH Croll, CMEM Pitter, CRSGemmell, CRS Turley.

THE ROYAL NAVAL SADDI,ECLUB

HMS Mercury entered two teams in the RoyalNaval Saddle club one day event which was heldat HMS Dryud on Sunday September l'7. Wewon the team and individual competitions whenthe event was last held in 1970 and were thereforeeager to come out on top again this year. Withthis aim in mind anyone who professed to ride ahorse gathered together in Dryad in the middle ofJune. There was a very good turn-out for the'selector meeting' although one or two of theprofessed riders spent more time on the groundthan on the back of a horse. However it wasencouraging to find so much enthusiasm and

sufficient potential talent to enter two teams. C YEgan, LRO Poynder, Nurse Jameson, PO Ellis andtwo gallant offi.cers' wives Mrs Bakers and MrsStyles were selected to train for the event. Weeklytraining sessions were arranged during July, Augustand September and the final selection was madejust prior to the event. Unfortunately PO Ellishad to drop out as he was selected to competein the Inter-Services Pentathlon competition whichwas held on the same day and Sally Styles decidedthat she rvould prefer to remain a spectator soLieut Richardson rvho was undergoing PWOcoutses at Mcrcrtry and Cmdr Faulkner werebrought into the teams to make up the numbers.

The weather was set fair on the appointed dayand a total of 33 competitors assembled at Dryadearly on the Sunday morning to test their eques-trian skills. The competitors. who had never seen,

far less ridden. their various mounts before wererequired to do a simple riding test, jump a showjumping course of 12 fences in a small crosscountry course. They were required to ride a

different horse for each stage of the competition.The general standard of riding was remarkably

high throughoutand much to thedisappointment ofthe younger spectators very few competitors wereforced to 'abandon ship.' The Merctrry teams didextremely welt but unfortunately not quite wellenough to end up 'in the frame'. The Mcrcttry -'A'Team captained bV CY Egan and including Lieut

-t' ''k{'."o .*,1i ..i

j'ffi#

LRO Poynder, Nurse Jameson, Comdr F'aulkner, Mrs Baker' CY Egan

ll9

An Account with BERNARDS provides a complete service for uniform and civilian

clothing and prartically every other personal or family requirement.

Personal Service at the Naval Ports and Air Stations plus visits from travellingrepresentative at home and abroad and sensible credit terms makes purchasing easy

at all times, while for those at H.M.S. Mercury the new Departmental Store at QueenStreet, Portsmouth, is close and handy.

Payment may be made by Naval Allotment, Bankers Order or Giro Account.

C.H. BERNARD & SONS LTD.BERNARDS CORNER-QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH

And at CHATHAM, PORTLAND, DEAL, DEVONPORT, DUNFERMLINE,HARWICH, GRIMSBY, PLYMOUTH, HELENSBURGH, G]BRALTAR AND MALTA

and Station Tailors Shops, LOSSIEMOUTH, ARBROATH, CULDROSE, YEOVILTON,CORSHAM, LYMPSTONE, H.M.S. Dolphin, H.M.S. Cochrane, H.M.S. Neptune,

H.M.S. Royal Arthur.

Head Office: Anglia House, Harwich, Essex, COl2 3NT. Telephone 728l,.

COMMUNICATE WITH

THE EXPERTS I1{ UEHIGTE PERSO]{AI EXPORTWe have years of experience in

*Handling all purchase tax andshipping docu mentation

f Delivering cars to ports or airfieldsof departure/arrival

f,The NAAF! car purchase scheme

*UK self drive hire for servicemen

TO: OAKLEYS LTD, LAVANT STREET,PETERSFIELD, HANTS

Please send me details of your PersonalExport Scheme/Self Drive Hire (delete asapplicable)

Type of car required .

Country of use (Personal Export)

Rank and Name

Address

Petersfield 2151Alton 83993Haslemere 3222

120

AITL

Richardson and LRO Poynder put up the bestperformance and managed to gain fourth place inthe Inter-establishment competition. The 'B' teanrwere unfortunate in their 'horse allocation' uhichmade their task that more difficult. Houever a

thoroughly enjoyable afternoon uas had bl alI andalthough Mercury did not manage to 'collect an)'pots' they put up the best performance of all theteams taking part which do not have their orvnestablishment saddle club and as a result of hisgood showing CY Egan u'as selected to ride forthe Navy at the RMA Sandhurst Horse Show.

SIGNAL SCHOOL MESS 'BUZZES'by LRO(W) Ken Evans

Reading through the last two copies of TnrCouuuNrc'eroR I have noticed that although'Chiefs Chatter' and 'PO's Patter' persists nothinghas been brought to light as regards the SignalSchool mess. But, believe it or not the SignalSchool mess as a whole does still exist. Since Ihave been here in Mercury, I have seen threeformer mess presidents pass before me. LRO(T)B. F. Wilkinson (Wilkie). who has now moved onto 'greener'pastures and by now should be beatingup the Channel in HMS Diomede. LRO(T)Thompson (Pete), is now with the 'beat' pro-cession down the 'strip' in Pompey having becomea 'crusher.' Then came LRO(W) Dave Barry. whois at the present time on RS(W)Q course andfinally bringing up the rear is yours truly (havingalready reached the dizzy heights of scale 'A')and acquiring myself the 'C--hair of the Almighty'and ruling the roost, so to speak.

At the moment of writing it is difficult toexplain just what is happening here at Mercuryas eyeryone seems to have a different view but thegenera[ 'buzz' is that the Mercury Club is to beamalgamated with Kelly Squadron (an extra 200mouths to fill with NAAFI booze).

Socially, the Mercury ClublSignal School haspicked up considerably with the advent of FREETuesday night discos, Thursday night dances andentertainment of other description coming our wayevery other Wednesday night.

For those that are interested (especially lookingfor 'old ships') the Mercury Club committee con-sists of the following people at the present time.

Chairman: CCY Ken Dunks.Vice-Chairman: CY 'Jan' Egan.Secretary: LRO(D 'Jan' Creek.Voting Members: LROs Mac McCrudden.

Fred Fox (initial 'A') Ned Davies, ScouseMather, Louis (the lip) Providence CheesyCraft (Dave). L/Wtr John Woodland (Woody)L/Wrn Jackson (Eddie) Wrn Clare (Sylvia)Wrn Monks, Wrn Burns (Chris).

May t offer at this point my own, and the restof the committee's thanks to Chairman CCY KenDunks for the way he has established a secondfoundation for what we hope and feel will be a

bigger club in the future. both financially and

L)si 7 oF :2/+b oP-=R4 rlo,\p1 pf:,<r-oQ4r?vcE':,Z:"bt " 4. ..t,'5.{a cr 2E( tnc--r,sa "1i77!

Y,L,J*, \r.b, ffi

N€=4€

socially. Needless to S&y, Jan R.A. ('you can'ttrap me for duties') Creek, is keeping the troopshappy and contrary to popular belief did notmanage to escape with 16 gallons of wine afterthe last 'Cheese and Wine' do. However he hasstill managed to wangle himself a CYQ course inthe not too distant future. I suppose really. Icculd ramble on about what changes I have seenup here in the past 16 months. but I myself amat last leaving behind the comforts of being a'barrack stanchion' and joining the ranks of allyou sea-going sailors. I join HMS Bluke early nextyear in Pompey dockyard for refit (I hope). Soall you lucky 'killicks' after a quiet number, writeto CY Morris c/o MACC, Mercs ASAP. As forthe remainder, see you around the fleet, guardyour beer issue. l'm on my way.

The Captain.HMS Mercury,,Petersfield, Hampshire.Petersfield 2761-5 Ext 380

Chung Yum Ping,25 First Street.lst Floor.Hong Kong.

October 30, 1972.

Dear Mr Chung,TRADING P/4SSThank you for your enquiry concern-ing a tra.ding pass. I very much re-gret that there is no chance that HMSMercury will visit Hong Kong or in-deed leave her present position in theUnited Kingdom within the fore-seeable future.

Yours faithfully,P. A. C. HARTANp,Commander Royal Navyfor Captain.

l2l

/u*Wttil

What willyou dowhenyour Premiuni Bond comes up?

Isnt therc something, secretly, you've

always longed to do... if you had the money?

With Prremium Savings Bonds there's

over/l,5oopoo every month to do itwith.Sharcd between at least 85poo huppy

winnen. [t might bellgor {5o,or{roqorh1o, or I Sort,or,{lpoq or .{5poo, or{zSpoo.k might even be,{5opoo.

And the more Premium Bondsyou

have...the biggeryour chance of winning.Now where else can you win prizes

like that...and get your money back?

Get full details from your Savings

Olffcer/Pay Office. Or write: The Secrctary,

H.M. Forces Savings Committee,Block B, Government Buildings, London

Road, Stanmorc, Middlesex, HA7 4PX.

Premium Savings Bonds I

Over 8goooprizes fron every

DE FENCE

COMMUNICATIONS(Consultants) LTD.

. A unique service to Governments' Defenceand general communications planningauth orities.

. Professional, independent and imaginativeanalysis of the communications needs ofLand, Air, Sea and Government Services.

. Creation, project management, technical anduser acceptance of communications projectsand training of operating and maintenanceperson nel.

93A LONDON ROAD,WATERLOOVILLE, PORTSMOUTH PO7 7EQTELEPHONE WATERLOOVILLE 53853

122

THE LONG WAY HOME(continued from the Summer edition)

My last article ended with car and family safelyreunited in Shiraz in Southern Persia ready to startthe drive north. Our first stop was at Persepolis,ancient capital of Persia and scene of the recentcelebrations in honour of the 2.500th anniversaryof the Persian Empire, attended by man-v Heads ofState and Prince Philip and Princess Anne. Thesumptuously furnished 'tents' were still standingand I believe are being left as a permanent touristattraction. Persepolis has a tremendous atmospherervith its hundreds of carvings and the great rocktombs of Artaxerxes I[ and III looking out overthe desert from the cliff behind.

A few miles north we stopped at Naqsh-e-Rus-tam, burial place of Darius who started to buildPersepolis and Xerxes who finished it. Then on toPasargadae, birthplace of Persia and burial placeof Cyrus, its founder. Here his tomb has lain forover 2,000 years in the silence of the plains andhere the Shah formally opened the celebrationslast year. The road runs north some 300 miles tolsfahan, passing through the occasional villagewith snow covered mountains often visible on bothsides of the road. Cultivated patches with theircrops and flocks surround each village and all forthe most part depend on a particular system ofirrigation. Its essential feature is the undergroundwater channel or qanat. The qanat is dug froman underground water table in relatively higherground and starting at a depth of about 100 ft oftenextends for up to 15 miles before emerging on thesurface, the flow being entirely maintained bygravity. Every 50 or a 100 yards there is a verticalbore hole which is used for passing the excavatedsoil to the surface when building and then formaintenance. The human moles who build andwork in these systems have to be both brave forthe work is highly dangerous and skilled to obtainthe correct drop over many miles without bene-fit of modern instruments. For centuries they havebeen both highly respected and well paid mem-bers of the community.

The main impression as one drives north is oneof wildness and desolation and one can imaginethe feelings of the l Tth-century traveller as hiscamel train lumbered over the bleak and barrenuplands towards what he had been led to believewas one of the finest cities with one of the mostluxurious and sophisticated courts in the world.Then he must have come over the final ridge as

we did, and seen the towers of the mosques ofIsfahan shining amongst the tall plane trees and hewould have crossed one of the magnificent bridgesover the river and entered the bustling city ofShah Abbas the Great.

The centre of the city is the great square orMaidan, seven times the size of the Piazza SanMarco in Venice. Here are the Royal and SheikhLutfullah mosques, the entrance to the teemingbazaar and the Ali Kapu, a building with a large

Author and family - Qanat in background

balcony from uhich the court could watch thegames of polo being plal ed below. To emergefrom the alleyways of the bazaar with its hubbubto the peace of the Maidan ri ith the blue domesof the mosques silhouetted against the brownmountains is an experience not to be forgotten.However we could not afford to linger too longand it was soon time to cover the next stretch ofthe journey to Tehran) a distance again of some350 miles. The weather was getting colder and wehad our first snow - not very encouraging u,iththe mountains of eastern Turkey still before us.We stopped at a roadside inn for lunch and thehospitality and friendliness of the Persian peoplewas typified b-v the family who, as soon as we hadsat down, brought the paraffin stove that was be-side their table over to warm us. The standarddish in these places is chelau kebab, deliciousstrips of lamb broiled over charcoal and servedon rice with melted butter but this time we hada vegetable stew which fortified us until we reachedTehran late that evening. The capital of Iran forthe last 170-odd years, Tehran is a bustlingmodern city, providing some of the most excitingdriving in the world ! To the north lies the Elburzrange dominated by the 18.600 ft peak of MountDemavand and it is hard to believe that just onthe other side, some eight hours' driving away, liethe paddy fields and the steamy sub tropical heatof the Caspian shore.

After a restful weekend with friends, we headedwest for the 400 mile drive to Tabriz, for the mostpart a straight road through barren countrysidebut 80 miles west of the ancient town of Kasvin.the traveller is rewarded by the sight of themausoleum of Sultan Oljeitu ivhich appears on thehorizon like a giant blue egg in an egg-cup. De-scribed as one of the architectural wonders of theworld, it is difficult to convey its magnificence inwords. It is an octagon 80 ft across inside, withwalls 23 ft thick at the base carrying its egg-shaped dome some 170 ft above the ground. Prob-ably started in 1304 b-v the Mongol, Oljeitu, when

123

Author and family

S'E.BFrEwNMILITARY . INDUSTRIAL

COMMERCIAL . EDUCATIONAL

S.G .BROWN COMMUNICATIONS LTD

GommunicatorsExcellent opportunities exist forex-RN Tactical Communicators asSignalmen in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Serve in modern ships underMerchant Navy conditions,Basic pay is f95 per month, but withovertime, earnings can be up to tl50-tl60 per month. Foreign StationAllowance is extra.

Co m p letera nge for H eadsetsTelephone HandsetsEmergency TelephonesLoop lnductive Headsets

Send now f or Literatureto Dept:- C

King George's Avenue 'TEL: WATFORD 23301 TELEX 23412

Watford' HertfordshireTELEGRAMS RADIOLINK WATFORD

55 days paid leave after each year'se6 r\rl n o

Non-contributory pension andsick-pay schemes.Further details from:Careers OfficerRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryEmpress State BuildingLondon SWO ITR

ROYATFIEETAUXITIARY

il-;l

he came to the throne. it was intended to be hisburial place. Then in 1309 Oljeitu became con-verted to Shi'ism, one of the two great divisionsof the Moslem faith, and he conceived the some-what ambitious idea of bringing the remains ofAli, son-in-law of Mohammed. and Huseyn. Ali'sson. from their resting place in Iraq to his newbuilding at Sultaniyeh. This idea was probablynot entirely religious in inspiration since thepresence of such objects of Shi'ia devotion wouldhave meant pilgrims and pilgrims would havemeant prosperity for his city in the desert. Nodoubt there was resistance, but anvway before hecould achieve his ambition he reverted to Sunnismand in 1316 his body'was laid to rest beneath thedome. Shaken by' earthquakes and plundered bybandits, his tomb has towered for six and a halfcenturies above the mud village that is all thatremains of the one time capital of Persia. Indeedbefore the end of the 14th century the capital hadshifted back to Tabriz where rve arrived thatevening. We spent the night at the Tabriz Inn oneof an excellent and reasonable chain of motelsrun by the Government throughout Iran. Little isleft of the former magnificence of Tabriz and thefollowing morning, after a brief look around thetown, we headed for the Turkish border and thewild country of Lake Van.

