www.mcdoa.org.uk MINEWARFARE AND DIVING
NOVEMBER 1995 VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 Official Use Only
MCM1 TACKLE BLUE HARRIER www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk MINEWARFARE AND DIVING THE MAGAZINE OF THE MINEWARFARE AND DIVING COMMUNITY
VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 NOVEMBER 1995
CONTENTS EDITORIAL STAFF Foreword by Cdr P. J. Gale 1 Sponsor: Cdre. R.C. Moore AS1076 - "Arcturus" The First 25000 Hours 2 Publisher: Cdr. P.J. Gale Managing Editor: Lt. Cdr. J.C. Lee Formal opening of Coniston Building HMS Dryad 2 Deputy Editor: Lt. M.L. Kessler Editorial Offices: Defence Diving School Mo(o)re News from Southwell 3 Horsea Island Portsmouth Reminiscences of a Naval (Hard Hat) Diver 4 Hampshire PCDU Commendation 5 P06 4TT Telephone: 01705-224049 Operation Pike 3/95 6 Amphibious Warfare - "The MCM" 9 Life on Fish (Doing Time) 11 Superintendent of Diving - Haul Down Message 13 The Mermaid Factor 14 MINEWARFARE AND DIVING is published Minewarfare Section Telephone Numbers 15 twice-annually by the MW Department of Divers Golf 1995 16 SMOPS on behalf of the Director of Naval Blue Harrier 95 17 Operations. Ministry of Defence. Letters to the Editor 21 Service units requesting copies of the Magazine Obituaries 25 should forward their applications to the Director of CST(MWV) and the Small Ships Naval Operations. CIO The Editorial Offices, Operational Training Staff 27 address as above. Contributions of Minewarfare or On Call Force Group 16 Deployment 28 Diving interest and correspondence are invited and should be addressed to the same location. The Short Career of a Retiring Commodore 31 Recollection 34 This Magazine is issued by the United Kingdom Readers Responses Page 36 Ministry of Defence for Official Use Only. The Challenge and Reply X Inside back cover contents are not to be released to the public and are not to be discussed with the Press or anyone Big Mine Challenge XI Back Cover outside the Military Services without the specific Editorial Back Cover authority of the Directorate of Naval Operations, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
© Crown Copyright
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Establishment - I am sure you will be impressed. impressed. be will you sure am I - Establishment
learn from the other, particularly in the field of underwater engineering. Do stop by and visit our new new our visit and by stop Do engineering. underwater of field the in particularly other, the from learn
The DDS is an exciting new school with considerable potential and the opportunity for each service to to service each for opportunity the and potential considerable with school new exciting an is DDS The
maintenance, transport, secretarial and administration and course planning. planning. course and administration and secretarial transport, maintenance,
this will be explored and developed. Rationalisations have been made in the support areas such as as such areas support the in made been have Rationalisations developed. and explored be will this
Compressed air diving training, however may possibly lend itself to some areas of commonality, and and commonality, of areas some to itself lend possibly may however training, diving air Compressed
and common teaching is not generally viable because of our differing requirements and equipments. equipments. and requirements differing our of because viable generally not is teaching common and
Despite being a joint service school, the concept of joint training with interchangeability of instructors instructors of interchangeability with training joint of concept the school, service joint a being Despite
and centre of excellence that must rank among the best there is. is. there best the among rank must that excellence of centre and
our diving training boats and replaces the water front we had at Gunwharf. In all it is a superb facility facility superb a is it all In Gunwharf. at had we front water the replaces and boats training diving our
island in new, purpose built buildings with an outpost in HMS EXCELLENT that includes a new jetty for for jetty new a includes that EXCELLENT HMS in outpost an with buildings built purpose new, in island
The school is a direct command FOTR establishment with its own BLB. We are situated at Horsea Horsea at situated are We BLB. own its with establishment FOTR command direct a is school The
RE and I am the lucky one to have been selected to be the first Commanding Officer. Officer. Commanding first the be to selected been have to one lucky the am I and RE
Engineers diving training and is commanded in rotation by a Commander RN and a Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Lieutenant a and RN Commander a by rotation in commanded is and training diving Engineers
Diving School formed. The DDS is a joint service school that combines both Royal Navy and Royal Royal and Navy Royal both combines that school service joint a is DDS The formed. School Diving
Diving training ceased to be a Department of SMOPS on 1 September 1995, when the Defence Defence the when 1995, September 1 on SMOPS of Department a be to ceased training Diving
Commander Pat Gale RN RN Gale Pat Commander
Foreword by by Foreword www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk AS1076 - "Arcturus" The First 25000 Hours
By Lt. Cdr A. Blakey RN. Following the section's relocation to HMS DRYAD in March of this year, we found ourselves gathered together on the 15th of June to celebrate another milestone in the honourable history of the Minewarfare section, namely the achievement of 25,000 training hours for the AS 1076 trainer from its "Launch" in 1982. (To counter the scurrilous rumour that the figures were subject to creative accounting in order to get a slap up meal in Southsea with MS and T, and it was not that you thought time lasted twice as long in the trainer, it really did take us that long to turn you into MWOs, MHDs and Operators). Mr Kevin Butcher from the sea systems sales division of Marconi Simulation and Training, is shown presenting the commemorative plaque to CDR Charlie Wilson (CDR MW) before the Marconi and section trainer staff. The celebrations continued into the evening when the trainer staff and their wives were kindly entertained at L'Escargot's' in Southsea. An excellent night out appreciated by all. It was particularly pleasing to receive this award as, when the move to DRYAD was first mooted, most people were of the opinion that the trainer would disintegrate at the first attempt to lift and shift. A fate/malady akin to that found among the more senior brethren at the mention of the words, "Sea Draft". But, Arcturus was of course designed to be mobile and could be dismantled to move from site to site - and so it has proved, though I don't think that the use of several sledgehammers, combined with the upwards exertions of a mobile crane and the lateral exertions of a forklift truck to achieve the dismantling process, was part of the original approved procedure. I could be wrong, but I thought it was the original sections that were As a result of their hard work the trainer staff were able to supposed to be reassembled, but it is churlish to nitpick. recommence the training programme on time. Similarly, any description of the subtle use of the As with all units, nothing stands still and work continues on sledgehammer and metal cuffing equipment required to fit the the trainer to improve the service we provide to our students. trainer onto the specially prepared, scientifically measured and By the end of the year, work to fully integrate Navpac within professionally positioned concrete plinths that will be its home the trainer will be complete as will the upgrade on the mine for the next 25000 hours, would only appear unnecessarily models package to add more realism to the training. Also critical. progressing is the addition of MAS to the trainer and the Joking apart, the team responsible for the relocation to DRYAD possibility of improving the debriefing facility has been are to be congratulated on a most successful move that saw discussed. All projects agree that Arcturus will continue to the trainer decommissioned, disassembled. moved, provide valuable training for another 25000 hours. reassembled and fully operational 5 days ahead of schedule. FORMAL OPENING OF CONISTON BUILDING, HMS DRYAD By CPO (MW)(0) Neil Hodges Commodore R C Moore, Commodore Minor War Vessels, Minewarfare and Diving, officially opened Coniston Building HMS DRYAD, the new site of Minewarfare training, on 18 May 1995. The move ends 72 years of shore-based Torpedo and Minewarfare training at HMS Vernon (more recently HMS Nelson (Gunwarf)), but brings Minewarfare into the mainstream of warfare training at SMOPS. In considering a new name for the Minewarfare school, it was felt that the tradition of naming buildings after old ships would be apt. The name Coniston comes from the first of class of coastal mineweepers, the Ton' class which were designed to meet the threat of the "Modern mine" in the 1950s. Built in March 1953 at J I Thorneycroft, Southampton, HMS Consiton was named after a village in Cumbria and served for 16 years before finally decommissioning in 1970. However, the name will live on in HMS DRYAD as the home of Minewarfare training. Appropriately, members of the Ton Class association were on hand to witness the event and to present Commander Charlie Wilson, the new Commander Minewarfare, with a number of artefacts for permanent display within the building.
