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ROYAL NAVAL Vol. 16 ING No. 1 magazine

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www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk R.N. Editor's Notes ERE at last the first of the new style Magazine in an attempt to increase our circulation and Diving Magazine Happeal. Only with the help of you, the reader, will it be a complete success. By sending in the money for magazines sold and news/information of Vol. 16 No. 1 June/July 1969 your work, you will ensure that we have something to print and also the means to pay for the printing. Within the following pages is a mine of informa- Contents tion including details of the DIVERS DINNER, a must on every Diver's calendar and a change of PAGE venue this year. EDITOR'S NOTES . . . . 3 For those of you who would like to do something ROYAL ALIEN NAVY-PART II 4 TREASURE DIVING-NEW STYLE 5 useful with your spare time, the S.N.A.P. courses DIANA'S FINS . . . . 7 started earlier this year should help you to achieve A WINTER CRUISE IN THE CARIBBEAN 8 this ambition and assist in preventing future wreck INGLORIOUS MUD . . . . . . . . 9 `finds' from being plundered. NEW PRESIDENT FOR SOUTHSEA B.S.A.C. 11 ON S.N.A.P.—A SCHOOL FOR ARCHAEOLOGY In future editions, we hope to start a 'Question UNDERWATER . . . . . . . . . . 13 and Answer' page, in which we will endeavour to AN IMPORTANT NEW ROLE FOR THE CLUB DIVER? 14 answer any queries of a technical or medical nature UNDERWATER ASSOCIATION REPORT 1968.. 15 which readers may have. The 'Letters to the Editor' DIVING IN THE NORTH SEA 17 section of the magazine could do with more con- BENDS EMERGENCY . . 18 S.N.I.C.C.D.T. 19 troversial material. We know the magazine is good, NAVY TO THE RESCUE . . . . . . 20 it could be better with your help. ST. ADJUTOR'S CHURCH, H.M.S. `VERNON' 21 With two changes in the Editorial Committee A DIVER'S GUIDE TO SHARKS-PART I . 23 already a thing of the past and a change of Editor COMMITTEE FOR NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY 26 due shortly to use the words of the prophet 'It's all ROYAL ALIEN NAVY-PART III . . 27 THE BIG 'T' 29 happening'. EDITOR. `AMPHORAE, CANNON AND PIRATES' . . 32 NUMBER ONE CLEARANCE DIVING OFFICER 34 DIVERS DINNER, 1969 SUPERCESSION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DIVING OFFICER . . . . 35 HE Divers Dinner will be held this year on ULSTER NOTES . . . . 37 Thursday 16th October 1969 at Kimbells Clifton MEDITERRANEAN FLEET C.D.T. 39 TOak Lounge. Reception at 7.15 p.m. Dinner BOOK REVIEW . . . . . . 40 at 8 p.m. The cost this year is 38/6 including Wines. SUB-AQUA DAY, HORSEA ISLAND 1969 41 Bar Extension to Midnight. Seats cannot be booked LETTERS TO THE EDITOR . . . . 43 ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT 44 without names and money. Tickets will be issued at the time of booking and will constitute a receipt. No money can be refunded after 1st October for seats not taken up. EDITORIAL STAFF It would be appreciated if applications could be Portsmouth 22351 Ext. 2473 received as early as possible and in any case not Editor P.O. R. CHORLTON later than 1st October. Treasurer SUB-LT. R. WILSON (SD) (MCD) Please make cheques/postal orders payable to The Divers Dinner Fund, and forwarded to: The Editor, Any opinions expressed in articles written by contributors R.N. DIVING MAGAZINE, H.M.S. Vernon, Portsmouth, are not necessarily those held by the Publishers. by the 1st October. The printing of an advertisement does not necessarily mean that the publishers endorse the use of any articles of equipment advertised. FRONT COVER. Compliments of Alan Bax. Published by H.M.S. Vernon in June/July and November/ Lt.-Cdr. Alan Bax examining the result of the December. Annual Subscription 6/— post free. excavation of the Dutch East Indiaman—Liefde— All manuscripts, photographs or illustrations are return- Shetland 1968. Photograph taken with a Nikonos able by request. This magazine is unsupported by public fitted with a fish eye lens manufactured by Slip funds. Shulke, Miami. 3

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Royal Alien Navy part II

San Diego, working at least twelve hours a day, seven days a California, U.S.A. week and most likely would be until the project got December 1968. underway. INCE our last article, we have moved around For the first ten days of September, Lt. Lafferty California quite a bit. At the end of July, most and I spent most of our time training up a special Sof the SEALAB personnel moved up to San group in the use of the Mark VIII Diving rig. This Francisco, to commence training with the Deep group consisted of Cdr. Scott Carpenter, Phillipe Diving System Mark 2 and the Habitat. Cousteau, Dr. Joe Maclnnis, Dr. Raymond and Mr. Martin Harrell, all of whom had been unable to This presented a few problems at 'first as the join up with the earlier training course held in May shipyard was still hard at work completing the in- back in San Diego. stalling of the Mark 2 System in the support ship Elk River IX-501. So at first, they concentrated on For the remainder of September, and the first two the SEALAB (the Habitats designated title), systems weeks of October, training and testing was carried and procedures. on at a steady pace, highlighted by the Shallow Water tests held with the SEALAB in San Francisco On 10th August, Lt.-Cdr. Lafontaine, L.S. Naval Shipyard. The SEALAB was lowered to the Lukeman (now desginated Major and Corporal— bottom of the drydock in 35 foot of water, and each but don't address them that way!) and myself moved team spent up to four hours at a time in the SEALAB down to Port Hueneme. Lafontaine with Team V— —diving from it and operating all the systems so as training with the Mammals, Lukeman and I with to give each team member a thorough checkout, Teams II and III, training with the Salvage and the alternates working within a team so that all Construction projects. Lukeman and I spent ten personnel got in this SEALAB training. days working with the Salvage and Construction teams, alternating between them. The training took Mid-October, the SEALAB left San Francisco for place off Anacapa Island, which is about 10 miles Long Beach and I accompanied the Lab to run off the coast from Port Hueneme. another Mark VIII training course for a further four, these personnel to be alternates, as all teams Then, we had three days with Team V, working had been increased to nine members, and the with the mammals. My first dive was with Topo, a alternates list had decreased slightly. well trained seal. It was wearing a small fitted harness with a small float attached to it. We sat in The Elk River eventually left San Francisco on the a mock-up of the SEALAB in 50 foot of water and 8th November and all personnel moved out to San Topo would come down to us from the surface where Clemente Island to prepare to start the project. we would remove the float from one side of the It was during our training with the Personal harness and replace it on the other side, to simulate Transfer Capsule, that, while putting P.T.C. No. 2 bringing a message or package to the diver. Then we down to 550 foot in the Hydrostat Mode, unmanned, would gradually approach the entrance hatch to the so that the Strength, Power and Communications SEALAP trying to entice Topo to come up inside Cable (S.P.C.C.) could be restowed on its winch the hatchway. On my dives we managed to get drum, that the Capsule flooded. This of course has Topo as far as the hatch entrance. We also made put the 'down date' back till most likely early in the dives with 'Rascal' and `Tully', two porpoises who New Year. It was a bitter blow as everyone was will be worked on the SEALAB III project. `keyed up and ready to go'. This means that most I must admit that I was a little apprehensive at of us will be able to spend Christmas with our first, but I quickly got over it, and thoroughly en- families, which would otherwise have been im- joyed the experience of working with these intelligent possible. and well trained mammals. One cannot help being Since our last article, Lt. Lafferty has been pro- impressed by the confidence all the trainers have in moted to Lt.-Cdr. and has become a Mark IV Dad— what their particular mammals can and could do if his wife presented him with a bonnie little girl on necessary. September 6th. I am sure you all join me in con- We all returned to San Francisco on 24th August gratulating him on both events. and got on with the further training and testing with As already mentioned, the Canadian Navy has the SEALAB and Deep Diving System. The schedule changed its titles, and we now have a Major and a of work had picked up so much that we were now Corporal in the Alien Navy. The Corporal is 4

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk eagerly awaiting his sergeants stripes, which should visit from Lt.-Cdr's. Jackie Warner and Bill Filer, be through any week now. who came out to the Island to have a look over the There have also been a couple of team changes, SEALAB and the Elk River. Also, we met Capt. Lukeman will most likely go to the bottom with Blake, Cdr. White, Doctors Rawlings and Elliot and Team V and I am at the moment going on the Lt.-Cdr. James Majendie, who were all in San Diego Construction project with Team III. attending the International Deep Diving Conference. I unfortunately missed Vic Humphries on H.M.S. It was almost like being back in Vernon, except it was Fife when they were at Long Beach, as I was on San so much warmer, as we were having to put up with a Clemente Island at the time. But we had a fleeting cool 68° temperature outside.

Treasure Diving New Style

REASURE diving being the current 'in' thing, an L.D.V. badge, and an A.R.P. 'Shelter' plate. An let me take you on a real expedition that paid old bayonet scabbard—thickly encrusted in sand and Toff, without the need for such elaborate pre- grit—is thrown into the wire-basket, to be cleaned parations as the Santa Maria de la Rosa, Association, up when time permits. or De Liefde. After handing in to the police the two firearms, the Equipment needed will be suits with plenty of rest of the days finds are`-left in the basket, at the thick underclothing, as the water will be very cold, bottom of the diver's garden. Some days later the and a really heavy weight-belt to stop you being scabbard, along with other items, gets a scrubbing washed away in the 4-5 knot current. Breathing in the kitchen sink, only to reveal glittering glass and apparatus of choice, but purge-valve masks usually brass underneath the coating. mean a constant inflow of water with such a strong flow of water. Needless to say, the brass was gold, and the glass were diamonds, 635 all told, with a few recovered Descent is quick, after a carefully executed entry from the 's-strap' under the sink. that rules out a jump which would be unwise, if not outright folly. As the diver descends, he feels the Enquiries eventually led to the National Maritime collossal pull of the current, and automatically keeps Museum, where Commander May was able to his head into the current. It is pleasing to note that provide some very useful data, confirming that the there is next to no drop-off in the light transmission, article is the top locket of a sword scabbard, richer and that as he bottoms and digs his toes in (no fins), in manufacture than anything seen before. it is as light as at the surface. The central motif on each side is a crescent moon In this watery bargain basement, as the diver takes with eight-pointed star on a blue enamel background. his first look round, the simple matter of breathing This is the Turkish Order of the Crescent, which was must not be overlooked, so he takes a deep breath created by the Sultan of Turkey to honour foreign from his snorkel. With all the expectation in the nationals who did outstanding service towards his world, he surveys his surroundings—depth 18 inches, country. It was first awarded to Lord Nelson after in the clear waters of the River Wey, at Tilford, the Battle of the Nile. Surrey. The Sultan also gave Nelsori a musket, water On a bed of hard-packed sand and gravel, with canteen, and jewelled sword. The original sword lumps of strangely shaped iron-stone dotted about, disappeared, and was replaced with the fake which it is time to start scratching—which is the correct is now in the National Maritime Museum, and there term. Fingers, a hand trowel, or preferably a water is now no longer any doubt that the Tilford scabbard jet is used to loosen the river bed, and all loosened is from Lord Nelson's sword, though how it came grit must be searched, with the current carrying to be there will forever be a mystery. away the sand, and larger pieces being stacked Some dozens of searches have taken place to behind a convenient bridge buttress. locate the remaining sword and scabbard parts, George III farthings, halfpennies, and a sixpence without success, but to the man who found it, are found, together with a revolver, pistol, old mortar `Nobby' Besch of New Haw, offers keep coming in, bombs, and remnants of the staunch defenders of the latest being one of £6,000, which goes to show the bridge in more troubled days—blank cartridges, you don't have to go deep to hit the jack-pot. 5

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At a Coroner's 'treasure trove' Inquest, the jury One amusing sideline was that at the 1968 Divers' returned a verdict which meant that the scabbard Dinner, it was startling to see the napkins, then the did not come within the verdict of treasure trove, cutlery, all marked with the crescent and eight- and as no-one had come forward with a plausible pointed star crest—the Portsmouth City Badge— claim, it was handed back to Mr. Besch. presumably honouring the city's old freeman.

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6

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Diana's Fins

RAFTED from 'Pompey', to make the Diving seals (well—two !). They appeared to know a lot more Team aboard a `Guz' ship, six keen out- about diving than we did but took an instant dislike Dstandingly efficient Divers formed the com- to the sound of the Equalising Valve. Leaving plement of Diana's Fins. Still muttering abuse at Simonstown, we spent several boring weeks on C.N.D., they accepted the situation and settled down Beira Patrol, and the only salt water we saw was in to overcome any problems that confronted them. the bathroom. The first major problem was the Diving Store, not Come Mombasa, things really changed, we were in as much as squaring it off, but finding it. Blue- honoured with the presence of a genuine, beduine, prints were studied, plans were consulted, and an real McCoy Diving Officer. Just in case he owes amazing conclusion was drawn, 'Clubs' was in the Rum, money or favours to any reader, he answers to wrong caboose. This meant just one thing, he had to the call of S.-Lt. Bob Pilling. By this time we started go, so two of our Diving stalwarts duly evicted him. to think as a team and began to familiarise ourselves Our first assignment was originated by the Q.M. with each others diving habits. Rumours had it, that who when wanting to ring eight bells, discovered to his shark fishing was common, in fact it was a good amazement that there was no ship's bell. This was `buzz', because after furninishing ourselves with a conspicuous by its absence. After every search in suitable length of courlene and a hook, we managed the book and the assistance of George France, it was to land an 800 lb shark (KILLER?). Needless to say decided that we should draw a new one from the diving still took place the following day, by our Naval Stores, and sail to Portland where we did the brave and completely irresponsible divers. usual work-up routine. Maintenance was the order of the day on passage Our complement was lowered by one, due to a to Gan. Although we only had eight hours to spare compulsory loan draft of 28 days somewhere in the whilst refuelling, we took advantage of the oppor- Portsmouth area. On completion of the work-up tunity to partake in some most colourful and enjoy- we set sail for our spring cruise in the Med. Little div- able diving. Next stop, Pulau Tingi, where once ing was done owing to the fact that we were putting again we were able to feast our eyes on yet more out fires on merchant vessels in distress and searching splendours of the deep. We were very fortunate to for lost subs. We embarked the Med. Diving Team unveil a bed of giant clams, which are now promin- with their 'pot' and survivors equipment. Although entely displayed as trophies in various messdecks (`G' the team had little work to do, they did dip in with Members). salvage money and Sam's i spanner. Singapore, nothing to recall, owing to the fact that Ten months gone already, and we are on our third the majority of the divers were on station leave, the Diving Officer, Lt. Downing (Airy Fairy). Just the C.D.O. on loan draft to a minehunter, the store was routine dives in Malta, poker gauge, bottom search, obliterated by `chokies' and there was no air anyway. etc., but foremost in our minds was Easter leave in Attempts were made to recruit new blood, but once U.K. The period after leave we spent 'bumming again due to ship's commitments the four ratings gear', so that we could be ready in all respects for the who started the course were unable to complete it. Far East station (and yet another Diving Officer). We did however have a new diver drafted on, who is Gibraltar brought problems owing to the fact that as good as any C.D., or so he informs us. our new Diving Officer had not joined (R.A. in Again Diana was on the move, this time to Sydney, Pompey). H.M.S. Defender rendered assistance and partaking in a long and tedious exercise on route. invited us to dive with them during the afternoons, Sydney proved the making of history for us. Not . . . even more problems. The ship's side had to take only were we permitted to dive in `pussers' time, but another coat, so our indispensible, and dejected we were allowed a banyan as well. The banyan Divers could not be spared. Jimmy the One, said invitation came from the R.A.N. Diving Team in `work now, play later?' H.M.A.S. Penguin. We spent a pleasant enough day, Where next? I'm glad you asked, Simonstown! and made good use of their gear, but the general Still no Diving Officer, but we managed to grippo impression was in favour of our own S.A.B.A. and Grenville's Diving Officer into a combined Diving S.D.D.E. The boss however was infatuated with the Exercise. We've now got forty minutes each to our new German Mixture Set (L.A.R.). We were lashed credit, but in fact the dive proved to be very interest- up to a real beach barbecue, which was very much ing as we were accompanied by a vast quantity of enjoyed and appreciated by our ravenous crowd. 7

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On returning onboard we discovered we had paid iently. for our days enjoyment by the loss of one watch, The Japanese visit of Okinawa, Hiroshima, Eta one pair of ovies, and one pair of nix. We hasten Jima and Beppu proved quite fruitless, diving wise, to add that the watch was duly recovered by the apart from a couple of routine dips. SAM. boss, who was compelled to accept the hospitality The Team: of Penguin's Wardroom. S.-Lt. Bob Pilling. The Boss. Once more Diana made a move, a day late, owing Ch.M.E. George Hornby. B.E.M. to a defect down the stoke-hole, this time the destin- P.O. Ginge Sargent. C.D. 1 (S.D.) ation was Okinawa, supplying Hermes with a plane- L.-Sea. Stumpy Richards. guard on the way. At least two of our divers finally No comment without being rude. earned their 'Golds', when they were called to the A.B. Sam Sizer Yeoman, Editor and Life-saver. rescue of a crew from a ditched Gannet. Much to the A.B. Jan Stocker. The only Janner and he's bone. relief of the crew and to the credit of the lads, the A.B. Nobby Hall. R.P. and don't we know it. operation was carried out both speedily and effic- Mech. Marshall. Our beloved maintainer.

A Winter Cruise in the Caribbean

H.M.S. ROTHESAY commissioned in June 1968 with night bottom searches were done. insufficient divers onboard and no diving officer. While expedition diving at Chaguaramas, a coral Volunteers were soon forthcoming and just prior to - encrusted anchor was found and after much effort work-up, the divers had increased to nine in number recovered. On chipping off the coral the anchor with one diving officer. proved to be much more modern than we thought Work-up at Portland helped to weld together a which was a little disappointing. team out of many individuals. While at Portland we Also while in Trinidad, we undertook some under- were involved with the recovery of a 'Wessex' that water demolitions for the Trinidad and Tobago had ditched. The helicopter had overturned during coastguards. It involved cutting off some pylons the salvage operation and the diving team were which were proving dangerous to small craft. Our called upon to fit a recovery strop. Unfortunately explosives went off well but very few fish were the sea was too rough for comfort and the diving `caught'. operation had to be abandoned although it was the ships' divers working on the surface who eventually In Grand Turk Island we liaised with some fitted the strop. American Scuba Divers who were attached to the Satelite tracking station there, a result of which was December saw us saying farewell to cold and that a couple of our divers went diving with the windy shores of Britain, heading for the West Americans who had an intimate knowledge of the Indies. waters around Grand Turk. Our first stop was at Bermuda which proved to be a little disappointing from the diving angle as Shell collecting became a mania of the divers until visibility was poor and the water was not much the smell given off after a few days dampened the warmer than that of the United Kingdom. diver's ardour for collecting them. When the Islands of the West Indies were reached, While on the West Indies Station the Anguilla rubber bags and poor visibility were forgotten. It crisis occurrd. Rothesay had to go to Antigua to was not unusual to have a visibility of 100 feet. join up with H.M.S. Minerva prior to the invasion in order to embark troops. Shark and Barracuda only interfered with diving operations once when Dave Cherry and Alley Shark and Barracuda have but infrequently Alleguen leapt out of the water and into the gemini attacked divers in the West Indies, we were told, insisting that they had been chased by a barracuda but of course the usual precautions against shark at least twice the size of the gemini! and barracuda are alWays taken. A period of self-maintenance in Chaguaramas, The Team was: Lt. Jones, A.A. Wrightson, Trinidad enabled us to undertake a variety of diving I.C.E.M. Olsen, L.M. (E) Magnus, R.E.M. Gray, training as well as expeding. The whole team A.B. Adamson, A.B. Cherry, A.B. Alleguen, A.B. managed to get in at least one 120 feet dip and many Hannah, M.E. Flanigan. 8

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9 9

mader suggested that I should start with an S.D. S.D. an with start should I that suggested mader one hand, putting the other on top of your head. head. your of top on other the putting hand, one

anxieties when a briskly amiable Lieutenant Com- Lieutenant amiable briskly a when anxieties armpits. Then you grasp a doorframe firmly with with firmly doorframe a grasp you Then armpits.

rigorous business. I began to have my first nagging nagging first my have to began I business. rigorous upward jerk, and, with luck, get the yoke up to your your to up yoke the get luck, with and, jerk, upward

trade; and I had no doubt that it would be a fairly fairly a be would it that doubt no had I and trade; You leap in the air, both of you making a frantic frantic a making you of both air, the in leap You

tensive grounding in the theory and practice of their their of practice and theory the in grounding tensive the neck yoke in front, and your friend grabs it behind. behind. it grabs friend your and front, in yoke neck the

Their training gives them a very thorough and ex- and thorough very a them gives training Their be a co-operative effort by two divers. You grab grab You divers. two by effort co-operative a be

diver and a C.D. is a full-time professional diver. diver. professional full-time a is C.D. a and diver opening is around your hips. The next step has to to has step next The hips. your around is opening

S.D., however, can volunteer to become a clearance clearance a become to volunteer can however, S.D., can stand up and writhe around until the neck neck the until around writhe and up stand can

their other duties, whatever these might be. An An be. might these whatever duties, other their your feet into the boot-ends of the suit, so that you you that so suit, the of boot-ends the into feet your

needed, although they are normally employed upon upon employed normally are they although needed, opening, and by much dragging and heaving, get get heaving, and dragging much by and opening,

who are able to carry out routine diving activities as as activities diving routine out carry to able are who floor, you insinuate your legs through the neck neck the through legs your insinuate you floor,

clearance divers or C.D. ones. Ships Divers are men men are Divers Ships ones. C.D. or divers clearance and wrists: you get in via the neck. Seated on the the on Seated neck. the via in get you wrists: and

diving courses; ships divers or S.D. courses, and and courses, S.D. or divers ships courses; diving itself. It is a one-piece garment, open only at neck neck at only open garment, one-piece a is It itself.