(To be continued)

CAMBERLEY HORSE SHOWby CY Egan

Ccmmander Faulkner, head of the 'User Re-quirements' section HMS Merutry being a user,decided that there was a requirement for the Navyto win the Inter-Service Saddle Club Cup, so hereI was at the Camberley Horse Show, held in theRoyal Military Academy, Sandhurst. The navalteam consisted of four Marines horses. three RoyalMarines and myself. Sandhurst u,as bulging with'top brass' and th: big names in show jumping,David Broome and Marian Mould to name buttwo. There were hundreds of uniformecl riders ofthe different Army units, RAF and MountedPolice so I felt a little conspicuous in the onlynaval uniform present. It was a real summer's day,which brought the spectators out in their thou-sands to watch the thrills and spills. For us, it wasan eariy start on Saturday morning, grooming thehorses, polishing saddles and bridles and a finalshining of boots and brushing down uniforms.We finally mounted and our team of helpers werelike busy bees, keeping dust off the horses andgiving final shines to the team's boots.

The competition consisted of a riding test (horsecontrol and obedience) ridden from memory, a

show jumping event over l0 jumps and pointswere also awarded for the turn-out of horse andrider. The cup for the competition had been gen-erously donated by the Royal Air Force but up tothe present the competition had been dominated

by the Army Saddle Cllub. While we waited toparticipate in each event, there was time to watchthe big names in the main arena. lt was heavy onthrills but light on the spills. Lunch was taken inthe saddle (beer and sandwiches). with our helpersbrushing away the crumbs.

At the end of the day with the final results, theRoyal Navy team was placed fifth overall in theInter-Saddle club event which was won by theMetropolitan Police, but won the lnter-Services'Cup for which a team of four riders from eachService comperte and the best three performancescount. We had broken the Army monopoly.

The presentation was held in the main arenaand the winning teams had to ride around thearena in line abreast. After the cup had beenpresented along with our rosettes it was filled withchampagne (and emptied) whilst photographsu,ere taken. It wasn't over yet, the horses had tobe fed and bedded down for the night. This done,it was away to Camberley for dinner, dance anddrinks well into the morning.

Two exciting and pleasant riding weekends hadcome to a close, it was back to Mercury and thenew entries, but the cup came back with me.Mercury will hold the cup for six months. thenCTC Lympstone (Royal Marines) for six months.To start a naval monopoiy on the cup. we needmore riders. The requirement is for users ofhorses (four legged).

THE HIDDEN CITYby Clansman

The winner of the Summer competition wasRO2(T) Kerslake of HMS Argonaut. The answerwas of course LISBON.

As last term's quiz was easy, quite a lot ofmail to sort, this time some slightly more ob-scure clues to another seaport/city. Can youguess which one? The winner will receive a gifttoken to the value of fl. Closing date for thecompetition is March l, 1973, and all entries,postcards only, should be sent to the CompetitionSecretary, Tse CopruuNlcAToR MAGAzlNe, HMSM ercury, Nr Petersfield, Hants.

Started as a fishing village in 1043 and stands ontwo inter-connected islands. The harbour waserected by Bishop Absalon in 1100 as a refugefrom northern pirates. A famous British ad-miral defeated a fleet here at the beginning of thel9th century.

The main industries are ship building, distilling.brewing, and sugar refining and some of the mainexports are butter, bacon and corn.

The countrl. of ri'hich this is the capital con-sists of a peninsula and about 500 islands, onlyabout 100 of rihich are inhabited.

The name of this cit1, mean.s literally 'The Mer-chants Harbour' and one of its more famous land-nrarks is the Pantnmime Theatre.

125

NORWEGIAN.BORN SHARON JOHANSEN

126

.PLAYBOY'S' OCTOBER PLAYMATE

Fleet Section

CINCFLBET COMMUNICATION STAFF

FCO Commander A. H. DickensFEWO Lt-Cdr S. E. HughesAFCO Lt A. J. Christie

ALBION FINALEby FCRS J. Farley

ln the middle of a Canadian 'jolly', it can besaid that the best way to travel is by the Canadianequivalent of a 'Pussers' Tilly. namely a nineseater Ford Galaxy. The trip was from Halifax toMillcove through scenic countryside which one ortwo members of the party missed due to catchingup on sleep lost during a non Communicationrole in Down Town Halifax the previous night.

Millcove is a combined version of Whitehall andForest Moor situated 30 odd miles from Halifax.The Commcen lays surrounded by a large re-ceiving aerial farm, its interior is open plan, withDCN Ship-Shore, Broadcast control (CllL andCl3L) and Ground-Air circuits terminating there.

An excellent conducted tour which included theintricate details of the MARO world was followedby a visit to the accommodation block three milesaway where one or two schooners were completelysunk.

Our thanks to the Message Centre in HalifaxDockyard who kindly guarded for us leaving onlymessenger trips and the telephone exchange toworry about.

If Halifax is anything to go by our visits toMontreal (five days) and Quebec (three days)should be a roaring success.

After our final disembarkation of 42 Com-mando at Plymouth it is back to Portsmouth forcare and maintenance and 'drafties' wont!

FCYO 2/O S. E. CraigStaff CRS - CRS T. B. Hood

Staff RS(w3) - RS(W) P. K. Wood

HNIS ANTRINIby RS J. A. Littlefield

SIX WEEKS A YANKAlthough it is commonplace for ships of the

Royal Navy to operate with the navies of othercountries, usually in a NATO capacity, it is un-usual for one of H.M. Ships to act in a nationalcapacity and become fully integrated within a fleetof an allied power.

While deployed in the Mediterranean, Antrimassumed the DLG's primary role of AAW MajorUnit Defence and Air Defence Control Unit andfor six weeks became an integral part of theUnited States Sixth Fleet.

The concept of our association with the Ameri-cans was not the brief encounter of a fleet exer-cise but to participate in the day to day businessof the Sixth Fleet which included the operationaland logistic problems that prevail with any largemilitary organisation.

The operational planning of the Sixth Fleet isundertaken by the Task Group Commanders on amonthly basis and takes the form of a MonthlyPractice programme. Prior to joining our particu-lar Task Group we were armed with neitherpractice programme nor operation order which ledto a certain amount of apprehension becausealthough NATO procedures are basically adheredto by the USN there was a great deal of infor-mation to be exchanged by both Communicationsand Operations Room organisations.

127

Oil TERMI]{AI LEAUE r I.Pwhy not conracr The Three Tees Agency

THE Specialist Employment Bureau for Telex and TeleprinterOperators and Telephonists, where you will be assured of a welcome

and offered free advice, guidance and help on employment oppor-tunities and career prospects in Telecommunications.

Call, write, phoneor Telex: LUDGATE HOUSE

ll0 Fleet Street, London, E.C.4

Phone: 0l-353 361 I Telex: 22E77

KINGSLAND HOUSE124 Regent Street, London, \M.lPhone : 0l -734 0365 Telex : 23452

PEEK I{OUSE20 Eastcheap, London, E.C.3Phone: 0l-676 0601 Telex: 885220

The THREE TEES TRAINING SCHOOL for Telex and

Teleprinter Operators, at Ludgate House, I l0 Fleet Street,

E.C.4, offers those seel<ing employment in Teleccmmunica-

tions in the Commercial world FREE TUITION in Telex, Cable and

Data Transmission routines and can provide the opportunity foryou to "brush up" your keyboard abilities.

128

Liaison was essential. Recently arrived on theMediterranean Station and visiting Barcelona withAntrim was the Guided Missile Cruiser USSColumbus who was preparing to join the TaskGroup to which Antim had been assigned. Thecommunication officers and ratings were mosthelpful. The information and insight to a USNcommunications organisation allotr ed Antrim tojoin Task Force 60 ivith the preparedness uhich isexpected.

The six weeks saw a comp,rehensive selection offleet exercises which included missile and gunneryfirings, Air Defence, Ops room and Communica-tion exercises which like all Anglo-Americanactivities developed into competition.

To compare USN and RN Communicatorsthere are many points which should be considered,the most salient of which are:

(a) Communicators within the RN participatein the Action Information Organisation ofa ship to greater or lesser degrees. Thealert Communicator has a lot to offer hisOps Room counterpart and can add to thegeneral sense of urgency which is required.This was not found to be so within theUSN as 'Combat Information Centres' andCommunication Organisations are not asclosely associated resulting in an apparentlack of urgency and limited knowledge ofcommunication requirements for differenttactical situations.

(b) The shorter engagements of USN personnelrender them generally less experienced thanthe average nine year man of the RN.

(c) Possibly the most pertinent fzrct is theinformal and casual attitude of the Ameri-can way of life which is reflected inService life at all levels.

Many are of the opinion that we 'Over-Com-municate' within the RN, this may be so but it isdone jn an orderly fashion, is: Manoeuvre onTactical UHF, pass Combat Information on TaskCroup Reporting, etc. It was found that withinthe Sixth Fleet information passed on variousradio circuits varied a great deal from what wasexpected. Manoeuvring messages were passed onTG reporting to such an extent Plot ratingsbecame quite familiar with ATPI, Vol 1[.

The danger in adopting a casual approach dur-ing times of peace breeds bad habits. The slownessin passing information to different parts ship. e.g. :

frcm CIC to 'Radio Shack' and vice versa, is agcod example and circuit engineering informationoften seemed to get lost in the intricacies ofinternal organisations. This is probably a harmfulside effect of the school of thought which takescircuit engineering away frop the user and intothe provinces of the maintainer rendering theuser at the mercy of someone not fully appre-ciating the urgency of a particular situation, atrap the RN should not allow itself to fall into.Modern methods are all very fine but often leavemuch to be desired.

Generally other than a few Americanisms theGs and Ws learnt very little. Compatibility ofequipment was no problem and it was found thatthe two work-horse circuits of the organisation.Task Group Calling/Working and Task GroupBroadcast, gave satisfactory results and were weilcontrolled even if the American operator will addhis signature to each transmission as if it were hisown expressed wish. It is however the compati-bility of the human element which leaves some-thing to be desired but when the 'Language brr-rier'and different attitudes are considered it islikely that the problem is inherent.

On the credit side the Tactical ratings were sur-prised to find that keeping a watch which involvedmanoeuvring a force by flag hoists and flashinglight uas actually enjoyable. Also to their creditthe number of buntings panic stricken at the sightof a ship in company making semaphore werereduced. The semaphore instruction given prior todeployment was worthwhile.

The purpose of this article is not to build aplatform from which to sing our praises bui topoint out the differences and shortcomings onboth sides, not only relating to communicationsbut some aspects of modern warfare. The abilityto provide such things as efficient data linksystems, reliable teleprinters and other materialthings in life is beyond the communicators' control.What we are able to provide is a comprehensiveknowledge cf all aspects of communications and ahigh standard of operating and planning.

To conclude. considering the number of yearsand ertent of mutual co-operation it is somewhatstrange that so little is known of each other. It ispossible hou,ever other units of the RN will beclosely associated with an American Fleet andthere is much that we can teach each other pro-viding each approaches the other with an openmind and a willingness to learn new methods.However. never let it be said that a ship of theRN found it necessary to make 'lnterrogativeMike Corpen'.

HMS'Ark Royal'-Smiths United129

$peciallstTeleprlnterOperators

are required for the Ministry of Defence Communications Centrein Central London.

Initially, the operators will be employed upon teleprinting and

associated procedures, but they will be given the opportunity oftraining for higher grade duties when the Communications Centrebecomes fully automatic.

Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum speed of40 wpm, and having a good knowledge of current communicationprocedures.

Basic starting pay, at age 25 ot over, will be f,24.92 pw rising to

f,29.52 pw inclusive of London rU7eighting. Successful candidates

will currently be required to work shifts and overtime which onaverage, attracts a further {5.00. There are opportunities of pro-motion to almost {1,800 pa basic pay.

If you would like further details, and are of British Nationality,telephone 0l-242 0222 Ext: 563 or write to:

CM(S)BH, Ministry of Defence,

Room 802, Lacon House,

Theobalds Road, London, WCIX 8RY

r30

TIMS ARK ROYAL _ SMITHS UNITEDThe Lord Mayor of Leeds, Alderman Smith

presented Senior Aircraftsman Smith with a birth-day cake on his 2lst birthday, October 18, onboardArk RoyaL ROI(G) Smith u'as also there to swellthe Smith ranks. SAC Smith had been loaned toArk Royal to operate the Nar-al Air Corps voicecircuit into 38 Group RAF Tactical Communica-tions Wing at RAF Leuchurs.

HMS Ark Royal is adopted b1' the City of Leedsbecause when the Ark Royol was sunk in 1941the City of Leeds enquired from the Admiralty'how much it would cost to build a new aircraftcarrier. The reply was two million pounds ! Leedsraised this money in a fortnight.

Next year Ark Royal is to be presented with theFreedom of the City of Leeds and it is plannedfor 500 of the ships' company including ROs tomarch through the City.

HMS BRISTOL

- IN A CLASS OF HBR OWNby Lieut F. M. Emmett

HMS Bristol, the first of the originally plannedeight Type 82 destroyers. is due to arrive inPortsmouth on December 17.

With the phasing out of the aircraft carriersfrom the Royal Navy, Bristol will be the onlytype 82 to be built. Although smaller in physicalsize than the DLGs 0l to 08, HMS Bristol isalmost 1,000 tons heavier than the previous classbut has a reduced number of ship's company. Theship is powered by two steam turbines for normalsteaming and is fitted with two Olympus gas tur-bines to provide additional boost for high speedsor for leaving harbour in emergencies. The fourpower units give the ship a maximum speed in ex-cess of 30 knots. HMS Bristol's role after trialswill be to provide command facilities and areadefence for a task force.

At first sight the ship appears to be underarmedfor her size until one realises that her fire poweris comparable to a World War II cruiser but muchmore effective. The main armament is Seadart,the replacement missile for Seaslug, with super-sonic speed, range and manoeuvrability to copewith any airborne threat. The Seadart can also berrsed effectively against surface targets.

The gun armament is the new 4.5 inch singlebarrel, automatic mounting, and the gun houseremains unmanned throughout shoots.

The main ASW weapon is Ikara, the Australiandesigned radio controlled missile that delivers ahoming torpedo to submarines detected by theship's own sonars or those of her consorts. Theconventional twin triple-barrelled mortar is alsofitted.

The ship has a helicopter landing deck to takea Wasp helicopter but is not fitted with a hangar,consequently the ship will not carry her own heli-copter.

The ship's sensors provide basic data requiredbrr the heart of the system, two Ferranti micro-

miniaturised computers. The ship's inertial navi-gational system (SINS) continuously informs thecomputers of the ship's geographical position,course and speed. These inputs enable the com-puters to provide an up to date visual presenta-tion in picture and writing form. To achieve thequick reaction times required in modern warfareall the weapon systems are fully automatic.

