HMS Albion 1971-1972
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PERFIDIOUS ALBION Taken from the `Argus' She's grey and old, her messdecks cold leave little room for mirth; Her life is spent, her flight-deck bent, She's had her time on earth. She's aged and rusty, dark and dusty, But when she's gone for scrap Don't call her `tub' or `a green rub' and never `pension trap'; When you're on draft and talking daft About `Singers' or the `Vill', The old Grey Ghost of the Java coast Will serve us matelots still. 41 AIR DEPARTMENT Variety has been the keynote of this ships and 50 aircraft to signify our welcomed back 845 Squadron who had commission in respect of the Air Depart- withdrawal from the Singapore Bases. been with Bulwark. Exercise `STRONG ment. During the past 18 months we have Exercise `CURTAIN CALL' off the West EXPRESS' was a fitting culmination to a operated in the North Atlantic in winter, Malaysian Coast marked our ultimate commission that had already achieved the Mediterranean in Spring and the departure from Eastern Waters, but we 10,000 deck landings and seen aircraft South China Sea in all its unchanging had little time for nostalgic reminiscences, ranging in size from the Sioux to the Sea seasons. We have transitted the Indian for we were earmarked to cover the Stallion. We can look back with a sense of Ocean twice and flown helicopters off withdrawal from the Persian Gulf. In the achievement, for behind this figure, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and Hong event the ship did not enter the Gulf but which is impressive in itself, lies the hard Kong. Detachments of aircraft have spent a pleasant time off Masirah, which work that has made it possible. We must operated in Kenya, Korea, Masirah, Gan was terminated rather hurriedly when the not overlook the important part carried and Cyprus, and have flown over jungle, Indo/Pakistan war broke out. Sea Kings out by the non-aviation personnel, the desert, swamp and snow. Besides our ever from HMS Eagle were embarked and Ops Room and AOR teams, the Flight changing environment we have also had a Albion steamed towards Bangladesh to Deck Guides, the 'Tween Decks Guides variety of aircraft on our deck; to date no stand by to evacuate refugees. Before and the ASO's party, all of whom fewer than 16 types of aircraft have entering the Bay of Bengal it was learned contribute significantly to the smooth successfully operated from the ship. the British nationals had been rescued so operation of the Flight Deck. Squadrons too, have been with us for we returned to the island of Gan where As for the Flight Deck itself, it has various lengths of time, we have been 40 Commando were disembarked and required a continuous process of `Mother' to 845 Sqdn and 848 Sqdn with subsequently flown home. husbandry to maintain the status quo their Wessex 5s and `Foster Mother' to Christmas Day was spent at sea in the despite the elements and the punishment 826 Sea King A/S Sqdn. Mozambique Channel but New Year's inflicted by 2,000 men using and abusing The beginning of the commission saw Eve found us in Capetown enjoying very its potential, for it has been all things to 845 as the resident Naval Air Commando cordial hospitality. Spirits were high for, all men. Who for instance would have Squadron but before the Far East before the end of January, we knew HM thought of turning it into a golf course and deployment 848 Squadron took their Customs would welcome us to then using cubed pieces of wood for golf place. On arrival in Singapore 847 Portsmouth. balls? At times it has been a sports field, Squadron were re-absorbed by 848 and The Mediterranean deployment in where the Air Department has acquitted passage was taken by Dieppe and Brunei April to participate in two exacting itself well, having won the Hockey Commando Flights at various times. Exercises, `DOUBLE BASE' off Cyprus Championship three times and also the The Orient leg of the commission was and `DAWN PATROL' in the Aegean, knockout Olympiad once. very pleasant, a number of the ship's provided a welcome change of scenery. To sum up, the Air Department has company took advantage of indulgence Cross deck operations with USS Guadal- been right at the sharp end of things, we flights and brought their families to canal provided our pilots and deck crews have had to work hard but have also Singapore and Hong Kong and at least with useful experience in handling played hard. We are proud of our one member of the department married a American aircraft. In June we visited achievements and can rest assured that in local girl. The operational highlights of this Scapa