It was explained to me that there are two sorts of of sorts two are there that me to explained was It you tackle the main rubber-coated nylon dry suit suit dry nylon rubber-coated main the tackle you

First, you don one or two woollen undersuits; then then undersuits; woollen two or one don you First, agreed. Little did I know! know! I did Little agreed.

managed better than five. This is how it's done: done: it's how is This five. than better managed that, as academics went, I was pretty fit. So I I So fit. pretty was I went, academics as that,

one of these things in two minutes flat. I never never I flat. minutes two in things these of one older than the lads taking the course; but I reckoned reckoned I but course; the taking lads the than older

am earnestly assured—that it is possible to get into into get to possible is it assured—that earnestly am well enough that I would be about fifteen years years fifteen about be would I that enough well

humorist has called a 'dry' suit. I am told—nay, I I told—nay, am I suit. 'dry' a called has humorist dozen or so open water dives to my credit. I knew knew I credit. my to dives water open so or dozen

The Navy still does most of its diving in what some some what in diving its of most does still Navy The Sub-Aqua Club's third class certificate, and I had a a had I and certificate, class third Club's Sub-Aqua

Now I enjoy underwater work—I held the British British the held work—I underwater enjoy I Now a careful note. note. careful a

was a remarkable fellow, and the kit is also worth worth also is kit the and fellow, remarkable a was

I would have to take their training course. course. training their take to have would I

our instructor, and collected our kit. The instructor instructor The kit. our collected and instructor, our

to me that, in order to study their problem properly, properly, problem their study to order in that, me to

technique—which really was first rate. Then we met met we Then rate. first was really technique—which

reasonable that I promptly agreed. It was then put put then was It agreed. promptly I that reasonable

was able to sit back and admire the instructional instructional the admire and back sit to able was

should also look at theirs. This was so obviously obviously so was This theirs. at look also should

and being fairly well up in the theory of the thing, I I thing, the of theory the in up well fairly being and

suggestion that, whilst studying my problem, I I problem, my studying whilst that, suggestion

wouldn't be the company. There was a theory class; class; theory a was There company. the be wouldn't

own concerning trainee divers, and they made the the made they and divers, trainee concerning own

rapidly concluded that, whatever might be bad, it it bad, be might whatever that, concluded rapidly

it turned out that they had a little problem of their their of problem little a had they that out turned it

officers whose S.D. course I was to share. I very very I share. to was I course S.D. whose officers

were willing enough to let me do my work. However, However, work. my do me let to enough willing were

about my own work; and then met the four young young four the met then and work; own my about

are always wonderfully helpful, of course, and they they and course, of helpful, wonderfully always are

my first full day, I made a number of arrangements arrangements of number a made I day, full first my

School at H.M.S. H.M.S. at School Vernon Vernon in Portsmouth. The Navy Navy The Portsmouth. in

making strangers feel welcome and comfortable. On On comfortable. and welcome feel strangers making

to that end I approached the Royal Naval Diving Diving Naval Royal the approached I end that to

institution points and a beating when it comes to to comes it when beating a and points institution

I became interested in extending these studies, and and studies, these extending in interested became I

was made to feel at home, for the Navy can offer any any offer can Navy the for home, at feel to made was

A

civilian amateur scuba-divers. More recently, recently, More scuba-divers. amateur civilian

accommodated in the wardroom. Needless to say I I say to Needless wardroom. the in accommodated

periments and observations upon a group of of group a upon observations and periments

establishment in Portsmouth—early in May, and was was and May, in Portsmouth—early in establishment

couple of years ago, I carried out some ex- some out carried I ago, years of couple

So I duly arrived at H.M.S. H.M.S. at arrived duly I So Vernon—a Vernon—a Naval land land Naval

understanding of my violent feelings. feelings. violent my of understanding privilege, but not, perhaps, an entirely enviable one. one. enviable entirely an perhaps, not, but privilege,

when I have done you will have some sympathetic sympathetic some have will you done have I when already appeared in prospect to be a very rare rare very a be to prospect in appeared already

were not normal, as I will explain; and I hope that that hope I and explain; will I as normal, not were Accounts differ very sharply). My opportunity opportunity My sharply). very differ Accounts

normal circumstances. The circumstances, however, however, circumstances, The circumstances. normal I still don't know if that particular story is true. true. is story particular that if know don't still I

I quite like Flanders and Swan's singing, under under singing, Swan's and Flanders like quite I declaring that all divers were lunatics. (Incidentally, (Incidentally, lunatics. were divers all that declaring

against any of these gentlemen; and, to tell the truth, truth, the tell to and, gentlemen; these of any against told that my predecessor had fled after 48 hours, hours, 48 after fled had predecessor my that told

of B.B.C. Radio 1. Not that I have anything personal personal anything have I that Not 1. Radio B.B.C. of returned, somewhat amplified, when I was further further was I when amplified, somewhat returned,

felt a similar strong inclination towards the Director Director the towards inclination strong similar a felt allowed to participate in a C.D. course; but they they but course; C.D. a in participate to allowed

commit assault and battery upon their persons. I I persons. their upon battery and assault commit told that I was only the second civilian ever to be be to ever civilian second the only was I that told

this summer, I would have been very tempted to to tempted very been have would I summer, this My fears were partially stilled by pride when I was was I when pride by stilled partially were fears My

Text: If I had met Messrs. Flanders and Swan early early Swan and Flanders Messrs. met had I If Text:

very well kill me. me. kill well very

there's nothing quite like it . . .'. .'. . . it like quite nothing there's scratch with the C.D's, he explained kindly, it might might it kindly, explained he C.D's, the with scratch

and Swan singing: 'Mud, mud, glorious mud! mud! glorious mud, 'Mud, singing: Swan and one started a couple of weeks later. If I started from from started I If later. weeks of couple a started one

Sound Effect: fade in and out the refrain of Flanders Flanders of refrain the out and in fade Effect: Sound Officer's course, and transfer to a C.D. course when when course C.D. a to transfer and course, Officer's

by by M. HAMMERTON HAMMERTON M.

Inglorious Mud Mud Inglorious www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Your friend seizes the yoke under your raised arm, impression of limped blue water, gaudy fish and at a signal he heaves at it, and you thrust your arm corals, delectable warmth, and, of course, an Ian down and into the sleeve. Repeat the process for the Fleming type lady in close attendance. It is not like other sleeve, perform the same services for him, and that at all. At a depth of 60 feet in English waters you have nearly got the dry suit on. you are often unable to see your own outstretched hand, and even in our lake, which was about half There remains the need to seal the neck. First that depth, we esteemed ourselves very lucky to be you insert inside the yoke an I-sectioned aluminium able to discern objects about six feet away. There ring, rather like what I imagine an ancient thrall- were no pretty ladies either, and worst of all, for the ring to have been. This rests most uncomfortably on first few weeks, it was cold. You might be sent down your shoulders with the lip of the suit-yoke over it. with a length of iron pipe and a hacksaw, and be told You then drag over your head a kind of rubber to cut the pipe in two, or you might be told simply cravat, the wider end of which fits outside the yoke, to follow a pattern of ropes—properly called jack- bearing on the ring inside, whilst its narrower end stays—laid along the bottom. After an hour or so sits tight to your neck—or at least, it is supposed to. of this, I found that I emerged with no control over At last you pass a second, adjustable metal ring my fingers, and very evil thoughts about the man over your head, and screw it tight over the joint of who christened our suits 'dry'. Water at about 5°C. cravat and suit, and lo the knight is arnarmit! If you is very dampening to the ardour as it seeps in through think this sounds a very exhausting rigmarole, you neck and wrists. are right. Once, being temporarily lost, I knelt on the Thus attired, and carrying our flippers in our bottom whilst feeling for the nearest jackstay and hands, the five of us found ourselves, one cool snagged the knee of my suit on some sharp object morning in May, standing by the shore of an the sensation of chill water gradually welling in artificially shaped arm of the sea known as Horsea around knee and thigh and shin, spreading inevit- Lake. By the lake were the collection of buildings ably to foot and crotch, is not one that I recommend. which constitute the diving school, and above its And of course, when you come out, you charge up water—just under 21 foot above them, was a narrow your set with more air and go in again. And so on, diving board. Our instructor surveyed us and the two or three times a day. scene with benign approval, rubbed his hands, and As I remarked, I had reckoned that, as academics said, with a glance at the board, 'Well, gen'lemen, went, I was pretty fit. It's just that academics don't up you go, jump off, and swim across'. As we go very far. By the end of a couple of weeks of climbed the ladder—with myself well in the rear— diving, jumping, and mud-running—of which more he added 'Hang on to your neck rings, or you're in a moment—I thought I really was fit, when I duly liable to have your chins cut off. And point your transferred to the clearance divers, and discovered feet down, or you'll lose your flippers'. I climbed up how wrong I was once again. donned my flippers, gingerly approached the edge of the board, whence my braver friends had already dis- Clearance divers do whatever ships divers do, and appeared, grasped my neck ring very hard indeed, very much more besides. We used oxygen sets in- and, with eyes tight shut, jumped into the intrenchant stead of compressed air. (I preferred these, though air. I made an interesting discovery, although every- some did not) and got ourselves very, very tired body else seems to go down very fast indeed, you indeed. The company again was excellent: the always have time to think 'Where the hell's this course consisted of 10 ratings, instructed by a Petty damned water?' before you hit it. It tastes horrible, Officer and his assistants, and for sheer courtesy, and makes a great splash, but is otherwise all right. considerateness, and the kind of manners that Yet—would you believe it?—though I lost count of matter, they outmatched any group I have ever been the number of times I made that jump, I never with. True, neither their topics of conversation nor managed it with my eyes open. Every morning I their vocabulary would, I imagine, have pleased the vowed that I would gaze upon Portsdown Hill as I woman Whitehouse—and who's she I'd like to fell through the air, and every morning I stepped to know?—but they knew to perfection how to live the end of the board, grasped my neck-ring . . . shut amicably together. I suppose this must be so with my eyes, and went. No doubt I am an invincible sailors: if you take a couple of hundred men and coward. shut them up in a steel box for months at a time, After a few jumps of this kind we got down to the they must either go crackers or become reasonable— and they don't go crackers. diving itself; about which you probably cherish some mistaken notions. The sort of films and adver- In fact, as the weeks passed, and the water grew tisements featuring underwater work always give an warmer, making diving much pleasanter, I had only 10

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk two real sorrows: B.B.C. Radio 1 and mud-running. keep upright and keep going. When it was deep I detest pop music; and these nice people would enough to reach mid-thigh, almost everyone keels have it on, all the time we were out of the water, over and flounders forward on hands and knees. from awakening to sleeping. I persuaded them to This is a mode of progression which is slow, painful, let me have something else for a short time, and at and very dirty. After a few hundred yards of it, you 0659 and 30 seconds I turned to Radio 3 for the can tell men apart only by their height and build: new headlines, followed by a little music to my taste, they are uniformly blackened and stinking with mud. but after 10 minutes or so of Mozart or Haydn, they I used to trail in about fifty or a hundred yards would say 'Come on Doc, that's enough for one day', behind every one else, and it was on one such and back we went to those strident, insistant rythms, occasion, when I arrived gasping, soaked in mud banal lyrics, and nauseating accents: hour after hour without and sweat within, that I recalled Messrs. of it. I particularly recall a juvenile delinquent bawl- Flanders and Swann. A wave of homicidal fury rose ing, several times a day, that his name was Jack, within me. What did they know about mud? and that he lierved ('lived' I suppose he meant) in `Glorious' mud forsooth! They deserved to be the back of somewhere or other. If I could have laid drowned in it—slowly. I really was not feeling my hands on the director of B.B.C. 1 . . .! charitable. I could not help noticing that my friends had no When the time came for me to leave, the members more respect for Pop than I had. They used to of the course presented me with a framed certificate produce improved—much improved—lyrics at great they had made for me. It declares me to be a mem- speed; but they could not bring themselves to switch ber of the Royal Order of Mud Runners. I am more off. than proud to see it hanging on my wall, for it took some getting. The mud was worst of all. 'Mud running' is a misnomer—mud crawling would be more accurate— If ever you should meet a naval diver—the badge for an activity necessary in the training of divers. is an old-fashioned diving helmet with either two Basically it is very simple: at low tide you go forth stars or a crown—treat him with great respect: he clad in the basic kit I described, and walk across has earned it, and stand him a drink, if you have an some exposed mudflats for half or three-quarters of opportunity, for it's long odds that he is very a mile. The mud around where we were, has a interesting company, but switch off Radio 1—or smooth, greenish-brown surface; but the surface chuck the set in the mud. Please. easily breaks, and beneath it is a vile-smelling viscous * * * black liguid. Into this you sink with every step, and Editors Footnote: to withdraw your foot requires some effort. To Dr. Max Hammerton is a psychologist with the withdraw your foot the five-hundredth time requires Medical Research Council, who, at frequent intervals heartbreaking effort. gives broadcast talks on Radio 3. This broadcast is After some practice I got to the stage where, if reprinted by the Courtesy of the British Broadcasting the mud came no further up than mid-calf, I could Corporation.

New President for Southsea B.S.A.C.

URGEON-Commander D. H. Elliott, D.PHIL., A new professional book entitled 'The Physiology R.N., has agreed to become Honorary President and Medicine of Diving and Work in Compressed Sof Southsea Branch. Air', to be published shortly, was co-authored by Dr. Elliott is well known in the international Dr. D. H. Elliott and Dr. P. B. Bennett and is likely world of diving and is at present engaged in practical to become the standard reference work in the field diving medicine and research at the Royal Naval for many years to come. Physiological Laboratory, Alverstoke and the Southsea B.S.A.C. are honoured that Surgeon- Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit, H.M.S. Commander Elliott has accepted presidency of their Vernon. He has contributed the 'Diving Accident' Branch and welcome him to B.S.A.C. membership chapters to the last two B.S.A.C. manuals and has in general and to Southsea Branch in particular. a position of Technical Advisor on the council of the National Underwater Instructors Association. E. JOHN TowsE, Chairman, Southsea B.S.A.C. 11

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

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13 13

that the School would not only prove 'education', 'education', prove only not would School the that of the local diving store giving us invaluable assis- assis- invaluable us giving store diving local the of

the sea both amateur and professional. It was hoped hoped was It professional. and amateur both sea the covering our activities with accuracy, and the owners owners the and accuracy, with activities our covering

the goodwill, and active support of those who used used who those of support active and goodwill, the reasonable rates, Newspapers, Radio and Television Television and Radio Newspapers, rates, reasonable

around our coasts could never be realised without without realised be never could coasts our around accommodation and meals are being offered at at offered being are meals and accommodation

maximum value of the mass of ancient material material ancient of mass the of value maximum seven in June. Civil support is also far from lacking, lacking, from far also is support Civil June. in seven

It was appreciated that, whatever the Law, the the Law, the whatever that, appreciated was It deed, they are setting a Service trend with a peak of of peak a with trend Service a setting are they deed,

have also provided the first Service student, and in- and student, Service first the provided also have to ressurrect the School. School. the ressurrect to

grant of £10 from their Sub-Aqua Association, they they Association, Sub-Aqua their from £10 of grant and reward the finder adequately; in the short term term short the in adequately; finder the reward and

Service to be left out, for as well as contributing a a contributing as well as for out, left be to Service

term to amend the law so as to protect finds and sites, sites, and finds protect to as so law the amend to term

the practical work site at Millbay. Nor is the Junior Junior the is Nor Millbay. at site work practical the twofold course of action was decided; in the long long the in decided; was action of course twofold

the Royal Marine Barracks has permitted access to to access permitted has Barracks Marine Royal the

ment would take a matter of years. Therefore, a a Therefore, years. of matter a take would ment

provide air, and, in turn, the Officer Commanding Commanding Officer the turn, in and, air, provide

underwater sites, it was appreciated that such amend- such that appreciated was it sites, underwater

Naval Diving Officer has also been kind enough to to enough kind been also has Officer Diving Naval amendment to recognise the historic potential of of potential historic the recognise to amendment

cussion on the nearby parade ground. The Royal Royal The ground. parade nearby the on cussion

the Salvage and Antiquity Laws urgently required required urgently Laws Antiquity and Salvage the

in that 'instant' cannon are readily available for dis- for available readily are cannon 'instant' that in

must satisfy this need for education. Although both both Although education. for need this satisfy must

historic in itself, which is of great value to the course, course, the to value great of is which itself, in historic

The way of the Committee appeared clear, they they clear, appeared Committee the of way The

his conference room in the Royal Citadel—a setting setting Citadel—a Royal the in room conference his

appreciate what they found, or to explore it properly. properly. it explore to or found, they what appreciate Commando for allowing the course unlimited use of of use unlimited course the allowing for Commando

been no reason to acquire the knowledge, either to to either knowledge, the acquire to reason no been Commanding Officer of the 95th Royal Artillery Artillery Royal 95th the of Officer Commanding

jaunts for souvenirs, treasure, or salvage, there had had there salvage, or treasure, souvenirs, for jaunts from the South-West. A great deal is owed to the the to owed is deal great A South-West. the from

towards the past. It was because in their pleasant pleasant their in because was It past. the towards Saturday evening, but also the lecturers have come come have lecturers the also but evening, Saturday

munity as a whole lacked a sense of responsibiliy responsibiliy of sense a lacked whole a as munity audience of some 50 to 60 at the open lecture on on lecture open the at 60 to 50 some of audience

lost, it was certainly not because the diving com- diving the because not certainly was it lost, from the beginning. Not only has there been an an been there has only Not beginning. the from

irreplaceable knowledge of past life at Sea was being being was Sea at life past of knowledge irreplaceable Local interest and support has been considerable considerable been has support and interest Local

wreck, and that, if in the course of its exploration, exploration, its of course the in if that, and wreck,

this wide experience. experience. wide this

siderable general interest in the exploration of old old of exploration the in interest general siderable

student participation, so that all may benefit from from benefit may all that so participation, student

The Committee considered that there was a con- a was there that considered Committee The

has lead to the lecturers actively encouraging encouraging actively lecturers the to lead has

which accompanied both. both. accompanied which Knowledge of these totally different backgrounds backgrounds different totally these of Knowledge

fully masked by the glamour of the treasure finds finds treasure the of glamour the by masked fully 16 to 42, and professions have been equally varied. varied. equally been have professions and 42, to 16

value of the two major U.K. finds had been success- been had finds U.K. major two the of value not to mention the lecturers! Ages have ranged from from ranged have Ages lecturers! the mention to not

States. Unfortunately, it appeared that the historic historic the that appeared it Unfortunately, States. the most effective way of putting students at ease— at students putting of way effective most the

it was being found off Great Britain and the United United the and Britain Great off found being was it informality, which has grown up rather naturally as as naturally rather up grown has which informality,

Holland, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand, and and Zealand, New and Australia Denmark, Holland, A feature of the courses is an air of responsible responsible of air an is courses the of feature A

as thoroughly as on any land site—in Norway, Norway, site—in land any on as thoroughly as

—are slowly but surely filling. filling. surely but slowly —are

was being explored systematically—in fact excavated excavated fact systematically—in explored being was

June, and the four remaining—August to November November to remaining—August four the and June,

'VASA' was not an isolated rarity, ancient wreck wreck ancient rarity, isolated an not was 'VASA'

road conditions. April was full, as are May and and May are as full, was April conditions. road

was 'on' outside the Mediterranean. Stockholm's Stockholm's Mediterranean. the outside 'on' was

atures of 8 degrees centigrade, and appalling wintry wintry appalling and centigrade, degrees 8 of atures

situation. Things had changed. Marine Archaeology Archaeology Marine changed. had Things situation.

courses were over-subscribed, despite water temper- water despite over-subscribed, were courses

Committee took stock of itself and the Underwater Underwater the and itself of stock took Committee

stretched to take 12. The February and March March and February The 12. take to stretched

Time passed until in the Autumn of 1968, the the 1968, of Autumn the in until passed Time

Instead of 10 students as planned, courses have been been have courses planned, as students 10 of Instead

of the Mediterranean Sea and no other. other. no and Sea Mediterranean the of The response has been more than satisfactory. satisfactory. than more been has response The

to be that Marine Archaeology was the perogative perogative the was Archaeology Marine that be to

planned for this year. year. this for planned

returned to the womb. The general feeling seemed seemed feeling general The womb. the to returned

before running, and so only nine weekends have been been have weekends nine only so and running, before

prosper, and by the Autumn of that year had quietly quietly had year that of Autumn the by and prosper,

late February 1969. It was thought sensible to walk walk to sensible thought was It 1969. February late

was before its time, for although born, it did not not did it born, although for time, its before was

administrative interval, the first course took place place took course first the interval, administrative

Swanage in the South of England. In retrospect, it it retrospect, In England. of South the in Swanage

`S.N.A.P.' was evolved, and after a three month month three a after and evolved, was `S.N.A.P.'