Conventional plotting tables are not to be foundon HMS Bristol, in fact the only use of thechinagraph pencil in the Ops Room will be tomake up stateboards. Amongst many other thingsthe computer provides the answers to relativer-elocity problems, and CPAs in micro seconds, itu ill also draw the screen sectors on the plot justas quickll if asked to.

The Communication Branch has not beenforgotten and the MCO complex is the mostmodern to go into any warship. All the com-munication compartments lead off the MCO andthe C & M desk is sited in the MCO. Communi-cation ratings will not be seen travelling aroundthe ship to check equipments in various offices.Bristol is the first ship to be fitted with ICS 2 toprovide MF/HF communications; conventional692s provide UHF communications.

The first commission of HMS Bristol, until thefirst reflt in 1975, will be mainly taken up con-ducting trials on the computers and weapon sys-tems and proving the system in preparation forthe type 42 destroyers.

The staff consists of 30 Communicators: thelarge majority of whom will join the ship inPortsmouth on December 17.

The 'G' department is led by FCRS Bradleyand RS Wheeler. The 'T' department is led byCCY Barrie.

I apologise that this first article from HMSBristol has not been communications slanted, buthope that it has been of interest.

HMS BULWARK - THE 'BUSY B'July 17 saw the return of the'Busy B'to Ply-

mouth Sound, amongst a small armada of shipswho had just completed Exercise 'Westward Hoe'.Once more the familiar sights of the Sound, theHoe and Drake's Island caused the Gazz nativesto break out in smiles from 090 degrees to theirnormal residential 270! The Bulwark had just re-turned from a UK/US amphibious exercise atVieques, an island south east of Puerto Rico.FOCAS embarked during the latter stages of theexercise and took passage for our 'R & R' visit tothe US Naval Base at Mayport, Florida. This newbase, designed and virtually dug out of virgin sandby the US Navy, provided all the usual facilitiesfrom a well stocked PX to an up to date automatproviding anything from candy to cigarettes, cokeand hamburgers and a wide variety of hot meals.Add to this their ample sporting arenas, clubfacilities, the daily laundry service, collected anddelivered to the ship and the immense space andcleanliness of the berthing areas, one can only

131

COMMUNICATIONS AS ACIVILIAN

WALBROOK TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LONDON

l. Offer to Service Operators, male and female, a four-weel< course to ease

resettlement problems.There is no charge whatsoever for this course.The four weeks are spent as follows:

Weel< One Comprehensive grounding in Commercial Telex organisationand procedure by way of lectures plus practical training on

a variety of machines.

Week Two Visits to Commercial Communications lnstallations. Plus

further practical training as required to increase speed,

accuracy and tape reading ability.

Week Three Opportunities to operate 'Live' with a variety of firmsalongside their own operators.

Week Four lnterviews arranged with commercial organisations forpositions in their communications departments.

2. WALBROOK TELECOMMUNICATIONS recruit staff for:Airlines, Shipping Companies, Oil Companies, lmporters, Exporters,Stockbrokers, Merchant Banl<s and many other companies.

3. Every assistance possible will be given for placement in suitable employmenton termination of Service engagement to personnel seel<ing employmcnt in

the London area.

4. ldeally the course should terminatejobs are snapped up and employersan oPerator, no matter how good.

5. For further information please contact:

WALBROOK APPOINTMENTSTELEX COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENTI LONG ACRELONDON W.C.2

Telephone 0l -240 3 I l6

immediately prior to discharge as good

are reluctant to wait several weel<s for

t32

This Ensign was hoisted at Colours in HMS 'Bul-wark' recently; as a consequence the SCO cannot

afford his wine bill this month!

cn\'\ their resources of land, on which to buildsuch a modern base.

Jacksonville, the prime junction city of Floridaand some 15 miles to the west of Mayport. provi-ded the usual big city attractions that one associ-ates with the United States. whilst Mayport and itsadjacent beaches were ideal for swimming, surfingor just walking along miles of hard white sandthrough Neptune, Atlantic and Jacksonvillebeaches. all of which rvere under the surveillanceof motorised lifeguards who zoomed across thebeaches in their fully equipped station wagons.Car hire firms were well patronised, and the costof petrol, hire and insurance charges rvere all verrreasonable. Petrol had to be cheap. since most ofit is used to drive the cars' air conditioning plant.let alone get the car moving !

A return to the battlefields of Vieques for an-other phase o[ Exercise 'Runt Punch' was an ex-cellent method of shaking the bourbon out of theblood stream ! A silent passage across the Atlanticand into the Med, gave valuable operational ex-perience under total radio and radar silence. It isironical that such a vital tactic as radio silence isseldom exercised. It would seem there is a re-quirement to select ships at random to 'go silent'either on the entire passage, or for a certainperiod. [t would provide excellent value, not onlyto the Communicators, but to all those who find itdifficult to restrain themselves from releasing sig-nals

- it would help them 'kick the habit'lAfter disembarking 4l Commando in Malta we

returned to Devonport to start the DED. whichorving to the industrial dispute, resulted in a de-layed completion date. The inconvenience andfrustrations of laying at the bottom of a dry dockwere lessened by a programme involving training,sport and recreationali educational visits. One suchr.isit took us to Portishead Radio which duringour two month deployment to the Caribbean andthe States, took over f300 from us in telegrams andtelephone calls. in a most efficient manner! RS

Woodward presented a ship's crest to the PostOffice Radio Staff in appreciation of their con-tinually excellent co-operation.

By the time this article is printed we wouldhave emerged from the dockyard dust, undergonea short but hectic work-up/shake-down on our\\ a) to an amphibious exercise in the Mediter-ranean. r-isited Toulon and Malta and back toGuzz f or Christmas leave.

We will also have said farewell to our SCO,Lieutenant-Commander J. W. Roskill and wishhim and his famili' u'ell at his next appointmentin Mauritius; and at the same time welcome hisrelief onboard, Lieutenant J. T. Sanders.

HMS BRIGHTON_IN COMPAI{Y WITHSNOW WHITE AND THE

SEVEN DWARFSAnon

Interested? Well it took a lot of thought beforewe decided on such an eye-catching, pulsatingtitle. There is of course a yarn behind it, sodon't turn over the page, we're not going torattle on about programmes and oppos or morseand flags.

It all happened in July. The Brighton, battleworn, weary and worse for wear (we had justcome from Portland work-up), dropped anchor inBremen. A quiet. picturesque city nestling bf'the estuary of the river Weser, offering (accord-ing to Cosmic tours). Lcirvenbrdu beer free withmeals,'quaint' little streets. interesting antiqueshops and other age-old architectural delights. thepride and jo1' of Cermany. Ach: not so! Accord-ing to a more reliable source (our liaison officer),Bremen was on a par with Soho. (Apologies tonatives of Soho.) We were there on an unofficialvisit, which in English meant Jack had to findhis own entertainment. (Apologies to natives ofBremen.) However -- Snow White and the SevenDwarfs ! (Just whetting your appetites.)

Imagine the situati or better still, placel,ourself in it. Jack proceeds ashore and traps thefirst German dockyard matey on hand, gesticulatesand asks in broken German, 'Where do we go?'.German dockyard matey gesticulates and repliesin broken English 'Ein Schnow Vhite ein ze ZevenZwarft' Which to keep a long story short senthalf the ships' company, wardroom, chiefs, etcdown to number 7 wharf looking for a boozercalled 'The Snow White'.

The more restrained members of the crew,(comms. gunners and greenies) not clearly under-standing of the dock-vard matey, headed forBremen. Waylaid upon the way by a charminglady (15 stone, sweaty tights and greasy lipstick)outside a bar, they were enticed inside and wel-comed by more charming ladies. Having settleddown with glasses of beer at Common Marketprices, enquiries were laid as to the whereaboutsof 'Ein Schnow Vhite ein ze Zeven Zwarf'. Charm-ing ladies giggled. Fritz the barman made rude

133

t,A

?owwaacs@

A rnet 'lngC':stl€e Poo<r^/

'' t/:

L^,r'1r."^,6ffi-Cr

!ril

, \l\ilr'\l

6oufa

r3o& (PcV

gestures using thumb, forefinger and forefinger,the Jimmy blushed and Jack was confused. whensuddenly a cinema projector whirred into motionat the back of the bar and flashed into life on thefor'ard bulkhead beside a life-sized portrait ofKaiser Bill. Charming ladies hugged goggle-eyedJack, Fritz made more rude gestures and theJimmy carried on blushing.

Now. I don't know if any reader still left hasever seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs inBremen or elsewhere but we recommend it aspart of a matelot's education. Mercury should geta copy. Classrooms would be full and the chapr,vho invented'Operational Performance Standard'as a way of filling up RNCP 15 would come outof hiding. In full colour, animated to Disneyperfection, performances by Droopy, Sleepy,Dopey, Sneezy, Doc. Snow White and all, it's thebest b/rre movie we've ever seen! !

FUTUREPAST?by RO2(IV) M. J. Allen, HMS Cleopaha

Adam Smith was a bright young man who wasworking in the research section of a large chemi-cal company. His particular field was chemicalbiology: the study of chemicals in man. He en-joyed his work and often worked late to extend hisstudies. After many years of research and experi-mentation he discovered the secret of eternal life,or, almost eternal life. His discovery would allowa person to grow old but only very slowly. He tookhis discovery to the Council for Scientific Researchand they were impressed, at least at first they were.When Adam told them of the rare elements in-volved and the cost of production the-v dismissedit. They told him to pour away the substance andforget about it. He was disheartened. All his worknow seemed pointless. it had been a waste of timeand money.

He took the substance home and spent manyhours thinking about its consequences and finallydecided that he and his wife Eve would drink it.to prove its worth. This they did, and Adam soonsettled back into a different line of research.There were problems of course, they had to movehouse every few years or so, and Adam had tochange his job frequently so as not to arouse sus-picion.

The substance obviously worked well for after700 years the couple only looked about 40 yearsold. It was about this time that a new planet wasdiscovered which was very much like the Earthbut more than 100 times bigger. Plans were im-mediately put into force for a mass migration.Enormous space liners were built to carry theearth's population to this new land. It was 70 yearsafter the planet was first discovered that the lastspace ship left. leaving only those who wanted tostay, behind. Adam and his wife, who had seenmany years of history being formed stayed be-hind to see how the Earth fared with its lighterload.

It did well and everyone was happy and aboveall, equal. Then tragedy struck: some 200 yearslater an epidemic swept the world killing everyone but Adam and his wife who were immunebecause of the substance they had taken so manyvears before. They were now the only two left onEarth and they knew that if the Earth was toremain a home they had to have children. Sothe) started a family. Adam and his wife Eve.

Is this the stor)' of the beginning . . . or the end?

HMS DEVONSHIREby CRS(W) A. R. Taylor

Since the last edition. the Deyonshire's pro-gramme has livened up somervhat and we havemanaged to get in a few good 'runs'. After doingour whack of Beira patrol we finally set sail forthe Far East, arriving at Singapore on July 24,destined to stay fon seven days. The ship havingbeen at sea for 40 days (and nights). was quite ladendown with money, as was evident by the vastnumber of 'rabbits' found later, hiding in variousnooks and crannies of the ship. It is nothingstrange to find kiddies' bicycles, huge stereos,lampshades, baskets and sheets etc. stowed inglsh funnels, masts, EWOs and VS Stores.

We sailed from Singapore looking forward tothe visit to Ito in Japan. Each year a British shipis invited to attend the William Adams Festival.The festival was something one only sees maybeonce in a lifetime and I expect most peopleon board were glad they were able to witness it ifonly to see CCY 'Doc' Bee striding along withthe ship's volunteer band. banging and clanging hiscymbals for all he was worth. We are still rathermystified, however, as to how he managed to takethe same size strides as the rest of the band.(He's getting shorter everyday, running up anddown the Admiral's ladder.) The spa of Ito pro-vided the ship's company with plenty of hospitalityand I'm sure it will be remembered by all.

We then headed for the Philippines, calling in atSubic Bay for the weekend. What do I say aboutOlongapo City? For those that have been therebefore, it's just as great. For those that haven'tyet had the fortune to see this picturesque city,let me say 'You haven't really lived ! ' The ship sailedfrom Subic as scheduled and spent three or fourdays on the missile range before sailing back toSingapore for a three week AMP.

September 21 saw us cruising up the river toBangkok. This has got to be the best 'run' in theFar East ! I think all 40 Communicators will agreewith me.

On leaving Bangkok we returned to the Singa-pore areas, and to the horror of many, partici-pated in a few days of the WPP. (How cruel afterThailand.) Completing this successfully (as always)we were alongside in Hong Kong a week later,ready to take over as guard ship. We are due ourharbourlsea inspection in early November and atthe time of writing, are busy preparing for it.

135

naval communicationsMarconi complete

The Marconi comprehensive range of s.s.b/i.s.bnaval communications equipment meets allpresent and f oreseeable requirements forvoice and automatic telegraphy.

The complete range conforms to Royal Navalstandards of resistance to shock, vibration andclimatic conditions, and has been NATOcodified bythe British Ministry of Defence. lt is

in wide use by the Royal Navy and in themodernization of twenty other navies.

Marconi Commu nication Systems Limitedalso has a complete range of communications

equipment available for shore stations; digitaltransmission. and airborne communications.

ln addition the Company is able to assistnaval departments and shipbuilders with theplanning, f itting, testing and tuning of completeship communications i nstallations.

Marconi Radio Division, designers and suppliersof h.f and l.f point-to-point systems, line-of -

sight and tropospheric scattet microwavesystems-part of the total systems capability ofM a rco n i C o mm u n i cati o n Sy ste ms.

Marconi Communication SystemsGomplete civil and military static and mobile communication systemsMarconi Communication Systems Limited,Radio and Space Communications Division, Chelmsford, CM1 1PL, EnglandA GEC-Marconi Electronics Company

t36LTD/H9't

osA?

lst FAST TRArI\ING BOAT SQUADR.ONby Anon

I had firmly intended to write an article for thenext edition from the I st FTB Squaclron. whcrmust be by now fanriliar visitors to the EWOffices, Ops Rooms and sometimes, almost, themess decks of ships visiting that Riviera of theSouth, Portland. Manned by virile. keen anddedicated young men, we bring terror into thevery souls of those ships not warned by their EWoperators of our stealthy approach. We producea verv cool line in St1,x and torpedo attacks, themost nauseating flavoured (CS) smoke and eventhe odd burst of gunfire (sparker ll,ith a five inchAldis is worthy of the Golclen Shot any da-v).Unfortunately. Amend No : 3'74 to the WPP andOpdef No: l3 (unlucky for sonre) have clefeatedus again. However, rather than turning in a nilreturn, herewith a small press cutting which mightbring the aroma of the rolling Channel to yourcroquet lawns.