www.mcdoa.org.uk 2 www.mcdoa.org.uk MO(0)RS NEWS FROM SOUTHWELL
By Lt. Cdr Rob Hoole Sorry about the headline but somewhere near this article should be a photograph taken when our own WO(MW)(0) "Pony" MOORE was presented with the clasp to his LS & GC medal by Commodore Richard MOORE (COMMW) during his recent visit to Portland. Moving Out "DRA Southwell" has been renamed "MOD(PE) Southwell" and most DRA personnel have moved to Winfrith, a few miles east of Weymouth. By the time you read this, FOST will have moved to Plymouth, and Portland Naval Base including DRA (North) will have closed. Although the Naval Air Station should stay open until 1998/9, the remnants of the old HMS OSPREY (up the hill in the Naval Base) including the JRs' messes, the chapel and the medical centre are being re-located in the high- rise blocks opposite the Sports Centre. The VERNON Building on the breakwater at Bincleaves, having survived the demise of the Portland Clearance Diving Team by two years, has now been relinquished by the SMOPS Diving School as well. More Changes The future of the Mine Countermeasures, Diving & EOD Group available off-the-shelf, or in need of only minor changes, and (MCMD) is now clearer but I realise that the following thus obviate the need for a Project Definition (PD) phase. explanation will mean more to some than others. The post of Specific equipments are therefore being studied but only to our former boss, the Director General Underwater Weapons determine the best (in terms of performance and cost) (Navy) (DGUW(N)), lapsed in April 95 when the last incumbent generically feasible option to be opted. Various threats and retired. For the time being, AD/MCMD and his group remain scenarios have been formulated against which to test the part of the MOD Procurement Executive (PE) under the capability of possible options which include: Director of Underwater Weapons (DUW) (formerly Director Torpedoes and Weapons (DTW as part of Director General Minehunting Sonar Submarines' (DGSM's) organisation. With me so far? Our VDS, or hull mount with/without supplementary signal address changed on June 95 from SSC PORTLAND to minehunting ROV array? Wide band? MOD UK PE PORTLAND - please include it together with NAVSPCOMD PORTLAND on all MW and Diving OPDEFs. Mine Disposal System By the end of 1995, it is intended that a slimmer MCMD Group ROV like RCMDS2 or One Shot Disposal System? following DCS cuts, together with all of its projects except Hunt Autonomous guidance? Separate tracking or Midlife Update (HMLU), will transfer to the Naval Support incorporated in CMS? What sort of warhead? Separate Command (NSC) where it will continue to provide "cradle to ID vehicle required? grave" support as part of the Directorate of Equipments and Systems (Weapons Engineering) (DES(WE)). This will Mechanical Sweep preserve the small number of MCM and Diving equipment Include, or discard to accommodate other equipments? specialists as a single viable team instead of being split between the PE and the NSC where their valuable expertise Combined Influence Sweep would probably be lost. Five of the staff, however, will join the The Case for Sweeping? Combined Influence Sweeping DGSS MCM Platform Group in the PE to continue work on System (CISS). Clip-on or organic? Remotely operated? underwater weapons aspects of HMLU. Since some of these What influences and how should they be provided? individuals are currently involved with Sonar 2093, the Performance monitoring? changeover is unlikely before 2093 has gained Fleet Weapons Acceptance. Still with me? The MCMD Group will remain in Combat Management System its present offices until August 96 when it will probably move What functionality required? Multi-function consoles or to Egdon Hall in Weymouth. Eventually it will co-locate with bespoke hardware? the rest of the NSC and the PE at Abbey Wood near Bristol. Other changes in the MCMD Group include replacing the Combat Support System current Lt Cdr and CPO(D) Naval Diving Applicator team with What functionality required? Generic Combat Support a WO(D). Details of the new organisation will be promulgated System (GCSS) or bespoke? when confirmed. Well done. You can relax again now. Position Control System How can we make the best use of available means of Project News propulsion? HUNT Midlife Update - ST(S) 7072 (ISD 2001). Ferranti Naval Systems (Portsmouth) won the role of Integration Contractor Sonar 2093 - SR(S) 7697. Apart from Towed Body Location for the HMLU Feasibility Study (FS) which is planned to System (TBLS) tracking of RCMDS2 vehicles, all Sea complete in April 96. HMLU should be thought of as a Combat Acceptance Trials (Fleet) (SAT(F)) have now been System Upgrade because, notwithstanding normal demonstrated successfully. The outstanding trial is obsolescence upgrades, only the Combat System will be programmed for July 95 after which it is intended to apply for addressed. The aim of the FS is to specify a practicable and Fleet Weapons Acceptance (FWA). However, there are likely affordable combat system and provide costed options for the to be aspects of Availability, Reliability and Maintainability Staff Requirement. It is hoped to identify suitable technology continued overleaf www.mcdoa.org.uk 3 www.mcdoa.org.uk MO(0)RE NEWS FROM SOUTHWELL
(ARM) and support which require some refinements. A Other Work programme to address these items will be agreed before In the meantime, work continues with other longstanding submission for FWA. Good performance and reliability has projects such as MSSA1, MS14 Loop, RCMDS1, 193M (Mod been reported from recent out of area exercises. 1), Mine Avoidance Sonar (MAS), Versatile Exercise Mine System (VEMS) Mks 1 & 2, and mine replicas. We are also awaits completion of deep RCMDS2 - SR(S) 7545. SAT(F) active in international collaborative and information exchange water trials of the live and exercise MDC variants and the groups include the NATO Minewarfare Working Party (MWWP), cutters. More trials are programmed for November 95 provided NATO Information Exchange Group 3 (IEG3), and NATO water space can be allocated. Project Group 22 (PG22), UK/US Information Exchange Programme B61/71 (IEP B61/71), The US/UK/CAN/AUS/NZ MTSS - MER(S) 5/78. All MTSS systems have been delivered Technical Cooperation Panel (TTCP), the Anglo/Swedish and some have already seen action in various MCM exercises Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Anglo/French/ at home and abroad. Work continues in order to improve Netherlands Cooperation Panel (AFNCP). processing speed, refine operation and complete the WPA module. And Finally RSDB - MER(S) 7/90 ISD Sep 97. This system will be operated That rounds up events at Southwell on the Minewarfare front. by the Hydrographic Office (HO) for the benefit of MCM. Initially, I offer my usual invitation to contact or visit me if I can be of the exchange of contact and environmental data between assistance. (Tel: Southwell Ext. 3160 or (01305) 863160). We MCMVs and the HO will be via MTSS. Eventually, it is hoped are always interested in feedback, particularly after exercises, to provide a more direct route for data, including video and on the performance of any of our products. As always, sonar imagery (side scan and sector scan) between the HO remember that S2022 action achieves results but ensure you and ships, plus improved onboard data display. We are provide all the relevant details. Can I go home now? currently assessing tenders from companies bidding for the contract.
operations of downed aircraft, sunken wrecks, clearing of Reminiscences of a Naval shipping lanes and demolition of underwater obstructions. Although the work was challenging and demanding I was at (Hard Hat) Diver By Doug Warth last at peace with myself and far away from the noise and Having joined the Royal Navy just prior to the 2nd World War confusion I had endured during the actions, I will never forget. I soon realised that I must select a career other than a Heavy Having completed the five month dive course and overcoming poor visibility, heavy and cumbersome dive suits and work & Light Anti Aircraft Seaman Gunner. The heavy gun battery aboard HMS Ganges consisted of procedures under extremely cold conditions it had prepared twelve 6" guns pointing seaward and were crewed by nine me for future assignments, diving in various parts of the world, seaman to each gun. The manning drills were detailed in a with mates that have 'like' spirit and qualities which bond one such a manner that each seaman of the guns crew had to know to another. the `working drill' of each nine positions, thus enabling the guns Having kept myself in touch with the dive scene since retiring to continue firing, in the event that any seaman gunner was from the Navy in 1963, diving from hookah gear and working as a decky for my tow abalone diver mates, has kept me killed or wounded in the line of fire. When action stations sounded, all hell was let loose; the noise interested and enthusiastic enough to take up scuba diving of commands, the loading of the guns, the speed of the and successfully completing the PADI Open Water certificate seaman gunners changing positions around the battery, (was course at the Merimbula Divers Lodge, NSW in January 1994. to me and surely many others) frightening and mind blowing. My instructor Brendon Purdon (thoroughly professional) had My chance to get out of the gunnery action came when the ship set the scene for me to experience some procedures hither-to- I was serving on received an Admiralty Directive that there was unknown to me and making comparisons of my diving an urgent need for Salvage Divers who must be young with experiences of some 50 years ago; my how diving has I feel very privileged to still be good physique, fit and strong, determined to overcome progressed and prospered and eventualities under harsh conditions. able to enjoy the wonders that are becoming accessible all I applied immediately and was drafted back to the United around our shores. Kingdom where upon I was given a stringent medical examination and promptly sent to the Naval Diving School situated within The Naval Gunnery Branch, Whale Island, Portsmouth. I shuddered and wondered 'What the hell has diving got to do with the notorious Whale Island'?, where the dreaded G.I.'s (gunnery Instructors, the Gestapo as known to us lesser-beings) were stationed. The dive school was situated right on the waterfront and apart from having to attend daily divisions and march past on the massive parade ground; myself and 18 other volunteer divers were briefed on the course of events that included being kitted out with submarine woollen sweaters, long woollen stockings and allotted a heavy canvas dive suit complete with brass helmet, corselet, divers boots, waist belt, knife, breast rope, lead weights and underwater tools for emergency repairs to ships hulls, propellers, shafts and housings. Then we were all promptly absorbed into the theory of a Naval Diver. The theory over and done with, we were soon initiated into practical diving procedures and engaged in actual salvage www.mcdoa.org.uk 4
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Diving Unit 1995 1995 Unit Diving
Plymouth Clearance Clearance Plymouth
Diving Unit 1994 1994 Unit Diving
Plymouth Clearance Clearance Plymouth
contribution of all Service and civilian staff Is In the highest traditions of the Royal Navy. Navy. Royal the of traditions highest the In Is staff civilian and Service all of contribution
set have been exceptional, with much of their work conducted in the public eye, and the the and eye, public the in conducted work their of much with exceptional, been have set
outstanding results In the face of demanding, and often dangerous, conditions. The standards standards The conditions. dangerous, often and demanding, of face the In results outstanding
continued professionalism, exemplary dedication and style in which they consistently achieved achieved consistently they which in style and dedication exemplary professionalism, continued
I commend all members of the Plymouth Clearance Diving Unit for their sustained and and sustained their for Unit Diving Clearance Plymouth the of members all commend I
also took a leading part In the biennial submarine escape exercise, SMASHEX 94. 94. SMASHEX exercise, escape submarine biennial the In part leading a took also
Clearance Diving Unit to participate in a major NATO Exercise, RESOLUTE RESPONSE 94, and and 94, RESPONSE RESOLUTE Exercise, NATO major a in participate to Unit Diving Clearance
bacteriological pollution. In addition to these directed tasks the PCDU became the first RN Area Area RN first the became PCDU the tasks directed these to addition In pollution. bacteriological
conditions including marginal sea states, limited or nil underwater visibility and high high and visibility underwater nil or limited states, sea marginal including conditions
support of Ships and Submarines of the Fleet. Much of the diving was achieved in severe severe in achieved was diving the of Much Fleet. the of Submarines and Ships of support
rendered to fishing vessels and the 50 per cent increase In underwater engineering tasks in in tasks engineering underwater In increase cent per 50 the and vessels fishing to rendered
around the coasts of Wales and Southwest England, the 19 occasions on which assistance was was assistance which on occasions 19 the England, Southwest and Wales of coasts the around
incidents. Of particular note were the continued work to clear disused MOD tiring ranges ranges tiring MOD disused clear to work continued the were note particular Of incidents.