T

(C.N.A.) sponsored a small organisation at at organisation small a sponsored (C.N.A.)

As a result of these deliberations, the name name the deliberations, these of result a As

when the Committee for Nautical Archaeology Archaeology Nautical for Committee the when

HE idea of the school was first born in 1965, 1965, in born first was school the of idea HE but also engender the necessary goodwill. goodwill. necessary the engender also but

Archaeology Underwater Underwater Archaeology

On S.N.A.P—A School for for School S.N.A.P—A On www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk tance in running the lecture and bar on Saturday We have also been very fortunate in having a evenings. number of specialist lecturers to assist with this work. But, perhaps the greatest encouragement that has Their wholehearted participation in the course has been received is the decision of the British Sub-Aqua inspired enthisuasm in the students, and provided a Club to make a grant of £100 to the School, and £100 most effective supplement to the lectures of Jim Gill to the C.N.A. for legal costs in connection with and myself. So far Don Bailey of the British action to amend the Laws. Museum, Stuart Swiny and Helena Wilde of the Institute of Archaeology, and Collin Doeg, Under- The training of a team for a specific expedition is a water photographer of the year have given their task for which `S.N.A.P.' is particularly suited. It is services. pleasing to note that Imperial College spent a week at Plymouth with Jim Gill, working up for their The afternoons are practical, and at Plymouth, underwater living experiment off Malta in July. In there is no shortage of likely sites. Two have been May, five Aston University students will be prepar- selected, one at Millbay a sheltered site with rather ing for their expedition; in June a R.A.F. team, poor visibility inside the harbour, the other, an under the guidance of Bill Wilkes, form the bulk of unidentified wreck on the coast, which holds great the course, and in November, the Reading Branch potential. A number of cannon are spread over a B.S.—A.C. seem to have taken over! Plans are also wide area, and it is hoped that their practical ex- afoot to arrange an additional weekend for an Army ploration will demonstrate most aspects of the class- team who may be off to Cyprus. room work. So far Millbay only has been used, a As to the content of the course, the observation few cannon, and cannon balls are scattered in some which stands out from all others, is that a two-day 20 feet of somewhat 'opaque' water. It may not course on so varied and absorbing a subject is very sound over attractive, but it has already taught much akin to squeezing a gallon into the proverbial students and staff many valuable lessons. Sediment pint pot. Only the ready co-operation of the probing, grid laying, area search, and mosaic photo- students has enabled the schedule to be maintained. graphy are taught. A 40-page booklet is offered to all students called Finally a look at 1970, current thought is develop- `S.N.A.P's Practical Guide', at 2/3 cost. It contains ing along these lines: an outline of all lectures, with diagrams, and leaves space for notes. It is hoped that it will be rewritten (a) A one-week course in early March and in the Autumn as a result of our experience. November for those who have attended one of the weekends. The morning of each day is given over to classroom work, keeping lectures as practical as possible, by (b) Weekend course in March, April and May, allowing students to handle gear, and for example, September, October and November. giving pairs of students six prints of an underwater (c) Exploration of a selected site at two week site so that they may gain the experience of con- intervals in April/May/June, and September, cocting their own photmosaic. at which all volunteers will be welcome.

An Important New Role for the Club Diver? IVERS, if anyone, must know how helpless a handling their rescue craft in often treacherous sea man is, when immersed in British coastal conditions, there is the very real problem of actually Dwaters without the protection of special cloth- picking up the victim, and here is where the Club ng such as the 'wet suit' or the 'dry suit'. How many Diver could help. of us could spend a few hours treading water some- The victim is all too often too cold to be able to where in the English Channel without a 'wet-suit?' contribute any useful effort to his rescue. His hands Not me! are completely numb; his fingers virtually immov- With this knowledge, it is not difficult to appreciate able; his shivering is uncontrollable; his vision in the the predicament faced by the present sea-rescue cold, salty and wind-swept water is not very reliable; services. Apart from the inherent problems of he may be on the verge of unconsciousness or worse 14

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15 15

merely dabble in diving as a sport will find at least least at find will sport a as diving in dabble merely

tion Ltd. at £3 per Copy). Copy). per £3 at Ltd. tion

report is highly recommended. Even those who who those Even recommended. highly is report

Published by Iliffe Science and Technology Publica- Technology and Science Iliffe by Published

For the serious student of underwater science, this this science, underwater of student serious the For

(The Underwater Association Report 1968. 1968. Report Association Underwater (The

ness and Personality of Divers. Divers. of Personality and ness

the information. information. the Medical aspects as varied as Decompression Sick- Decompression as varied as aspects Medical

finest brains to present their work, and disseminating disseminating and work, their present to brains finest ology, Underwater Photography and Vision, and and Vision, and Photography Underwater ology,

Malta is carrying out a valuable task in getting the the getting in task valuable a out carrying is Malta range and include Marine Geology, Marine Archae- Marine Geology, Marine include and range

setting the dangers. The Underwater Association of of Association Underwater The dangers. the setting The subjects covered, quite naturally, a very wide wide very a naturally, quite covered, subjects The

we become in off- in become we . . increases, the more capable will capable more the increases,

Symposium. Symposium.

The more our knowledge of underwater science science underwater of knowledge our more The

diagrams to illustrate the various papers read at the the at read papers various the illustrate to diagrams

well produced with very good photographs and line line and photographs good very with produced well

athletics'. athletics'.

Annual Symposium held in March 1968. It is very very is It 1968. March in held Symposium Annual

climbing and parachute jumping rather than than rather jumping parachute and climbing

This report covers the papers read at the 3rd 3rd the at read papers the covers report This probably be compared with activities such as rock rock as such activities with compared be probably

T `Diving is an inherently dangerous sport and should should and sport dangerous inherently an is `Diving water scientific research. research. scientific water

Ross's paper on the personality of student divers: divers: student of personality the on paper Ross's formed in 1965 to promote and develop under- develop and promote to 1965 in formed

one statement of interest. I quote from Helen E. E. Helen from quote I interest. of statement one HE Underwater Association of Malta was was Malta of Association Underwater HE

Underwater Association Report 1968 Review Review 1968 Report Association Underwater

J.B. J.B. What do you think? think? you do What co-operative or unco-operative. Victims snagged in in snagged Victims unco-operative. or co-operative

attach a line to him; conscious or unconscious; unconscious; or conscious him; to line a attach

Organisation. Organisation.

Within seconds they could swim to a victim and and victim a to swim could they seconds Within

yet again as the World's greatest Amateur Diving Diving Amateur greatest World's the as again yet

assets in situations similar to those described above. above. described those to similar situations in assets

accept this tremendous challenge and prove itself itself prove and challenge tremendous this accept

posal of the R.N.L.I. Such men would be invaluable invaluable be would men Such R.N.L.I. the of posal

believe the B.S.A.C. is mature enough a body to to body a enough mature is B.S.A.C. the believe

basic equipment (mask, fins and snorkel) at the dis- the at snorkel) and fins (mask, equipment basic

B.S.A.C. to show its mettle in a realistic way. I I way. realistic a in mettle its show to B.S.A.C.

the solution, lies in putting wet-suited divers wearing wearing divers wet-suited putting in lies solution, the

Surely here is a golden opportunity for the the for opportunity golden a is here Surely

A simple attack at the problem, and in my view, view, my in and problem, the at attack simple A

opportunity they are ready and willing. willing. and ready are they opportunity

since its inception and still does today. today. does still and inception its since

am sure it goes without saying that given the the given that saying without goes it sure am

That is the problem that has faced the the faced has that problem the is That

The right type of men are, therefore, available, and I I and available, therefore, are, men of type right The

sea. sea. to the coldness of the wind and and wind the of coldness the to areas where there are already active Sub-Aqua Clubs. Clubs. Sub-Aqua active already are there where areas

await rescue, slowly but progressively succumbing succumbing progressively but slowly rescue, await every year. Many life-boat stations are situated in in situated are stations life-boat Many year. every

spent in this sort of dilemma whilst more victims victims more whilst dilemma of sort this in spent around our coast, and their numbers are increasing increasing are numbers their and coast, our around

secured properly by the victim. Much time can be be can time Much victim. the by properly secured Today there are Sub-Aqua Clubs liberally scattered scattered liberally Clubs Sub-Aqua are there Today

reach, it may still be a long while before it is held or or held is it before while long a be still may it reach,

scheme. scheme.

attempts. Even with the rescue line within arms arms within line rescue the with Even attempts.

the growing awareness to the vast potential of this this of potential vast the to awareness growing the

relatively small, moving target may involve many many involve may target moving small, relatively

Frank Martin in this field are largely responsible for for responsible largely are field this in Martin Frank

age. Throwing lines from a lurching boat at a a at boat lurching a from lines Throwing age.

Solent area. The inexhaustible pioneering efforts of of efforts pioneering inexhaustible The area. Solent

close co a foundering ship or amidst floating wreck- floating amidst or ship foundering a co close

inflatable, in up to gale force 8 conditions in the the in conditions 8 force gale to up in inflatable,

ing to manoeuvre a life-boat in heavy seas, often often seas, heavy in life-boat a manoeuvre to ing

fully effected very many rescues working from a fast fast a from working rescues many very effected fully

taking. taking. It must surely be difficult and time consum- time and difficult be surely must It

Martin. Together with his two sons, he has success- has he sons, two his with Together Martin.

time it is is it time consideration must also be given to the the to given be also must consideration

proven by a member of Southsea Branch—Frank Branch—Frank Southsea of member a by proven

Whether or not this type of rescue is successful, successful, is rescue of type this not or Whether

This 'new' technique has already been tried and and tried been already has technique 'new' This

possible task for the victim. victim. the for task possible

in rescue missions of the R.N.L.I. R.N.L.I. the of missions rescue in passing of it around the body might well be an im- an be well might body the around it of passing

may otherwise have been lost, if 'swimmers' are used used are 'swimmers' if lost, been have otherwise may the attachment of the rope to the life jacket or the the or jacket life the to rope the of attachment the

Today, and in the future, lives could be saved, which which saved, be could lives future, the in and Today, possible to the survivor. The grasping of a rope, rope, a of grasping The survivor. the to possible

life-boat, which has first to manoeuvre as close as as close as manoeuvre to first has which life-boat, life-boat. life-boat.

for the throwing of lines and life-belts from the the from life-belts and lines of throwing the for ministered before a victim has even got onboard the the onboard got even has victim a before ministered

less victim? Conventional techniques only allow allow only techniques Conventional victim? less breaths of Expired Air Resuscitation could be ad- be could Resuscitation Air Expired of breaths

How can the gallant rescuers get hold of this help- this of hold get rescuers gallant the can How upturned boats could be brought out; the vital first first vital the out; brought be could boats upturned

cordage could be untangled; victims trapped under under trapped victims untangled; be could cordage he may be unconscious. unconscious. be may he still, still, www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

GOLF FOOTBALL SQUASH HOCKEY FENCING

Tel. PORTSMOUTH 20611 FISHING CRICKET Sportsmen shop at BOXING INDOOR GAMES THE SOUTHERN BOWLING

WEIGHT SPORTS TRAINING SHOP CAMPING

ATHLETICS Personal attention 48 ELM GROVE FIRE ARMS from Peter Anderson SOUTHSEA JUDO Ken Edwards HANTS TENNIS

BADMINTON RUGBY UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT

People who really know beer TAVERN KEG BITTER take Courage

BREWED BY COURAGE

COURAGE (CENTRAL) LTD COPNOR ROAD, HILSEA PORTSMOUTH

16

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17 17

Draeger's new semi-rebreathing oxy-helium gear and and gear oxy-helium semi-rebreathing new Draeger's Whether a 'rig' has duty free tobacco or not, is at at is not, or tobacco free duty has 'rig' a Whether

oxy-helium for 245 feet. Our firm had just bought bought just had firm Our feet. 245 for oxy-helium On French 'rigs', one can drink wine all day long. long. day all wine drink can one 'rigs', French On

divers were happy to do 230 feet on air, they required required they air, on feet 230 do to happy were divers British 'rigs' permit a limited amount of tinned beer. beer. tinned of amount limited a permit 'rigs' British

Currie-Davis was there was because although the the although because was there was Currie-Davis The penalty for being caught with drink is dismissal. dismissal. is drink with caught being for penalty The

and her anchors were in 245 feet. The reason Mr. Mr. reason The feet. 245 in were anchors her and Most oil rigs are 'dry', American 'rigs' particularly. particularly. 'rigs' American 'dry', are rigs oil Most

Davis (ex-C.D.O.) when she was in 230 feet of water water of feet 230 in was she when (ex-C.D.O.) Davis

weather permitting. permitting. weather

with Mr. Currie- Mr. with Sea Quest Quest Sea was flown to the the to flown was I I

seven days a week. We only work at 'slack water' water' 'slack at work only We week. a days seven

than the 'crews' who have to work twelve hour shifts, shifts, hour twelve work to have who 'crews' the than the drilling crews, are only accessible to the diver. diver. the to accessible only are crews, drilling the

tennis and darts. Divers enjoy these facilities more more facilities these enjoy Divers darts. and tennis gearing rods, etc., which are normally handled by by handled normally are which etc., rods, gearing

usually a television room and films, and even table table even and films, and room television a usually `well head'. That is to say that a lot of hand-wheels, hand-wheels, of lot a that say to is That head'. `well

are available twenty-four hours a day. There is is There day. a hours twenty-four available are position by anchors. Also these rigs have a sub-sea sub-sea a have rigs these Also anchors. by position

Coffee, tea, milk, orange juice and biscuit facilities facilities biscuit and juice orange milk, tea, Coffee, means that the 'cans' float and that it is held in in held is it that and float 'cans' the that means

This This Sea Quest. Quest. Sea is entitled to three excellent square meals a day. day. a meals square excellent three to entitled is so, if that rig is a 'floater' like the the like 'floater' a is rig that if so,

the beds. Each rig has a dining hall, and each man man each and hall, dining a has rig Each beds. the on an oil rig which is in deep water and even more more even and water deep in is which rig oil an on

four to a cabin, with stewards to clean up and make make and up clean to stewards with cabin, a to four A diver really comes into his own when he goes goes he when own his into comes really diver A

workers and three, four or six divers. Usually, it is is it Usually, divers. six or four three, and workers

which can cause the pressure to drop. drop. to pressure the cause can which

deck, hotel type accommodation for about fifty fifty about for accommodation type hotel deck,

We also inspect the casing around the drill for leaks, leaks, for drill the around casing the inspect also We

home. These rigs are huge and all have a helicopter helicopter a have all and huge are rigs These home.

crane and the supply boat, i.e. sections of drill pipe. pipe. drill of sections i.e. boat, supply the and crane

We normally work two weeks on, and one week at at week one and on, weeks two work normally We

that have been dropped, usually between the 'rigs' 'rigs' the between usually dropped, been have that

By far the most popular job, is on the oil rigs. rigs. oil the on is job, popular most the far By

Other jobs include 'lifting' objects of importance importance of objects 'lifting' include jobs Other

in bottles'. bottles'. in

very quickly and is usually quite strong. strong. quite usually is and quickly very being ex-R.N., believe that' all ships should be in in be should ships all that' believe ex-R.N., being

that we cannot go into long 'stops' as the tide turns turns tide the as 'stops' long into go cannot we that at sea in a small ship, and a large number of divers divers of number large a and ship, small a in sea at

it, we dived twice a day. It must be remembered remembered be must It day. a twice dived we it, the fact that this necessitates spending several days days several spending necessitates this that fact the

the water in both cases was shallow enough to allow allow to enough shallow was cases both in water the Norfolk 'Wash' area. Its unpopularity stems from from stems unpopularity Its area. 'Wash' Norfolk

dropped and placed twelve thousand sand-bags. As As sand-bags. thousand twelve placed and dropped North Sea gas pipes. This takes place mainly in the the in mainly place takes This pipes. gas Sea North

on both these 'rigs' we we 'rigs' these both on II), II),

Eastwood (ex-C.D. (ex-C.D. Eastwood prevent coastal erosion and erosion around the the around erosion and erosion coastal prevent

under Ron Ron under Endeavour Endeavour (ex-C.D. (ex-C.D. and on the the on and II) II)

`green fingers' which is planting plastic seaweed, to to seaweed, plastic planting is which fingers' `green

under George Lewis Lewis George under Gulf Tide Tide Gulf was on the the on was

I I When When Another not too popular task is for those with with those for is task popular too not Another

by using sand-bags. sand-bags. using by

know! know! I I diver all over the place. place. the over all diver

`rig' first beds down. Our job is to arrest the scour scour the arrest to is job Our down. beds first `rig'

adept at it, the machine 'takes charge' and steers the the steers and charge' 'takes machine the it, at adept

into the sea bed. This scouring takes place when the the when place takes scouring This bed. sea the into

handle, usually in nil visibility. Until one becomes becomes one Until visibility. nil in usually handle,

appreciated that these 'cans' penetrate several feet feet several penetrate 'cans' these that appreciated

similar to a `pussers' polishing machine without a a without machine polishing `pussers' a to similar

known as 'cans', for 'scouring'. It is of course course of is It 'scouring'. for 'cans', as known attempts to manipulate a powerful pneumatic tool, tool, pneumatic powerful a manipulate to attempts

Our main job is to check the base of the legs, legs, the of base the check to is job main Our

difficult to master, and very unpopular. The diver diver The unpopular. very and master, to difficult

on the sea conditions. conditions. sea the on such as 'ships bottom cleaning' which is quite quite is which cleaning' bottom 'ships as such

a day each, on the tide of our choice, or depending depending or choice, our of tide the on each, day a There are various forms of employment for divers, divers, for employment of forms various are There

when nothing is especially required, we do one 'dip' 'dip' one do we required, especially is nothing when have their preferences. preferences. their have

There are four tides a day, but generally speaking, speaking, generally but day, a tides four are There

Siebe Gorman trained divers, although most firms firms most although divers, trained Gorman Siebe

equipment, rubber suits and associated equipment. equipment. associated and suits rubber equipment, do employ ex-Army, R.A.F., Royal Marines and and Marines Royal R.A.F., ex-Army, employ do

compressor, self-contained bottles, and S.D.D.E. S.D.D.E. and bottles, self-contained compressor, Navy to be employed as a diver, since companies companies since diver, a as employed be to Navy

The basic diving equipment for these is an R.C.C., a a R.C.C., an is these for equipment diving basic The It is not necessary to have been in the Royal Royal the in been have to necessary not is It

Most `jack-up' rigs' have three, four or six legs. legs. six or four three, have rigs' `jack-up' Most rubbish. rubbish.

in shallow depths. depths. shallow in cannot talk money, or name the firms that are are that firms the name or money, talk cannot I I

specialise in deeper water, although they do operate operate do they although water, deeper in specialise intend to stay in this business for some time, time, some for business this in stay to intend I I As As

operate in over 200 feet of water. Floating 'rigs' 'rigs' Floating water. of feet 200 over in operate

than rubbish. rubbish. than

between 30 feet and 150 feet. They can however however can They feet. 150 and feet 30 between

equipment, but one or two of them have little more more little have them of two or one but equipment,

stand on the sea bed) the usual depth of water is is water of depth usual the bed) sea the on stand

than others. Most of these firms have excellent excellent have firms these of Most others. than

are oil rigs all over it. For `jack-up' rigs' (ones that that (ones rigs' `jack-up' For it. over all rigs oil are

T and disadvantages. Some employers pay more more pay employers Some disadvantages. and

As we all know, the North Sea is shallow and there there and shallow is Sea North the know, all we As

for the North Sea. All have their advantages advantages their have All Sea. North the for

the company's discretion. discretion. company's the HERE are several firms which employ divers divers employ which firms several are HERE

Diving in the North Sea Sea North the in Diving www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Mr. Currie-Davis was Draeger's representative. He for one diver to be up top, to watch the compressor, had flown out to explain one or two technicalities and direct the crane driver, one in the basket and about the set. Ron Neville (ex-C.D. II) had in fact one in the water. It is only on deep jobs or special used the gear the previous day, down the Sea Quest's jobs that we have more than three divers. anchor cable, but was forced to surface because of On the Sea Quest at the time of the 'bend', we had the cable's vibration. He did about 200 feet. one in the R.C.C., one 'pot' operator, two in the bell, When we arrived on the Sea Quest the first person one on the telephones and one on the compressors. we saw was Ken Blaylock (ex-C.D. I). His firm, Strongwork International, had hired to our firm, Not all oil rigs have divers on board permanently, N.S.D.S., its new `Galiazzi' diving bell and chamber for instance, I went out to the Trans-Ocean 1 with and he was responsible for it. It was from this bell Dave Audoir (ex-C.D. I) (now manager of Strong- that we did our 230 feet (air) dips. work International at Great Yarmouth), did a small survey, and flew back the next day. We may some- Mick Horlock (ex-C.D. II) was in charge of all times be on board a 'rig' several days sand-bagging, six divers, and he sent me with Mr. Currie-Davis to and then all leave when the job is completed as on a boat where we were to attempt the 245 feet oxy- the Endeavour. helium dips on the Sea Quest's three anchors. It was here that we met Chris Dyer (ex-C.D. II) I have served on British, Dutch, German, French (now diving superintendent for Murex) who was in and American oil rigs, and find them very safety charge of the dives. Ron Neville was also on board. conscious. We exercise fire-drills and life-boat drills However, through no fault of the divers, the dives at least once a week. We have safety officers come were cancelled, and instead we surveyed two B.P. out to give us lectures, and there are safety pictures production platforms using compressed air. displayed all over the 'rigs'. Each individual on a rig is very safety conscious in himself as well. Later, on board the Sea Quest, we had our work cut out, as we had Mick Horlock in the R.C.C. for I know the Ocean Prince and Sea Gem sank, and 48 hours with a 'bend' and we still dived, but did our recently we have read in the papers about the Hewitt `stops' in the 'bell'. The bell, of course, when re- A, Unifor 1 and the Stayflow. In each of these cases quired was lowered by crane, which is in fact, the it was apparent how quickly the rescue operations way 'rig' divers nearly always enter the water, were carried out, and the absence of panic from the `though normally in a basket. We sometimes climb crews. Compare these with the number of collisions down the legs, some 80 feet which is not too bad, at sea of Merchant ships and, also while we are it's the climb up afterwards that hurts. We usually talking of oil and ships, what about the Torrey find the crane available though. The usual system is Canyon? Give me the rigs any day! M. D. SMITH.