From 'PT BOATS "ALI- HANDS" NEWS-SHEET"-FAI"[, I97I (RECISTERED IN USA)News from PT Boat associates-ENCI-AND,Europe. 'Lieutenant N. R. H. Cartwright. RoyalNavy, HMS Marcur1,, Nr Petersfield. Hampshire,England. This is another gentleman we met whileat the MTB Officers' Reunion in London. HMSMart'rrr,- is one of the present day small craft ofthe Royal Navy.'

Note: Lieutenant Cartwright (norv L-ieutenantCommandcr Cartwright--SCO of HMS Blul,c\was then CO of HMS Scintitar.

LIFE IN FIFEby Anon

Life in Fife once again grinds tt'r a halt while40 or so Communicators hucldle in the cornerof the office to try and decide what tit-bits of newswould be of interest to our fellow communicators.

Things livened up when we becatme flagship of

CLASS?

FOF I , Vice-Admiral A.M . Power and livencdup even more when we were invited to participatein exercises 'West Hoe', 'JMC 165' and 'StrongErpress'. all in pretty quick succession. The latterexercise causing acute anxiety to the RS. ll'hatwith three different offsets, two different frequencyshifts and two different arrangenrents, all oncircuits radiated by the sanre ship.

All is not work though, and the erercises rvereinterspaced with visits to such delightful 'out ofthe way' places such as Pllnrouth and llosyth.R osy'r'h proved to be a nr uch better run thanerpected. thanks nrainly to the splendid hospitalityof Forth Dir ision RNR.

At present the ship is set in a huge block ofconcreie known as Fountain I-ake Jetty preparin€lfor FOFI's inspection and a six month jolly inthe Med.

HMS GURKHA-AYO GURKHALIby The lladman

Greetings. Since the GPO. never got our lastditty through to the avid readers of THe Cou-MUNr('AToR. or the editor thought it too porno-graphic to publish (will I never get my namein that magazine')). here is another attempt fromthe G rrt'klut.

We arrived on station at Bermuda on July 15

having left Rosyth (eventually) on July 3, ands,ince then we have visited such exotic places as

Freeport (expensive). Carriacou (not so e-rpensive),San J uan (Oh Boy !), Guadaloupe. Barbuda,Bequia and a veritable multitude of Iesser islands.Actually it's all a vicious plot--there is only oneisland out here and we just keep steaming aroundit and calling in at various times.

We have just completed a three week AMP inChaguaramus, Trinidad- a rather hectic time washad by all. The sportsmen on board managed a

total of nearly 90 games of sport, of one kindor another. and the Comms managed a fair repre-

137

iloYolsuptcmocy

Redifon's new Naval Radiotelephone equipment isnow in Senior Service. Selected bythe Royal Navy,the 643 transmitter is the product of private initiativeand development. With its companion CJ Pgeneral-purpose receiver, this new radiotelephonehas the vital responsibility of updating mediumand long distance communications betweenBritish warships of allclasses and shore bases.

Despite its big task, the 643 can beoperated easily with minimum training. Operatorscan set rapidly to pre-determined frequencies,search crowded bands or hunt forthose elusivecoast stations.

.:H

Throughout the 1 970's the Redifon 643will play a key naval role ; not only forthe RoyalNavy but also for allthe most modern naviesthroughout the world.

REDIf ONA Member Company of the Rediflusion Organisation.

.4._,r.f\.\t*1, Redifon Telecommunications Limited

w,mK

Wt:WgffisN

-*Wffi-ffiffiffiffi

*i:!':

138

*

sentation in them all. As the saying goes 'Theglory is not in winning, but in having taken part'.

We've also had our moments of glory, withtwo aircraft crashes (both non-Pusser) and onesick seaman off the Adcsrution to our credit-ccmmunications playing a very big part in theI atter.

On arrival at Rosyth in December \\'e have a

big staff changeover and amongst the staunchCommunicators that we lose are: -AiL LROEllison, RO2s Myles. Hayes. Oliver, l-ockhartand Lawson. so 'barrack stanchions' watch out.Another great loss to the staff, will be our boss.Sub-Lieut SD(C) M. R. Skinlel (he told me towrite this. .) who leaves us in November forMercury. If an;-one there wants a First Lieut'srunner- he's the hoy for you. Seriously, it's notoften a Tribal gets a (C) as its SCO, and it makesa change to have someone whom you can't flannel.

The staff at the moment consists of Sub-LieutSkinley. RS Johnson, AIL LRO Ellison, ROI(G)Wolfe, RO2(G)s Prophet, Myles,* Paton,McCaffery and Edwards. CY Tapping, LRO(T)Flintham, RO2(T)s Davies,** Lockhart. Lawson,Francis and Stanton. LRO(W)s Staff and Hodge.RO2(W)s Hayes and Oliver and JRO(W) Moody.*The only one badge RO2 broadcast operator in

the fleet.**Three warrants (non-British Rail) in five days,

so he might not be here when this is read.

HMS GRENVILLEby I-RO(W) Morris

'Grenville's' Comms Staff. Showing the effects ofstrain as Trials Ship?

The 'FORTS' and 'UNFORTS' of Fl97 IGGCTFORTUNATELY Grenville is a trials ship,

UNFORTUNATELY we never know if thetrials work.

FORTUI'.IATELY our last trial was SCOT.UNFORTUNATELY they wouldn't let us playwith it.

FORTUNATELY we had our own broadcast,

UNFORTUNATELY it was run off B40s and4ls.

FORTUNATELY we have six HF- transmitters.UNFORTUNATELY three don't work.

FCRTUNATELY the 640 works, UNFORTU-NATELY so does the 89Q ancl 602 (sometimes).

FORTUNATELY rve also have some UHF sets,UNFORTUNATELY we also have LREMSmith (say no more).

FORTUNATELY \\'e possess a RATT buy,UNFORTUNATELY it happens to be Off-line.

FORTUNATELY Mart'ttt t' scnt us two newsparkers, UNFORTUNATELY they can't read/send morse.

FORTUNATELY we have an alert tactical de-parlment. UNFORTUNATELY they are blind.

FORTUNATELY our next fit (ICS3) should solveall our problems, UNFORTUNATEI-Y wewon't be here to see it.

FORTUNATELY THE Couvt;ntceloR hasreceived its first article from us, UNFORTU-NATELY they ma-v not u'ant another.

'IIow is your head this morning chief?' The SCOTaerial HMS 'Grenville'

THE EX-COMMUNICATED'GOLLIES'by RS(W) R. A. J. Chambers

Under the PWO trial system. that Minervct iscarrying out, the ROs(W) are now in a self-con-tained, sub-department of the Operations Division.They are totally divorced from the Comms worldand form part of the Operations (Planning)Division. short title: POPS. For a run down ofthe division it consists of : Lt Brigstocke RN whois the Ops OfficerlGunnery Olhcer and DivisionalOfficer. The RS(W) is the Divisional PO andCaptain of the Top part of ship. F-our LRO(W),three RO(W), one L/S RP2. seven RPs. and three

139

RADIO OFFICERS

DO I PMGII PMG II

YOU 1 MPT

I z venns' oPE RATIN GHAVE I EXPERIENCE

I POSSESSION Or ONE OF THESEI ^ QUALTFTES YOU FOR CONSIDER-,.I ATIoN FoR A RADIo OFFTCERi r Posr wrrH THE coMPostrE

SIGNALS ORGANISATION

On satisfactory completion of a 7 month specialist training course, successfulapplicants are paid on scale rlsing to {2,365 pa; commencing salary according to age-25 years and over {1,664 pa. During training salary also by age,25 and over {1,238 pawith free accommodation.

The future holds good opportunities for established status, service overseas andpromotion.

Training courses commence at intervals thoughout the year. Earliest possibleapplication advised.

Applications only from British-born UK residents up to 35 years of age (40 years ifexceptionally well qualified) will be considered.

Full details from:

Recruitment Ofticer, (TRO 4),

Government Communications Headquarters,Room A/l 105,

Oakley Priors Road,CHELTENHAM, Glos., GL52 5AJTelephone: Cheltenham 2 l49l Ext 2270

CONSULT

FOR YOUR NEXT REMOVALAMPLE WAREHOUSING ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE IN:

PORTSMOUTH . SOUTHSEA - FAREHAMLON DON . CHATHAM . PLYMO UTH .SO UTHAMPTON

RYDE (ISLE OF W|GHT)Errquiries to:-

l3 CLARENDON ROAD, SOUTHSEA, HANTS Portsmouth 2tstsl6

SONS,ISP

140

' Ii'c,Ttrrb t.'r' lx'&iAa; * i il"i: So*t€ o*i

('.Air6\ 'l f ,Krrln -( e +11t

'Ai.llrr"e{w g,wr}'fr,f

Marines quite an assortment.The everyday life of- the Gollie hasn't changed

very much, he is normally in three watches atsea, does duty hand in harbour and has a slightlylarger cleaning commitment.

Under the new regime, it seems to allow moretime for EW but practical C-onrnrs is definitelyout. although training hasn't suffered at all. itdoes mean, however. the (W)s are no longer underthe beck ancl call of the RS(G) which ntakes lifequite hectic in the lvIC'O at times.

The main person affected by the shift. is theRS(W), well known to be ever flexible, he hasfound himself I /C of the top part of ship,instructing on varying forms of seamanship andas a sideline. EW. lt's not as bad as it seemsthough, the day to day running of the Oflice isably handled by the senior LRO(W) zrnd theupper deck is ably attacked by the butter (l l-/S).On the whole. the system has been quite successfuland is certainly appreciated by the (W)s, I hopethat I carl repeat these words after Portlandwork-up which starts today. A foresight of thingsto conre'l

HMS NOR}-OLKby ROI(G) W. M. Chapman

I had heard of my draft to HMS Norfolk earlyin April 1972, and I thought 'Good Lord! Whatelse must I do to get away from Royalty andDrafty'l'As it turned out I have not had to liftmy finger in anger against either, and generallyspeaking I am rather pleasecl with Drafty'sdecision. My advent coincided with the departureof Claptain C'ook. a man who was rather dedicatedand had an almost unbelievable lc'rve for the sea.One need not look far for proof either. Of 32years' service so far. he spent no less than 24 years

at sea. (Some sailors are annoyed if they areasked to spend 24 days at sea in any one year.)

On the same day (July 17, 1972) Captain JohnCox joined us fresh from a two-year stint atBonn. with a formidable reputation behind him.

We sailed on July 24. 1972 as Flagship tojoin the other ships of the Standing Naval ForceAtlantic. They \\'ere USS Bigclow, FGS Sch-H<tlsteitr. HNLMS Atrtsttrdunl, and the AdmiraltePereif o Du-Silvu. ('onrmodore John Fieldhousethe Conrmander of SNF u'as transferred by jack-stay from USS Rlgclort' along u,ith his staff. Hiss1aff included a German Staff C)flicer a DutchStatt Operations Oflicer. a Danish ConrmunicationsOtlicer. a Norwegian Anti-Submarine and WeaponsOfficer. an English Secretary, a CCY, a LRO(T),and an RO2(T).

(-onrnroclore Fieldhouse promised us that adiflicult period aheird was inevitable. There werea few doubting Thonrases but they soon changedtheir tunes when the-v realised the number ofguarcl duties that \\'c u'ere invited to accept inharbour and the occasional guard duty at sea.We took part in several erercises together andthe experience gainecl on bc'rth sides must certainlybe very virluable. One of the ntore importantexercises was 'Strong Express'. DLrring the exercisesrve carried out carrier operations rvith the USSJ. F. Kcnrrcrl.y, the worlcl's largest conventionallypolvered attack carrier.'l-hese etercises rvere de-nranding, what with two watches, [)C exercises.with tension in the air as the pressure mounted onthe Comnrunicators extcrnally and internally alike.Fortr-rnately. lve survived rvithout too many scars.

The Drr-.li/r'rr left us on August 1 while we.were at Trondheint lNorway), our first port of

'Norfolk's''Untouchables' - Always open to chal-Iengers. L to R, back row: RO2 EIIis, LR.O Gar-rity, ROI Botton, RO2 Yroon, R02 Chislett, ROIPawsey. Front row: LRO Norcliffe, ROI Hall,

LRO Powell, LRO O'Toole, RO2 Slater

14t

+ii@

tr1uy il'.a /

call. The fiords around Norway are extremelybeautiful, so beautiful that it was not unusual tosee sailo,rs milling around on the fo'c'sle camerasin hand endeavouring to capture something ofthe picturesque nature of the hills as they loomedout of nowhere, ahead of us, and the peacefulenvironment that surrounds them. Other ports ofcall included Narvik, Bodo, Tromso. Stavanger.Newcastle (UK), Denhelder, Rosyth. and Bremen.where the HNOMS Oslo and the HNOMSStavttnger joined us.

Newcastle deserves a special mention: Norfolkwas built there. Just horv much this influenced the'Geordies' I am not sure, but the welcome thatwe received was tremendous. A full programmewas laid on and this included every type ofentertainment possible. Everyone enjoyed himselfwhilst in Newcastle even the well-known moaners.Den Helder was far less exciting even if oneconsiders that we spent 14 days there basking inthe sun.

SNF's programme will not be completed untilearly December. Despite this one feels that theworst is over, or is it that we have become so

accustomed to the continuous hard work?The Communicators have a very successf ul

football team captained by RO2(G) Chris Vroon.Chris would like to hear from readers before wearrive Portsmouth early December 1972, with a

view to a few challenges during the weeks we arein harbour.

The SCO Lieut-Comdr Frost and the balanceof the staff join me in wishing all readers a.HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND AN EXCITINGNEW YEAR'.

By the time you read this I will have left theRoyal Navy having benefited from the experience.

] ir,aT Ir,HD1{]NICATii)h]5 l1/{\1'E

iu,\:t)Lr! [-t-l

ts,10llirrf(

D0ltvNl..

RFA NEWSby John Farad

A SHACK YARN'Sheer laziness !' exploded SRO.'What is?' queried ROB since the boss's remark

was quite non apropo.'RATT!' barked SRO with drawn lips and dark

flashing eyes. 'It's sheer laziness, that's what it is.Cornmunicators today don't know what a morsekey looks like let alone be able to manipulate themorse code'.

'I like that', mused ROB softly.'What?' rasped SRO.'Manipulate the morse code. Quite poetic that,

boss'.

142

SRO wore his verminous look again.'I'll pop that in the letter I'm writing right now.

so's I won't forget it'.'Bah!' cried SRO with arms and eyes reaching

up to the deckhead in the radio room as if appeal-ing fcr the Lord's wrath to descend upon theuarsard tribes about him. 'That's exactly what Imean'. he added. calming down a bit and floppinginto a swivel chair as it dutifully turned to receivehis capacious blue posterior on the next roll ofthe ship. 'With all these machines you corl writeletters, light fags. finger \our nose if you want to,walk about and chat up the Mate on watch. Ofcourse you can. It's even been known to operatea voice net at the same time until some twit inWSTG found it was a security risk with all thiscrypto about'.

'Ah, but boss', whined ROB, 'We have to workCW nets as well you know'.