The Diving and EOD tasks encompassed a wide variety Of both routine and extraordinary extraordinary and routine both Of variety wide a encompassed tasks EOD and Diving The
during the year and this remarkable level of activity has continued into 1995. 1995. into continued has activity of level remarkable this and year the during
ADC, First Sea Lord, on 9 June 95. 95. June 9 on Lord, Sea First ADC,
Conventional Munition Disposal tasks were the highest of any Royal Navy Clearance Diving Unit Unit Diving Clearance Navy Royal any of highest the were tasks Disposal Munition Conventional
with bomb disposal. The total number of Improvised Explosive Device Disposal and and Disposal Device Explosive Improvised of number total The disposal. bomb with
and required a considerable team effort to overcome the many complex problems associated associated problems complex many the overcome to effort team considerable a required and by Admiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB GCB Bathurst Benjamin Sir Admiral by
this highly specialised work frequently exposed PCDU personnel to significant individual risk risk individual significant to personnel PCDU exposed frequently work specialised highly this
thousands of assorted items of unexploded ordnance and pyrotechnic stores_ The nature of of nature The stores_ pyrotechnic and ordnance unexploded of items assorted of thousands
commendation was presented to PCDU PCDU to presented was commendation
of maritime ordnance, numerous shells • Including live chemical munitions • and many many and • munitions chemical live Including • shells numerous ordnance, maritime of
1970s. The EOD operations completed by the Unit resulted In the safe disposal of major items items major of disposal safe the In resulted Unit the by completed operations EOD The 1970s.
Swanage, making it the busiest year since Current records began and certainly since the early early the since certainly and began records Current since year busiest the it making Swanage, full in the next edition of MADMAG. The The MADMAG. of edition next the in full
Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks within their area of operations, from the River Dee to to Dee River the from operations, of area their within tasks Disposal Ordnance Explosive
During 1994 the Plymouth Clearance Diving Unit responded to 232 Diving tasks and 280 280 and tasks Diving 232 to responded Unit Diving Clearance Plymouth the 1994 During
appropriate for this to be reproduced in in reproduced be to this for appropriate
PLYMOUTH CLEARANCE DIVING UNIT UNIT DIVING CLEARANCE PLYMOUTH explanatory and it is considered considered is it and explanatory
The copy of the commendation is self- is commendation the of copy The
COMMENDATION COMMENDATION Ordnance Disposal work during 1994/95. 1994/95. during work Disposal Ordnance
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S recognition of its Diving and Explosive Explosive and Diving its of recognition
the Commander in Chief Fleet in in Fleet Chief in Commander the 1 - + +
recently received a commendation from from commendation a received recently
The Plymouth Clearance Diving Unit has has Unit Diving Clearance Plymouth The
By Lt. Cdr J C B Chapple Chapple B C J Cdr Lt. By
PCDU COMMENDATION COMMENDATION PCDU www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk OPERATION PIKE 3/95 The unofficial view from HMS Ledbury (or - How the World's most boring mine warfare tasking can suddenly become far too exciting for it's own good!) (or - Alice in Ledburyland)
H M Ships BERKELEY, BROCKLESBY, BRIDPORT and OUTLINE OF EVENTS LEDBURY conducted Operation PIKE 3/95 in the CLYDE LEDBURY and BROCKLESBY sailed from FASLANE on Subordinate Sea Areas during the period 12-24 June 1995. Monday 12 June, to commence Route Survey Tasks, with MCM1 (Commander Richard BELL-DAVIES, Royal Navy) had LEDBURY detaching immediately to complete a Degaussing TACON of OP PIKE, although Commander BRADSHAW, trial at ROSN EATH. The DG trial was over by early PM, and as Royal Naval Reserve (Ex-MCM3) acted as the MCMTA BERKELEY entered the areas on the 13, 3 ships were already Commander. Support was provided by FSUO2 (whenever the earning their "bread and butter" by Tuesday morning. Pubs were closed for long enough!) BRIDPORT was unable to join until Saturday 17 as she Priorities for the Operation were: claimed to be working hard undergoing a bizarre serial by the 1) Route Surveys of the area name of BOST. 2) Mine Warfare and General Weapon Training The first week was spent continuing with Route Survey tasks, 3) Public Relations with the Local Community breaking off for Weapon Training Serials as required, which 4) Mine Recovery although PIKE's "raison d'etre", do not make very exciting The Standing Oporder for Operation PIKE states that "PIKE reading. offers a good opportunity to settle into the Defence Watch system". As LEDBURY had completed BOST, Exercise BLUE HARRIER and JMC 952 in the 2 previous months, the prospect CAMPBELTOWN - OPERATIONAL SUPPORT of another 2 weeks of water rationing (no washing machine, PERIOD one shower per day, etc) filled our little hearts with joy - NOT! Having spent the vast majority of the first week Route Surveying, (N.B. The Oporder also states that "though necessary, PIKE the 3 ships entered Campbeltown for an Operational Support can be seen as unrewarding and monotonous". Never? Period, on Saturday 17. A quaint fishing village on the bonny shores of the CLYDE, Campbeltown has suffered an image WEAPON TRAINING problem following some less than successful visits by "Big ships".The problem with Campbeltown is that the men are men The Route Survey tasking was broken up by numerous Weapon (and, quite often, so are the women) and wouldn't be seen Training serials to maintain morale. Each ship conducted at dead out on the town drinking with the Missus. The men go to least one DIVEX, one GUNEX 601 (Surface Shoot), one their pubs, and the women go to theirs, and never the 'twain period of Machinery Breakdown Drills and attempted a live shall meet - until "chucking out" time. The men expect to go Mine Disposal Charge (MDC) Firing - although due to adverse back to the pubs, where their women are drinking, and take environmental conditions not all Live MDC Firing attempts them home. "Jack" meanwhile has bimbled ashore, found a were successful.The weapon training highlight was undoubtedly pub full of women, no blokes, and loads of beer - so he thinks the ADEX 324/SPLASHEX with 19 Squadron RAF The Crabs he's in. "Jack" spends all night chatting up a bird, and thinks sent 2 Hawks up to join us from RAF VALLEY (ANGLESEY) to he's doing really well, when all of a sudden some bloke turns "beat us up", on 2 separate occasions, for 20 - 30 minutes prior up and tells him he's taking her home. It doesn't take a PhD in to firing at a towed target. Contrary to all previous rumours Sociology to work out the potential consequences of such a about the accuracy of the RAF, the Hawks from VALLEY meeting. Somehow, this aggressive stand-off never seems to proved unerringly accurate. As Jeff WILSON commented on occur with "Small-ships ratings". Either : Jonah LOMU et al "Glad they're on our side!". a) "Small ships ratings" are natural diplomats and can calm The Weapon Training period proved to be a popular one for any potentially explosive situation with their wit, charm visits, with Commodore MOORE (COMMW), Captain Du and repartee, or VIVIER (COS to FOSNNI) and Lieutenant Commander They are too drunk to notice that the woman they've ELOFFSON (Swedish Navy) amongst others, visiting various b) spent all night talking to walked out of the pub 30 minutes ships throughout the period. ago, or c) The are so busy arguing with each other up they don't have any time or energy left to fight with the locals. As well as having Ships Open To Visitors, a Cocktail party was held jointly by the Hunts (although the vast majority of work was done by BROCKLESBY who hosted the event) and proved to be an outstanding success (i.e. no one fell down a hatch).This was also the first opportunity for a group of 5 Potential Officer Candidates (POCs) to see what the Navy is all about. They seem to have gone home with the suspicion that the Navy has Cocktail Parties every night and remain unconvinced that Mine Warfare can be pretty hard work. BERKELY'S Young Officer (A WAFU UpperYardman - need I say more), who for the sake of his career shall remain nameless, managed to achieve a Royal Naval first during a visit to a local drinking establishment. He became the first person ever to be glassed in CAMPBELTOWN without anyone else being involved. If he can't coordinate getting a glass to his mouth, without injuring himself, what 19 Sqn Hawks He Cannon Fire versus Ledbury's splash target chance does he have of putting an EH101 onto Flight Deck? (a diverter on a sweep wire) The youth of today, etc, etc 6 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk OPERATION PIKE 3/95
As part of the Minor War Vessel Flotilla's unofficial policy of 1355 Shaken by the Duty "Awake AB (MW)" - Preps for "keeping CAM PBELTOWN sweet" a sea day was organised for Handover the local community. A broad cross-section of the local 1356 Handover to Starboard watch in the Lunch queue community was selected and split between the 3 Hunts taking CONDUCT - SWEEPING part. BROCKLESBY had Fishermen on board, LEDBURY had school children, and BERKELEY had all the young women Port Watch's Mine-avoidance plan all started to go horribly wrong (Hmmm?!).The day was spent conducting 00W manoeuvres, whilst conducting an Armed Team Sweep with HMS a Light-Line transfer, Mine Hunting demonstration and Ship BROCKLESBY. Intelligence had suggested that there might be tours, and culminated in the 3 ship's rafting up for a Bar-B-Q 2 Mk 17 Buoyant Mines near the centre of the WPA Mine Lunch. The local Lifeboat came out to join us and the affiliation Sweeping Corridor. After a careful start (differing interpretations must have worked particularly well, because by the end of the of what the ATP 24B signals pages actually mean) the first mine day, LEDBURY's Cox'n and Buffer were strolling around in a was swept in text book fashion. The explosive cutter made a pair of "Gucci" bright yellow, non-slip, hard-wearing seatrousers, lovely bang and the respective MW0s raced to get the MW128 whilst the Lifeboat crew were reduced to saving life in Foulie- out to claim the Mine-find as their own (it's always best to leave bottoms! it to the OCS - especially when you are the OCS!). A Mk 17 HMS LEDBURY MINE HUNTING - UNOFFICIAL popped to the surface and was recovered by HMS BERKELEY (Having seen the BERKELEY's Mine Warfare team in action, it POLICY comes as no surprise to see them tasked with nothing more In direct contravention to Starboard watch's policy of remaining serious than Mine-recovery - Clive "The