Bends Emergency

FTER three weeks intense Navigational the less fortunate broke into a very hearty jog-trot. Training, H.M.S. Ulster had only been Three boat loads of liberty men embarked by the Aanchored in Braye Harbour, Alderney, for time the ship was underway. One boat was left three hours when the St. John Ambulance Brigade inshore, and by 2045, the ship was leaving harbour approached the Captain about the possibility of and working up in speed to rendezvous with the recompressing two Guernsey divers, who were ambulance launch Flying Christina. The patients suffering from the 'bends'. Although there were no were transferred in choppy conditions at 2120 an I facilities on board, the Captain offered to take the placed in the Diving Store attended by their own casualties to H.M.S. Vernon, because the only other nurse, the ship's L.M.A., Diving Officer and O.A. alternative was to fly them in an unpressurised air- The Diving Store was chosen for its ease of access craft when the fog cleared. This would certainly and H.P. Air facilities. This compartment was have made their condition worse, if not critical. rapidly made airtight, so that pressure could be The Captain received the initial request by 'phone created to try and ease the patients pain. The pres- in the Albert Inn at 2025. All adjacent bars and sure was achieved by releasing air from the H.P. Air establishments were quickly cleared as the recall was Charging Panel and 150 cubic feet bottles, but the passed. The luckier people obtained lifts from local only method of measuring the pressure was by noting residents for the mile journey down to the jetty while the depression in a piece of rubber which had been 1 8'

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19 19

A.B. S.D. Ginger Graham. Graham. Ginger S.D. A.B. the frequency with which these bombs pop up. up. pop bombs these which with frequency the

A.B. C.D.II. Jock Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick. Jock C.D.II. A.B. bombs. Holy Island was a war-time range, hence hence range, war-time a was Island Holy bombs.

A.B. C.D.II. Jock Lettice. Lettice. Jock C.D.II. A.B. (including a very small boy) for 500 and 1,000 lb. lb. 1,000 and 500 for boy) small very a (including

A.B. C.D.II. Dave Harker. Harker. Dave C.D.II. A.B. holiday pottering around with his entire family family entire his with around pottering holiday

L.S. C.D.II. Doc Docherty. Docherty. Doc C.D.II. L.S. helpful man, who works in Admiralty, spends his his spends Admiralty, in works who man, helpful

L.S. C.D.II. Nobby Clark. Clark. Nobby C.D.II. L.S. Holy Island, seven miles south of Berwick, as a a as Berwick, of south miles seven Island, Holy

L.S. C.D.II. Leo Whelam. Whelam. Leo C.D.II. L.S. During the summer time, we are called down to to down called are we time, summer the During

L.S. C.D.II. Mick Crawford. Crawford. Mick C.D.II. L.S.

who have now hit the big time money and BENDS. BENDS. and money time big the hit now have who

P.O. C.D.II. Tanzy Lee. Lee. Tanzy C.D.II. P.O.

Bridlington, we met a few of the ex-clearance divers divers ex-clearance the of few a met we Bridlington,

P.O. C.D.I. Stan Templeton. Templeton. Stan C.D.I. P.O.

grenades in Stornoway. Incidentally, while at at while Incidentally, Stornoway. in grenades

C.P.O. Mac. McCrea-Clifton. McCrea-Clifton. Mac. C.P.O.

numerous mines trawled up, to a small nest of hand- of nest small a to up, trawled mines numerous

Lt. J. L. Brown, M.C.D.O. M.C.D.O. Brown, L. J. Lt.

alongside the gas-pipe off Bridlington and Easington, Easington, and Bridlington off gas-pipe the alongside

Lt.-Cdr. T. W. Trounson, C.E.O.D.O. C.E.O.D.O. Trounson, W. T. Lt.-Cdr.

The E.O.D. jobs ranged from two G.C. mines mines G.C. two from ranged jobs E.O.D. The

The Team consists of:— of:— consists Team The

in two weeks stints. stints. weeks two in

round about June. June. about round Ark' Royal Royal Ark'

The diving had to be done by tides and was worked worked was and tides by done be to had diving The

, ,

to `Guz.' to learn all about the airy fairies in the in fairies airy the about all learn to `Guz.' to

feet high from the bottom and half a mile long. long. mile a half and bottom the from high feet

sp ks with a Scots accent, however, he is now going going now is he however, accent, Scots a with ks sp

obstruction was a maze of railway lines about 60 60 about lines railway of maze a was obstruction

ne of the team has been up here so long that he he that long so here up been has team the of ne

the charges which were laid by the divers. The The divers. the by laid were which charges the

bea es of these dangerous relics. relics. dangerous these of es bea interesting just to see the damage that was done by by done was that damage the see to just interesting

have e task of 'Soldiering on gallantly' to clear the the clear to gallantly' on 'Soldiering of task e have was perfect-60-80 feet in places. The job was was job The places. in feet perfect-60-80 was

of the Fir t and Second World Wars. The E.O.D.T. E.O.D.T. The Wars. World Second and t Fir the of the Orkneys in blowing a Tetra Hydra. The visibility visibility The Hydra. Tetra a blowing in Orkneys the

Scotland is still littered with the explosive debris debris explosive the with littered still is Scotland Western Fleet team from the port of Stromness in in Stromness of port the from team Fleet Western

with. The team has worked very closely with the the with closely very worked has team The with. was done. done. was

incidents and a variety of diving jobs to contend contend to jobs diving of variety a and incidents

two members of the team but fortunately no damage damage no fortunately but team the of members two

Life has been very full with numerous E.O.D. E.O.D. numerous with full very been has Life detonated. Metal flew all over the place just missing missing just place the over all flew Metal detonated.

result another 500 lb. pounder sympathetically sympathetically pounder lb. 500 another result trounson. trounson.

S off well. As the landrover went back to inspect the the inspect to back went landrover the As well. off cur new boss Lieutenant-Commander T. W. W. T. Lieutenant-Commander boss new cur

500 lb. bomb was countermined. The full order went went order full The countermined. was bomb lb. 500 J. Futcher, M.H.E., we have been taken over by by over taken been have we M.H.E., Futcher, J.

Our chief, Mac., had a close call there, when a a when there, call close a had Mac., chief, Our INCE the retirement of Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant-Commander of retirement the INCE

S.N.I.C.C.D.T. S.N.I.C.C.D.T.

divers ailment. ailment. divers men, three Senior Rates, twenty Junior Rates and a a and Rates Junior twenty Rates, Senior three men,

advice on the prevention of this potentially crippling crippling potentially this of prevention the on advice however, still had two Midship- two had still however, Ulster, Ulster, H.M.S. H.M.S.

is also only too happy to give give to happy too only also is Vernon Vernon School, H.M.S. H.M.S. School,

from R.N.P.L. called. called. R.N.P.L. from

information on 'stops' and prevention. The Diving Diving The prevention. and 'stops' on information

put under treatment, and the medical specialists specialists medical the and treatment, under put

recommend the B.S.A.C. Handbook as a source of of source a as Handbook B.S.A.C. the recommend

Diving School where they were immediately immediately were they where School Diving Vernon Vernon

the dangers of decompression Sickness. We strongly strongly We Sickness. decompression of dangers the

of the Emergency Treatment Centre, at H.M.S H.M.S at Centre, Treatment Emergency the of

Civilian, and Sub-Aqua Club divers must appreciate appreciate must divers Club Sub-Aqua and Civilian,

two patients were transferred to the care of the staff staff the of care the to transferred were patients two

cost, in addition to the upsetting of many plans. plans. many of upsetting the to addition in cost,

M.F.V., with a medical specialist onboard and the the and onboard specialist medical a with M.F.V.,

many thousands of Pounds which this emergency emergency this which Pounds of thousands many

At 0110, the ship was met at Spithead by an an by Spithead at met was ship the 0110, At

Editor's Footnote:—The reader can well imagine the the imagine well can reader Footnote:—The Editor's

world. world.

fog, across two of the busiest shipping lanes in the the in lanes shipping busiest the of two across fog, ■ ■

leave. leave. sped towards Portsmouth at 32 knots, through thick thick through knots, 32 at Portsmouth towards sped

third time within 12 hours to give some much needed needed much some give to hours 12 within time third attendants were 'on their own'. Meanwhile the ship ship the Meanwhile own'. their 'on were attendants

set out again to cross the Channel for the the for Channel the cross to again out set Ulster Ulster and food before closing down, after which the the which after down, closing before food and

some very bewildered ship's company, H.M.S. H.M.S. company, ship's bewildered very some airlock, it was necessary to provide all equipment equipment all provide to necessary was it airlock,

room). After landing the nurse at 0600 and retrieving retrieving and 0600 at nurse the landing After room). patients a great deal. As the Diving Store has no no has Store Diving the As deal. great a patients

occupant was kept under surveillance in the Ward- the in surveillance under kept was occupant soup, sandwiches and sweets helped to cheer both both cheer to helped sweets and sandwiches soup,

sleep in the First Lieutenant's cabin (the normal normal (the cabin Lieutenant's First the in sleep which, combined with an abundant supply of coffee, coffee, of supply abundant an with combined which,

Mrs. Margaret Franklin, an undisturbed night's night's undisturbed an Franklin, Margaret Mrs. one patient had the pain relieved in his right side, side, right his in relieved pain the had patient one

immediately and steamed back, allowing the nurse, nurse, the allowing back, steamed and immediately Store airtight. Although little pressure was achieved, achieved, was pressure little Although airtight. Store

motor cutter in Alderney, so the ship turned round round turned ship the so Alderney, in cutter motor placed over an open drain to help make the Diving Diving the make help to drain open an over placed www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Navy to the Rescue

IVING for Bristol Division R.N.R. tends to streamed our oldest and boldest diver on a lifeline, be of a rather routine nature. We can be seen and he, eventually, discovered which way the lorry Ddisporting ourselves on Sundays at a local was lying. It had been swept out by the stream and quarry turned 'Lido', or occasionally creeping under- was on its side in the mud. We then attached a wire neath the hulk of H.M.S. Flying Fox to plug holes in round part of the chassis, and the crane heaved to- her rotting frame. But, in November, we hit on a wards the bank. The monster appeared on its back somewhat unusual job. and we were able to attach another strop on the chassis. The lorry, in a very mangled state, was On our way to a training session, we stopped off hauled out and righted. The job now successfully to look at the place where a large tar tanker-lorry completed, we went home rejoicing and with the had plunged into the Avon. There were a number of reputation acquired, we hope to get other jobs of dejected employees of a local crane firm at the site, this nature which give us very good training. In the who explained that they were going to have to take meantime, however, it's back to the South coast their vast 50 ton crane back to base (and probably resorts—or the 'Lido'. lose a lot of overtime), because the civilian divers had just refused to perform. The Diving Team, H.M.S. Flying Fox, We peered at the torrent, decided that we could Mardyke Wharf, Bristol. hardly refuse and there ensued a four hour job. We

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www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk St. Adjutor's Church, H.M.S. 'Vernon'

N Sunday 22nd September 1968, the church of The river narrowed here, and there was a notorious H.M.S. Vernon was dedicated to St. Adjutor whirlpool which drowned the unwary and engulfed Oby the Chaplain of the Fleet. Why St. Adjutor? their boats. St. Adjutor saw this happen, and And who was he anyway? determined with the assistance of his friend, Arch- The church in Vernon had never been dedicated to bishop Hugo of Rouen to rid the Seine of this danger. They set out in a small boat, and as they any saint, and exhaustive research showed that there was no Patron Saint of Divers. The most appropriate were sucked into the pool, the Archbishop made the sign of the Cross, and sprinkled holy water. St. was a St. Adjutor who was invoked by swimmers in danger of drowning, and by sailors and prisoners. Adjutor called on Mary Magdalene and St. Bernard, and threw the chains of his captivity into the whirl- The fact that he was born in Vernon-sur-Seine added pool. From that moment, the whirlpool disappeared. interest, and further research was made into details about him. He turned out to be a Vernon, and a His reputation as a wonder worker increased, but member of the same family as Admiral Edward he felt his power ebbing, and on 30th April 1131, Vernon (Old Grog), 1684-1757, of Portobello fame, he died after receiving the Last Sacraments from Admiral Sir Edward Vernon, 1723-1794, and the Archbishop Hugo. Hon. George Vernon, 1803-1866, whose figure- Last month, two statues were given to our church, head is outside the Administration Block in H.M.S. one of St. Adjutor about to cast his chains into the Vernon. The genealogy is in the Chaplain's Office, in Seine, and the other of Mary Magdalene granting case anyone is interested! his request. Both are in bronze, and were made by St. Adjutor was born in Vernon-sur-Seine, about Miss Ann Hughes of Twyford. The statues seem 1070, the son of John, Seigneur of Vernon, and almost alive, and Adjutor in his hermit's shirt and Rosamonde de Blairv. He joined the First Crusade, Mary Madgalene in a 'mini-skirt' look real people, and left with 200 Knights, for the Holy Land in 1096. instead of plaster saints. The next year, they captured Nicaea, and advanced Last month, too, for the first time in Vernon's to Antioch in Asia Minor. It was near here that St. history, the Church of St. Adjutor was licensed for Adjutor's army fell into an ambush, and all seemed Banns and Marriages. At the end of June, it is lost. He invoked St. Mary Madgalene, and promised hoped that three of Vernon's ships will visit Rouen to build a chapel to her honour in Vernon, if only and Vernon-sur-Seine to cement the relations started his army could escape. A violent thunder-storm by that Vernon who has become our common patron came up at once, which threw the enemy into such saint. The Diving Section is well and truly repre- confusion that victory was achieved. sented by H.M.S. Laleston, which will remain at On 15th July 1099, St. Adjutor took part in the Rouen for the visit. capitulation of Jerusalem, and he took the opportun- DIVER'S SUNDAY ity of visiting different Holy Places. On one visit HE next Diver's Service will be held at St. he was captured by the Saracens and put with heavy Adjutor's Church in H.M.S. Vernon on Sunday chains into a cell. He spent many weary years there, T10th August. All divers both past and present till one night he had a dream. Mary Magdalene and are invited to come, together with their families. St. Bernard appeared and snapped his chains off the wall; they carried him, with his chains, to his hunting lodge outside Vernon, and told him to build his COMPETITION FOR MAGAZINE MATERIAL chapel there. When he awoke, he was actually back HE unanimous decision of the Editorial Com- in Vernon. (For a similar story, read the 12th mittee voted Mr. Alexander McKee of Hayling Chapeter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New TIsland the winner of both £5 prizes in the Testament.) competition for his article: 'Historic Wreck in the The news spread of his sudden return, in curcum- Solent Area' and the accompanying photographs stances attested by numerous Knights, and people from his collection. started to ask for his help. He was by now living Mr. McKee is the well-known author of under- the strict life of a hermit, wearing a hair shirt and water books such as 'Farming the Sea' which was living on bread and water. He was supposed to have reviewed in our last edition. His comments on the worked many miracles of healing, but his most review are published in the Letters to the Editor famous was in the Seine opposite his cell. section. EDITOR. 21

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23 23

attack. attack. blood emanating from a cut or graze) to attack, it it attack, to graze) or cut a from emanating blood

may, in the face of all discouragement, decide to to decide discouragement, all of face the in may, using other senses (such as might happen if it smelt smelt it if happen might as (such senses other using

should always be aware of the possibility that a shark shark a that possibility the of aware be always should certain circumstances or has already decided by by decided already has or circumstances certain

ous and although attacks on divers are rare, we we rare, are divers on attacks although and ous eatable. Unless a shark is frenzied as can happen in in happen can as frenzied is shark a Unless eatable.

mining factor as to whether a shark could be danger- be could shark a whether to as factor mining and thus deciding whether his potential prey is is prey potential his whether deciding thus and

hunger and self-preservation is probably the deter- the probably is self-preservation and hunger touching a possible victim, the shark is also tasting tasting also is shark the victim, possible a touching

ful instincts and appetites. The balance between between balance The appetites. and instincts ful speed with his flanks of fins. When brushing or or brushing When fins. of flanks his with speed

(with the possible exception of eyesight) and power- and eyesight) of exception possible the (with inflicted by a shark simply brushing a victim at full full at victim a brushing simply shark a by inflicted

brained but equipped with highly evolved senses senses evolved highly with equipped but brained sensory nerve endings. Dangerous wounds can be be can wounds Dangerous endings. nerve sensory

Biologists say that the shark is primitive and small- and primitive is shark the that say Biologists gustatory, common chemical sense, and other other and sense, chemical common gustatory,

Between these teeth on some parts of the body are are body the of parts some on teeth these Between Bone is replaced by cartilage. cartilage. by replaced is Bone

minute denticles (placoid scales) or razor sharp teeth. teeth. sharp razor or scales) (placoid denticles minute ,the young develop. The shark has no true skeleton. skeleton. true no has shark The develop. young ,the

and sensitive. The entire skin area is covered with with covered is area skin entire The sensitive. and sharks lay tough-skinned eggs or 'purses' in which which in 'purses' or eggs tough-skinned lay sharks

live young. Dogfish, Bullhead and some other female female other some and Bullhead Dogfish, young. live Shark skin, in spite of its toughness, is complex complex is toughness, its of spite in skin, Shark

laterally round her body. The female gives birth to to birth gives female The body. her round laterally 4. 4. Shark Skin Skin Shark

remaining horizontal whilst the male wraps himself himself wraps male the whilst horizontal remaining

unprotected at this point. point. this at unprotected male and female couple on the sea floor, the female female the floor, sea the on couple female and male

a shark as its central nervous system is relatively relatively is system nervous central its as shark a slightly from species to species, but in most cases the the cases most in but species, to species from slightly

obviously, with the bare fist or foot, may discourage discourage may foot, or fist bare the with obviously, dead or alive. The reproductive processes differ differ processes reproductive The alive. or dead

tip of the nose. A sharp blow on the nose, not, not, nose, the on blow sharp A nose. the of tip almost anything even vaguely reminiscent of flesh, flesh, of reminiscent vaguely even anything almost

complete insensitivity to pain except in one spot, the the spot, one in except pain to insensitivity complete bottom; some can become scavengers and swallow swallow and scavengers become can some bottom;

leg and so on. The shark in general shows almost almost shows general in shark The on. so and leg for molluscs and marine animals living on the the on living animals marine and molluscs for

shark's head has been known to snap at a passing passing a at snap to known been has head shark's are carnivorous. Most are fish-eaters; some forage forage some fish-eaters; are Most carnivorous. are

having taken rifle bullets in the head. A severed severed A head. the in bullets rifle taken having All species except the Basking and Whale Sharks Sharks Whale and Basking the except species All

having had slices of flesh and fins cut away and even even and away cut fins and flesh of slices had having

an unforgettable impression of .grace and power. power. and .grace of impression unforgettable an

known to swim on having been disembowelled, disembowelled, been having on swim to known

belly. Seen swimming underwater, the shark gives gives shark the underwater, swimming Seen belly.

ishing resistance and vitality. Sharks have been been have Sharks vitality. and resistance ishing

darker on the upper part of the body than on the the on than body the of part upper the on darker

The other organs of shark's body have an aston- an have body shark's of organs other The

of the body. The colouring in all species tends to be be to tends species all in colouring The body. the of

3. 3. The Vitality of Sharks Sharks of Vitality The extend downwards at an angle from the lower part part lower the from angle an at downwards extend

below. The pectoral fins are very prononced and and prononced very are fins pectoral The below.

and let it out when they wish to sink. sink. to wish they when out it let and

and triangular and the tail fin longer above than than above longer fin tail the and triangular and

some of the larger species gulp air into the stomach stomach the into air gulp species larger the of some

The small eyes are widely set. The dorsal fin is high high is fin dorsal The set. widely are eyes small The

positive buoyancy. At the other end of the scale, scale, the of end other the At buoyancy. positive

species) are placed low down near the pectoral fins. fins. pectoral the near down low placed are species)

livers which provide them with some compensating compensating some with them provide which livers

side of the head and multiple gill slits (five in most most in (five slits gill multiple and head the of side

Some smaller sharks possess very large oil-rich oil-rich large very possess sharks smaller Some

profile. The mouth is situated well back on the under under the on back well situated is mouth The profile.

to the gills. gills. the to

is round-nosed from above or below but pointed in in pointed but below or above from round-nosed is

with their hard snout to the side of the body next next body the of side the to snout hard their with in the case of the Hammerhead and Carpet Sharks, Sharks, Carpet and Hammerhead the of case the in

enemies of sharks in the sea, kill their foe by blows blows by foe their kill sea, the in sharks of enemies

flattened in vertical section. The large head, except except head, large The section. vertical in flattened

death. The Dolphin family, who are the traditional traditional the are who family, Dolphin The death.

body is scaleless and streamlined and somewhat somewhat and streamlined and scaleless is body

injury near the gills is a frequent cause of shark shark of cause frequent a is gills the near injury

Most of us would recognise a shark on sight. The The sight. on shark a recognise would us of Most

ing caused by oil or chemicals in the water or by an an by or water the in chemicals or oil by caused ing

regarded as potentially dangerous. dangerous. potentially as regarded

are a vulnerable point and clogging or malfunction- or clogging and point vulnerable a are

A

and the smaller varieties like Dogfish should be be should Dogfish like varieties smaller the and

shield as in the case with the higher fishes, the gills gills the fishes, higher the with case the in as shield

plankton-eating Basking and Whale Sharks Sharks Whale and Basking plankton-eating

metabolism. As they are unprotected by a bony bony a by unprotected are they As metabolism.