'Name 'em !' bellowed SRO scenting the hunt.'Well. there's the odd intership net if you're in

company with non-RATT ships. Er, five ton. Theodd telegram--r

'Yes'. gloated SRO as ROB's voice tailed oft,'and that's about your lot chum. You're RATT inand RATT out these days. Where's the skill inthat I'd like to know'l'

'Not like the old days', enthused SRO as ROBgroaned and sank deeper into his chair, 'when youhad CW nets all over the place and had to logeverything down properly, and work crypto at thesame time. And if things got hot then you had tostay behind after you'd been relieved on broad-cast, or whatever, and sit there and break thegroupers in your own time. And type 'em outafterwards as well'.

ROB sat there with his mouth half open andeyes goggling in mock astonishment. 'You don'tsay, boss', he murmured.

This seemed to mollify SRO because he offeredROB a cigarette-a thing unseen all trip, for hewas considered one of the 'OP' brigade. ('I paymore tax than you lot', was the standard excuse.)

ROB got up, leant against the ever open cryptounit, folded his arms and crossed his ankles in apose of complete control and total superiority.He was not going to let the old fool get awaywith it that easy having only recently beenspawned from the 'whizz-kids' long course atChelmsford, Mercury and Collingwood. He evenhad a trade certificate from the Heinz teleprintercompany. He was no slouch. This was the newgeneration: on-line, skynets, data links. It wascalled electronics these days, not radio.

'Poppycock !' he prefaced his argument. (Actu-ally he said something quite different, but thensome of my readers may have delicate ears.) 'Any-thing you could do in the old days we can dobetter and faster today. The introduction ofRATT, especially on-line both ways, has meant a

far greater traffic capability on any one net and a

terrific reduction in transit times. And if youdon't know what that means, well it's the difference

between time of filing and the time of receipt'.SRO said nothing; he was wreathed in enigmatic

smoke rings.'lt's always been said that what can be done by

landline can be done by radio. And it's very farfrom being the lazy sort of task you make it outto be. Just take, for instance, the TARE systemarone. One mistake and you're up the creek. Andthen there's the routeing books have to be con-stantly amended to keep up with the times. Notonly that the gear has to be spot on because thecrypiosyst€m is highly sensitive to distortion'.

SRO sniffeC. significantly. at this.'And if ycur olTsels, filters, balance, synthesisers

or transmitters are not absolutely spot on thenall you'll end up ri'ith is garbage; and if its inter-ship all you'll have is quick brown foxes jumpirgaboul all over the place and no traffic'.

SRO gurgied. hand over mouth.'rr\o matier horv clever you m1y be at obeying

the taping up rules to the last two-carriage-returns-one-line-feed, there's always some new damn thingcreeping into the system just when you think youknow it all'.

'Righto then', said SRO in a dangerously softvoice. 'There's a TP on the bugle in the EMR.CO AND FIX IT, you're so bloomin' clever!'

RN COMMCEN HONG KONGWhilst Britain fought it out in Munich for

those elusive medals, the combined efforts of ourbuntings of HI\{S Tomar and sparkers in the RNCommcen, amidst far less pomp and circum-stance, meri:ed a Gold in the shape of our latestCcmstar au'ard--this. added to the Bronze andSilver won earlier, shculd take Hong Kong to thetop of the Comstar ladder in the Royal Navy.

On the sporting scene our buntings, sparkersand greenies continue to provide an integral partof the RNHK soccer team whilst our ten pinbowlers continue to dt:nrinate the local leagues.Things can only improve

"r'ith the recent appoint-

ment of Les Howard as President of the HongKong Armed Forces Bowling League. Challengesfrcm various ships have provided entertainment,with sometimes more bowlers than pins fallingover.

October saw Hong Kong full up with the largestconcentration of ships here for some time. EightEritish warships, HMNZS 14/uikoto, the FrenchCruiser De Grasse and of course the usual batchof visiting American warships. all of which gaveus the opportunity to test our various resourcesto the full. in addition to the normal services. TheRN Commcen were able to simultaneously pro-vide two broadcasts and an MRL which washitherto unheard of, while those in the MSOgeared for a huge hand message organisationfound life infinitely sweeter with them havingeven less to do than in the nprmal (so thesparkers kept saying).

It is hoped that by December I we willbe running our covered Broadcast (B4lK) which

,:ii{

*!i ;l&{

*' "| 'r*a;,i l

\+:, +Eflrt:ill.:i:r,r:r,r',,,rfu ili#::;r'*'

IM. &

RO2(G) S. P. Brown accepting the COMSTARGOLD Award won by the RNCC HK and TamarMSO Communications and Technical Staffs. Pre-sentation is being made by Commodore J. K.

Stevens, Commodore-in-Charge Hong Kong

u i-l provide a reliable coverage north and eastcf Hong Kong.

The siaff out here has undergcne a number ofchanges since the last issue with many more tocome in the very near future.

Lt Cdr(C) D. C. Allen presides with Lieut (SD)G. Reed our newly appointed BCO and FCRSDave Caless in the hot seat. and CCY SharkieWard still driving the MSO. The staff consists ofthe following : --MSO CCY 'Taff' Jones (newly rated).

CYs Denning, Batten, Porter.LROs Hill, Irving, Watt. I\4cCormick,Sutherland.ROs Gibbs, Culton, Mayne, Coleman,Lawson-Barnes, Pennington.Winchester,Thompson.

Watkins, Gray,

RN RSs Coomber. Earl, Rudd, Hinton.Commcen LROs Palmer, Hague, Brown,

Howard, Evans, Edmonds.ROs Flynn, Crene, Mathews, Wood,Richmond, Brown. Shuter, Andrews.Hales, Clements, Davidson.

The greenies empire is governed by Eng Lieut(RE) I{. Higgins ably assisted by REAI (Fingers)Wesson and our Radio Ham REA2 Ian Dredge.Bringirg up the rear are LREM's Durkin, Renton.Westwood, Fallen, Bennetts and Biggs, with REM I

Jervis and Old.

ffi,-'o:,g ,l,:dd

:iBE

I

143

HEADQUARTERS NAVAL AIRCOMMAND

RNAS YEOVILTONThe last few months have seen a rast change

in the role of RNAS Yeovilton. ln addition lo themove of more of the Staff of Flag Othcer \avalAir Command from Lee-on-Soleni. the l:rrgestchange has been the transition of )'eor,ilton fromthe Fired 'W'ing role to the Rotary Wing role.Our chairs no longer vibrate to the Phantom jets

scream dorvn the runway with after-burn glowingw'hite as they make for the upper atmosphere.

Signal wise the change of role has made littledifference. because FONAC- still administers theremaining Fixed Wing Squadrons, even thoughthey are now parented by the RAF.

Further changes will have taken place by thetime this article goes to print. The Fleet Require-ment Unit aircraft based at Hurn will have movedto Yeovilton, and a start will have been made totransfer the FR U Ops Cell from Portland toYeovilton.

An additional task taken on by the Commsdepartment is the manning of the telephone ex-change at Houndstone Camp, some seven milesfrom Yeovilton. This camp, recently turned overto the RN by the Army, is being used to housedisplaced Ugandan Asians during their re-settle-ment in this country. Our switchboard operators,who form an integral part of the department, arebecoming experts in Asian dress customs, andrnkilled in the handling of complicated customersca lls.

The movements of personnel can normally befound in other sections of this magazine, howeversince Yeovilton last appeared on these pages wenow have a new Command CommunicationOfficer (Lt. Cdr. M. A. Stockton) and a newDeputy CCO (Lt.C. O'Brien).

If you are ever driving down the ,{303 and feellike a pleasant break, why not call in at theFleet Air Arm Museum'J This extremely wellequipped museum is really worthwhile visiting.

SUBMARINE WOR.K.UP ANDCOMMUMC.A,TIONS TRAINING

CENTRE FASI,ANEb.y Anon

Irvot haling been mentioned in the magazinefor several ciecrdes and not even being listed inR\CP l5 (do ue have BO'l'l). we thought a timelyrenrinder u as b:d11, needed. The past year hasseen 2.1 I 3 Ccmnru;ricators pass through theCentre. praciicals. refreshers- you name it,we do it.

Of course, training is only a sideline to ourmain task. The working up of subnrarine com-munication departments is what we are really herefor. Submarine work-ups vary in Iength from3l to 8 weeks depending on type of boat. UnlikePor.land, we ofien spend several days and nighisat sea as it's terribly difflcult getting ofi a sub-marine when it's dived.

The sea riders-ASCO(Ships) Sub-Lieut Bates,CRS Powell and RS(W) McKeever. Shoreboundfor training purposes are Cl RS(W) Sked andLRO(G) Boultwood. Our best wishes to recentlydeparted members-Lieut Jarrold to the dreadedPWO Course and CRS(W) McKay to Rc,venge(Starboard).

All visiting Communicators-._surface or sub-surface-are welcome. We will try to give you theIow down on the Clyde Hot Spots.

COMMCEN FORT SOUTFIWICKby 'Reggie'

Remember that rather clever Ad. on the telly'l-the one with the two scantily-clad cave-dwellerssteadily turning the blackening carcass on YeOlde Spit? 'Arrrgh' says the hairy one dis-believingly, 'and one day men'll land on theMoon!!' A few months ago, a portly little manin civil-servant grey, descended the one-hundred-and-seventy-nine well-worn steps down into thedripping tunnels of Fort Southwick and quietlyannounceC that there was a new Commcen being

'In spite of easterly winds,

144

our leanings are to the right'

bullt uhttvc ground, and one day. all C--ommuni-cators drafted to Fort Southwick would beemployed therein. 'Arrrgh' says the not-quite-so-hairy RO2 'and one day mate-etc. etc.'

Bui sure enough, rising from the unused paradeground high on the roof of the Fort is the frame-work of a large, bor-lrke building th,rt couldindeed turn out to be a Commcen. Ho',vever, forthe next few issues of this maglziire at least,Ccmmunicators at Portsmouih Commcen willcontinue to sieaCill, turn the well-used spit of thepresent TRC. and from these subterraneantunnels. do our best to serve the Communica-tior:s requiremenis of the fleet of the 70's.

Recent changes from the Comms angle downhere include a modification to the Harbour R lttCircuit, the increase of baud speed on the Tare'lN'Leg to 75 bauds, and the insiallaiion ofFCIi.S Snape as DOIC who appears to be operatingat a similar speed. At the moment though, i"'srather like having to polish, clean and maintainar ancient motor on its last legs whilst awaitingdelivery of a brand-new Rolls-Royce. Then ofcourse there's the question of what use will thisold Commcen be put to when we finally makethe move. As an impregnable defence it has nobet-er, and a staunch Spurs supporter down herethinks perhaps Frank O'Farrell and Man Unitedmry be interested'l

Neveriheless, if you're to join Fort SouthwickCommcen during the next couple of years, youwill be given. as always, the standard joininge:-uipment which includes a battered Daveylantern and n haggard three-badge atmospherictesiing canary before descending to the depths-then to emerge later with the remainder of wemoles blinking in the sunlight.

PARADISE FASLANEby The Crypto Queens

Applications are invited for the post of Husbandto our sole remaining spinster. Even her positionisn't desperate with the proportion of submarinersto Wrens at present standing al 100 to one.Admittedly our leisure activities up here at CostaDel Clyde don't all lead to the altar, but tl'rat'smore by luck than judgment.

Now to be serious: impossible: well at leastwe'll change the subject. We've got ourselves a

lovely little commcen, which (for the third timethis year) is in the process of being reorganised.Our amiable OIC is attempting to achieve theimpossible (ic, maximum traffic flow with mini-mum expenditure of energy). On proving his sys-tem, the entire Communications staff have beengiven to understand that the aforementioned OICis 'laying on' the first barrel at our next commcenget-together. (Lieut Adair please note ! )

OlI duty happenings: For those with energy tospare (married Wrens excluded) we have masses,rf sporting activities to keep yor-r in trim. 'Keep-

Fit' and gymnastics being top of the list. The hillysrrrounding countryside leads us to mention a fewolher popular activities such as hill climbingcrpeds. normally organised by our 'bootneck's-'rgeant, and of course the ever popular ski-ing.For animal lovers, the saddle club is a must,thcugh complaints of bruised behinds will not,rcpeat not. get r ou 'stand-offs'. The sportsdromeamong other things boasts a lovely heated swim-nring pool. PTIs :rre available for any instructionthat may be required. Are all these /oo energetic?Well, for those lvith n-tone) to spare, we havesome well known and much approved arm exer-cises (other than Haggis-bashing). taking placetivice daily at reputable establishments in andarounC the base. (Or so the FCRS assures us.)

For commcen personnel in dire need of gettingzrway from it all, we have recently acquired thep:rfect solution. It consists of a fully furnishedfive bedroom residence. a mere two hour drivefrorn Faslane. It can cater for as many as 20, withevery facility imaginable including a deep-freezeand a television. If this fabulous 'write-up' doesn'tattract you, then what will?

For those rvho have not ),,et perused RNCP 15

arL 203, RSs rvill be delighted to note that theyare now required to knorv fleetrvork.

tf sdvs t}ER€ il Kxc?r5 JuR S<ft*":Aa>

o€ Kr{oW€ueu Sftrus Be. ftN .ft, pLus.i

frJ>

145

COMBRAX PORTSMOUTH }ISOHere we are tucked away in the same dusty

corner of RNB dealing mainlr u ith u'elfare,discipline and release signals. \\'e are surroundedby new and half erected buildrngs but se are dueshortly to move into our o\\ n sm3rt neu ollice(Hardy block. just inside the ntain barrack g.ite).always providing the builders do not go on strikeagain ! |

The staff is nrade up of one CCY (God blesshim). 5 CYs. 3 LRO(T)s and any odd bods whobeccme P7R or are available from refitting ships,the predominant section being P7R. It wouldappear that the qualification for this job is eithera damaged limb or you are due for a draft in a

short while and fancy a job-change from theBuffers' party. lntelligence is an asset but not a

necessity. RO3s are welcome, also the evergreengollies.

For those who have called in for a cup of coffeein recent months, only two departures recently ofthe permanent staff. CCY Bob Manser went to aquiet number at RNR Brighton followed morerecently by'3 badges gold' LRO(T) 'Nobby' Clarketo HMS Barwick. Personal message for Nobby,Charlie 'D' is still here and is threatening toapply for PVR if he gets drafted beyond theGosport ferry ! !

STC HMS DRAKEby 'Our man in Guzzingporf

Greetings from the Special Treatment Centre.Well, '72 proved to be yet another busy year inmany ways, and not only for those of us at sea.'Strong Express' drew most of our teeth but westill met our commitments both here and abroad(Mount Wise for instance). As you may, or maynot know. our main purpose these days could besummed-up in the words Foreign Navies andRNR, but, we are still very much involved withboth RO2(Q)s and Provisionals (of all sport)for the RN.

RNCPI5 looked to me as if it was going tocause a lot of headaches and some re-thinkingwhen first I set eyes on it, however, after muchdebate and investigating all the angles the Centreis teaching to it. and it does begin to look as ifwe have mastered it. Any rumours that we arenow getting knowledge across via the 'Enid Bly-ton' method are entirely [alse, groundless, andjust not true, spread, no doubt by people whooverheard the following lesson: 'Now then kiddies.when Billy Bid is in sync. Tomnty. Teleprinterwill stop chattering and Alfie Autohead will getSanrmy Signal through'. That may be a slightexaggeration but Big Ears did pass his RO2 andwe hope to see him back soon for his ProvisionalLRO.