Good" SMITH (OPS), awake whilst in the Ops Room, Port Watch had been fine- Rich "The Bad" BURSTOW (XO) and Alan "The Canteen tuning the hugely successful technique of avoiding looking at Manager" BAINBRIDGE (ORS3, being 3 of the biggest cowboys Mine-like contacts, preferring instead to examine the interesting in the Mine Warfare Flotilla!). shapes of sea-bed rocks (It is understood that Port Watch were The second, and final, Mk 17 proved to be more of a chore. being directly sponsored by "National Geographic" and were attempting to conduct a seabed survey of all rocks off the UK Having swept over the position there was no "bang" of a cutter Mainland. The book they were expected to produce was to be exploding, and no mine on the surface. Despite the Captain the definitive work and would have kept Geologists enthralled giving the MWO his hardest "Paddington Bear" stare, there was for months on end). During previous exercises, Starboard little that could be done, as time constraints precluded another watch had found upwards of 20 mines, whilst Port watch sweep over the area. The recovery of the Sweeps commenced considered the day a success of they could locate the Ops whilst heated discussion ensued as to what could have gone Room door. Typical Watches went as follows: wrong. Despite the MW0s halfhearted mumblings that he was sure the ships had swept over the correct position, the LEDBURY Starboard Watch: command team came to the decision that we had left the Mines 0200 Handover to Starboard, whilst the BROCKLESBY team suggested that the 0205 USC injected Mines had been left to Port. After checking and re-checking the 0210 Contact classified Poss-Mine intelligence information, and ensuring that the position had been 0215 Vehicle launched inserted into CAAIS and NAVPAC correctly, the decision was taken to blame the Mining Team (on the grounds that they weren't 0220 Contact identified as Mine there to answer for themselves). All arguments became null and 0230 Diving Conning Run void, however, as soon as the Kites had been recovered. By a 0240 Commence Mine Recovery freak chance the Mine seemed to have been caught in the 0245 Mine on deck connection - and as such had missed all the cutters. Having been (and so on through the watch) towed for approximately 5 cables the Mine suddenly broke free and floated away on the surface. Port Watch By this time BERKELEY had broken off to take part in another 0825 Turn up late for Handover, mutter something about duff serial and was no longer available for Mine-recovery. As OCS, alarm clock batteries/poor shake/inability to find clean LEDBURY had tasked herself to lay a free-floating Danbuoy to socks mark all Mines swept. It is important to realise at this stage that 0827 Break off from handover to go and make a cup of coffee there are 2 sides on which the Danbuoy can be laid. On one side 0850 Finally accept responsibility for the watch after there is nothing but open ocean and on the other is a snakes continually repeating the same questions, such as wedding of explosively armed sweep wire. The last thing we "What was that bit about Mine Hunting again?"/What's wanted to do was lay the Danbuoy on the side of the Sweep. So the injection to start the search?" that is the last thing we did.The pipe "Danbuoy laid" was followed 0851 Go for a Blow-through (despite it only being 6 and a half almost immediately by the pipe "Danbuoy swept and following". hours since the last one) The laughter from BROCKLESBY's Bridge Teams could be 0930 Get dragged off PGA Golf game on the LRO's computer, heard at 400 yards! by 00W on the phone, to go and do some Mine Hunting A Double Oropesa Sweep was conducted by BROCKLESBY, 0931 Shake DWEO to fix Radar defect but as the buoyant Mines had already been swept, the exercise 0933 DWEO turns up Radar brilliance - Defect Rectified was mainly procedural. 0935 Shake WEO to fix Sonar Defect BERKELEY conducted CIS operations (after LEDBURY's CIS 0938 Sonar lowered o/c of Blow-Through - Defect Rectified refused to participate) against 4 VMFI fitted A Mk 12 Mines. The VMFIs remained firmly attached to the Mines despite BERKELEY 0940 Spill coffee down CAAIS display - Shake nobody and attempt to hush the incident up running over the Intelligence-suggested positions several times. BERKELEY later Hunted and recovered the Mines and found 0942 Ask Engineering 00W whether or not he required that they had been set to neutralise before even the first attempt another Blow-through to sweep them had been made. Again the Mining Team were 0943 Attempt to break off task to transit somewhere (anywhere blamed because they were unable to defend themselves. will do) 0944 Settle down into comfortable Ops Room Chair continued overleaf www.mcdoa.org.uk 7 www.mcdoa.org.uk OPERATION PIKE 3/95
CONDUCT - HUNTING AND MINE-FIND The explosion coincided nicely with the Watch changeover, The Route Survey Tasking had become somewhat less than and as it was a sunny day, the Ship's Company mustered on taxing, so LEDBURY relaxed to one operator on the sets. the Fo'c's'le. The explosion proved to be a damp squib, as the Unfortunately for Port Watch, their operator was occasionally Shell did not High Order (it was inert), so the ship recovered its AB(MW) GEARING (known as Herman to his mates - so second piece of ordnance from the War Route. everybody calls him AB GEARING). During a particularly CONCLUSION relaxed Long Forenoon the following conversation took place: Operation PIKE was substantially more exciting for LEDBURY Herman (to himself) - "On!" than for most Ships that take part. I would strongly recommend Herman (responding to himself) - "Mark!" finding a couple of pieces of ordnance whilst Route Surveying. Bosun (putting down mailie to his wife) - "Don't mark that In summary, PIKE is not as good as all night in with Claudia contact" SCHIFFER, but better than a kick in the ****@?! Herman - "What?" Bosun - "Disregard" THE LEDBURY TEAM Herman - "Too late - I've already marked it" Bosun - "Oh, you utter baboon!" (or words to that effect) COMMAND TEAM Ops (on being shaken) - "What's going on? Is there a fire?" CO Lt Cdr Laurence "Yeah, it looks like a Rock, but if we Bosun - "Herman's marked a contact" wait a bit longer it might turn into a Mine" Ops - "Oh, Herman - you baggy pair of underpants!" (or words SMALLMAN, RN (PWO(U)) to that effect) XO Lt Jason "Actually getting Daily Orders out is not as The usual procedure then followed.The contact was remarkably easy as you might think" SCOTT, RN (MCD) good (even though the OPS and Bosun weren't overly keen to admit it) and after establishing a hover, the decision was taken PORT WATCH to action the Port vehicle (N.B. When asked by the Captain OPS Lt John "I was so bleeding popular on Diving course whether or not the contact was worth sending the Diver's the first time around that they invited me back straight down on, the Bosun replied "It's good, Sir, but it's not specially" CRAIG, RN (MWO - Hoofed off Diving that good"). The vehicle reached the contact (despite the Course; once - so far!) Gunnery Officer's best attempts to ignore the Hover) and, BOSUN PO(MW)(0) Paddy "Don't mark that contact" DALY shock-horror, it turned out to be a Mine. LHOW LS(MW)(0) Ian "Not another chuffing vehicle run" Much calm, well thought-out and carefully planned procedures ROSS then followed. Or would have done if everyone hadn't panicked. AB(MW)s AB(MW) Phil "18 layers of clothing in any weather" The MWO piped "Mine Threat Red" and brought the Divers to FORT immediate notice while the Bosun attempted to neutralise the Mine with the under-rated technique of repeatedly battering it AB(MW) Herman "How to make friends and with the PAP. The Captain, who was obviously somewhat influence people" GEARING disappointed not to have found another rock to put into his AB(MW) Pat "Fishing's great - isn't it Bosun?" "Observer's Book of Bottom Contacts", asked who had spotted PATTI SON the Mine. "I did, Sir" replied AB GEARING "and I marked it even AB(MW) Phil "I am not a Diver's Groupie" PHILLIPS though the Bosun told me to disregard it twice!".What followed, afterthe Captain had departed, was not a pretty sight, but once STARBOARD WATCH the Bosun had finished blushing (and been restrained from AOPS S/Lt Mike "Cheerful" LONG, RN attacking said operator), AB GEARING became closely acquainted with the business end of a mop and bucket - and (MWO - Realised Diving was thoroughly unpleasant only when he is old and gnarled is the Bosun likely to let him and a bit damp!) back into the Ops Room. ORS PO(MW)(0) Jim "I AM NOT F@*KING STORMY !" At this stage, Starboard Watch came on for the long Afternoon, BLACKLOCK and Port Watch all ran away to the Fo'c's'le (based on the sound LHOW LS(MW)(0) Sean "Nice Bike - Shame about the principle that if the Mine was live, and exploded, we'd all be beard" WELLINGS thrown over the side by the shock-wave - and not propelled at AB(MW)s AB(MW) Paddy "I am not going bald" GREEN great speed into the deckhead). The Divers went down and did their business, and (after the AB(MW) Stirling "Still waters run deep" MOSS Cox'n had consulted "Janet and John's Guide to Explosive AB(MW) Ginge "Why-Aye, Howay the Toon Army" Ordnance") the Mine was identified as a simplified A Mk 12, i.e. TENNICK inert. The best guess as to how the Mine ended up on a War Route is that a Fisherman must have dragged it into the area THE DIVING TEAM whilst trawling. The Mine was recovered and we all patted COX'N PO(D) Ben "Win or lose On the booze" ourselves on the backs for being such jolly good eggs. CARTWRIGHT LS(D) LS(D) Andy "I'm not fat" MAIN MORE ORDNANCE AB(D)'s AB(D) Paddy "I can cook anything - as long as it's Along the same stretch of Q-route another 'metallic object' was Spag Bol" DONOHUE discovered. After a PAP run and a diver attaching a recovery line to it. the object was recovered. When the contact came into AB(D) Jan "Standby Diver Extraordinaire" MOBLEY sight it was obviously not a Mine, but an overgrown 16" Shell AB(D) Kenny "The SAS are faggots" LORIMER (circa WWII). Having no indication as to the state of the shell the decision was taken to attach a 41b pack, lower it to the sea bed and "bang" it. www.mcdoa.org.uk 8
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continued overleaf overleaf continued
increase in corporate experience. experience. corporate in increase
with the use of established MCM techniques but attempting to to attempting but techniques MCM established of use the with
equipment dependent, but much benefit can be gained from an an from gained be can benefit much but dependent, equipment
exercises have been exploited to investigate tactical operations operations tactical investigate to exploited been have exercises
improve. Further quantitative improvements are predominantly predominantly are improvements quantitative Further improve.