LMOST all species of shark except the large large the except shark of species all LMOST

gill organs are extensively developed and vital to its its to vital and developed extensively are organs gill

1. General General 1. Description. Description. the air sac. Having no reserve supply of oxygen its its oxygen of supply reserve no Having sac. air the

rapidly than other fish as it does not risk rupture of of rupture risk not does it as fish other than rapidly

depth. Secondly, it can alter his depth much more more much depth his alter can it Secondly, depth. diving in tropical waters, including Australia. Australia. including waters, tropical in diving

remain motionless for long if it is to maintain its its maintain to is it if long for motionless remain published sources, backed by his own experiences of of experiences own his by backed sources, published

This has several effects. Firstly, the shark cannot cannot shark the Firstly, effects. several has This Island of Mauritious, information comes from from comes information Mauritious, of Island

most bony fish and is very slightly negatively buoyant. buoyant. negatively slightly very is and fish bony most parts. He has recently spent nearly three years in the the in years three nearly spent recently has He parts.

The Shark has no air bladder (swim bladder) as do do as bladder) (swim bladder air no has Shark The Armstrong, Royal Navy will be published in two two in published be will Navy Royal Armstrong,

The following article by Lt.-Cdr. J. G. B. B. G. J. Lt.-Cdr. by article following The Respiration and Buoyancy Buoyancy and Respiration 2. 2.

A Diver's Guide to Sharks part 1 1 part Sharks to Guide Diver's A www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk will normally brush or otherwise investigate before shark does not digest its stomach contents when it is attacking. It follows that one should always dive on the move. Thus food may remain in a shark's fully dressed. stomach for weeks before it has the opportunity to start the process of digestion. Sharks can occasion- 5. The Shark's Movement through the Water ally be seen resting motionless on the bottom. (Note Sharks, with exception of the swift game fish of the that it is slightly negatively bouyant and cannot Requiem family, although excellent swimmers, remain suspended for long). It is likely, if found in graceful and fast-moving, are 'high geared' and can- this position, to be digesting food (and rather sleepy) not execute the characteristic 'flip-flap' motion of and whilst obviously it should not be disturbed it is other fish who can expend their reserves of energy unlikely to attack. Some sharks also have the in a few instants of violent rapid motion. This means interesting ability to turn their stomach inside out that last minute alterations of course are not the through the mouth opening, thus disgorging indi- sharks' forte. Rather like a bull, once committed to gestable objects like tin cans, turtle shells or false a run in on a victim the shark can miss a highly teeth. manoeuvreable target. Sharks have been seen to chase through shoals and come away without a 8. Senses of Smell, Hearing and Sight mouthful. Unfortunately an underwater swimmer is The sensory nervous system of fishes is not yet a large and slow-moving target, and whilst it is hoped fully understood, but of a shark's senses, the most that no one will ever have to, nor is advised to play highly developed is probably the sense of smell. It matador with a hungry shark, this characteristic of a is not only amazingly acute but it differs from our shark's movement through the water underlines the accepted concept of a sense of smell in that it is sensibleness if caught in open water, of always facing directional. We know that a shark can detect the and moving towards a charging shark so as to most minute concentrations of blood in solution in present the smallest possible target and have suffic- seawater and that it can differentiate between the ient way on to dodge at the last minute. degrees of concentration at its two nasal sacks and The shark suffers from another in-built handicap thus steer straight for the source of the odour. The which affects his manoueuvrability. The 'paired' ears of a shark are concerned purely with equilibrium pectoral and ventral fins are fixed. They can be used and hearing or 'vibration detection' is achieved by a to alter direction effectively, but they cannot be used sensory system consisting of a number of nerve- as other fish use them, for instantaneous braking, endings in the skin of the shark's head and flanks. and they impart no motive power. This explains the The shark is extremely sensitive to underwater shark's reluctance to make a rush attack on a vibrations and can 'home' onto a source of noise possible victim on the sea floor or in a position up over long distances. against a vertical coral or rock face. Sharks obviously do not have to rely on eyesight to locate a possible victim and indeed biological 6. The Effects of the Shark's Temperament evidence indicates that their sight is rather poor There is no doubt that the shark is usually of a and does not cater for colour perception. Practical cowardly disposition. Unless it is hungry, some- experience however does not entirely bear this out. thing that has the slightest aura of the mysterious and Their eyesight is effective at least to the normal is not immediately sensed as being palatable and limits of underwater visibility and bright glossy harmless is likely to be avoided. However, it follows colours at the red end of the spectrum are more that anything which gives the impression of being likely to catch a shark's eye than others in depths dying, wounded, helpless or afraid, unfailingly where these colours are still discernable. Light arouses a shark's curiosity. For this reason, flapping orange or yellow in particular attract attention or struggling, precipitant retreat or any action which whereas dull blues and greens remain unnoticed. might indicate fear or panic is to be rigorously Divers' clothing or accessories in white, yellow, avoided underwater or on the surface. Once orange, red, silver or gold should be avoided. thoroughly aroused, either by the prospect of appeasing its hunger or by foolhardy interference, 9. Shark Behaviour in the Presence of a Potential the shark shows quite remarkable courage, determ- Victim ination and vindictiveness. Unlike any other fish in This is a most controversial subject because there these circumtances will be extremely difficult to appears to be so much variation and unpredictable- scare away. ness in shark behaviour when attacking. A good deal 7. The Shark and its Digestion must depend on the species and the geographical The digestive processes of the shark are something area. The following description however represents of a biological mystery, but it is believed that the the norm in good visibility. 24

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25 25

in which they came to maturity, carrying out an an out carrying maturity, to came they which in

T.G. T.G.

Sharks, most sharks remain all their lives in the area area the in lives their all remain sharks most Sharks,

down with your friend on a body string. string. body a on friend your with down

With the exception of the Requiem and Basking Basking and Requiem the of exception the With

ENGINEER. ENGINEER. (After a think). That's when you are are you when That's think). a (After

10. Habitat, Geographical and Time Factors Factors Time and Geographical Habitat, 10.

C.D.1. Define a combined dive. dive. combined a Define C.D.1.

respondingly increased. increased. respondingly

by C.D.I. C.D.I. by

the diver's problems in taking avoiding action cor- action avoiding taking in problems diver's the

a lecture on decompression being questioned questioned being decompression on lecture a

noticeably more courageous when in company and and company in when courageous more noticeably

Scene: Scene:

Royal Engineers class who have just had had just have who class Engineers Royal

the greater the danger to the diver. Sharks are are Sharks diver. the to danger the greater the

F.E.C.D.T. . . . Heard on the Section: Section: the on Heard . . . F.E.C.D.T. that the greater the number of sharks in the vicinity, vicinity, the in sharks of number the greater the that

Although it may seem obvious, it is worth noting noting worth is it obvious, seem may it Although

onto a coral shelf to chase a chosen quarry. quarry. chosen a chase to shelf coral a onto

Sharks have been known to come out of the water water the of out come to known been have Sharks

One should avoid diving at these times. times. these at diving avoid should One outer side of reefs that shelve gradually to seaward. seaward. to gradually shelve that reefs of side outer

shark's hunting will be done at dawn and dusk. dusk. and dawn at done be will hunting shark's ous place to swim is in the choppy water on the the on water choppy the in is swim to place ous

do other predatory fish; nevertheless, most of a a of most nevertheless, fish; predatory other do place in very shallow water. A particularly danger- particularly A water. shallow very in place

Sharks will eat outside these hours more often than than often more hours these outside eat will Sharks does not mean, though, that attacks do not take take not do attacks that though, mean, not does

sunset to an hour after the end of evening twilight. twilight. evening of end the after hour an to sunset swimming up towards the victim at an angle. This This angle. an at victim the towards up swimming

and from roughly three quarters of an hour before before hour an of quarters three roughly from and iable, is that the shark prefers to attack from below, below, from attack to prefers shark the that is iable,

light to three quarters of an hour or so after sunrise sunrise after so or hour an of quarters three to light Another feature of a shark attack, again not invar- not again attack, shark a of feature Another

periods a day—from an hour before morning twi- morning before hour an day—from a periods

starts to jerk from side to side. side. to side from jerk to starts

a lesser extent, the sharks, have only two regular meal meal regular two only have sharks, the extent, lesser a

smoothly. When aroused or attacking the head head the attacking or aroused When smoothly.

The predators of the sea, including, but perhaps to to perhaps but including, sea, the of predators The

shark's head when swimming seems to lead the body body the lead to seems swimming when head shark's

reputation for shark attack. attack. shark for reputation danger and is quite unmistakable. Normally the the Normally unmistakable. quite is and danger

poor and water temperature high often have a bad bad a have often high temperature water and poor in the manner of swimming is however a sure sign of of sign sure a however is swimming of manner the in

flesh. Sea areas in which visibility is consistently consistently is visibility which in areas Sea flesh. ming and without turning on their side. The change change The side. their on turning without and ming

shark population has acquired a taste for human human for taste a acquired has population shark with little noticeable change in the manner of swim- of manner the in change noticeable little with

waters and then more particularly in areas where the the where areas in particularly more then and waters on many occasions attacked directly, without circling, circling, without directly, attacked occasions many on

known to attack human swimmers only in warm warm in only swimmers human attack to known means invariable and it is known that sharks have have sharks that known is it and invariable means

feeding habits. With few exceptions sharks have been been have sharks exceptions few With habits. feeding circumstances for known shark attacks it is by no no by is it attacks shark known for circumstances

Water temperature also has its effect on a sharks sharks a on effect its has also temperature Water description above represents an average set of of set average an represents above description

pulling like a dog until its appetite is appeased. If the the If appeased. is appetite its until dog a like pulling be avoided. avoided. be

remain close to the victim snapping, tearing and and tearing snapping, victim the to close remain have a reputation for being breeding grounds should should grounds breeding being for reputation a have

than when fully grown. Thus estuary waters which which waters estuary Thus grown. fully when than victim's powerlessness to retaliate, the shark may may shark the retaliate, to powerlessness victim's

repeated several times until eventually, sure of the the of sure eventually, until times several repeated immature sharks are more vicous and courageous courageous and vicous more are sharks immature

flesh cleanly. This murderous type of attack may be be may attack of type murderous This cleanly. flesh perhaps for breeding. There is also a possibility that that possibility a also is There breeding. for perhaps

literally slices through the victim, scooping away away scooping victim, the through slices literally in coastal areas where there is an efflux of fresh water, water, fresh of efflux an is there where areas coastal in

and estuaries. Indeed sharks appear to congregate congregate to appear sharks Indeed estuaries. and manner. Using its dreadful array of teeth, the shark shark the teeth, of array dreadful its Using manner.

characteristic and distinct undulating and convulsive convulsive and undulating distinct and characteristic salinity than other fish and are known to go up rivers rivers up go to known are and fish other than salinity

back to expose the mouth and swim fast in a quite quite a in fast swim and mouth the expose to back Sharks seem to be less sensitive to changes in in changes to sensitive less be to seem Sharks

of attacking. On this run it may turn onto its side or or side its onto turn may it run this On attacking. of permanent residents, are safe. safe. are residents, permanent

turn towards and run in, this time with the intention intention the with time this in, run and towards turn unless as is sometimes the case there are some some are there case the sometimes is as unless

has realised that the victim is palatable it will again again will it palatable is victim the that realised has safe for a period. Also, areas inside coral reefs reefs coral inside areas Also, period. a for safe

its teeth. The circling is then resumed. If the shark shark the If resumed. then is circling The teeth. its fished out of its shark population may be relatively relatively be may population shark its of out fished

body and fins of the shark, it is most unlikely to use use to unlikely most is it shark, the of fins and body us because it means that an area which has been been has which area an that means it because us

dangerous wound may be inflicted by the passing passing the by inflicted be may wound dangerous there is plenty of depth over it. This is interesting to to interesting is This it. over depth of plenty is there

certainly be a 'tasting' run and although a very very a although and run 'tasting' a be certainly will never cross over the coral reef barrier even if if even barrier reef coral the over cross never will

stage is a turn towards the victim. This will almost almost will This victim. the towards turn a is stage chasing a victim or on other rare occasions, a shark shark a occasions, rare other on or victim a chasing

nervousness in the manner of swimming. The next next The swimming. of manner the in nervousness and the turning out to sea again. Unless actually actually Unless again. sea to out turning the and

acceleration, a tightening of the circle and a powerful powerful a and circle the of tightening a acceleration, where they may stay for a while stemming the current current the stemming while a for stay may they where

courage and appetites aroused, there will be an an be will there aroused, appetites and courage following the reef along, nosing up into the passes passes the into up nosing along, reef the following

50-60 feet if a large specimen (8 feet or over). Its Its over). or feet (8 specimen large a if feet 50-60 often going deep and coming back up into the reef, reef, the into up back coming and deep going often

of 30-40 feet if a small (5-6 feet) specimen or or specimen feet) (5-6 small a if feet 30-40 of It is a constant circular route running out to sea sea to out running route circular constant a is It

ment around the possible victim usually at a distance distance a at usually victim possible the around ment same way at the same time of day for weeks on end. end. on weeks for day of time same the at way same

interest is that it will start a leisurely circular move- move- circular leisurely a start will it that is interest the same individual sharks can be seen going She She going seen be can sharks individual same the

The first indication that a shark is taking an an taking is shark a that indication first The

endless patrol of their kingdom. In tropical waters waters tropical In kingdom. their of patrol endless www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Committee for Nautical Archaeology University of London Institute of Archaeology

31-34 GORDON SQUARE, Donations of any size will be gratefully accepted LONDON, W.C.1. and a limited number of 'Founder Memberships' are Tel.: 01-387 6052. Ext. 13. offered, details of which will be gladly sent on re- 0 many, archaeology is becoming a fascinating ceipt of your enquiry. and absorbing subject, taking us far from a Please send your contributions, made out to Thectic modern life. To a small, but rapidly Committee, to the above address, and our current growing section, underwater archaeology is provid- News Letter will be sent by return. ing one of the few challenges left on this small G. P. B. NAISH, F.S.A., Chairman. island of ours. Beneath the seas that surround us, our great S.N.A.P. heritage as a sea-faring nation has deposited a wealth of knowledge, not to be found in book or School for Nautical Archaeology, Plymouth shipwright's plan. If this is not to be squandered This is one of the committee's major projects for and lost forever, rapid action is required. 1969. Here the techniques and practical application The C.N.A. was formed in 1964 to develop and of proven underwater methods will be taught and guide underwater archaeology. Its members are practiced on the sites of actual wrecks. representatives of the National Maritime, the It will consist of a series of nine weekend courses, British and the Science Museums, the Society for supported by Civil and Service authorities who are Nautical Research, the Institute of Archaeology, the providing many of the facilities. Council for British Archaeology, the Services and Lecturers, well-known in their individual fields, the British Sub-Aqua Club. are freely giving their time and expertise. Two Our aims are to: resident diver/lecturers will cover general subjects Promote research in Nautical Archaeology. and will supervise underwater instruction. Promote underwater training in this field. Two sites, each containing cannon and ship Provide contact between divers, archaeologists remains, will be dived on. One, a coast site, has a and historians. rocky bottom with good visibility; the other, in a Safeguard the archaeological content of under- harbour, has a mud bottom and poor visibility. It water sites. will thus be possible to practice under a variety of Safeguard the rights of diving co-operating conditions. with the C.N.A. In both cases, the leases of the sites have been During 1969, after a great deal of behind the scene obtained and the wrecks are therefore protected. activity, we are launching an all out effort to Only ten students will be taken each weekend and implement these aims. all must be competent divers. Funds may be avail- An increasing programme of the lectures and film able to help those living far from Plymouth and shows is being carried out throughout the country, selected divers from each course may be invited to with leading divers and archaeologists freely offering attend further courses at the Committee's expense. their time. These will be more fully trained so that they can act A series of weekend courses on practical under- as regional diving liaison members of the Committee. water search, survey, photographic and charting They will then be able to quickly investigate all finds techniques commenced in February at Plymouth. that are reported. Industry and the services are providing great This is an ambitious programme a great deal of assistance. work, but the reward will be in the growth of know- In this manner it is hoped that future finds will be ledge and ability of those who attend. Only in this treated in the same magnificant way in which Sweden way can our underwater history be brought to light. recovered the 'Vasa', and not just plundered for At the time of going to print there are still some souvenirs. places available on the courses available during But, as is so often the case, our own resources are August, September, October and November and limited and, for the first time, we are appealing for applications should be made as soon as possible to financial assistance. With your help, we could be the following for further information: ready to raise our own `Vasa'—which may only be a LT.-CDR. ALAN BAX, R.N., few years away! 5 Ashley Place, North Road, Plymouth. 26

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27 27

difficulties. With the assistance of Blackburn from from Blackburn of assistance the With difficulties. bottom on Saturday 15th February. February. 15th Saturday on bottom

form, approximately 25 yards, Cannon was in in was Cannon yards, 25 approximately form, ment and food stores, prior to being lowered to the the to lowered being to prior stores, food and ment

over to the SEALAB diving station swim-on plat- swim-on station diving SEALAB the to over the 7th February and loaded with the required equip- required the with loaded and February 7th the

about 0450. In the short time it took Barth to swim swim to Barth took it time short the In 0450. about The SEALAB was brought out to the island about about island the to out brought was SEALAB The

the seabed, and Barth and Cannon entered the water water the entered Cannon and Barth and seabed, the equipment in the operation of the Mark II system. system. II Mark the of operation the in equipment

to enter the SEALAB. The P.T.C. was lowered to to lowered was P.T.C. The SEALAB. the enter to dive in both D.D.C's, to check out all personnel and and personnel all out check to D.D.C's, both in dive

of Monday morning, they made their second attempt attempt second their made they morning, Monday of hydrostatic mode. Also, we ran a 100 foot saturation saturation foot 100 a ran we Also, mode. hydrostatic

Approximately five hours later, in the early hours hours early the in later, hours five Approximately II to 950 feet unmanned and 600 feet manned in the the in manned feet 600 and unmanned feet 950 to II

P.T.C's as well as the Certification dives for P.T.C. P.T.C. for dives Certification the as well as P.T.C's to the D.D.C., to be warmed up and rested. rested. and up warmed be to D.D.C., the to

start, we continued with the training dives out of the the of out dives training the with continued we start, Cable (S.P.C.C.). The group was then brought back back brought then was group The (S.P.C.C.). Cable

1st February. From arrival on the island to the fatal fatal the to island the on arrival From February. 1st Arm for the Strength, Power and Communication Communication and Power Strength, the for Arm

personnel moved out to San Clemente Island on the the on Island Clemente San to out moved personnel P.T.C. and its cable from the D.D.C. to the Boom Boom the to D.D.C. the from cable its and P.T.C.