Anyone re-visiting STC in the future will findchange is the order of the day, the Dockyard are'on the job' and the MCO is changing shape.Gone are most of the B40 and B41s together with

146

a lot of fittings (and plaster). The so called'Transmitter Museum' is next and we will endup with something called ICS eventually. FleetBiflers are still churning out (at 20 and I0 WPM)anridst the rubble surprisingly enough, but pleasebear rrith us if thev are a little late as the LROh:rs tr-r clintb over the scrap heap first.

Sport seenrs to har,e taken a back seat theseIast feir u eeks although I beliel,e a revivalistmovement is on the \\a\. we are still basking inthe past g1or1 of u'inning the HMS Drake MiniSport competition (* ith a little help from ourf riends).

Finally. or almost, a word to anvone consideringa Home Port Service draft, if you are a native oran adopted native, like me. it's ideal and youknow there are worse places than darkest Guzz.Don't come for an easy life, things get quite hec-tic, 'sessions on' is the cry, taking foreign Naviesalone. We have just got rid of, if that is the righterpression, the Libyans, Iranians and GibraltarHQRs, we have with us now the Peruvians andJamaicans and expect the Thais shortl1,. lt is aninteresting and I find, rewarding job, you cer-tainly nleet a lot of different people that is ifyou like people who are different! So. come andioin us, or relieve us !

COMNAVSOUTH COMMCENby CRS C. J. Netherton

There is always a flrst time for everything andnow that we have recovered from our move fromMalta in NoviDec of last year to Naples. wethought it about time to enlighten our AlmaMater as to the joys of Bella Napoli.

We all viewed the enforced move from Maltato Naples with rather jaundiced eyes. Some ofus flew over and some came by sea complete withcars and families. The sea trip brought us intocontact rvith our first non-english speaking Italians,For instance df ing for a cuppa and one orders a

cup of coffee in Oxford English. When it comes upit's in a cup about the size of three thimbles puttogether and a thick black murky liquid is foundlurking in the bottom. Anyway it's so strong it is

virtually guaranteed to keep you awake for atleast 48 hours (watchkeepers take note). The wordwhich would have produced frothy colTee isCappuchino, that comes up in an English sizecup and is most palatable. Generalising now,when the boat arrives in Naples and all theformaiities are cleared up, you are then releasedon to the streets of down town Naples, hair rais-ing/chaotic, words won't cover the state of traffichere. If f or instance you are one tenth of a

second in moving olI from traffic lights once the]'have turned green, you are greeted by a caco-phony of motor horns and some pretty evidenttype finger signs. I am of course only talkingabout Neapolitan drivers, outside of Naples.especially on the Autostradas, sanity reigns andcourtes! is a byword. When you arrive in Naples

you must have a sponsor. This person is askedto look after you during your initial settling inperiod, the reason being that if 5ou can't speak a

word of Italian the going can be a little rough.so a long standing resident of Naples can helpsmooth some of the bunrps.

COMNAVSOUTH is nou' firnr11 established inNaples (but in a tenrporarr location. Santa Lucia).CINCSOUTH is located in Bagnoli. with Com-modore Hack as A COS C & E. CINCSOUTH isthe major subordinate commander. COMARAIR-MED and CO\'lSUBMED (Lt (SD) (C) Kent, RN)are also located in Naples and are subordinateconrnranders to COMNAVSOUTH CRS. R. H.Grass also works at CONSUBMED.

We hope to move our HQ soon to a permanentsite at Nisida on the outskirts of Naples, whichrvill give us improved communications facilitiesand easier access to our place of duty. Accom-modation wise. you find a flat which is invariablyunfurnished. in most cases to just having wireswhere lights should be. it's a big do it yourselfjob. Moneywise when families first arrive the-vare advanced a considerable sum of money, partof which is a grant and part has to be repaidover a two year period.

The sum that is received is verl' quickly whittleddown when you furnish a flat with just bare wallsetc, but after the initial settling in period is over,you then get back on even keel.

Places of interest. Naples is a good startingpoint for some of the more famous beauty spotsand places of interest. Vesuvius is about an hour'sdrive away. Sorrento and the famous Amalfi driveabout two hours. Pompeii one hour and Rome,up the Autostrada depending on how Dad motors,is about two hours. [n fact the whole of Europe isat your fingertips if you care to load up and goon a touring holiday.

COMMANDER IBERIAN ATLANTICAREA-COMIBERLANT

(By CRS Johnson)Never heard of COMIBERLANT'I Funny

neither had we until last year, so we will start toenlighten you on this score. COMIBERLANT hasactually been operating, somewhat unobtrusively,for the past four to five years from a small countryvilla buried in rural Portugal until October 1972when the new Headquarters were commissionedand we hit the headlines with a bang!! After thedust had settled, we became fully operational inour new HQs last March. The Headquarters issituated on the coast at Oeiras which isabout seven miles from Lisbon and aboutthe same distance from Cascais and Estoril, thelocal but fashionable holiday resorts. The Head-quarters is easily distinguished by the 90 metremicrowave mast and the 15 flagpoles on which arehoisted the NATO and national flags-weather andmanpower permitting.

The overall HQ Complex comprises the TopsideAdministrative Facility (TAF) (above ground

admin block for those uninitiated in Americanese).the Underground Operational Complex and theTransmitting and Receiving Stations which arescme 30 miles away to the south across the Tagus.The overall complement is just over 200 and isequally divided between Portuguese, Americanand British personnel with the Communicatorsnccountin-u for half of the total. The top man isan American Admiral. with a Portuguese Admiralas his deputl and an RN Captain as his Chiefof Staff.

Within four weeks of becoming operational andbeing able to get our hands on the equipment wetook part in Exercise 'Night Search'. HM ShipsBluke, Aurora (then COMSTANAVFORLANT)/.ndrontcdu, Argortuul, HMY Brittttrniu and RFAOlw'ur will remember Commcen IBERLANT, wecertainly remember them. Tracers? Not guilty !

During the exercise we activated our broadcast,ship-shore and MARO for the first time. Thebroadcast caused several traumatic moments dueto a temperamental piece of equipment which wasborrowed from our friends to the north. Theequipment has since been replaced and a spare unitnow gives us 100'il, back up. Otherwise things wentpretty well, particularly ship-shore organisationwhich is based on the UK method without all thetrimmings. Exercise 'strong E-xpress' proved to bea dud for IBERLANT. Using NIGHT SEARCHas our guide we expected to be 'snowed' howeverI feel I can safely say the sun shone and it was

very quiet. I believe up north the snow fellheavily--no matter our turn will come.

'All work and no play makes Jack a dult boy''Let me assure you we have no dull boys here.A great deal of effort is being put into the sportingand social side of life. Our soccer team provedworthy opponents in most instances last season

as Faurless will confirm. Our first match of thisseason against Tcnbv was a miserable 7 to 1

clefeat, but it did take place while we were in threewatches fo'r 'strong Express'. So next time Tenbywatch out.

During August we helcl a Mini Olympiad. ThePortuguese proved decisive andworthywinnerswiththe USA second and UK trailing third. Howeverwe hope to do better next year. The afternoonproved very popular and I am sure the event willbecome a regular IBERLANT feature.

The HQ dances are roaring successes. Threenations sure know how to play together? Workingtogether is sometimes mo're difficult. Every Fridaynight (except during exercises) we run a disco andabout every six weeks we put on a dance to a

live band. We still have no proper Mess or Club.Once a week the dining room becomes an all ranks/rates Mess. So far the system has worked well.Still it will be nice when we do get our own mess(in American jargon it will be an Enlisted Men'sMess), it will enable us to have some place to invitevisiting ships' companies to etc. At present all ourentertaining has to be done in our homes or atour local bar in Cascais or wherever.

147

COMMUNICATIONS GAZETTEAPPOINTN,{ENTS

EotroR's NoTE: Although every cncleavottr is ritittlt'!() Lnst!r( tltat the inlormatiott inthis scction is correct we ask reuclcrs nor to !r('!.i! it (t.\ (tr!tlti)ritcttiy'e in the strict sanse.

Name Rank WhitherAeaorr, P. C. Lieut Chawton in CommandAllcocr, J. N. Lieut-Cnrdr Mercury as GTlAnusrRoNc, J. G. B. Lieut-Cmdr A1NA Moscow and HelsinkiARogprc.:r.re-BurreR, \,1. F. P. Lieut-Cmdr MOD for duty with DNSBEartE, J. M. Commander ASWEBtrv.rrEn, J. Lieut Ariadne as SCOBRooul''rEt-D, M. A. Lieut-Cmdr C.\F Exchange serviceBEARD, C. G. R. Sub-LieLrt ShoultonBnIccs, W. G. Lieut-Cmdr ASWEBnowN, C. D. S. Lieut-Cmdr Ark RoyalBexen, M. S. Lieut Sraff of FOSTCoopen, D. S. Lieur Sraff of FOSNIClenr, C. C. Lieut-Cmdr MOD for duty with DNSCsnrsrtE, W. J. Lieut Staff ol CINCFLEET as A/ FCOCuNooN, A. W. J. Lieut Mercury for X SectionCevpeELI-, C. G. H. Lieut [i.N StafT CourseCoopen, D. G. Lieut Drahe as OIC STCCnrnnv, D. Sub-Lieut Mercury SD(C) CourseCaRren, C. D. Lieur ANZUK JFHQCaurll, M. J. Lieur Staff ol FOST as OIC CommcenDnare-Wrlrrs, J. B. Lieut CharybdisDAVIS, W. H. Lieut LondonDvrps, J. E. Lieut-Cn-rdr Jupiter as First LieutDurE, V. S, P. Lieut-Cmdr Sta{T of FOCAS as SCO and Flag LieutDAVIS, R. K. Lieut D:vonshireDooswonru, P. Lieut Mcrcury for X SectionErcuEI-r-Es, H. Third Oflicer Mercury for CE CourseEverr, G. Lieut Ark RoyalFtelos, A. E. Lieut MercuryFnnNrl-tx, R. D. Captain Ccnturion for course at RCDSFnv, G. E. Third Officer Mercury for CE CourseFnvr,n, D. W. Lieut-Cdr tlDS WashingtonFaRRow, M. J. D. Lieut Greenwich for Lieuts CourseGewrr,v, J. M. Lieut Sraff of CINCHAN/CINC-EASTLANTGoecusn, M. Lieut SrafT of FO Medway as SCO/SOOGEoncr, C. M. Third Officer MercuryHoweno, D. M. A. Lieut Sheraton in commandHNIPS, R. C. LiCUt StAff Of CINCEASTLANTHuNrr,n, C. W. Lieut-Cmdr Penelope as First LieutHeNos, C. Third Officer NeptuneJncrsoN, D. Lieut Mercury for Officers Training SectionLr,naoNor,, B. E. Lieut-Cmdr Staff of CINCAFNORTHLuce, P. D. Lieut-Cmdr Berlvick as First LieutLEEs, P. R. Comnlander Staff of COMIBERLANTLocre, R. Third Officer Nlercury for CE CourseLoooER, N. G. Lieut RN Staff CourseLowor,N, G. W. Commander Selior Officers War CourseLpttNoN, J. Sub-Lieut TigerLt-ovo, B. D. Lieut CochraneMonrox, A. S. Rear-Adml Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy)Meno, A. I. Third Officer Mercury for CE CourseMewsoN, T. Lieut Staff of FO MaltaMcMui-leN, C. J. Lieut-Cmdr ASWE for ARWG148

Name Rank WhitherMtrpoRo, T. B. Lieut Mercury as WlMulHollaNo, J. Third Officer Commcen WhitehallMoRrsoN, V. R. Third Officer Staff of FOCASMuccEnrocE, M, A. D. Sub-Lieut Mercury SD (C) CourseOncueno, L. W. Lieut-Cmdr Lincoln as First LieutPrNr<, C. J. Lieut MOD for duty with DNEPnnnv, M. F. captain Naval Assistant to 2nd Sea LordPrxr, D. G. Lieur Staff of FO Spithead as D/SCOPanrrn, H. B. Captain MOD as ADNMP (DGNM&TIRroourr, J. E. Sub-Lieut GlamorganRetni, K. Lieut ACR SCC Scorland AreaRosntrr. J. \\. Lieut-Cmdr Mauritius as SCORost\-sox, \1. A. Lieut-Cmdr FearlessScrrrrR, E. G. L. Lieut-Cmdr ASWES rr*orns, C. H. Lieut Mercury for duty with Captain Weapon TrialsScuorrEr-o, K. Lieut-cmdr Staff of Fo Plymouth as SCoSnres, R. C. K. Lieut Transfer to General ListSureRnaetsreR, P. R. Lieut-Cmdr FO Gibraltar as SCO and Flag Lieuts-raNpoRo, P. M. Captain centurion for course at RCDSSrncr,y, W. L. B. Lieut StafT of FO Plymouth as ASCOSaNor,ns, J. T. Lieut BulwarkSwellow, D. P. First Officer DauntlessTavloR, D. T. Lieut Staff of FOSTTe,lue, D. E. Chief Officer MOD for duty with DGNM&TTUKE, P. J. V. Lieut-Cmdr SCO to CINCNAVHOME and FO SpitheadwoooHeu, R. E. Sub-Lieut Mercury for New Entry SquadronWnrrey-SnarrH, R. C. Sub-Lieut Commcen WhitehallWarsoN, J. J. Lieut-Cn,dr Sraff of CINCHAN/CTNCEASTLANTtiVrNrlEss, W. J. Lieut AlbionWess, A. R. Sub-Lieut DevonshireWsrreHEeo, D. Commander Mercury as Commander'X'WSEEN, P. A. C. Lieut Shrivenham for Dugger C Coursewrt-lrens, D. c. second officer Re-appointed as Mrs D. C. ClarkeWtt soN, G. A. S. C. Lieut-Cmdr MercuryWoorr,y, R. J. E. Lieur-Cmdr MOD for duty with DNOA(X)YEerEs, D. A. Sub-Lieut Mercurv

PROMOTIONSTo Vice-AdrniralJ. E. Pope

To Lieutenant Commander To Lieutenant M. A. NuceNrB. BunNs J. A. Cneooocx A. W. R. WrlroNB. A. Davres D. W. Fr-owr,nN. G. Loooe,n G. E. Hoopr,nR. O'BnlrN R. R. Hunapnnres To A/Sub-LieutenantG. A. S. C. Wrrsorl B. D. Llovo RS (RCI) N. R. Rocens

SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO CHIEF PETTY OFFICERTo CCYT. C. Fr-yNNS. H. SeNncaNM. A. FonoR. ReEsC. H. Mloolr,roNL T. EowenpsD. R. Moonr,J. F. W. LrsseRJ. D. Rect

A. JecrsoNA. RossG. J. Ivor-.1. RosEnrsM. Jgpsor.rR. C. STEnNEI. BersnD. Eccr,nsA. W. Floerr,

K. GnrnP. ClanrC. BlowueNA. G. HlecoooK. A. BecNnllR. Dnoovr,I. W. TvsoNG. KrrloneN

149

To CRSM. SrusBSS. KNrcrrD. H. WooowlnoJ. MannND. Lr,prNctottA. N. FReNrlrNS. V. BooxenR. T. RosrM. J. RrcxrRoW. Nonru\cro\M. E. NesHP. E Wrrlsox