Flow and carried out Exercise looking through Albion's last commission leg were provided by three exercises, the `STRENGTH TRIAL' which was in book in future years, perhaps we will first being Exercise `NEW LOOK 11' off preparation for the Autumn visit to remember with pleasure the halcyon days Brunei. Exercise `ROUND UP' took us to North Norway when we participated in we spent on board. the East Coast of Malaysia, whilst the the largest NATO Exercise scheduled for Editor's Note: My thanks to the Photo- culmination of our time in the Far East some years. For this exercise we embarked graphic Section for their invaluable help was the Naval steampast/flypast of 18 a detachment of 826 Sea Kings and in the production of this book . 42 AIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT A large proportion of the complement of Our next spell at sea was for exercises who soon showed us he could wield a AED have been in the ship since the latter before a visit to Hong Kong, calling at mighty stick on the hockey pitch. We end of 1970. It was then that a snow Olongapo on our way. This produced one returned to Portsmouth to a wonderful plough was produced by 3D Workshops or two laughs, including the episode of welcome by our families and friends and a and winterisation mods embodied in all Bass Chamberlain returning on board good spell of leave. the ground equipment by the merry men with three live ducklings under his hat. During the DAMP at Portsmouth, of HES in conditions colder than the cold On arrival at Hong Kong Commander CAA Tizard was relieved by CAM weather trials themselves. Despite Denholm took over the reins as AEO Chinnock, complete with his accordian. qualifying for our blue nose certificate from Commander Paul. It was not long The ship and department also benefited on 5 February 1971, we soon found before our new boss showed his expertise from the arrival of REAL Ackerman, the that snow is not always plentiful in the on the volley ball pitch in several matches Combined Services and Navy rugby Arctic. played between the old and bold and the player. On arriving back in Portsmouth there younger elements of the department. Then followed deployment in the was a lot of activity taking leave and By the time that the ship steamed out of Mediterranean which was interesting making final preparations for the Far Singapore for the last time in the Far from an operational point of view in that East leg. East, all available space in the department the AED were called upon to look after At this time we changed squadrons, was overflowing with countless rabbits. visiting USMC helicopters, including Sea from 845 to 848 and an amicable and Much to the DAEO's delight, both HES Knights, Sea Stallions and Cobras. There close working liaison was soon achieved, and AOS boasted very healthy looking was little opportunity for shore activity, helped along by `fireside chats' between aquaria, the latter under the expert eye of but everybody took advantage of the two Mr Thring and Mr Goodwill. Willie Wyness. Because 4Q58 Mess was stops at Gibraltar to buy still more After a passage which included calls at always so sparkling, the lads had to forage rabbits. Durban and Bombay, we berthed at farther afield for the cockroaches that An exercise in the Orkneys followed, Singapore dockyard in June. We their tame praying mantis relished. again with little opportunity for shore supported 848 Squadron at Simbang and At Mombasa Lieutenant Asquith leave, but it did give a chance to save our managed to cope with the wide range of (AAEO) was relieved by Lieutenant money for the visits to Rotterdam, jobs that arose. In sport - we made our Jones, the latter in time for the Gulf Greenock and Dover where once again presence felt in the various activities. Deployment. This proved to be an anti- Lieutenant Jones in the ship's sailing team Although unsuccessful in claiming any climax operationally, but once again all proved that the sea shall not have him. laurels, AED regularly supplied three sorts of varied activities were devised to Dover was also a new experience for ship's rugby players, one hockey player relieve boredom, including a village fete in many in the department as due to bad and a soccer player for the double header which Willie Monaghan and Taff Gelder weather, a night had to be spent ashore in at Terror. really excelled in their fancy dress. Bob the Royal Marine barracks at Deal. Then Long Weekend at Erasers Hill in the Jepson and his crew built a box kite back to Portsmouth for leave, Navy Days Camerons was enjoyed by many of the which the Captain flew in competition and a very damped down DAMP.