tinued through till the end of January, when all all when January, of end the till through tinued in the initial handling procedure, transferring the the transferring procedure, handling initial the in

training in the P.T.C's and handling.procedures con- handling.procedures and P.T.C's the in training ing the bottom in the P.T.C., is a slow job, especially especially job, slow a is P.T.C., the in bottom the ing

was almost ready for its certification dives. The The dives. certification its for ready almost was water. The transfer time, from the D.D.C. to reach- to D.D.C. the from time, transfer The water.

unscramblers, intercom, and the interior lights, and and lights, interior the and intercom, unscramblers, approximately two hours before they could enter the the enter could they before hours two approximately

fitted out with batteries to drive the C.0.2 scrubbers, scrubbers, C.0.2 the drive to batteries with out fitted nel Transfer Capsule (P.T.C.), where they had spent spent had they where (P.T.C.), Capsule Transfer nel

been flooded at the end of November, had been been had November, of end the at flooded been water which was about 47 F., but also in the Person- the in also but F., 47 about was which water

Long Beach on the 6th January. P.T.C. II, which had had which II, P.T.C. January. 6th the on Beach Long effects of the coldness experienced, not only in the the in only not experienced, coldness the of effects

the Christmas recess we recommenced training in in training recommenced we recess Christmas the hatch, and had to abandon this task because of the the of because task this abandon to had and hatch,

To bring us up to date since our last article, after after article, last our since date to up us bring To except for opening the SEALAB diving station station diving SEALAB the opening for except

they managed to complete all the preparatory tasks, tasks, preparatory the all complete to managed they on many contributing factors. factors. contributing many on

made their first dive Sunday evening, during which, which, during evening, Sunday dive first their made schedule have yet to be worked out, and will depend depend will and out, worked be to yet have schedule

and reached 600 feet later that afternoon. They They afternoon. that later feet 600 reached and sometime this autumn, but details of any time time any of details but autumn, this sometime

Chamber (D.D.C.) about 0930 on Sunday morning, morning, Sunday on 0930 about (D.D.C.) Chamber We have hopes that the project will get underway underway get will project the that hopes have We

Group 'A' entered the Deck Decompression Decompression Deck the entered 'A' Group

starting at 100 feet and working to 600 feet. feet. 600 to working and feet 100 at starting

of 40ft./hour. 40ft./hour. of working the Mark II Deep Diving System (D.D.S.), (D.D.S.), System Diving Deep II Mark the working

Vorosmarti would descend at the normally used rate rate used normally the at descend would Vorosmarti Long Beach, where later this month we hope to start start to hope we month this later where Beach, Long

group 'B', Bird, Cooper, Dowling, Myers and Dr. Dr. and Myers Dowling, Cooper, Bird, 'B', group repairs may be carried out, and the IX-501 is in in is IX-501 the and out, carried be may repairs

the SEALAB to attempt to seal off the leaks, while while leaks, the off seal to attempt to SEALAB the has been taken back to San Francisco, so that that so Francisco, San to back taken been has

normally used, 15ft./min., so that they could enter enter could they that so 15ft./min., used, normally their findings. At the time of writing, the SEALAB SEALAB the writing, of time the At findings. their

Reaves should be compressed at a faster rate than than rate faster a at compressed be should Reaves about 13 days and, at the moment, we are awaiting awaiting are we moment, the at and, days 13 about

group 'A' of Team I, Barth, Blackburn, Cannon and and Cannon Blackburn, Barth, I, Team of 'A' group the accident and its causes. The hearings lasted lasted hearings The causes. its and accident the

seabed, the previous evening. It was decided that that decided was It evening. previous the seabed, Board of Investigation was convened to look into into look to convened was Investigation of Board

witnessed the safe landing of the SEALAB on the the on SEALAB the of landing safe the witnessed Beach and all personnel back to San Diego, where a a where Diego, San to back personnel all and Beach

Lockheed's Submersible DEEP STAR, which had had which STAR, DEEP Submersible Lockheed's when the IX-501 and the SEALAB returned to Long Long to returned SEALAB the and IX-501 the when

Cdr. Scott Carpenter and Lt.-Cdr. Lafferty riding in in riding Lafferty Lt.-Cdr. and Carpenter Scott Cdr. to the surface at about 1315 Monday 24th February, February, 24th Monday 1315 about at surface the to

These were confirmed, the following morning, by by morning, following the confirmed, were These The team was decompressed, and eventually got got eventually and decompressed, was team The

SEALAB were seen via the closed circuit television. television. circuit closed the via seen were SEALAB

on Tuesday morning, 18th February. February. 18th morning, Tuesday on

2055. During the night, a number of leaks in the the in leaks of number a night, the During 2055.

menced on the Monday evening, and reached surface surface reached and evening, Monday the on menced

on the evening of Saturday 15th, reaching bottom at at bottom reaching 15th, Saturday of evening the on

pressure. The lifting of the SEALAB had com- had SEALAB the of lifting The pressure.

The SEALAB had been lowered to the sea bottom, bottom, sea the to lowered been had SEALAB The

in from 60 miles away to assist in maintaining maintaining in assist to away miles 60 from in

the story straight as I saw it on that fatal morning. morning. fatal that on it saw I as straight story the internal pressure, and a submarine had to be called called be to had submarine a and pressure, internal

misrepresentations as they did over here, let us get get us let here, over did they as misrepresentations support ship, was having difficulty maintaining the the maintaining difficulty having was ship, support

and magazines at home gave such misquotes and and misquotes such gave home at magazines and

such magnitude that the the that magnitude such Elk River River Elk (IX-501), the the (IX-501),

February 17th of this year. In case the newspapers newspapers the case In year. this of 17th February By this time, the leaks in the SEALAB were of of were SEALAB the in leaks the time, this By

U get the SEALAB project underway on on underway project SEALAB the get

and subsequently taken ashore. ashore. taken subsequently and

the fatal accident, that marred the attempt to to attempt the marred that accident, fatal the

Berry Cannon's body was surfaced in the outer lock lock outer the in surfaced was body Cannon's Berry

NDOUBTEDLY, most of you have read of of read have you of most NDOUBTEDLY,

brought to the surface, and mated to the D.D.C., and and D.D.C., the to mated and surface, the to brought

April 1969. 1969. April heart massage, but to no avail. The P.T.C. was was P.T.C. The avail. no to but massage, heart

California, U.S.A. U.S.A. California, P.T.C. and commence emergency resuscitation and and resuscitation emergency commence and P.T.C.

San Diego, Diego, San the P.T.C., they managed to get Cannon into the the into Cannon get to managed they P.T.C., the

Royal Alien Navy Part III III Part Navy Alien Royal www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

C.P.O. Clark, R.N.— Since our return from the island, apart from the Assistant to Major Lafontaine and Training Board of Investigation, it has been relatively quiet Department. around the Unit. We have, of course, kept up our physical training programme, which now includes a Sgt. Lukeman, C.A.F. (R.C.N.)— one mile surface swim twice a week with wet suit Assistant to Lt.-Cdr. Lafferty and Training top and fins. We also have sport diving in the Kelp Department. beds off Pt. Loma at least once a week and a Mark During the second week of April, we had a change VIII refresher dive once a week. Most likely, once of command here at the Technical Office. Cdr. the findings of the Board are known, the tempo will William R. Leibold has taken over from Capt. increase and we will start diving the Mark II D.D.S. Walter Mazzone who remains here with the unit as as already mentioned, either out of Long Beach or the West Coast Representative of the Deep Sub- San Diego. mergence Systems Project Office in Washington, The Alien Navy has had some long-awaited D.C. promotions within its rank:—Lukeman's rate came Cdr. Leibold is a Submariner, who has been quali- through—he is now a Sergeant, and yours truly's fied in diving since 1952 and comes to the Technical B.13 tor C.P.O. So we are now a quite highly Office from the Naval School, Diving and Salvage, echeloned department of the SEALAB organisation Washington, D.C., where he was Commanding with various responsibilities. Officer. Major Lafontaine, C.A.F. (R.C.N.)— Assistant for Aquanaut Equipment. Lt.-Cdr. Lafferty, R.N.— Assistant for the SEALAB and Assistant Train- EDITOR'S FOOTNOTE:— Since this article was written, ing Officer. it was found that the accident was caused by the 2 absorbent canister being empty. Surely, there Lt. Sutton, R.A.N.— CO Assistant for the Mark II D.D.S. is a lesson to be learned by all C.D's from this!

GAMESMANSHIP begins in your NAAFI shop 1164/ where you can buy the best sports clothing and equipment

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29 29

expected, not-withstanding the report from one of of one from report the not-withstanding expected, Triumph Triumph lying at 'C' Buoy flanked by 'A's' and 'T's'. 'T's'. and 'A's' by flanked Buoy 'C' at lying

D.U.C.S. and lamps we managed to achieve the un- the achieve to managed we lamps and D.U.C.S. time onwards, it was a not uncommon sight to see see to sight uncommon not a was it onwards, time

dirty river water. Using a circular search, S.D.D.E., S.D.D.E., search, circular a Using water. river dirty Unit) which normally resided in in resided normally which Unit) Forth. Forth. From that that From

in the least helpful as the sinker was in 100 feet of of feet 100 in was sinker the as helpful least the in embarked the S.U.B.M.U. (Submarine Maintenance Maintenance (Submarine S.U.B.M.U. the embarked

habit of shifting and parting. Conditions were not not were Conditions parting. and shifting of habit Mombasa and on our return to the Naval Base we we Base Naval the to return our on and Mombasa

knots off the ski club, and the moorings were in the the in were moorings the and club, ski the off knots destroyers. We had been relieved by by relieved been had We destroyers. Forth Forth in in

running into Old Mombasa Harbour reached two two reached Harbour Mombasa Old into running maintaining submarines as opposed to frigates and and frigates to opposed as submarines maintaining

Slalom ski run in its correct position. The river river The position. correct its in run ski Slalom again, but this time in rather a different role, that of of that role, different a rather in time this but again,

been used as one of the sinkers holding the club's club's the holding sinkers the of one as used been January 1968 found us back in Singapore once once Singapore in back us found 1968 January

and mark a 900 lb. concrete filled oil drum that had had that drum oil filled concrete lb. 900 a mark and

pended bolts each with a nut on either end. end. either on nut a with each bolts pended for the Mombasa Water Ski Club. It was to locate locate to was It Club. Ski Water Mombasa the for

new eyeplates were bolted in position using the ex- the using position in bolted were eyeplates new During the stay we were called upon to a small job job small a to upon called were we stay the During

both sides of the shell of the pontoon accessible. The The accessible. pontoon the of shell the of sides both

there is photographic evidence. evidence. photographic is there

mised any loss of buoyancy from leaks and made made and leaks from buoyancy of loss any mised

another 'the one that got away' except that this time time this that except away' got that one 'the another

form parts of the buoyancy chambers. This mini- This chambers. buoyancy the of parts form

episode would have been reduced to that of yet yet of that to reduced been have would episode

bolts and in the sections of the pontoon that did not not did that pontoon the of sections the in and bolts

than people would care to admit. The whole whole The admit. to care would people than

in the pontoon as near as possible to the original eye- original the to possible as near as pontoon the in

the 'Casablanca' . . . etc. taking up more energy energy more up taking etc. . . . 'Casablanca' the

man's brazier. A series of holes were then punched punched then were holes of series A brazier. man's

been due to various establishments ashore such as as such ashore establishments various to due been

gallon oil drum that brought to mind a night watch- night a mind to brought that drum oil gallon

didn't put up much of a showing which may have have may which showing a of much up put didn't

bolts for a revised approach to the job and a 45 45 a and job the to approach revised a for bolts

to be asleep when it was first sighted, the divers divers the sighted, first was it when asleep be to

The net result was that we accumulated sufficient sufficient accumulated we that was result net The

cretion!), and, considering the fact that it appeared appeared it that fact the considering and, cretion!),

they appeared protruding from the metal casing. casing. metal the from protruding appeared they

being temporarily being the better part of dis- of part better the being temporarily being

facing a bank of earth, and the bolts extracted as as extracted bolts the and earth, of bank a facing

was made to chase and catch it (a case of valour valour of case (a it catch and chase to made was

with sand on the nearby beach. The drum was used used was drum The beach. nearby the on sand with

eight feet from wing tip to wing tip. A vain effort effort vain A tip. wing to tip wing from feet eight

into an empty 45 gallon oil drum, which we packed packed we which drum, oil gallon 45 empty an into

turned out to be a large Ray which measured about about measured which Ray large a be to out turned

firing a series of No. 2 and No. 3 bolt ammunition ammunition bolt 3 No. and 2 No. of series a firing

The largest specimen of fish life that was sighted sighted was that life fish of specimen largest The

one end. This was solved simply and effectively by by effectively and simply solved was This end. one

weeks. weeks. toon long enough to allow a nut to be screwed on on screwed be to nut a allow to enough long toon

and none decided to appear during our stay of nine nine of stay our during appear to decided none and (No. 2) was obviously not going to stay in the pon- the in stay to going not obviously was 2) (No.

ject of sharks, no one seemed particularly worried worried particularly seemed one no sharks, of ject problem in that the lowest powered bolt ammunition ammunition bolt powered lowest the that in problem

us. Although there had been whispers on the sub- the on whispers been had there Although us. inch thick, and in bad condition, which posed a a posed which condition, bad in and thick, inch

coral for the collectors and photographers amongst amongst photographers and collectors the for coral the pontoon appeared to be less than a quarter of an an of quarter a than less be to appeared pontoon the

viz around the 50 foot mark, and plenty of fish and and fish of plenty and mark, foot 50 the around viz with a softwood wedge saved the day. The shell of of shell The day. the saved wedge softwood a with

imagined. Enthusiasm was at its highest with the the with highest its at was Enthusiasm imagined. and embarrassed looks all round. A rapid repair repair rapid A round. all looks embarrassed and

change from Singapore Naval Base could not be be not could Base Naval Singapore from change with a two pound hammer resulted in a hissing noise noise hissing a in resulted hammer pound two a with

addition to the routine work. A more pleasant pleasant more A work. routine the to addition A close inspection of the pontoon's rusty surface surface rusty pontoon's the of inspection close A

average of two dives on Likoni Reef each week, in in week, each Reef Likoni on dives two of average

bolting each plate to the pontoon. pontoon. the to plate each bolting at M.5 Berth in Kilindini Creek, we managed an an managed we Creek, Kilindini in Berth M.5 at

each one to a steel plate (on board), and subsequently subsequently and board), (on plate steel a to one each the Third Mombasa Deployment. During the time time the During Deployment. Mombasa Third the

of new eyebolts could be attached was by welding welding by was attached be could eyebolts new of D.E.D. in September 1967, our first major trip was was trip major first our 1967, September in D.E.D.

underwater welding gear, the only way that a series series a that way only the gear, welding underwater team will willingly testify. Having completed our our completed Having testify. willingly will team

(One had already done so.) As the ship did not carry carry not did ship the As so.) done already had (One at sea does contain some truth as the R.A's in the the in R.A's the as truth some contain does sea at

which were badly corroded and in danger of parting. parting. of danger in and corroded badly were which The rumour that that rumour The Triumph Triumph is spending more time time more spending is

toon below the water line through a set of eyebolts, eyebolts, of set a through line water the below toon

roles. roles.

by securing chains, which were shackled to the pon- the to shackled were which chains, securing by

meeting his past master but this time in different different in time this but master past his meeting

harbour. The pontoon was secured to the seabed seabed the to secured was pontoon The harbour.

S.D.O.'s course in August 1966, a case of the pupil pupil the of case a 1966, August in course S.D.O.'s

form of repairs to a pontoon in Old Mombasa Mombasa Old in pontoon a to repairs of form

who I had not met since he was the instructor on my my on instructor the was he since met not had I who

A requirement to use a Cox's Gun arrived in the the in arrived Gun Cox's a use to requirement A

mark. This included C.P.O. Soper for some time, time, some for Soper C.P.O. included This mark.

with divers, the numbers hovering around the thirty thirty the around hovering numbers the divers, with eventually marked with a Jablex float. float. Jablex a with marked eventually

period of silence. The ship is usually rather flush flush rather usually is ship The silence. of period (which still had part of the riser attached) was was attached) riser the of part had still (which

L know what we have been up to during the the during to up been have we what know were crawling over him. Never-the-less, the sinker sinker the Never-the-less, him. over crawling were

the past and it is time we let the diving world world diving the let we time is it and past the found that thousands of small ant-like creatures creatures ant-like small of thousands that found

ITTLE seems to have been said by by said been have to seems ITTLE Triumph Triumph the divers, that when he was on the bottom, he he bottom, the on was he when that divers, the in in

The Big '1' '1' Big The www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

The highlight of this period came when the nuclear An emergency afloat dome exchange on Carysfort submarine Warspite visited S.N.B. The diving by the F.E.F.C.D.T. renewed the interest in our two fraternity must have been nursing a secret passion dome exchange outfits, D.E.0.2 and E.D.0.3. We for the nuclear boat for, when S.U.B.M.U. requested were called in as temporary reliefs during the ex- that we undertake a planned maintenance dive on change, and gave our none too professional services. her, the response took the form of 13 divers (includ- It was extremely good value and a lot was learnt. ing three guests from Dido) 'all booted and spurred' A week later, I had 'volunteers' riding our D.E.0.2 and eager to do what was required of them. The boat up and down beneath Cambrian, who had kindly was certainly an eye-opener for those divers who had loaned us their H.O. 15 dome for the exercise. previously had little contact with submarines, and Still on the subject of 'domes and things that go to those who had dived on 'A's' and 'O's', the ping', two of the ship's C.D's, in the form of P.O's Warspite was still something of an oddity even when Cobb and Barrett, stole the limelight when it came viewed through the oily dockyard water. to exchanging the Type 185 U./W. telephone in Fife. Instead of following the more orthodox We then entered a phase when jobs on the Escorts approach of removing the dome with the D.E.0.3, came thick and fast. The first was the Troubridge, we put two divers into the dome from inboard. An which required repairs and a replacement to her hull extract from the S. 288 was later found to read filling plates. Not many people knew precisely what `visibility . . . 6 inch. Bottom . . . Fibreglass'. these mysterious plates were to begin with, but we soon learnt and with a vengeance. As our experience Mid-July 1968 saw Triumph at sea off the Island of in this job happened to be nil, a complete system Pulau Tioman in the South China Sea, participating and technique had to be evolved for dealing with the in a weapon training week in which we conducted job. After five days, the tricky task was completed. every conceivable exercise. The programme ranged from a Casex to running field kitchens ashore as The latter end of February saw us alongside part of a Distex. Telok Tekek, where we anchored, Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney. There were proved to be ideal for under-water scenery with the great hopes of a quiet time, to enjoy the hospitality visability around the 50 foot mark. of the Australians, but for some people these were Fish were there in abundance in amongst the coral. short lived. Zest presented us with a job on hull Two turtles were caught, and this naturally gave rise filling plates. Progress for the first few days was to a great debate as to what was to be done with remarkably good, suspiciously so as it later turned them. With the field kitchens in operation ashore, out. Problems rapidly accumulated, not the least there was a certain amount of temptation in that being that having removed her plates and repaired direction, but the final decision on their disposal was them in Triumph's workshops, they obstinately re- happily the humane one. Appetites were later fused to fit back in position once it was time for them satisfied ashore, with steaks and Tiger. An interest- to be replaced. During the nine days spent beneath ing time was had by all concerned during the Zest, the hard core of the team came to know the demolitions, which we ran about two miles to the ship's bottom as intimately as the odd fish that were North of the anchorage. Divers were included with lured on to the scene by the knocking and banging. the U.W. rates, and within the confines of the bay, the cursing, and the bubbles of N2 and 02 that plenty of practice was had with 1 lb. scare charges floated to the surface from C.P.O. Soper and P.O. and P.E.4. Although clearance for the practice had Barrett. initially been obtained from Kuala Lumpur, it was policy to make the final clearance with the local Back in Singapore, exercises were the order of the Police Force. After the initial problems of the day with Admiral's Harbour Inspection looming in language difference had been solved by what the near distance. After the day of frenzied activity Caprice and appeared to be the resident Chief of Police's brother- had passed, we found time for repairs to in-law or son, who spoke some English, nobody Carysfort. 'Plates' yet again, and with past exper- seemed particularly interested in 'big bangs at Berus ience behind us it was becoming more routine. The Dalaam'. The only point, which they made any period, if it could be said to belong to anyone, would effort to put across through sign language and bad belong to the Artificer Diver who was in great English, was the plea of 'mind the coconuts!' demand as a technician. It was no longer a case of sitting on one of the ship's screws with a big bristle As a farewell to the Island, an exercise was held scrubber on one's hand or hammering a 10 inch on the evening that we sailed for Singapore. An bung into the D./G. discharge. Phrases such as 5/8 amusing incident arose whilst the ship was in State 1. inch or 9/16 inch Whit? and 'another 1/16 inch off An attacking diver from the F.E.F.C.D.T. squelched here became commonplace. his way up one of the gangway ladders, greeted the 30

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Bosun's Mate on watch, proceeded to the Quarter- with Seafire make a pleasant change from pounding deck and under cover of the blackout created havoc. up and down the jackstay off the Diving School as The moral to that short story is that ladders that are I'm sure everyone will admit. Changes in bottom `physically down', but, in actual fact, 'for exercise up' scenery come by way of jobs on the' R.F.A's of are no deterrent to the intrepid diver. Of course, it which there are usually no shortage and when we is rare to find such an obliging Bosun's Mate. are not feeling too energetic, dry dips in the ship's During the less tense moments of our time in two compartment ex-Japanese pot. Singapore the weekly dippers get time in by, amongst The ship is still clocking up sea time with recent other tasks, cleaning the ship's twin screws. These trips to Brisbane, Auckland and Bali, to mention give rise to the odd total of seven blades, a point but a few, however that is another story in itself. which gives rise to much speculation on the part of new arrivals. Training with Cox's gun and cutting SUB.-LT. WIGNALL, holes in an old and rusty wreck of a landing craft Diving Officer, H.M.S. Triumph.