Lieut-Cmdr K. P. BRucp-GeRovNELieut F. W. C. ENor,nsThird Ofllcer J. A. JeuesCaptain B. H. KeNr

To CRS(W)P. J. SourHGArEJ. R. BpNNrrrG. CorroxTo CRS(S)1.1. BRrcnrrroneP. GosrtxcD. S. Eou.rnosB. P. DevresD. J. Nerpu,ltvtA. J. HlnntsH. F. GrssoNJ. 'f. LeNNoN

RETIREMENTSLieut R. S. WrrsrnsLieut Cdr R. M. AlleNL;eut G. E. J. Hooprn

COMMISSIONING FORECASTS

E<litor's note: Tlte lollovitrg detuils urc lorecast ortly, cltanges mayare given in thc order: Ship, Type, Date if knox'n, Commitmertt.

weU take placc at short notice. Details

Home Sea Service-AccompaniedPort Service

GSS General Sea ServiceGSC General Commission.FS Foreign Service Commission

EuryalusHampshireAriaclneKirklistonMartonDundasNubianKeppelHermesEskimoAjatcLlandaffEnduranceA ja:cEskimoHermesArethusaTartarHampshireCleopatraHeraldSu.lisburyTrittmphHeraldPcnelopeZuluTartcr150

HSSPS

GP Frigate. Jan, C and M partv at Devonport, PSGM Destro-ver. Jan, Trials crew at Portsmouth, PSGP Frigate, June, C and M party, Devonport, PSM/H, Jan, Long refit party at Devonport, PSM/H, Feb. Rosyth, HSSA/S Frigate, Feb, Chatham. HSSGP Frigate. Feb, Home/W Indies RM, GSSA/S Frigate, Feb, Gibraltar. HSSi PSLPH, March, Trials Crew at Devonport, PSGP Frigate, March, Chatham Trials, PSGP Frigate, Apr, Trials crew at Devonport, PSA/A Frigate. May, Home/E of Suez, GSSlce Patrol Ship, June, Home/SASA, GSSGP Frigate. June. Home/E of Suez. GSSGP Frigate. June, Home/WI. GSSLPH, June. Devonport, GSSGP Frigate, June, C and M party, Devonport, PSGP Frigate, July, Trials crew at Portsmouth, PSGM Destroyer, Aug, Portsmouth, GSSGP Frigate, Aug, C and M party at Devonport, PS

Survey Ship, Reduced trials crew at Leith, PSAD Frigate, Sept, Refit crew at Chatham, PSFMS, Sept. Refit crew at Portsmouth, PS

Survey Ship, Dec, Trials crew at Chatham, PS

GP Frigate, Dec, C and M party at Devonport, PSCP Frigate, Dec, Trials at Rosyth, PSGP Frigate, Dec, RM, GSS Homei WI

WINTER CR.OSSWORDby Anne Jewel

CLUESA c'rossl. Put down the bone and take an avrard. (6)5. Sharpen all those used for punishn,ent. (5)

10. To cure cvclamen, rid the plant ol possiblemoney troubles. (7, 8)

I L I'm in a mountain of n-rilitar) stores making.. (10)

l). . . . a great deal, chum. (4)14. Make haste. War-drums are beating - find

the foreman. (7)l-5. Trvo points to the fire for this scutching tool.

('7 )

16. 'Ow do _vou tell the identitr of trvo ens --o ! dear. (7)

'T7ars -)*etr o/- oLD /vt1a/ 75 ,S/eooqz

us /?LL 77,: w,:7 ao*u y'ee,' Coqn*ot?

ly'*e'/tR 7 t-ttt Qar ,4rz.PsF1/:LD

Coua/ctL '^/tzt a/or DPtrPo',41 or 7A6//"

kt )if-zb.-<4(;g\, _--*,)

18. About one. calm us with a tuneful perform-ance. (7)

10. M_v impression is that tone is all important.(4)''Tis not a lip. or e,'-e. u'e heautr call.B ut the joint force and of all.'

(Alexander Pope) (4, 6)Do initials start these people u,ho areagainst l0 across? (15)Measures a cart going bacl'w'ards to the south.(5)I'd back the price about the cipher erpert. (6)

l)ovn2. 'Democracl substitutes election by, the

for appointnrent bv the corrupt tew.' (G. B.Shaw) (l l. 4)

3. I'm a demon at making things pungent. (10)4. tt did surround the dead and enlarged. (7)5. Feathery fruit, lol'e. and us. (7)6. A pattern, negative Ro-val Marines. (4)7. A cougar, unless age is too great" helps to

learn foreign tongues. (8, 7)8. Beside. a1so, the central perfect concepts. (6)9. Brightly,, cheerily'. have another fruit. (6)

13. The -voung lady had an old skin. and theeditor made a mistake. (10)

16. Has he torn a tendon? That's rather elabor-are. (6)

17. He contemplates wrapping an old pennl in a

tissue. (7)18. The cinenrzr holds about fifty in the dark. (7)19. The dead saint is the slowest. (6)21. 'She's like a -

gone to burning hell:'Twas I that kill'd her.' (Othello) (4)

ll

23

24

(Solutions on page 113)

151

_____.r_-_

\-\

DRAFTINGOn[1 nane. :har hase been included in articles from ships and establishments and not printed elseu,here in the magazine are shown here. Readin-g

rhe SHIP-SHORE \E\\'S rvill give ycu the whereabouts of many of your friends. Pleaseforu'ard any drafts you wish shown in our next edition with1-..ur arricie i.r the Summer edition of the magazine. Individuals may write directly to the Editor if they rvish.-

.\lrhough ever]' endeavour is made to ensuie that the information in this section is correct n'e ask readers not to treat it as authoritative in the strictsense.Narne Rate Whither Name Rate Whither Name Rate Whither-\D{.\{s .\1. J. RS Hermes CosrELLo M. E. RO2(G) Glamorgan Gtlasnr E. H. QqY fig.tAsnrHanr R. M. CY Plymorrth Cnarr D. J. LRO(W) Mercury Gooouar B. C. RS Dido.{ortxs C. C. RO2(G) Mauritius Cnorr M. ROI(G) Neptun, Gn.rnaru C. R. LRO(G) BeagleALDRTcH J. N. JRO(T) Ariadne CnrnaN A. D. RO2(G) Hermes Gntrx G. C. BS(W) An$lmArexeNosn D. S. LRO(W) Argonaut Cnasrnrp G. RO2(T) Mercury Gntrrlrss C. A. RO2(\7) AriadneALLEN H. J. RS Fearless Cnoss A. LRO(G) Minerva Gnrrx trl. J. JRO(G) FearlessALLrsoN K. P. RO2(T) Achiilcs Colns P. P. RO2(T) Palliser Gnuea .N1. RO2(T) RhylAI.sop M. f). RO2(!7) Mercury CunnaN A. M. LRO(G) Flermes Haxxrv T. C. W. FCCY MercuryANoEnsoN G. RO2(G) Nurton' Curr.rN J. M. RO2(G) Mercury Hanrxrir J. D. RO2(G) AntrimAr.rornsoN J. F.. JRO(T) Albion Cunnre J. JRO(G) Blake Hannrs P. J RS(W) MercuryANornsoN J. LRO(W) Resolution DAvrs B. J. RO2(G) Fife Haxvrv R. Bql(G) Me-rcuryANonrws A. LRO(G) Fife Davrrs E. N. LRO(G) FOCAS Hayward G R. RO2(T) RNH HaslarAsney S. E. H. JRO(W) Lynx Devrrs G. r^. ROI(G) Intrepid HnlNr n. E. RO2(G) AriadneArHEy B. LRO(G) Hampshire Davrrs M. V. RO2(W) Mercury Hanoy H. R. RS PembrokeArxrusoN J. A. RS Hampshire Davrs B. M. RO2(\7) Hampshire Hau J. R. LRO(Y) MercuryAtrcr f). RO2(G) Dundas Davras T. LRO(\\/) Mercury HeNosunv D. A. LRO(G) MalabarBerlrv P. J. RO3(W) Leander DALr-AS D. CCY Diomedc HannrsoN V. J. RO2(T) VictoryBaxrrn C. J. RS ashanti DawscN D. G. CY Minerva Havrs D. C. RO2(W) MercuryBar-owrN T. R. RO2(T) Mercury DaNnuny K. F. LRO(G) Mercury Hannls rV. G. JRO(W) LincolnBanclay K. RO2(T) Hampshire Devrv M. J. LRO(W) Mcrcury HrrcntoN T. RO2(T) MercuryBennrtr S. P. RO2(G) Iaguar Dsan D. A. LRO0W) Ariadne HraNev M. J. RO2(\7) FOSTBaroocr -L CCY Mercury Drc<rr \. LRO(\7) Achills HrNrv G. CRS MercuryBauow R. J. RO2(G) Mercury Doax T. LRO(T) Mercury HIrr D. J. RO2(T) MercuryBernr B. JRO(T) Nubian DonaN \f. A. T. ROI(G) Hermes HIll R. J. ROI(G) EnduranceBavacr C. V. RO2(T) Hermes DopsorQ S. RO2(T) Mercury HIcrs R. F. RO2(G) PhoebeBARRIE E. A. RO2rW') .Ntercurv DosRvrqrrwsxl M. RO2(G) Tiger Hlcxrrrorr W. CCY FOF1BAKER C. B. RO2'G) .\lercurl' Dorreno M. a. JRO(G) Yarmouth Hrccrxs B. M. LRO(G) HampshireBenvvrcx D. B. CY Falmouth Dow'sir G. CCY Blake HtNr T. F. RO2(N7) AiaxBarN T. P. RO2 T) Haslar Dosovrs J. RO2(G) Achilles Hors C. D. RO2(G) HampshireB.qrrn K. JRO,G) Devonshire Dnru' L. K. LROrW) Mercury HorraNo T. RS DolphinBee trl. J. RS St George Dusrono 1. RO2(G) Fearless HorxrNs R. A. RO2(G) IvestonBerrrnsoxrn G. RO3(G) Tiger Ducxu'onrn C. T. RS Tamar HoucnroN P. RO2(G) HermesBrNxrrr A. C. ROI(G) Phoebe Dulrcarr A. L. FO2(G) Diego Garcia Howeno B. V. RS MercuryBrnxry K. N. RO2(G) Mercury Duxcax A. I. LRO(G) Drake HoocsoN B. CRS(\7) DiomedeBEcK P. J. LRO(G) RNU DunnaNr j. N. CY Mercurl' Hocc D. G. ROI(G\ Bristol

Tangmere Eanrv G. J. P. RO2(!(/) Dreadnor.rsht HousroN J. CRS AjaxBnrr D. RO2(G) Neptune Eor',roNns I. R. JRO(G) Danae HorraNo B. A. RS RookeBrnrrI-sy M. P. RO2(T) f)iego Garcia EouoNos K. D. RO3(G) Glamorgan Howrrls R. D. JRO(!7) CleopatraBEU- G. G. LRO(W) Mercury Eowanos K. H. RO2(W) Achilles HoocrrNsou T. G. RO2(T) AmazonBrNrox R.'K. RO3(G) Bristol Eowanos B. T. RO2(G) Mercury HoronN R. M. RO2(G) BrightonBnrts F. C. CCY Mercury Eowanns N. D. RO2(G) Neptune Hooo B. RS(1$7) MercuryBErcn B. G. RS(W) Tiger Epwanos P. C. CRS Mercury Hols C. D. RO2(G) HampshireBrlr A. CCY St Angelo EcrrnroN J. RO2(G) Maxton Hovzrs R. W. LRO(T) MercuryBunryurrvr D. LRO(G) Mercury EcrrNroN $7. JRO(T) Rhvl HuNr M. J. CY LondonderryBroorn N. J. RO3(G) Arethusa Eroen I. M. CRS(rI7) Hampshire Hooxs J. E. ROI(W) Diego GarciaRnuroN-GrgNry I-RO(G) CINCFLEET Er.rano A. R. LRO(\U) Mercury Huss.:v C. F. JRO(G) FearlessBcrrcN B. RO2(G) Juno Eurs C. n. LRO(G) FOST HuNrluv R. W. RO2(T) AriadneBooRe P. R. LRO(T) l\'Lercury Errrso.s J. A. RO2(G) Mercury HUN'rrx J. H. J. ROI(G) MercuryBoyarl C. N. JRO(G) Grenville EnwrN D. LRO/G) Ashton Huupnnrvs A. C. LRO(T) SiriusBowrr-s -V. S. RO2(T) Keppel EnwrN G. LRO(G) Cochrrne Huupnnev C. P. RO2(T) ScyllaBowrns G. FS Glamorgan Eva P. G. I-RO(T) FOF2 Iurs J. G. A. RO2(G) PlymouthBnrrr C. M. RO3(T) Danae EvaNs D. V. RS Leopard Ironaru A. R. LRO('S7) VarspiteBnocxseNr S. N. RO3(T) Juno EvaNs K. LRO(\?) Rlake Incuar'l D. J. RS(!D St GeorgeBurusoN M. R. RO2(G) Cachalot EveNs R. ROI(G) Rothesav IrvNes J. R. RO2(G) HampshireBnowN D. \f. J. RO2(T) Diomede Evrs P. LRO(\7) Mercury Ir.rNas )7. A. RO3(G) MercuryBRowN R. CRS Diomede EDwARDS G. F. R. RO2(\7) Ariadne Jacxsc,t 1,. RO2(G) VictoryBnooxs P. JRO(W) Antrim Fernev C. J. RO2(T) F{ermes JacrsoN C. R. P. RO2(T) FearlessBneosnaw A. R. RO2(T) Gavington Fenrsv FCRS Heron JaulrsoN A. RO2(W) GlamorganBnyaN T. W. RO2(G) Mercury Fauows G. ROI(G) \X/hitehall Jannaur R. J. RO2(\7) HampshireRnav E. RO2(G) Blake FarncrorH P. \V. RS(W) Mercury .,eavaNs L RO2(T) NubianBunxe E. RO2(G) Pallir,er FARNES A. CY Mercury JrNuen P. J. ROI(W) VhitbrBunwooo D. L. ROI(G) Mercury FarnaernN I. M. ROI(G) Mercury JuNNrNcs A. J. RO2(T) MercuryBu'rr.ex A. B. LRO(T) Mercurl, Farxw;ararn R. LRO(G) FOST JonNs W. F'. RO2(G) AjaxBuriuns D. N. RO2(G) Satrre FrNorrv M. R. $7. RO2(\7) Juno JouNsoN M. B. ROI(G) ExmouthBuxrrr.rc S. H. ,rO2(G) Tarnar Frrzcenaro T. A. RO2(G) Hampshire JcnNsroNr J. R. RO2(l07) BacchanteRun.vooo D. L. RO2(G) E.,kim r Frsx R. H. A. JROfG) Caprice JoNrs A. LRO(T) SiriusBucc J. A. ROI(T) Aiax Froarr A. W. RS Mauritius JoNrs J. RO3(G) F.arlessBounxn J. Ro3(G) Arethusa FrrrrNer* RO2(W) Achilles JoNes L. A. RS MercuryCer,tnnoN S. RS Mauritius Fosrpn M. L. RO2(G) Hermes JoNrs R. D. RO2(I7) VhitbyCeupnen D. RO2(\7) Juno FosrER P. D. JRO(T) Fearless KaveuacH K. A. LRO(T) MercuryCann P. RO2(T) Mercury Fostrn T. W. RO2(T) Penelope Krrrrrr P. E. RS(!?) MercuryCnaprow H. RO2(G) Antrim Fono B. J. RO2(G) Penelope KrNwaxo B. RO2(T) RhylCHarcnrrr G. T. RO2(G) Renown ForraNn C. J. RO2(T) Aia:r KeNrnov A. R. N{. RO2(G) LaymoorClaxx R. W. RO2(T) Antrim Fox A. A. ROI(G) Mercury Krrcnrn P. W. FCCY AiaxCraxxr K. T. ROI(W) Blake Fox M. N. RO2(W) Aia'- KrNc R. C. LRO(W) MercuryClaxcny T. F. LRO Victory GAFNEy D. F. RO2(G) Rooke KrNc M. L" JRO(G) LynxCoox D. E. R. RO2{G) Arethusa Garro'rvav R. CCY NavSouth KrNsrv H. M. RO2(G) FearlessCounr A. M. RO2(T) Keppel Garn K. RS !/hitby Krrrsarnrx D. P. LRO(G) LeanderCoNoxoN O. RO2(T) Lynx GavrN S. RO2(\7) Cochrane Kurcur J. R. RO3($7) FifeCoorr{ers B. G. F. CRS Glamorgan Garracxrn T. RO2(T) Dundas KNnrnan C. C. RO2(G) Bulu,arkCorroN R. A. RO2(T) Rapid GarlacHrn M. J. RO3(G) Hydra Lannxrn J. JRO(G) BristolCourson A. E. RO2(T) Falmouth GRr'lrsav S. RO2(W) Mercury LencooN C. E. I. CRS(IJ?) AiaxCou.rr.rs I. D. LRO(G) Hermes GanorN A. S. LRO(W) Mercury LawsoN \W'. G. RO2(G) IupiterCoNcoorv M. J. RO2(G) Drake Groncr D. J. ROI(G) Eskimo LewnBNcr R. A. LRO(II7) HampshireCoNorrrrr D. A. JRO(G) Fife GresoN H. S. LRO(G) lThitehall Lrponr P. D. JRO(G) Ark RoyalCoscnovs M. F. C. BO3(T) Gurkha Grrrnspr; M. ROI(G) Rooke Lrrr D. n. J. ROI(G) Achilles