ShortTermTactical Operations. Operations. ShortTermTactical
Recent NATO and UK national national UK and NATO Recent
understanding of capabilities and limitations continue to to continue limitations and capabilities of understanding
to strenuously push forward the requirement. requirement. the forward push strenuously to AD, such as Rapier, into maritime operations and mutual mutual and operations maritime into Rapier, as such AD,
responsibility of the amphibious and mine warfare communities communities warfare mine and amphibious the of responsibility dedicated to the defence of MCMV. Integration of land-based land-based of Integration MCMV. of defence the to dedicated
unidentified plan on someone's drawing board, it remains the the remains it board, drawing someone's on plan unidentified Air Defence FOTI 0708 has been issued, with an Annex Annex an with issued, been has 0708 FOTI Defence Air
Although the final equipment and techniques remain a distant distant a remain techniques and equipment final the Although Inshore AAW. AAW. Inshore Following successful trialling during JMC 941, 941, JMC during trialling successful Following
This will provide an essential breaching or clearance capability. capability. clearance or breaching essential an provide will This
ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT
dispose of ordnance and obstacles using shaped charges. charges. shaped using obstacles and ordnance of dispose
PROTECTION OF MCMVS IN A MULTI-THREAT MULTI-THREAT A IN MCMVS OF PROTECTION concepts include UUV capabilities to minehunt, classify and and classify minehunt, to capabilities UUV include concepts
functions to provide minefield avoidance data. Long term term Long data. avoidance minefield provide to functions
Term requirements include mine detection and mapping mapping and detection mine include requirements Term
up over the horizon at the last moment. moment. last the at horizon the over up
research into Unmanned Underwater Vehicles or UUVs. Near Near UUVs. or Vehicles Underwater Unmanned into research
AW will mean collocation; you do the work and we we and work the do you collocation; mean will AW might might
pitch pitch
covert MCM capability, the USN has funding to progress progress to funding has USN the capability, MCM covert
helped to dispel the misconception that MCM integration into into integration MCM that misconception the dispel to helped
projects to achieve this goal. With a stated requirement for a a for requirement stated a With goal. this achieve to projects
integral part of the continual amphibious estimate. It has also also has It estimate. amphibious continual the of part integral
this area is centred on the application of current research research current of application the on centred is area this
comprehensive and timely picture to CATF which forms an an forms which CATF to picture timely and comprehensive
covert form of Shallow Water MCM operations. Interest within within Interest operations. MCM Water Shallow of form covert
planning, techniques and reporting are sufficient to provide a a provide to sufficient are reporting and techniques planning,
and individual nations will hopefully pursue the need for a a for need the pursue hopefully will nations individual and
AOA in advance of the ATF arrival and proved that NATO NATO that proved and arrival ATF the of advance in AOA
Longterm Covert Operations. Operations. Covert Longterm
Looking to the future, NATO NATO future, the to Looking 95. During all exercises, MCM groups have worked within the the within worked have groups MCM exercises, all During 95.
35 for DYNAMIC IMPACT 94 and 24 during STRONG RESOLVE RESOLVE STRONG during 24 and 94 IMPACT DYNAMIC for 35 occurred with resultant need for active MCM techniques. techniques. MCM active for need resultant with occurred
staggering; COMAW had TACOM of 13 MCMVs for JMC 941, 941, JMC for MCMVs 13 of TACOM had COMAW staggering; the amphibious planner will often have to wait until mining has has mining until wait to have often will planner amphibious the
Recent MCM support to amphibious exercises has been quite quite been has exercises amphibious to support MCM Recent shown that such action rarely gains political approval.Therefore, approval.Therefore, political gains rarely action such that shown
Regrettably, both recent real live and exercise experience has has experience exercise and live real recent both Regrettably,
particular CATF/CLF mission, aim and objectives. objectives. and aim mission, CATF/CLF particular
action against enemy mining depots, stocks and minelayers. minelayers. and stocks depots, mining enemy against action
within the wider scope of the whole amphibious operation; in in operation; amphibious whole the of scope wider the within
cure and accurate intelligence can lead to pre-emptive offensive offensive pre-emptive to lead can intelligence accurate and cure
essential to ensure that the importance of MCM is viewed viewed is MCM of importance the that ensure to essential
Offensive Counter Mining. Mining. Counter Offensive
Prevention is always the best best the always is Prevention Therefore. early liaison between CATF Staff and MCM CDR is is CDR MCM and Staff CATF between liaison early Therefore.
of tactical information/intelligence concerned with the AOA. AOA. the with concerned information/intelligence tactical of viewed in isolation by the MCM/amphibious planner. planner. MCM/amphibious the by isolation in viewed
but CATF will be the focal point for the collation and distribution distribution and collation the for point focal the be will CATF but techniques will be individually developed, they should not be be not should they developed, individually be will techniques
direction of effort. Strategic intelligence is widely distributed distributed widely is intelligence Strategic effort. of direction amphibious operation. Therefore, although these different different these although Therefore, operation. amphibious
Reliable and timely intelligence is the key to ensure the correct correct the ensure to key the is intelligence timely and Reliable fully complementary within the escalatory timetable of an an of timetable escalatory the within complementary fully
These differing operations are not mutually exclusive and are are and exclusive mutually not are operations differing These
The aim here would be to HINDER THE ASSAULT. ASSAULT. THE HINDER to be would here aim The
constructed with minimal technological expertise or stores. stores. or expertise technological minimal with constructed d. d. Rapid Rapid OVERT OVERT MCM operations (H-4 to H-1 ?). ?). H-1 to (H-4 operations MCM
readily available on the world's markets or can be easily easily be can or markets world's the on available readily
c. c. Short Term Term Short DISCREET DISCREET MCM operations (D-1 to D-4 ?). ?). D-4 to (D-1 operations MCM
wide variety of sea mines, land mines and obstructions are are obstructions and mines land mines, sea of variety wide
b. b. Long term term Long COVERT COVERT surveillance and MCM operations. operations. MCM and surveillance waters to disrupt or delay the amphibious assault/offload. A A assault/offload. amphibious the delay or disrupt to waters
to the ATF, nuisance type minefields may be laid within shallow shallow within laid be may minefields type nuisance ATF, the to
and minelayers. minelayers. and
STOPPING THE ASSAULT. Notwithstanding the primary threat threat primary the Notwithstanding ASSAULT. THE STOPPING
a. a. Offensive Counter Mining - Destroy enemy minestocks minestocks enemy Destroy - Mining Counter Offensive
offload/assault using conventional mine types with the aim of of aim the with types mine conventional using offload/assault
which may overlap in timescale: timescale: in overlap may which
will attempt to strike Mission Essential Units of the ATF prior to to prior ATF the of Units Essential Mission strike to attempt will
Therefore, the requirement falls into four distinct categories categories distinct four into falls requirement the Therefore,
in mining publications, it is estimated that a sophisticated miner miner sophisticated a that estimated is it publications, mining in
By studying the threat and using the standard planning criteria criteria planning standard the using and threat the studying By surprise for the Land Force. Force. Land the for surprise
compromise of landing areas to maximise the element of of element the maximise to areas landing of compromise
operation is to be met. met. be to is operation
threat to an acceptable level and the need to prevent prevent to need the and level acceptable an to threat
essential if the security and timetable of the amphibious amphibious the of timetable and security the if essential
MCM) into the AOA in order to gain intelligence and reduce the the reduce and intelligence gain to order in AOA the into MCM)
and forecast mine threats where accuracy and speed is is speed and accuracy where threats mine forecast and
remain afine balance between putting sufficient effort (including (including effort sufficient putting between balance afine remain
the ATF must include adequate MCM Forces to meet known known meet to Forces MCM adequate include must ATF the
The decision to commit forces to operate within the AOA will will AOA the within operate to forces commit to decision The
or creation of local sea control is a prerequisite and therefore, therefore, and prerequisite a is control sea local of creation or
ground"for any potential offensive miner. It follows the existence existence the follows It miner. offensive potential any ground"for MCM SUPPORT OF AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS OPERATIONS AMPHIBIOUS OF SUPPORT MCM
waters within the AOA which coincidentally forms the "killing "killing the forms coincidentally which AOA the within waters
definition, amphibious operations rely on the free use of littoral littoral of use free the on rely operations amphibious definition,
coastal waters. waters. coastal to arrive without critical reduction to its combat potential. By By potential. combat its to reduction critical without arrive to
and on entry into the AOA is vital since the Land Force needs needs Force Land the since vital is AOA the into entry on and be given to testing static ASW defence of a large force in in force large a of defence ASW static testing to given be
waters. Priority in the work up phases of future exercises must must exercises future of phases up work the in Priority waters. The safety of the Amphibious Task Force (ATF) on passage passage on (ATF) Force Task Amphibious the of safety The
leaves serious concern for the defence of the ATG in littoral littoral in ATG the of defence the for concern serious leaves
OPERATIONS OPERATIONS
ASW weapon performance and the demise of the SSK fleet, fleet, SSK the of demise the and performance weapon ASW
MCM IN SUPPORT OF AMPHIBIOUS AMPHIBIOUS OF SUPPORT IN MCM
Inshore ASW which, compounded with poor shallow water water shallow poor with compounded which, ASW Inshore
little importance has been afforded to the old chestnut of of chestnut old the to afforded been has importance little
InShore ASW ASW InShore Despite testing of AAW/ASUW improvements, improvements, AAW/ASUW of testing Despite in a very short space of time. time. of space short very a in
my original concerns and outline the progress that has occurred occurred has that progress the outline and concerns original my principles can be applied in all circumstances. circumstances. all in applied be can principles
during seven major NATO Exercises. It seems timely to revisit revisit to timely seems It Exercises. NATO major seven during not be specific guidance on defence of MCMVs, the general general the MCMVs, of defence on guidance specific be not
able to witness, at first hand, the MCM/amphibious interface interface MCM/amphibious the hand, first at witness, to able forum and a draft FOTI is expected shortly. Although there will will there Although shortly. expected is FOTI draft a and forum
Since my last effort for this illustrious magazine, I have been been have I magazine, illustrious this for effort last my Since Inshore ASUW.This ASUW.This Inshore discipline has been the focus of a MWDC MWDC a of focus the been has discipline
By Lieutenant Commander Tom Chambers Chambers Tom Commander Lieutenant By
AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE - "THE MCM" MCM" "THE - WARFARE AMPHIBIOUS www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE - "THE MCM
timetable them to defeat enemy detection and intelligence tactically extracted by SOF units. It is now realised that the organisations. CATF/CLF will study enemy capabilities/ search can be speeded up if handheld sonars and Diff GPS dispositions and assess when it is safe for MCM forces to enter Naysets can be purchased. Additionally, some form of timer the AOA without compromise. The effort/surprise calculation detonator or acoustically activated detonator is required so will produce a finite tinne within which to conduct MCM operations. that disposal can be timetabled to retain surprise. However, certain tasks, especially SWMCM, may be considered In summary, current interest in Shallow Water MOM should more discreet and therefore authorised for earlier entry to the ensure that we build on present capabilities, fine tuning them AOA producing a staggered approach to MCM operations. in the medium term to ensure maximum availability, speed and Timescales will inevitably be short and short term/exploratory accuracy so that the amphibious planner has an effective MCM techniques will often be most appropriate. However, in counter to this cheap and effective form of warfare. At the same certain cases, merely determining the presence of mines (RED time, we must continue to press for the technological answer LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT) may be sufficient to affect the course of to covert Shallow Water MCM. amphibious planning and the subsequent operation. It must be remembered that CCATF would rather go where he knows there ENDPIECES are no mines than being forced to conduct time consuming Amphibious Forces, Notes and Orders, (AFNOS). To ensure MCM operations. that recent experience is not lost, AFNOS has undergone a Rapid Overt MCM Operations.The long term development of major re-write and now includes a chapter on MCM support operations. Aimed at the MOM Commander, it gives planning equipments to allow rapid in-stride and overt MCM will permit and communications guidance on each stage of the amphibious the phasing of assault forces directly behind MCM breaching operations, rather than introducing deliberate delays in the operation. Issued in January 95, the distribution will include amphibious assault. MCM clearance must also use the same COMMW, SMOPS and each MCM Commander. technology to maintain post- assault tempo for expanding SWO(UW) to COMAW/S02 N3(UW) to COMUKNLPHIBGRU. areas for follow on forces and amphibious offload. The post within the staff is here to stay and that is official! Lt Cdr Steve Lewis takes on the mantle in June 1995.The appointment SHALLOW WATER MINE COUNTERMEASURES has been re-entitled (UW) with the requirement for a MCD/ (SWMCM) PWO(U)(2nd Tour) who in the future will probably be invited to Notwithstanding the perceived relative importance of return to school for the following ADQUALS: conventional MCM over SWMCM outlined above, the latter a. Advance Mine Warfare, (AMW). has enjoyed a very high profile in recent years. With the b. Force ASW, (FASW). exception of the USN and its SEAL teams, other NATO nations. do not have a stated requirement for a covert Clearance Diving c. Staff Warfare Officer, (SWO). capability and therefore the emphasis of national studies have d. Maritime Tactical Course, (MTC). centred on a fast overt operation close to D DAY/H HOUR. e. Amphibious Warfare Planning Course, (AWPC). The USN, alone, has put forward its own concept in the form Staff of of EXTAC 620 entitled "Amphibious Warfare in a Mine Comodore Amphibious Warfare Environment". It requires a helibourne assault to secure the No 6 House beach followed by a coordinated in-stride MCM breaching RMB Stonehouse operation using Surface MCM Vessels, Airborne MCM, EOD PLYMOUTH Teams, Beach Line Charge Throwers and blanket bombing PLI 30S where necessary. This whole operation is conducted only Telephone (0752) 836430 hours before the main assault. It is clear that the US is the only MB Stonehouse Est: 36430 country that has all of the assets required within its inventory to conduct such an operation, although other NATO countries could contribute certain elements if required. It relies on two basic assumptions; that a heliborne assault can effectively secure the beach and that MCM operations starting within the radar horizon of enemy shore will not compromise the landing site.Therefore some form of deception plan would be essential to create confusion within enemy Int gathering units. It has yet to be fully tested within a NATO exercise and some concerns remain over the accuracy, feasible effort and overall coordination of such a complex operation. Presently being rewritten to be more applicable to all NATO nations-the amphibious community awaits the results. UK exercises have seen Special Operations Forces (SOF) and their vessels used to insert a Clearance Diving Unit into a target beach by night and then deploy as a passive defensive screen providing a tripwire warning service. The CDU then conducted a traditional visual jackstay search to detect and dispose of ordnance and obstacles. Operations should be restricted to the smallest feasible area and search speed remains very dependant on the type of bottom. For example, it would have been impossible to have completed any search to any great degree of confidence in the posidonia laden beds of Capo Teulada in Exercise Dynamic Impact. The CDU were then recovered in reverse order to the mother craft and
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repainting whilst still living onboard with no ACP. To cap it it cap To ACP. no with onboard living still whilst repainting
"Come here Frenchie" Frenchie" here "Come
davit change, being totally tented up for shot blasting and and blasting shot for up tented totally being change, davit
turned out to be more like a refit, with a generator change, change, generator a with refit, a like more be to out turned
At the end of the patrol it was back to Rosyth for BMP, which which BMP, for Rosyth to back was it patrol the of end the At
some encouragement he made it. it. made he encouragement some
that the end was at least three feet from the water) after after water) the from feet three least at was end the that
couldn't climb the jumping ladder with a set on (he insists insists (he on set a with ladder jumping the climb couldn't
decided to abort the dive and discovered that the boss boss the that discovered and dive the abort to decided
started which promptly burst into flames. At this time I I time this At flames. into burst promptly which started
had a total power failure and the salvage generator was was generator salvage the and failure power total a had
dive to check the underwater winch, as the dive started we we started dive the as winch, underwater the check to dive
One for the S288 - whilst at anchor one night there was a a was there night one anchor at whilst - S288 the for One
in a local pub. pub. local a in
including following the fox hunt, rugby, football and a social social a and football rugby, hunt, fox the following including
Company travelled to Quorn. A good time was had by all all by had was time good A Quorn. to travelled Company
With the ship berthed in Grimsby most of the Ships' Ships' the of most Grimsby in berthed ship the With
to pay an official visit to our affiliated town in Leicestershire. Leicestershire. in town affiliated our to visit official an pay to
boardings under our belt - and a lot more fish (I), it was time time was it (I), fish more lot a and - belt our under boardings
to maintain a reasonable level of sanity. With a few more more few a With sanity. of level reasonable a maintain to
hours in duration. These along with regular BBQs helped helped BBQs regular with along These duration. in hours
in Portsmouth and Newcastle (our new base port?). port?). base new (our Newcastle and Portsmouth in Poole and Newcastle (twice) which ranged from 24 to 48 48 to 24 from ranged which (twice) Newcastle and Poole
up with Christmas spirit (and beer) followed by stand-offs stand-offs by followed beer) (and spirit Christmas with up The patrols were broken up by stand-offs, in Portsmouth, Portsmouth, in stand-offs, by up broken were patrols The
The final two months of 1994 saw a visit to St Malo, to stock stock to Malo, St to visit a saw 1994 of months two final The
let SNNICDU show them how ). ). how them show SNNICDU let "A quiet day on fish" fish" on day quiet "A
resulting detonation was heard but not seen. (Should have have (Should seen. not but heard was detonation resulting
relocate the mine and mark it. It was by now 23:00 and the the and 23:00 now by was It it. mark and mine the relocate
civilian ship, the Subsea Commander used an ROV to to ROV an used Commander Subsea the ship, civilian
fuse they discovered that the mine had broken free. A A free. broken had mine the that discovered they fuse
pack on the mine. When they were about to light the safety safety the light to about were they When mine. the on pack
window the team removed the lifting bags and placed a 41b 41b a placed and bags lifting the removed team the window
mine and tow it to the disposal area. During the next diving diving next the During area. disposal the to it tow and mine
they managed to attach a large pneumatic fender to the the to fender pneumatic large a attach to managed they
lifting bag sank. Just prior to the end of the diving window window diving the of end the to prior Just sank. bag lifting
lifted the mine. Halfway through the tow the mine and and mine the tow the through Halfway mine. the lifted
to inflate and a second was attached which successfully successfully which attached was second a and inflate to
it away from a gas pipeline. The lifting bag however failed failed however bag lifting The pipeline. gas a from away it
managed to attach a lifting bag to it to enable them to move move to them enable to it to bag lifting a attach to managed
onboard at 0100, and diving in tidal windows they eventually eventually they windows tidal in diving and 0100, at onboard
ACDU disposed of a GC off the Humber. PACDU arrived arrived PACDU Humber. the off GC a of disposed ACDU
Jersey and Harwich and we stood by while the Portsmouth Portsmouth the while by stood we and Harwich and Jersey
As the patrol continued the ship had stand offs in Newcastle, Newcastle, in offs stand had ship the continued patrol the As
forgot to tell us that they had not gone to sea. sea. to gone not had they that us tell to forgot
all we sailed a day early to operate with the Dutch, who who Dutch, the with operate to early day a sailed we all first EOD job. (DEMS training for the year?) year?) the for training (DEMS job. EOD first
trawled up by a FN off Whitely Bay which was the boss' boss' the was which Bay Whitely off FN a by up trawled
The opportunity also arose to dispose of a marine marker marker marine a of dispose to arose also opportunity The
"My what big nets you've got" got" you've nets big what "My
carried out, at night and in a heavy swell - our reward - fish! fish! - reward our - swell heavy a in and night at out, carried
from his mattress). A quick and professional job was was job professional and quick A mattress). his from
tangled around her prop (time to surgically remove Pete Pete remove surgically to (time prop her around tangled
in the water when we were asked to assist a FN with its net net its with FN a assist to asked were we when water the in
accom. During the patrol there was even a chance to get get to chance a even was there patrol the During accom.
scrubbed out the galley when he couldn't pay his food and and food his pay couldn't he when galley the out scrubbed
embarked from the affiliated regiment, one of whom kindly kindly whom of one regiment, affiliated the from embarked
an eight week patrol during which we had six pongos pongos six had we which during patrol week eight an
Ops embarked (the only MCD / MWO onboard). This was was This onboard). MWO / MCD only (the embarked Ops
After summer leave we sailed for fish patrol with the new new the with patrol fish for sailed we leave summer After
Thursday! Thursday!