FOR EXERCItE CoNIMENC.E DROPPING SCARE CHARGE.;

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'Amphorae, Cannon and Pirates° by Lt. R. H. GRAHAM

HE story of how the Naval Air Command Sub- colas and jewellery. It was inevitable that such Aqua Club came to be diving in the Lipari treasures would excite the attention of 'pirates' and TIslands off Northern Sicily last May has little the next move was legislation by Mediterranean to do with diving, as opposed to conniving, and since Governments to protect ancient wrecks from un- some of the strokes we pulled are best unpublicised, controlled exploitation. suffice to say that with the blessing of at least four It might be argued that, there is no harm in allow- admirals, British and Italian, and the help of many ing all who dare to work old wrecks for profit, for other individuals and authorities, we got there on the treasures will eventually go to the highest bidder time with all necessary gear and aboard St. Angelo's who would tend to preserve his purchase for poster- Fleet Tender, Alness. ity. The trouble is that when a valuable piece is The aim of the expedition was to gain experience wrenched from a wreck, it is taken out of context, in underwater archaeology. We went at the invita- and items of great historic, but little intrinsic value, tion of Professor Bernabo Brea, the Superintendent are often destroyed or ignored by the uninitiated of Antiquities in Eastern Sicily and were directed by diver. It is only when the whole content of a 'time a German archaeologist, Herr Gerhard Kapitan who capsule' is studied in relation to its period that all lives in Syracuse. historical data can be deduced. Underwater archaeology, like most other under- For example, N.A.C.S.A.C. found a lead anchor water arts, has blossomed since the advent of free stock on a wreck off the island of Filicudi. Similar diving. The Mediterranean being the cradle of lead anchors had been found before, but in isolation, civilization, it is the graveyard for thousands of and so their period was in doubt. Fortunately, late ancient ships lost during the last three thousand years. Roman amphora found beneath the Filicudi These wrecks contain historical evidence in time specimen made it possible to date this type of anchor. capsule form, of all the ancient civilisations, Egyptian, It was this kind of find that caused our tame arch- Greek, Byzantine, Roman and others. Since few aeologist to drool at the mouth. rivers drain into the Med. and because the tides are The Italians have gone to the expense of creating slight, the water is clear, as well as warm, and a small fleet of fast patrol boats, manned by the visibility exceeds 100 feet. Finanza, a species of Customs /Water Police, and Also, during the summer, there are long periods one of their tasks is to ensure that amphora wrecks of calm settled weather when quite elaborate arch- are worked for the benefit of the State Museums. aeological operations are possible. For example, When N.A.C.S.A.C., arrived there was much talk George Bass anchored a large pontoon and several about the 'Forbidden Wreck' of Lipari. This wreck tons of compressor over a wreck off the coast of was found by the local diver pirates last October. Turkey for a whole summer and trained archaeolog- It contains very rare black ceramic pottery and some ical students from the University of Pennsylvania to pieces are unique. There had been a slight dis- dive on site. agreement at Messina when some of the booty was Under such ideal conditions, and with so much to intercepted on its way along the 'back alleys' of be found, it is natural that the Mediterranean became illegal commerce. The leader of the local divers, a the first arena for the inevitable clash between the very charming and friendly man, entertained us diver-historian and the diver-freebooter. right royally. The most common artifact remaining to mark the It was a local diver, who last year when diving site of an ancient wreck is the amphora, the large near the 'Forbidden Wreck' at about 250 feet con- earthenware jar used to carry wine or oil. During tracted a mild bend. He was more annoyed about the heyday of wreck pirating the black market the silly way it happened, than the six weeks spent price for a complete amphora rose to 600 dollars. in hospital. His method proven by many years of The largest wrecks contained as many as 10,000 safe, deep diving on air is to descend down the steep amphorae in vessels of about 260 tons, although sides of the volcanic islands, marking his route well 3,000 amphorae ships of 80 tons were more usual. and taking care to leave a charged set at about 40 In addition, many other valuable objects can be feet so that the necessary decompression stops could found ranging from bronze or marble statues to be observed. I noticed that the Italian divers always 32

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33 33

We invited him onboard to help polish off the last last the off polish help to onboard him invited We L.R.O. Ken Alner, Radio Operator. Operator. Radio Alner, Ken L.R.O.

Malta and spent the rest of the war in the U.S.A. U.S.A. the in war the of rest the spent and Malta

Lt.-Cdr. Hugh Murray, Skipper of of Skipper Murray, Hugh Lt.-Cdr.

Alness. Alness. understood, captured whilst attacking shipping at at shipping attacking whilst captured understood,

Crew: Crew: underwater chariots during the war and was, I I was, and war the during chariots underwater

most kind to us. He had been in charge of the Italian Italian the of charge in been had He us. to kind most

N.A. Mick Duncan. Duncan. Mick N.A. Costa himself, a diver of vast experience who was was who experience vast of diver a himself, Costa

there had the privilege of meeting Admiral Franco Franco Admiral meeting of privilege the had there M.A. Taff Richards. Richards. Taff M.A.

After this, we had to go to Messina for fuel and and fuel for Messina to go to had we this, After

P.O. Allen Swingard, Boats. Boats. Swingard, Allen P.O.

250 to 350 B.C. B.C. 350 to 250 C.P.O. Arty Shaw, Caterer. Caterer. Shaw, Arty C.P.O.

of one. The Greek wreck belonged to the period period the to belonged wreck Greek The one. of

C.P.O. Bomber Brown. Brown. Bomber C.P.O.

neath them. Thus, we had two wrecks for the price price the for wrecks two had we Thus, them. neath

Lt. Terry Montgomery, Montgomery, Terry Lt. cannon a nest of Greek amphorae was found be- found was amphorae Greek of nest a cannon

gulating the cannon wreck, we started raising the the raising started we wreck, cannon the gulating Diving Officer and Expedition Officer. Officer. Expedition and Officer Diving

ed, for when, after patiently prographing and train- and prographing patiently after when, for ed, Lt. Roy Graham, Graham, Roy Lt.

for amphora wreck, after all ! We were amply reward- amply were We ! all after wreck, amphora for

Officer in Charge and Engineer Officer. Officer. Engineer and Charge in Officer

antly, chosen for closer investigation. We had come come had We investigation. closer for chosen antly,

Lt.Cdr. Jack Gayton, Gayton, Jack Lt.Cdr.

The 17th century remains, were somewhat reluct- somewhat were remains, century 17th The

List of Divers: Divers: of List

century wreck with three bronze cannon. cannon. bronze three with wreck century

Roman wrecks and to our great surpise, a 17th 17th a surpise, great our to and wrecks Roman

but are agreed that it is probably of Italian Origin. Origin. Italian of probably is it that agreed are but

early Roman wreck (1st century A.D.), three late late three A.D.), century (1st wreck Roman early

experts have not yet identified the cannon wreck, wreck, cannon the identified yet not have experts

Greek wrecks, a Hellenistic wreck (180 B.C.), one one B.C.), (180 wreck Hellenistic a wrecks, Greek

third of this valuation. At the time of writing the the writing of time the At valuation. this of third

half a mile the remains of a prehistoric wreck, two two wreck, prehistoric a of remains the mile a half

by the Museum and N.A.C.S.A.C. will receive one one receive will N.A.C.S.A.C. and Museum the by

lucky ships. We found within a stretch of less than than less of stretch a within found We ships. lucky

The cannon and amphorae will eventually be valued valued be eventually will amphorae and cannon The

of past centuries would most likely have driven un- driven have likely most would centuries past of

searching the South-East Cape, where the Sirocco's Sirocco's the where Cape, South-East the searching German ladies. ladies. German

It was at Filicudi where we really struck it rich, rich, it struck really we where Filicudi at was It enlivened by the attendance of some very hearty hearty very some of attendance the by enlivened

the tourist season was starting and the party was was party the and starting was season tourist the good for wet suits. suits. wet for good

the lovely island of Volcano. As we were leaving, leaving, were we As Volcano. of island lovely the visit, although the hot suplhurous water is not too too not is water suplhurous hot the although visit,

departed to a farewell party with the 'Pirates', 'Pirates', the with party farewell a to departed 011 011 The underwater hot springs at Volcano are worth a a worth are Volcano at springs hot underwater The

and they were all humped back again! Finally, we we Finally, again! back humped all were they and by the guns of the castle at Lipari in the 16th century. century. 16th the in Lipari at castle the of guns the by

the hill to the museum, the Italian T.V. team arrived arrived team T.V. Italian the museum, the to hill the Moorish pirate, Barbarossa, said to have been sunk sunk been have to said Barbarossa, pirate, Moorish

name!) When all the trophies had been humped up up humped been had trophies the all When name!) ful search for the remains of a ship belonging to the the to belonging ship a of remains the for search ful

assigned to us. (For the protection of our good good our of protection the (For us. to assigned merged near Basiluzzo, and carried out an unsuccess- an out carried and Basiluzzo, near merged

swollen by the crew of the Finanza Patrol boat boat Patrol Finanza the of crew the by swollen We investigated some Roman walls now sub- now walls Roman some investigated We

mony, on the quay. The small army of officials was was officials of army small The quay. the on mony,

broken by wave action. action. wave by broken Museum Authorities at Lipari, with all due cere- due all with Lipari, at Authorities Museum

shallow water over the reef, the amphora had been been had amphora the reef, the over water shallow On the last day, we handed over our finds to the the to finds our over handed we day, last the On

no complete amphora. Because of the relatively relatively the of Because amphora. complete no

of three wrecks, one modern and two ancient, but but ancient, two and modern one wrecks, three of to our liking. liking. our to

Islands of Panarea were found the broken remains remains broken the found were Panarea of Islands team found the octopus stew, albeit au yin, not much much not yin, au albeit stew, octopus the found team

archaeologist, enjoyed a variety of diving. Off the the Off diving. of variety a enjoyed archaeologist, quite happy cooking his catches though most of our our of most though catches his cooking happy quite

The N.A.C.S.A.C. team, directed by our German German our by directed team, N.A.C.S.A.C. The do not enjoy. The Maltese crew of of crew Maltese The enjoy. not do Alness Alness were kept kept were

wrestling with octopus, a pastime which I personally personally I which pastime a octopus, with wrestling

interesting situation indeed. indeed. situation interesting

world-champion underwater fisherman, delighted in in delighted fisherman, underwater world-champion

`Pirates' to do the diving. This promises to be a very very a be to promises This diving. the do to `Pirates'

Franco Colosimo. Vinzenzo (Che-Che for short), a a short), for (Che-Che Vinzenzo Colosimo. Franco Wreck' this Autumn, employing the self-styled self-styled the employing Autumn, this Wreck'

perienced Italian divers, Vinzenzo Paladin and and Paladin Vinzenzo divers, Italian perienced museum authorities are going to work the 'Forbidden 'Forbidden the work to going are authorities museum

Back at Filicudi, we were joined by two ex- two by joined were we Filicudi, at Back continue the game of Pirates and Finanza. The The Finanza. and Pirates of game the continue

Anyway, he is almost recovered now and ready to to ready and now recovered almost is he Anyway,

visit. visit.

recompression chamber in the local hospital! hospital! local the in chamber recompression jetty with us and paid us a most cordial and informal informal and cordial most a us paid and us with jetty

after he was treated as the first patient in a new new a in patient first the as treated was he after are all sharks together' and strolled down to the the to down strolled and together' sharks all are

subsequently transformed into a very serious one one serious very a into transformed subsequently This was not to be the way of it, for he said 'No, we we 'No, said he for it, of way the be to not was This

and the result was a mild bend. This mild mild This bend. mild a was result the and was was bend bend up on Alness suggested a time 20 minutes hence. hence. minutes 20 time a suggested Alness on up

spare set had turned out to be only partly charged charged partly only be to out turned had set spare and hoping to gain time for a more meticulous tidy- meticulous more a for time gain to hoping and

just to be on the safe side. On this occasion, the the occasion, this On side. safe the on be to just might wish to be accompanied by some of his staff staff his of some by accompanied be to wish might

did more decompression than the tables prescribed prescribed tables the than decompression more did of the Saccone and Speed stores, and thinking he he thinking and stores, Speed and Saccone the of www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Number One Clearance Diving Officer by GORDON GUTTERIDGE, O.B.E.

HE title of this article may seem presumptuous formed a new company to manufacture these gases and misleading because I'm not really writing locally. In those early struggling days, I was the Tabout diving at all—so why, one may ask, is it Managing Director, plant superintendent, shift operator for all three shifts, maintenance engineer, being printed in a diving magazine. Actually it's a salesman, purchasing agent and cylinder delivery personal story of what has happened since I left the man! service, and the curious way in which diving matters and diving people keep cropping up. It was surprising how useful a diving background turned out to be. I was familiar with gases, high But first, a little history, for those too young to pressure cylinders, gas analysis and, rather more remember—and, by 1969 that includes most of you. vaguely, with the operation of compressors, mani- During World War II, groups of divers were formed, folds and the like. This small plant was a success called 'P' Parties, whose job it was to clear captured from the start, and we now have production plants enemy harbours of mines and to recover 'new' enemy for oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene and carbon dioxide mines for examination. At the end of the war, these in Bermuda, Antigua, Nassau, Freeport (Grand parties were disbanded. I was lucky enough to Bahama) and St Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. command the largest, and last of them, which did We recently opened a branch in St. Thomas and the post-war de-mining of Dunkirk Harbour. When purchased an interest in the Barbados gas production that job was finished, everyone was demobbed ex- plant. Assets of the group exceed one million dollars cept for four 'time servers', a Leading Seaman, two and so do our yearly sales. A.B's and me! Since their Lordships had no idea Lochinvar In each of the islands, the Royal Navy and/or the what to do with us, we were sent to H.M.S. U.S. Navy are our customers (how we hate those the Port Edgar base of our diminishing mine sweep- British 100 cubic feet naval oxygen cylinders with ing and counter-measure force. I think there was a round bottoms and valves that need a wrench and feeling at the Admiralty in those days, that this was a hammer to open and shut; who ever heard of a job for hostilities only people, and not proper em- service cylinder that can't be stood up!?) We supply ployment for peacetime R.N. types. virtually all the diving air used by sports and pro- After battling extinction for a couple of years, very fessional divers, and also, have the only local facilities ably supported by Cdr. Bob Harland, the C.O. of for hydrostatically testing their air tanks. Addition- Lochinvar, and later, S. of D., we finally came to be ally, we are main distributors of diving equipment, accepted, recognised and christened 'Clearance which we purchase in bulk from Italy, Germany and Divers'. John Crawford came to us as the first peace- the U.S.A. At the present time, we are starting to time officer for training as a C.D.O. Later, he went import Japanese diving cylinders, valves, harnesses, to Vernon to establish proper training programmes etc., of very high quality indeed. for this new branch. Of perhaps only indirect interest to readers of this After I left the service in 1957, Lt.-Cdr. Mark magazine, is that our Freeport plant supplies tens Terrell and I set up our own commercial diving of thousands of cubic feet of 99.99 % pure nitrogen enterprise but for reasons which don't matter, I each week to a large contraceptive pill factory. finished up as a lunkologist' (scrap metal dealer to Apparently the steroid ingredient of the pill has to the uninitiated) in Bermuda. Much of our non- be extracted in an inert atmosphere, otherwise the ferrous scrap metal was recovered from wrecks pill doesn't work. We resist the temptation to send around Bermuda, from abandoned undersea cables, joke packages to Portsmouth! and from the old British naval dockyard, where our One interesting coincidence is that, during the war, scrapyard is situated. In its eleven years life, our I served with a very able Dutch 'P' Party diving scrap metal company has shipped out of Bermuda— officer, Captain Jan Lenderick, and I now find that he an island of only 50,000 people—over one million is my opposite number as the Managing Director of dollars worth of scrap metal—junk that people have the Curacao Oxygen Company. He has maintained thrown away! an active interest in diving and operates a successful One of the heavy costs, in our junkyard, was the diving company in Curacao that mainly does under- importing of oxygen and acetylene from the United water clearing of Marine growth from the bottoms States for cutting up the scrap metal so, in 1961, we of supertankers. 34

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Arising from my growing familiarity with business finance needed for various projects. Planning and in the Caribbean, I became involved in Banking costing of projects and attention to detail comes about three years ago and now manage a private fairly easily after close on twenty years of Naval Bank in Nassau, with a number of subsidiary com- discipline and experience. Business jargon has to panies in the Caribbean and Europe. We look after be learned, as does knowledge of money and its the financial affairs of a small number of wealthy uses, but the Navy was never a 9 am. to 5 p.m. clinets. Curiously, even this produces its link with operation, least of all Clearance Diving, and all it diving. One of our interests is in an invention for takes is plenty of homework. cleaning ship bottoms which is presently undergoing user trials with Captain Lenderink in Curacao. We One discovery I made whilst in the service was the have also recently financed the design of a new diving value of a well written report. These look impressive, rig for use in the North Sea gas fields and similar most senior people only read the recommendations situations. at the end anyhow and I suspect that the merits of some reports were determined by weight. This All this sounds a bit of a success story, and it is, curious phenomena carries over into civvy-street. though it was pretty gruelling in the beginning. At I continue to produce bumper annual reports of one stage, we were so short of money that one week, progress fairly well filled with mind clogging detail we would sell a typewriter to buy groceries and the and, hey presto, all is well for another year. sale of a desk would put stuff into the refrigerator for three whole weeks. It's still not easy; I flew in Any reader visiting our islands, on holiday or in 106 airplanes last year, from one-whizzers to H.M. ships, will be most welcome at any of our V.C.10's. I've got socks, pyjamas and shirts distrib- plants. Our Managers are knowledgeable about uted in most hotels in the Caribbean—not by intent. local diving facilities and most of them are amateur divers (our Manager in Freeport has recently acted However, naval training and background has been as '200 feet safety man' during a world record diving invaluable. The rudimentary Operational Research session off Grand Bahama for which we supplied the knowhow acquired at U.C.W.E. whilst deciding how equipment and gas). to spend miniscule research and development funds is all I've needed to enable me to produce business G. GUTTERIDGE, prospectuses sufficiently convincing to generate the P.O. Box 4688, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Supercession of the Instructional Diving Officer

Lt.-Cdr. Karl G. Lees has recently taken over as operational capability to dive to 250 feet on air. Head of the Diving Section in H.M.S. Vernon, This team has worked-up at Plymouth and Falmouth relieving Lt.-Cdr. Bruce Mackay who is now the and employed operationally in Malta, Scotland and Course Officer for this year's Long Mine Warefare the West Country. and Clearance Diving Officer's Course. Then followed three years away from the branch Karl Lees joined Britannia Royal Naval College, with the Long T.A.S. Course in 1963 followed by a Dartmouth, as a cadet in 1954. He subsequently two year exchange appointment in Australia. There served in H.M. Ships, Forth, Birmingham, Seneschal, the superb diving conditions tempted him to Essington and Torquay. He was inaugurated into the H.M.A.S. Rushcutter, the 'down under' Diving diving world in 1959 by being 'detailed off' to take School, for practice dips, as well as being the Diving the Shallow Water Diving Officer's course and Officer of H.M.A.S. Parramatta. became the Diving Officer of H.M.S. Tiger. He was On return of the U.K. he was sent to H.M.S. then appointed to H.M.S. Vernon to undergo the Lochinvar for what turned out to be three years, at C.D.O's course in 1961. first on the staff of Captain Mine Countermeasures On completion of the C.D.O's course he remained and latterly 'driving' H.M.S. Iveston, a minehunter in Vernon as Officer in Charge, Horsea Island, carrying a C.D. Team. This involved a lot of diving, followed by Diving Training Officer. Then followed as the ship was employed in many places in Northern the formation of the Heli-crash Deep Diving Team Europe and the U.K. and worked with most of the (now the Plymouth Deep Diving Team) with the U.K. based C.D. teams. 35

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DISCO aqua-lung centre FOR .

THE U.S.NAVY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WORLD'S FINEST DIVING EQUIPMENT, TRY IT YOURSELF.

Call or write for details to; DIVERS SUPPLY COMPANY (U.K.) Ltd., 4,New Rd., Southampton.Tel: 22271/2 also at Upper Hatch St., DUBLIN.