r52

\\'.

Rate WhitherRO2(G) Diego GarciaLRO(IO NeptuneLRO(G) MercuryRO2(G) IntrepidRO2(G) Bulldo8R02(T) MercuryRS(W) HampshireCRS McrcuryRO2(\V) MercuryROl(G) ScyllaRO3(G) RussellLRO(T) Mercurl'RO2(G) AntrimRO2(G) .IupiterCY DundasJRo(G) RhylJRO(W) ArethusaR S MercurS'R02(T) DiomedeCY Mercur-vRO2(G) Mercur-vJRO(T) BristolJRO(G) CleopatraRS(W) AchillesRO2(T) PalliserRO2(G) AchillesRO2(G) OnslaughtRO2(W) RothesayLRO(\07) MercuryLRO(T) HampshireRO2(G) DolphinRO2(G) NubianLRO(T) AbdielRO2(G) MercuryRO2(T) Ark RoyalLRO(T) MercuryRO2(\7) MercuryLRO(W) GlamorganRO2(G) Fcarl-ssRO2(G) SealioniRO(W) LeanderLRO(W) MinervaJRO(G) FearlessRO2(G) S7arriorRO3(G) LynxRO2(T) FalmouthJRO(,{) Ark RoyalR02(G) ScyllaRO2(G) MercuryRO2(G) ValiantJRO(T) MatapanRO2(T) HampshireRO2(W) MercuryJRO(T) AntrirnRO3(W) Ark RoyalRO2(T) MercuryRO2(G) AbdielRO2(G) BeachamptonRS Mercur,JRO(W) ArethusaRO2(G) DolphinRS BulwarkLRO(G) HighburtonRO1(G) YarmouthJRO(G) FearlessRO2(G) MercuryRO3(G) AntrimRO2(G) MercuryRS KeppelRS MauritiusLRO(W) Bacchant-jRO(T) BacchanteLRO(W) JaguarLRO(W) MercuryROI(W) MercuryRO2(T) Mercur-vLRO(T) RookeRO2(T) RussellFCRS(W) MercuryRS TamarRO2(W) MercuryJRO(T) IntrepidRO3(G) AntrimRO2(G) WaspertonJRO(\7) DiomedeRO2(G) KeppelLRO(!U) CleopatraR02(T) Pen:lopeRO2(G) AiaxJROrW) Phoebe-IRO(!t) NubianCY MercurvLROIT) Mercury

NarnePeur N. G.PsansoN G.Prcran I(. E.PETRIE C, W, C,Panny M. F.Prnnrss rW'. J.PerBns W. C.PEencr A. LPnnnow F. P.PransoN A,Pnr:ru P.Pitkin J. J.Prnr D.Pnerps R. F, W,Prarr:rR D.PoursoN N.Powonrrr A. J.PuNr P. G.Pxrrrv M. A.PRovro;Ncr I-.Qurt.ts P. A.Ray R,RAWLTNGS A. K.Rausry D. G.RawrrNcs A. K,R;rs G. A. M.RHoDES K.Rrcsennsox G. A.Rrcnanoson B. S.RrcnanoscN ,lV[, A.RrcnanosoN P.RrcnuoNo D. W.Rrcn E. J.Rrorrn I. J.RrNc L.Rons S.Roern'rs GRocrns D. T. C.Roo:r J. E.RoBrNsoN W. W.Rosrnrs C. G.RonrNsoN S.RowraNos G. N.RoernrsoN R.Rowrrt J. C.Ror I. A.Ruoo R. J.RuNnan S. .N1.RyaN J. G.RvaN T. R.Savva P. M.SaNorns R. C.SeNosns P.SauNosns P. S.Scarrrn J. S.Srans B. R.SBan O. P.SEAGER I. K.Srar'laN P.SETTERTIELD A.Suawvrn R. J.Snnpnrno M. L.SHTELDS M. .N,1.

SHoRr W. J.SnonrrN J. B.Snew B.Snnw A. R. M.Suonrrn G. R.Scorr E.ScuLLroN D. J.Surnpann J.Sxrnxerr D. J.SrEo J.SxRzvpczar P. R.SrupsoN I. R.SrLK E. T.STMPSoN N. .N1.Srarrx D.Suerun D. \X'.SiurrH B. J.SurrH J. G.Srrllts S. R.Surrs P. T.Surrn B.Surrn M.Surrn S. A.Spanxrs C. L.Slrvtr F. W.Sparr K.SoworN D. Nl.Srrwaxr T. .Nl. J.STEELE M. R.Srrrn I. V.

Rate WhitherCY MercuryRO2(G) FlermesRO2(W) HampshireRO2(G) HermesCRS MercuryLRO(T) AmazonRO2(G) St AngeloRS DundasCRS AiaxRO2(G) RN SingaporeCCY HampshireJRO(T) RapidRO2(G) NubianRO2(G) AiaxLRO(G) AntrimLRO(G) AiaxJRO(T) AriadneRO2(W) AriadneRS SiriusLRO(G) W'arriorRO2(T) MercuryRO2(G) KeppelRO3(G) AchillesIRO(T) FearlessRO3(G) ArethusaRO2(G) MercuryRO2(T) MercuryLRO(\7) NubianRO2(G) RevengeCY AFNORTHRO2(G) PalliserLRO('S7) RothesayRO2(G) DolphinRO3('Sg) CleopatraCY ArqonautROr(G) Hampshir'RO2(G) GlamorganRO2(G) LeopardRO2(T) FlermesCY CINCFLEETRO2(G) BronningtonLRO(\U7) flermioneLRO(\U7) GlamorganJRO(G) BristolRO3(G) FearlessRO3(G) AntrimRO2(G) MercuryJRO(!f) CleopatraRO2(G) HermesRO2(G) MaxtonRO2(!f) GrampusFCRS(\(/) FOFICY MercuryRO2(!7) ArethusaRS lThitbyRO3(W) DidoRO2(G) MercuryRO2(T) AiaxRO2(T) RN SingaporeRO2(G) YarmouthIRO(T) BlakeRS(!7) MercuryRO2(G) MercuryRO2(T) GlamorganRO2(G) LincolnCRS MercuryRS GurkhaCY RothesayRS VictoryRO2(G) OlympusRO2(S7) AchillesJRo(T) RapidCRS('i7) AndromROl(G) FOSTRO2(G) HampshireRS EskimoJRO(W) NubianRO2(G) DolphinRO2(T) StanavforlantRO2(T) MercuryRO2(T) MercuryRO3(G) AshantiRO2(T) MercuryRS PlymouthRO3(G) DanaeRS AmazonROI(\7) EskimoJRO(G) LincolnRO2(G) HampshireLRO(G) HampshireRO2(T) StanavforlzntCRS DevonshireROI(G) Antrim

NarneSrrcxreNo D. E.Sororrlou K. \7.STACEY J. E. C.Stnrrr N. H.SrnoNc M. R.SrupnrNsoN J. A.Srrwanr R, G.Storr W.SreNroN M.SrocrroN J. P.Srorr R. LSrenn I. R.SrnoNc W. J.Sruanr J. T.SreNnnoox P.Sroopanr A.SurroN A.SmrNrv I(. P.

TenneNr R. I.Tevron A. E.Tavron D. J.Tayron .ll{. L.

Taylon M. S.Trro P. A.Tnor"ras S. E.THouas '.THoMPSCN J. K.Tnonnrv -'. J.Tnouas D. E. L.TnorrlxrNsotr G. L.TnoMsoN D. K.Tnor,rsoN R.Trpraov J. R.Trrrrv J. T.Trruv M. J.Tooo J. A.TourrNsoN G. L.Tnracnrn A. L.TunNrn J.UNwrN K. A.Upcnar"r D. C.Vnen J. L.VRNcs M. J. W.Vano J.IfARREN M.rVartrns P. D.Warrrn T. rW.

\l9ersn J. V.ttrTerxrn D.Wano I(. E.\TaronoN F. C.WersH D. L.\rano P. J.Warrnuero J. I{.Vrars R. G.\7rne P. J.Wnmrnrao A.WHITE A. J.lW,srrr B. L.lTrnrarrls I. R.STrr-rrarlrs G. A.Wrnreus A.\Wrrrralls J.Wrurarrls P. J.Wrrrrarvrs P. M.Wrrrrarrls I(. J.$7rrnr*qN M. C.WrrsoN S7.\W,rrrrNs S. J. W.$TrrrrNsoN A. L.WTLDoN R. H.WroorsoN T. rJ/.

WrrsoN P. f.Wu,soN B. R.rJ7rrsoN J. S.WTLSoN W,Wooo D.Vooo R. J.Wooococx B. R.WoooraNo D.WooDHousE B. G.lTooonsao I(.ri7ooonrao J.\fooDHEAD F. W'.WorvrnsoN J. N.Wollsrr,r A.Wright G. S.Wnrour G. S.YrouaN R. W.YouNc A. C.

Rate WhitherLRO(G) CINCFLEETR02(T) MercuryRO3(G) Ark RoyalCY DolphinRO2(G) MercuryRO2(W) GurkhaRO2(T) BulwarkRO2(T) CochraneR02(G) MercuryRO2(G) DrakeJRO(G) BristolRO2(T) DundasRS MercuryIRO(T) IntrepidRO2(G) MonktonJRO(T) BulwarkRO2(!7) JunoLRO(G)

CINCNAVHOMERO2(\f) SiriusRS BlakeRO2(T) RN SingaporeRO1(G)

CINCEASTLANTRO2(G) DolphinRO2(G) DrakeLRO(!7) NubianRO2(G) MercuryRO2(T) MercuryRO3(T) UndauntedROl(G) MercuryLRO(\O MercuryRO2(T) MercuryRO2(G) lThitbyRO3(G) ArethusaRO2(T) MercuryRO2(\J7) GurkhaJRO(T) AbdielLRO(W) MercuryCY AfrikanderRS KeppelRO3(T) GrenvilleLRO(T) StanavforlantRS TorquayROl(G) RookeLRO(T) HermesRS(!7) GlamorganRO2(T) MercuryRO3(G) BristolRO2(W) LincolnRO2(T) PlymouthRO2(T) HampshireRS MercuryR02(T) OspreyCCY CharybdisRO2(T) ReclaimRO2(T) BritanniaLRO(G) FearlessRO2(T) GlamorganRO2(!7) OnyxRO2(T) LochinvarRO2(T) AntrimJRO(T) DiomedeRO2(\7) SwiftsureRO2(G) DolphinRO2(G) 95 CDO FOURO2(G) MatapanCY LynxRO2('Sf) DevonshireROl(G) MercuryRO2(G) FearlessRS YarmouthROI(W) DrakeLRO(T) MercuryJRO(W) ScyllaRO2(T) EskimoRO2(G) MonktonRO2(G) TamarRO2(T) MercuryRO3(G) FifeRO1(G) MercuryCRS MercuryCCY FearlessROl(G) MercuryRO1(G) MercuryRO3(\7) MercuryRO2(T) NorfolkCCY IntrepidRO2(G) FOSTRO2(G) PenelopeR02(G) HermesJRO(G) Bristol

J. T.I.;. J.

L.

S.

:.G

i\J,

IE.G

S.--\I,\\'DD

:.l

s -\. .r.'3.

F, R.],E,D\\"

'.\-. -l .

n -\1.P, -\1

D.\\'.SB.D.,D.R. .{.

f.

p,i,1:(d bt.Holbrook & Son Ltd., Portsrnouth, in conjunc:iott n'itlr Eclgar Sercombe. Farnham, Surrey

\.

INCREASE YOUR GOMFORT

AilD

THE UATUE OF YOUR HOME

Alcan Double G lazing:

More space to live in with even room temperatures. Reducesnoise-tackles condensation. Neat and unobtrusive.

Alcan Patio Doors:

The Garden another room!Slim aluminium sliding doors and a vastexpanse of glass. Single or double glazed to choice.

t|car1 x:tt.", -:l1:Ej. I ori ew w i ndows :

Get rid of those rotting, badly fitting wood or metal windows.Maintenance free aluminium windows are the answer-no rubbingdown or painting-tested through 20 arctic winters.

Alcan design prod ucts guarf,n-

iee r-hc quality of material,construction and firting iorten years.

Alcan is the world's iargest international producer of aiuminium.

Con you offord it?

It doesn't cost you anything to find out.

Write or telephone:A. G. & L. M. SMITH LTD5 Mayfair CourtBotley, HampshireTel: Botley 3876 AUTHORISED DEALER