parting shot being by the way you've got families day on on day families got you've way the by being shot parting
was 40/60, 40% handover - 60% run ashore, with his his with ashore, run 60% - handover 40% 40/60, was
leave ). The handover from Max Wall, now in the school, school, the in now Wall, Max from handover The ). leave
Amsterdam ( just in time for a run ashore and summer summer and ashore run a for time in just ( Amsterdam
Fishery Protection duties, while the ship was on a visit to to visit a on was ship the while duties, Protection Fishery
I joined Quorn back in June 1994, in its fifth month of of month fifth its in 1994, June in back Quorn joined I
By PO(D) Andy Carss Carss Andy PO(D) By
LIFE ON FISH (DOING TIME) TIME) (DOING FISH ON LIFE www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk LIFE ON FISH (DOING TIME)
Even with a demanding fish programme we have managed a few MCM serials. These have included simple danbuoy lay's and recoveries with respectable times. It all proved worthwhile training, especially for the new OM ratings. Unfortunately, unexpected fish tasking resulted in the cancellation of planned route surveys. We did, however, manage to stream and recover the CIS (with repairs to theTAG cable thrown in for good measure). An important aspect of Fishery Protection Duties is public relations, and primarily raising the profile of the FPS. This explains why we spend most stand-offs in non-naval ports, something which brought us to Brixham for the Trawler Race. The ship was only able to come alongside after a dawn dive by the diving team to conduct a survey and bottom search of the berth (the chart shows only one depth from a survey in 1966). As Spetnaz PWO(F) well as opening the ship to visitors, we took forty guests out into Tor Bay to witness the race. In July the ship paid its first visit to London for a seventy two hour standoff where we berthed alongside HMS BELFAST. At the time of writing we have just left Newcastle (again!), and are on our way to Grimsby for their Fish Festival. Meanwhile, we have eight of our muppets on Command Team Training. During the ship's seventeen months on fish duties we have completed over 400 boardings; steamed 30854 miles (equivalent to the distance steamed in the first 32 months of the ship's life) and averaged 33% more days at sea per month and only 34% base port time. On 25 July 1995 we will return to Rosyth, after three months away from our base port, where we will give our Tornado to MIDDLETON wishing her all the best on Fish Duties, and we will return to the real world of MCM. Life on a FPV is not as bad as some would have you Gratuitous action shot believe, but you can expect a lot of sea time, not much diving, some good runs ashore and a long cast that is written in pencil and called Daily Orders! The winter months on 'Fish' were particularly unpleasant with many days 'out of limits' for boarding operations. March proved more successful with time spent in the Channel and on West Patrol. Stand-offs included Alderney, Liverpool, Falmouth and Amsterdam. The final four months of 'Fish' were particularly busy. Boarding days lost to the weather became less and the ship's programme became increasingly more flexible with the start of theTuna Season. We did however make it to Rouen for a four day visit to participate in the VE Day celebrations. As well as opening the ship to visitors a marching platoon took part in the City parade. A welcome 10 day break from Fish Duties came in May with our LSP and a highly successful deep dive work up in Gibraltar. The trip down took us through the Tuna grounds in the South West Approaches. With very little fishing activity observed we arrived in Gib on time to meet up with our families who had flown out. As well as participating in the infamous Rock Race the ship served as the venue for the wedding reception of one of our stokers, MEM CHRISTIE, who tied the knot in the sun. The Author
www.mcdoa.org.uk 12
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qualified. qualified.
programme of diver support to the USN, so he is ideally ideally is he so USN, the to support diver of programme
I wish you all safe and progressive diving. diving. progressive and safe all you wish I
he has been assisting the US navy divers run their sophisticated sophisticated their run divers navy US the assisting been has he
all part of the the of part all services unique military diving capability capability diving military unique services and and
on his return from an exchange posting in the America where where America the in posting exchange an from return his on
Remember, no matter what arm of diving you practice you are are you practice you diving of arm what matter no Remember,
will start with a study, conducted by Lt Cdr Alan Trevarthen Trevarthen Alan Cdr Lt by conducted study, a with start will RN, RN,
SSP(D). SSP(D). support of Military Divers and their peacetime UWE role. This This role. UWE peacetime their and Divers Military of support
future and I hope will be properly reflected in any revision of of revision any in reflected properly be will hope I and future Support Command(NSC). They will take responsibility for the the for responsibility take will They Command(NSC). Support
The fitting impression made on the AFPRB bode well for the the for well bode AFPRB the on made impression fitting The Committee has, at last, achieved agreement from the Naval Naval the from agreement achieved last, at has, Committee
witness all the Services working together so harmoniously. harmoniously. so together working Services the all witness Engineering Officer(DSEO), and the Underwater Engineering Engineering Underwater the and Officer(DSEO), Engineering
categories of diver demonstrated to the the to demonstrated diver of categories AFPRB AFPRB in June and to to and June in before, stoic work by Lt Les Crawford, my Diving Support and and Support Diving my Crawford, Les Lt by work stoic before,
Finally I was really proud to see the unique military skills of all all of skills military unique the see to proud really was I Finally to EOD. UWE also has more promise of legitimacy than ever ever than legitimacy of promise more has also UWE EOD. to
robust approach through MoD, should help bring purple equality equality purple bring help should MoD, through approach robust advancement machine must get into motion soon. soon. motion into get must machine advancement
them of the Navy EOD capabilities! This, together with a a with together This, capabilities! EOD Navy the of them follow on SANDOWN Class in mid 1997, means the the means 1997, mid in Class SANDOWN on follow
at the JSEOD Operations Centre in order to constantly remind remind constantly to order in Centre Operations JSEOD the at or two new PVR's) and most significantly the manning of the 7 7 the of manning the significantly most and PVR's) new two or
and licensing places. A LS(D) is now (sacrificed) to the staff staff the to (sacrificed) now is LS(D) A places. licensing and the 20 redundees, the trickle of time expired releases (with one one (with releases expired time of trickle the redundees, 20 the
difficulties as our Army colleagues reduce the IEDD training training IEDD the reduce colleagues Army our as difficulties combination of space in the advancement pyramid, made by by made pyramid, advancement the in space of combination
standards in both EOD and IEDD, against more than usual usual than more against IEDD, and EOD both in standards a place on that delayed course overnight. The reality is that the the that is reality The overnight. course delayed that on place a
Taylor, (Inspector EOD) is working to improve the professional professional the improve to working is EOD) (Inspector Taylor, does not mean that you all will achieve instant advancement or or advancement instant achieve will all you that mean not does
necessary to achieve appropriate recognition. In EOD, WO(D) WO(D) EOD, In recognition. appropriate achieve to necessary there is opportunity to renew those aspirations of progress. It It progress. of aspirations those renew to opportunity is there
the first move toward the improvements and new techniques techniques new and improvements the toward move first the redundancy measures. Now these measures are behind us us behind are measures these Now measures. redundancy
either the EOD or UWE roles but in both disciplines I have seen seen have I disciplines both in but roles UWE or EOD the either recession, a shrinking navy and minimum PVR in the face of of face the in PVR minimum and navy shrinking a recession,
another challenge. I cannot promise a quick-fix solution in in solution quick-fix a promise cannot I challenge. another my term as SofD and you have all heard the reasons why; why; reasons the heard all have you and SofD as term my
which runs more on goodwill than programmed support, is is support, programmed than goodwill on more runs which any other - advancement. It has been lamentably slow during during slow lamentably been has It advancement. - other any
cousin of the Battle Damage Repair and Assessment role, role, Assessment and Repair Damage Battle the of cousin Now to the subject which I believe will interest more of you than than you of more interest will believe I which subject the to Now
support for Underwater Engineering(UWE), this the peacetime peacetime the this Engineering(UWE), Underwater for support
FOSF. FOSF.
outstanding problem areas, including IEDD. The stature and and stature The IEDD. including areas, problem outstanding
of the North and South Diving Groups for CAPT MFP and and MFP CAPT for Groups Diving South and North the of
The final line of my summary identified EOD as one of the the of one as EOD identified summary my of line final The
unchanged except that he will have taken on the management management the on taken have will he that except unchanged
of date." date." of The Superintendent of Diving's responsibilities remain virtually virtually remain responsibilities Diving's of Superintendent The
allows me to turn my attention to EOD, which is lamentably out out lamentably is which EOD, to attention my turn to me allows logistics and operational management of the Diving Groups. Groups. Diving the of management operational and logistics
While I am confident that diving is being brought up to date it it date to up brought being is diving that confident am I While Commander functions on behalf of FOSFfor the administration, administration, the FOSFfor of behalf on functions Commander
equally routine peacetime operations supporting the Fleet. Fleet. the supporting operations peacetime routine equally Diving Diving and Fishery Protection (CAPT MFP) will exercise Type Type exercise will MFP) (CAPT Protection Fishery and
operations, spearhead support for an out-of-area conflict or or conflict out-of-area an for support spearhead operations, of CinCFleet, while Captain Minewarfare and Patrol Vessels, Vessels, Patrol and Minewarfare Captain while CinCFleet, of
military tasks at home or abroad, MCM, EOD, special special EOD, MCM, abroad, or home at tasks military date diving operations will be under the command and control control and command the under be will operations diving date
capabilities will be enhanced whether the requirement be be requirement the whether enhanced be will capabilities At the same time COMMW integrates with FOSF. After this this After FOSF. with integrates COMMW time same the At
retaining the flexibility to meet the wide ranging tasks. Our Our tasks. ranging wide the meet to flexibility the retaining new RECLAIM Building at Horsea Island on the 21 November. November. 21 the on Island Horsea at Building RECLAIM new
and maintain our capabilities with a leaner budget whilst whilst budget leaner a with capabilities our maintain and FDG [as well as PACDU/SDU 2(Portsmouth)] will move to a a to move will 2(Portsmouth)] PACDU/SDU as well [as FDG
is being introduced. The management changes will help focus focus help will changes management The introduced. being is To add a final chapter to the list of changes, the SofD HQ and and HQ SofD the changes, of list the to chapter final a add To
coming into service and a more efficient management structure structure management efficient more a and service into coming
future requirement for the unique capabilities of divers. divers. of capabilities unique the for requirement future
more widely recognised. The long awaited new equipment is is equipment new awaited long The recognised. widely more
and emphasis on shallow water warfare both underline the the underline both warfare water shallow on emphasis and
poignancy to our role and the importance of naval diving is is diving naval of importance the and role our to poignancy
improve our military capability, the SAN DOWN follow on build build on follow DOWN SAN the capability, military our improve
whole spectrum of military diving. There is a new military military new a is There diving. military of spectrum whole
fact, the management reorganisation and the new equipments equipments new the and reorganisation management the fact,
pleased to see so much progress being made across the the across made being progress much so see to pleased
easy answer to the degree of stretch being felt by so many. In In many. so by felt being stretch of degree the to answer easy
fundamental to our business, it said; "In summary, I am am I summary, "In said; it business, our to fundamental
capability and strength is not in question, although there is no no is there although question, in not is strength and capability
apologies for repeating my summary of that article as it is is it as article that of summary my repeating for apologies
the manning considerations I have seen, the Branch's military military Branch's the seen, have I considerations manning the
who read my article in the February MADMAG. I make no no make I MADMAG. February the in article my read who
Branch? Based on the evidence of the Diving Policy paper and and paper Policy Diving the of evidence the on Based Branch?
Hopefully the successes are already familiar to those of you you of those to familiar already are successes the Hopefully
policy paper, what do I believe is the future for the Diving Diving the for future the is believe I do what paper, policy
successor Commander John Arrow BSc MNI RN. RN. MNI BSc Arrow John Commander successor of the RCSG nor predict the conclusions of the revised JS EOD EOD JS revised the of conclusions the predict nor RCSG the of
term and the skeletons which lurk in the cupboard for my my for cupboard the in lurk which skeletons the and term it's not my prerogative, for example, to pre-judge the findings findings the pre-judge to example, for prerogative, my not it's
visibility in achievement. So what are the highs and lows of my my of lows and highs the are what So achievement. in visibility all of the searching and often radical considerations. Although Although considerations. radical often and searching the of all
regions, I do hope we have more than made up for the lack of of lack the for up made than more have we hope do I regions, unique role of the military diver diver military the of role unique has not been overlooked in in overlooked been not has
function is unlikely from our record of visiting you in the the in you visiting of record our from unlikely is function responding to these wider changes in order to ensure that the the that ensure to order in changes wider these to responding
of Diving(SofD). While I admit recognition of the headquarters headquarters the of recognition admit I While Diving(SofD). of SofD. This has meant significant time has been dedicated to to dedicated been has time significant meant has This SofD.
not been such a mystery during my term as the Superintendent Superintendent the as term my during mystery a such been not to trim to the 'new world order?') during much of my time as as time my of much during order?') world 'new the to trim to
that outfit in the corner of Gunwharf do?" Well hopefully it has has it hopefully Well do?" Gunwharf of corner the in outfit that rest of the Navy has been progressing (or was it identifying how how identifying it was (or progressing been has Navy the of rest
In the past I have heard it said of my Headquarters. "What does does "What Headquarters. my of said it heard have I past the In So, what else has kept us busy? You may have noticed how the the how noticed have may You busy? us kept has else what So,
By Cdr B A Mansbridge Mansbridge A B Cdr By
HAUL DOWN MESSAGE MESSAGE DOWN HAUL
SUPERINTENDENT OF DIVING - - DIVING OF SUPERINTENDENT www.mcdoa.org.uk
www.mcdoa.org.uk THE MERMAID FACTOR
By P. A. Balink-White
I thought you might be interested in an article of mine published in the April edition of THE NAVAL REVIEW. You may care to continue the Divers and their Daughters survey. Or it might make interesting copy for the MINEWARFARE and DIVING publication.
„ if LE by BILL TIDY SOMETHING 10 Do WITH 71-IE TIME THEY SPEND A MUCH GREATER trklctoENCE DETE CoTMPRESDSTEROSWG NE AFTER A DIVE. IT LoWERS OF GIRLS. S LEUELS... cp/7 y,
)
0(111110A II " MAGAVNE STATED THAT DIVERS AND THOSE,TIED IN WITH HIGH WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED A FA-114ERED MORE GIRLS THAN BOYS._ &ofmoo-rgopmn) LEUELS,MEAti... b8u6t-TTER,So STAN BoOGF, K T...
DID 11-IE TRAINING WITH A GROUP YV SHOW HIm THE MAGAZINE,) (‘ OF 0114ERS AND WE TRIED FoR STAN! -KEEPING A DISORDERLY HYPERB A RIC (HA MBER!. A GIRL— - 7/ C Lk; Ce L1, c -c ,k•V— 1 q.0 pLE5
takkkA (1111[ 11(Ilitiftitit glut,
AND? Ot IT WAS ALL SO__Efg.ARRASS'''a ING WHEN 4, 71-1E PoUCE HNO COASTGUARD
`Deep down it's a girlish mystery.' Girls keep bobbing up for The German Embassy in London wrote to the Ministry of divers. "It's funny about frogmen; they've so few sons. "Why do Defence saying that a Dr Ernst Melzner, a German divers have so many girls?"Girls, girls, girls, the Navy just can't gynaecologist of note, had seen a report in the German fathom it. "Divers' occupational hazard.' magazine Der Spiegel which said: 'When the British Admiralty These are just a few headlines from the British local and found out that the wives of eleven frogmen gave birth to national press and the international press of some years back. daughters only, they ordered a Commander to find out the What was all the fuss about? reason for this fact, 'It was stated that 'Dr Melzner believes that he knows the reason and wants to save the time of the It all started when this writer commanded an EOD/Diving Team Commander.' The Medical Director general was 'not amused'. in Malta. Because of the high birth rate among the local people He first found out about the survey through a letter from a and militaryfannilies stationed there, itwas known as 'Conception scientist in Czechoslovakia who said he had been trying to Isle', not always affectionately! solve the problem for 14 years and 'would be very grateful if you There were 12 divers in the Team who were all accompanied would enable me to co-operate with your investigation'. by their families. During our tour, every wife produced a child Professor George Zipt of Harvard University considered that, (you normally went home with a new washer/dryer, a new car in some mysterious manner, the body chemistry of the male is and a new baby) and every child was a girl with one exception. affected by the percentage of male orfemale persons to which Eleven girls to one boy (The father of the boy was not on active he exposed in daily life. High exposure to females produces diving duty at the time of conception.) male children and vice versa. In the years that followed, a casual eye was kept on divers and One scientist in Denmark wrote 'I have been interested in it for their families and it appeared more and more that there was a 43 years!' His theory was that shining blue lights on cattle predominance of girl children. produced females and pink lights male. So, why not people? Having reached the top of the tree, so to speak, in the British Blue is not a very complimentary colour and brings out strange Navy's diving world — the Superintendent of Diving — I decided effects with certain make-up! that a survey of divers and their families should be carried out. There is an old wives' tale in Britain which says 'It takes a man A form was prepared by the deputy S of D. It asked for all details to produce a girl. meaning that the more likelihood of conceiving to conduct the survey. The last question had to be changed, a girl child. This was not implied. Unfortunately, some irate however. What was required was a question whose wording wives thought it was, and many letters were received from should have reflected 'what was your actual employment at the ladies saying they had a whole brood of boys and their times of conception?' But, in typical `navalese', it came out as husband was a 6'4" 'hunk' who had taken umbrage and was on 'What were you doing at the time of conception?' the verge of seeking satisfaction' a duel—'swords or boathooks?' The survey was announced in the Navy Diving Magazine Is there any connection between a man's virility and his which was picked up by civilian diving publications, thence the progeny? The Deputy Chief Scientist of the British Army whole world including behind the Iron Curtain.The whole thing announced that, 'A preponderance of female births are locally was rapidly getting out of hand. www.mcdoa.org.uk 14
15 15
www.mcdoa.org.uk
4623 4623
OMI(S) OMI(S)
PO R S MITCHELL MITCHELL S R PO
4623 4623
4793 4793 4 7 92 92 4783 4783
LSI(S) LSI(S)
STO STO HTO HTO CBM CBM
Gapped Gapped AB M WEATHERILL WEATHERILL M AB S 'NESTBY 'NESTBY S POP HUTCHINGS HUTCHINGS POP
4623 4623
4793 4793 4792 4792 4790 4790 4790 4790
STD STD POI(S) POI(S) HTD HTD OMI(H) OMI(H) MOW MOW
PC A M COLES COLES M A PC Gapped Gapped PO RATTLE RATTLE PO PO S W BAILIE BAILIE W S PO 0M1 S S DOBSON DOBSON S S 0M1
CUNNINGHAM 121 121 CUNNINGHAM
4204 4204
4717 4717
4793 4793 4792 4792 4790 4790 4790 4790
TCM TCM
LCI(S) LCI(S) STC STC
HTC HTC LSI(H) LSI(H) TOM TOM
CPO D M SMITH SMITH M D CPO
CPO G G COYLE COYLE G G CPO
CPO W A MOORE MOORE A W CPO CPO N H HODGES HODGES H N CPO PO C I DYER DYER I C PO CPO P T READER READER T P CPO
OLIVER BLOCK 229 229 BLOCK OLIVER
4782 4782 4 623 623
4789 4789
MW (TAC) (TAC) MW
MW2 MW2 MW4 MW4
Cdr J C LEE LEE C J Cdr
LtCc,CIGBAIE LtCc,CIGBAIE WO (MW P M STOCKLEY STOCKLEY M P (MW WO
MW TACTICAL PROCEDURES PROCEDURES TACTICAL MW
SAN DOWN COT COT DOWN SAN PRECISE NAV NAV PRECISE ADM I N N I ADM
MW STAFF COURSES COURSES STAFF MW
SEA TRG CO.ORD CO.ORD TRG SEA ARCTURUS COT COT ARCTURUS MINES MINES
MW TACTICAL SYSTEMS SYSTEMS TACTICAL MW LMCDO COURSE MANAGER MANAGER COURSE LMCDO
SANDOWN PJTs PJTs SANDOWN HUNT PJTs PJTs HUNT LOM TRAINING TRAINING LOM
ADVANCED MW COURSE COURSE MW ADVANCED
MVVO COURSE COURSE MVVO SANDOWN STREAM TRG TRG STREAM SANDOWN HUNT TRG TRG HUNT OM TRAINING TRAINING OM
4794 4794
FROM JAN JAN FROM UNTIL FEB FEB UNTIL
SOMW SOMW FROM JAN JAN FROM
(AOMC) (AOMC) (MTR) (MTR)
Lt Cdr W M McT KERR KERR McT M W Cdr Lt (UN (UN AN) AN)
(E & METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE CENTRE METEOROLOGICAL & - 0 0 SECTION SECTION
MW SECT SECT MW UNDERWATER WARFARE SECTION, SECTION, WARFARE UNDERWATER