36 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Ulster Notes

ORTHERN Ireland's diving unit is based at sunk metal ties. Access to it is by an 8 foot metal Londonderry and has a full-time strength of a stairway which leads to the end of the jetty from the NC.D.O., C.D.1 and four ship's divers, who are top of the harbour wall. supported by two C.O.A's and an M.(E.) Another The first task was to make holes in the sea bed dozen or so ship's divers are based at units in which would take reinforced concrete cylinders 3 Waterside, Ballykelly and Belfast. Ships visiting feet high and 7 feet in diameter. The drawing Londonderry give generous diving support, partic- showed deep sand and it was thought that one hole ularly the Hydrographic Service, who traditionally, could be completed by air-lift on each tide. The don't know when to stop work anyway. sand, however, was all of three inches deep and Each Joint Services Course leaves behind its crop covered what seemed to be solid granite! The depth of submarine smoke candles and an ever increasing of the water over the holes was, from seawards at number of N.A.T.O. maritime exercise ordnance. high water, 9 feet, 5 feet and 1 foot. After a brief The total of recovered suspected I.R.A. ordnance conference, at the bar of the 'Imperial', it was stands at 5,000 round S.A.A., five hand grenades, decided to make the holes with the assistance of five rifle grenades and a grenade thrower. Building explosives. This was much easier than anticipated contractors and holiday-makers are on a par for as further examination showed the granite to be turning up an interesting assortment of eroded several large boulders, the largest weighing about hardware. half a ton. The Army camouflet kit supplies all that Co-operation with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is required to complete this kind of task without the Gardai and the Admiralty Constabulary this difficulty. The foundation cylinders were duly year has resulted in the recovery, amongst other lowered into the holes by crane and then half filled things, of a stolen tape recorder, a record player and with concrete. The pillars, flanged at the lower end, three drowned persons. During the Summer, which were then placed inside and the filling of the cylinders has been the driest since 1932, four low level completed. Later the pillars had steel reinforcing reservoir take-off pipes have been uncovered and rods inserted and were filled with concrete. After cleared for various district councils. Naval airlifts this the divers were only called upon to fit the green- have proved invaluable on these occasions when heart rubbers. Incidentally, any masochist wanting large quantities of gravel, sand or mud have had to an alternative to mud runs should try hand-drilling be removed. greenheart. The Ministry of Public Building and Works do The close liaison which exists between the R.A.F. not have divers based in Northern Ireland. Con- Marine Craft Unit and the diving unit is to our sequently we assist the Civil Engineer Northern mutual advantage. The M.C.U. has four A.S.R. Ireland to maintain the numerous marine instal- Launches and a tender. Apart from the recovering lations of the three services. Apart from building of the odd battery and the usual odds and ends two slipways, we recently completed the survey of which inevitably fall into the water from boats, the the six major Londonderry Naval jetties. The pain- unit carries out the four-monthly maintenance staking method of survey of the M.P.B.W. engineers routines on the moorings. The rising pendants and has been of particular interest to us, all measure- the ground chain are similar to a modified sixth class ments of timbers required to the inch! Petty Officer trot mooring except that the buoys are of inflated Roberts (who recently relieved that other stalwart, P.V.C., with chain dressings and standing 2 inch Petty Officer Burrows) was thought to have muttered wire bridles. Virtually every underwater fitting has odd Gaelic invectives as he toiled away on the nine been tackled on the launches, the latest being the hundred piles and ties of the last jetty at Lisahally. complete replacement of two sets of bolts on gland fairing plates. Looking back over the last twelve months the only other M.P.B.W. task worthy of mention is perhaps The unit has also carried our surveys of the the construction of the jetty for the R.A.F. Marine jetties, hazards and approaches of Ballycastle, Red Craft Unit (M.C.U. 1105) at Portrush. Bay and Carnlough for the R.A.F., who use these harbours as havens or support positions during The completed jetty is 45 feet long, supported by exercises. three reinforced concrete pillars, each approximately 2 feet 6 inches in diameter, with its dressing, ladder The smaller of the A.S.R. launches is an excellent is guards and rubbers of greenheart secured by counter- diving platform. Once a month it takes all available 37

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk divers to the Skerries or Rathlin Island for 120 feet The gates were removed and thoroughly refitted. dips. Before dispersing, the diving is usually com- Two interesting points came up at this stage. The pleted by endurance swims in Portrush Harbour on first was, had the cast iron pintles been fractured? S.A.B.A Portrush has the advantage of being 25 If so, a cofferdam, which would have to be built feet deep and relatively unaffected by tidal stream, before they could be replaced, would cost at least with little visibility but plenty of kelp and congers. £30,000. Extensive, but unsuccessful enquiries were made to locate an underwater radiographic unit, so, A staunch ally of the unity is 819 Squadron, after the rapidly silting dock sill had been cleared by R.N.A.S., stationed at Ballykelly, and from time to air lift, the engineers settled for the clear ringing time we provide swimmers for night pick-up drills sound obtained by a good clout with a 2 lb. hammer! in the Foyle. We have not needed their services yet The second point became apparent when our Chief but our mobility in an emergency is greatly enhanced O.A. observed that the leading edge at the foot of with their support. the gate was curved and not straight as we supposed. The significance of this was that the greenheart The unit also assists the sailings faternity. Three clapping sills which form the watertight seal between 3-pilot moorings and a dinghy trot mooring were the foot of the gate and the sill of the dock (now laid in the Swilly in the spring. Because of the hard without its chaffing piece) would have to match sandy bottom and the scouring currents at the sailing exactly before fitting. club moorings, holes were blown and the anchors were dropped into them. Apart from two other Producing an accurate template proved easier moorings which were located and recovered, all the than anticipated. The depth of water ranged from naval moorings were serviced during the summer 5 feet to 21 feet with the tide, and each flood tide term. A six ton yacht, with virtually its starboard brought copious quantities of the foulest mud. side torn out on a rock, was kept afloat at Ballycastle Weighted I inch whitewood boards, each about 6 by nailing its sails, and anything else available, to feet by 10 inches, were passed down to the diver who what was left of the hull. The only other incident tacked them together allowing an overlap of about worthy of recall was the location and recovery of a a foot, until the distance between the pintle of the twenty foot dinghy which sank in 60 feet of water in leaf and the apex of the dock sill had been covered. Mulroy Bay. Four hours after our arrival, the The curve was reproduced by placing a 4 inch dinghy was back at its mooring a mile away, dried length of 2 inch angle bar on the boards with its out and ship-shape. The moral of that incident is if back to the sill. A welding rod was used to record you must take your sweetie sailing, don't reach with the progress of the inner edge of the angle bar, as it the sheets turned up. moved along the boards. Back and forth a few times, just to be sure, and then the template was gently Our most publicised incident, this year, was the allowed to float up. The 29 foot slender curve which ramming of the seaward gates of Victoria Lock on was produced brought a smile even to the face of the Saint William on 30th the Newry Canal by the collier foreman shipwright. Later, after the gates had been January. The Newry Canal, opened to the traffic in rehung, a rubber skirt was fitted along the clapping 1741, cannects Newry with the 150 square miles of sills to seal off slight leaks caused as the gates settled Lough Neagh, and then leads seaward into on the worn pintles. Carlingford Lough. Improvements were carried out by Sir John Rennie in the early nineteenth century. With the assistance of a floating crane the P.D.U. After 1930, ships of 500 tons gross were able to use also cleared 50 tons of canal wall which had toppled the port. Victoria Lock gates, each twenty-nine feet into the canal, about a mile from Victoria Lock. long, thirty-two feet high and weigh forty-eight tons, Work was hampered by dense brambles and bushes have had a chequered career. Before the ramming which tumbled in onto the wall, but eventually incident, they were damaged by I.R.A. explosives improvised cutting charges were placed to break the in 1952. wall into suitable lengths for slinging or removal by grab. Harland and Wolff were contracted to effect repairs and the unit was invited to examine the dam- Several demolition jobs have come our way. One age. The outer leaf had, fortunately, been unhinged in the dockyard where the foundations of an old from its pintle. Apart from a few buckled plates in building were to be removed and used in the con- the impact area and a ruptured heel post, the struction of a sea retaining wall is perhaps of interest. remainder of the damage was confined to a catwalk The floor, 70 feet by 40 feet of 8 inch concrete, was and parts of the mitre post and clapping sills, a one- required in 80-100 lb lumps and the foundation walls inch steel chaffing plate, which had broken in three in neat 5 foot lengths. Thanks mainly to Terry pieces, had saved the sill of the dock. Spooner of R.A.R.D.E., the job was completed in a 38

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39 39

This didn't prevent the team from taking part in the the in part taking from team the prevent didn't This

NATO Exercises." Exercises." NATO

Area where Government Dredgers are working. working. are Dredgers Government where Area

expertise has been invaluable to the success of many many of success the to invaluable been has expertise

underwater in the unpleasant conditions of Marsa Marsa of conditions unpleasant the in underwater

times hazardous work you have all done. Your Your done. all have you work hazardous times

harbours and the team have spent long periods periods long spent have team the and harbours

the admiration of all of us for the very hard and at at and hard very the for us of all of admiration the

the E.O.D. side, to search and clear the inner inner the clear and search to side, E.O.D. the

status I would like to record my appreciation and and appreciation my record to like would I status

A last major effort was made before reduction on on reduction before made was effort major last A

"On the reduction of your team to E.O.D.U. E.O.D.U. to team your of reduction the "On

Butterfly to 1800 Kg. S.C. S.C. Kg. 1800 to Butterfly

Malta. Malta.

include mines type Q, Q, type mines include

T T and G, and bombs from from bombs and G, and

In conclusion a copy of a signal from Flag Officer, Officer, Flag from signal a of copy a conclusion In

the advanced state of deterioration of the fillings fillings the of deterioration of state advanced the

explosives, dealt with in situ in many cases, owing to to owing cases, many in situ in with dealt explosives,

interest sometime in the future. future. the in sometime interest

Allied Forces. A sample of the German origin origin German the of sample A Forces. Allied

it. It is hoped in time to include a longer article of of article longer a include to time in hoped is It it.

and explosive objects used during World War II by by II War World during used objects explosive and

job is still the same even if there are a few less to do do to less few a are there if even same the still is job

includes a fair percentage of all types of ammunition ammunition of types all of percentage fair a includes

ative at M.O.D. and changed our habitat but the the but habitat our changed and M.O.D. at ative

impressive total. Far too many to list here, the total total the here, list to many too Far total. impressive

J. J. Parry who has gone to be the diver's represent- diver's the be to gone has who Parry J. J.

recovered and disposed of has reached a truly truly a reached has of disposed and recovered

Part football League. We have lost our boss Lt.-Cdr. Lt.-Cdr. boss our lost have We League. football Part

Over the years the amount of unexploded ordnance ordnance unexploded of amount the years the Over

after playing 12 matches finished 3rd in the inter- the in 3rd finished matches 12 playing after

Angelo under the command of Lt. D. A. Bartlett. Bartlett. A. D. Lt. of command the under Angelo

(athletics) we have had a very successful season and and season successful very a had have we (athletics)

T

April 1969 the unit has operated from St. St. from operated has unit the 1969 April

Eastbourne Eastbourne

and and Torquay. Torquay. On the sporting side side sporting the On

Unit is now almost complete and from 1st 1st from and complete almost now is Unit

on visiting ships including including ships visiting on

Defender, Fearless, Fearless, Defender,

HE reduction of the Malta C.D.T. to an E.O.D. E.O.D. an to C.D.T. Malta the of reduction HE usual NATO Exercises and ships husbandry tasks tasks husbandry ships and Exercises NATO usual

Mediterranean Fleet C.D.T. C.D.T. Fleet Mediterranean

lifting bags! Time is still found to clear trawlers' trawlers' clear to found still is Time bags! lifting

C.P.O. Keating, Sh.D. Sh.D. Keating, C.P.O.

projects include underwater magnamometers and and magnamometers underwater include projects

M.(E.) Beattie, Sh.D.(T.) Sh.D.(T.) Beattie, M.(E.)

University, Belfast S.A.C. particularly whose autumn autumn whose particularly S.A.C. Belfast University,

P.O. Catherwood, Sh.D. Sh.D. Catherwood, P.O.

S.A.C's and will be keeping an an keeping be will and S.A.C's

eye eye on Queen's Queen's on C.P.O. (819) (819) C.P.O.

Sh.D. Sh.D.

The unit works closely with Ulster's thriving thriving Ulster's with closely works unit The Surg.-Lt.-Cdr. Swann, Sh.D. Sh.D. Swann, Surg.-Lt.-Cdr.

the static displays. displays. static the Lt.-Cdr. Olsen, Sh.D. Sh.D. Olsen, Lt.-Cdr.

staff who kindly sent across the items we lacked for for lacked we items the across sent kindly who staff Lt.-Cdr. Hickson, Sh.D. Sh.D. Hickson, Lt.-Cdr.

by no means least, Tim Trounson of F.O.S.N.'Is F.O.S.N.'Is of Trounson Tim least, means no by and well supported by: by: supported well and

as hostesses, the Base Technical Officer, and last, but but last, and Officer, Technical Base the hostesses, as R.E. M. Wright, Sh.D. Sh.D. Wright, M. R.E.

Londonderry S.A.C., our gorgeous Wrens for acting acting for Wrens gorgeous our S.A.C., Londonderry M.(E.) Lawton, Linesman. Linesman. Lawton, M.(E.)

ly relaid the gardens to look like a showpiece— a like look to gardens the relaid ly A.B. Townley, Linesman Linesman Townley, A.B.

dockyard signwriters, the gardeners—who complete- gardeners—who the signwriters, dockyard M.(E.) McDonald, Sh.D. Sh.D. McDonald, M.(E.)

background music—M.P.B.W., the illustrators, the the illustrators, the music—M.P.B.W., background L.A.M. Mitchell, Sh.D. Sh.D. Mitchell, L.A.M.

strip lighting, the public address system and dreamy dreamy and system address public the lighting, strip L.S. Edwards, Sh.D. Sh.D. Edwards, L.S.

N.A.A.F.I., the Electrical department—for the new new the department—for Electrical the N.A.A.F.I., O.A. Hutley, Sh.D. Sh.D. Hutley, O.A.

particularly like to thank the dockyard police, police, dockyard the thank to like particularly C.O.A. Payne, Sh.D. Sh.D. Payne, C.O.A.

came unstintingly from all quarters, but we would would we but quarters, all from unstintingly came P.O. Roberts, C.D.1. C.D.1. Roberts, P.O.

ed worthwhile after the crowds had gone home. Help Help home. gone had crowds the after worthwhile ed P.D.O.—Lt. Stratton, C.D.O. C.D.O. Stratton, P.D.O.—Lt.

displays, and completely renovating the section, seem- section, the renovating completely and displays,

At present the unit is manned by: by: manned is unit the present At

clubs. The long hours of work put in, preparing the the preparing in, put work of hours long The clubs.

was our 'Open Day' to Northern Ireland sub-aqua sub-aqua Ireland Northern to Day' 'Open our was around Ulster. Ulster. around

welcome and the opportunity of a dip somewhere somewhere dip a of opportunity the and welcome Swim Week'. The highlight for the unit, however, however, unit, the for highlight The Week'. Swim

Visitors to the unit can always be sure of a warm warm a of sure be always can unit the to Visitors civic weeks, fairs, open days and even a 'Learn to to 'Learn a even and days open fairs, weeks, civic

all over Ulster to participate in recruiting drives, drives, recruiting in participate to Ulster over all

will be the largest in Europe. Europe. in largest the be will

During the summer months, the unit was invited invited was unit the months, summer the During

of receiving tankers of up to one million tons and and tons million one to up of tankers receiving of

concrete piles of a derelict jetty. jetty. derelict a of piles concrete Belfast. The Dock when completed will be capable capable be will completed when Dock The Belfast.

Just recently, we also demolished and cleared the the cleared and demolished also we recently, Just George Wimpey on the site of the new dock at at dock new the of site the on Wimpey George

fence and only 20 yards from a row of cold frames! frames! cold of row a from yards 20 only and fence recently located seventeen pieces of sheet piling for for piling sheet of pieces seventeen located recently

removed, which was found to be tight up against a a against up tight be to found was which removed, chains and recover anchors for our pet dredger. We We dredger. pet our for anchors recover and chains

On another occasion, an anti-tank block had to be be to had block anti-tank an occasion, another On Londonderry graving dock operating and replace replace and operating dock graving Londonderry

few hours instead of the anticipated week or so. so. or week anticipated the of instead hours few

screws from nets, wires and ropes, keep the the keep ropes, and wires nets, from screws www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Book Review

"HISTORY UNDER THE SEA" insight by reading of Mr. McKees own diving ex- Price: 63 Shillings periences with the Southsea Branch of the B.S.A.C., Author: ALEXANDER MCKEE which convey a sense of personal participation in the Published by HUTCHINSON search for the Solent wrecks of the Boyne, Royal Goerge and Mary Rose, and again in Hayling Bay HE aim of this book as stated by the publisher in the chapters on submersion land surfaces. If the is 'to throw into evlauated perspective the whole inclusion of much writing, in the first person singular, Tcomplex disputed field of underwater arch- about the Solent, area appears to impart a slightly aeology and its contribution to history'. parochial flavour to a world-wide subject, this is With 332 pages, about 180,000 words, over 100 balanced by the offering of a great deal of original black and white photographs, maps and sketches material, serving to illustrate the diligent research one must allow that Mr. McKee comes close to doing which must preceed the quest for specific historic just this. Unfair to add, that no other author has had wrecks or ancient underwater sites in any part of the the audacity to try because, whatever its faults, the world. Anyway, this particular bias, logically rooted book fills a vital gap right at the sharp end of the in McKees research into the origins of marine bibliography of underwater archaeology by provid- archaeology and 'who really invented the the ing a key manual. "steamer" should enhance the books ' Transatlantic `History Under the Sea' is not a comprehensive appeal. work of reference of archaelogical events under- Not merely another history book; not an arch- water, but, because of its varied selection of examples aeological tome, tabulating types of amphora; not a ranging from prehistoric wrecks circa 1200 B.C. to text book on the anatomy of underwater excava- the Royal George 1782 and its geographic range from tions, nor a poetic saga of the dangers of the deep, the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, the Baltic and `History Under the Sea' is a readable, closely reas- the Solent, the book confers an adequate apprecia- oned, cool appraisal of the underwater history scene. tion of the state and development of the art. A professional archaeologist, even if a diver, would After reading it, no diver (primitive, sea-going be unlikely to have written such a book, for the peasant, commercial or naval) could remain innocent professional is very often a modest specialist in one of the power of the proper way to treat an historic period of history, often uninterested or even unaware wreck. Indeed, he could acquire a very shrewd idea of events outside his period, whilst the imaginative of what is historically valuable, and would certainly and forthright McKee unashamedly cuts great not confuse the casual raising of bits and pieces with swathes through the whole field. He gives us in one underwater archaeology proper, which is now every handy packet the cream of many more specialised bit as painstaking as land archaeology, and at its books and in most of his judgements of events and best, a major underwater engineering project. Un- attitudes is pretty well on target, in as far as my fortunately, as Mr. McKee puts it, 'because of the experience of other but parallel projects leads to expense, only the most important sites will be dealt similar conclusions. with in this manner, the others left untouched'. He Thank you, Mr. McKee, and despite your state- might have said 'ought to be left untouched' but he ment on page 252 that 'in any profession only the had already mentioned the difficulties of legal protec- top ten per cent. are really any good' your book tion and enforcement earlier in the book and delivers a deserves to be widely read. R.H.G. lusty verbal cuff on the ear to the M.O.D. on page 248. I felt that more might have been said on the legal situation and archaeological institutions in various countries. The book is valuable and absorbing reading for T.F.R. TIES the growing numbers of divers, who at work or recreation, will find by accident or design the bones LL people who were employed on the salvage of history beneath the sea and for whom the book of the Aer Lingus Viscount Aircraft off Tuskar contains several messages, including the gospel of ARock in 1968 are eligible to buy these special `Wedded Bliss' twixt diver and archaeologist. ties on application to Lt. Nicholson, H.M.S. Reclaim. Obviously 'History Under the Sea' is intended for There are only a few left and orders will be dealt with a wider market and the non-diver will gain additional in rotation. The cost is 15/6 each. 40

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Sub-Aqua Day, Horsea Island 1969 by Sub.-Lt. B. N. DUTTON, S.D., P.T., R.N.

UNDAY morning at 0700 was fine and clear, (the H.M.S. Vernon crest mounted on a very nice but over Portsdown Hill the rain clouds could be stand) to be competed for over two events. The Sseen to be gathering. There was no doubt at all, events selected were the 800 metres fin swim and a that rain would be with us before the end of the day. relay. The two events proved to be quite an attrac: However, there was no time for wondering, and still tion for the visitors. The 800 metres swim in wet a number of minor preparations to be completed. suits (one swimmer competed without this 'luxury' Sentries, car park attendants, and all the cinema &mai) fins, mask, snorkel, and weight belt, was equipment had to go to the Island. won by John Bevan of the Southsea Club B.S.A.C. in the time of 12 minutes, 40 seconds, a time that The rains came at about 0930, and the skies will set a standard for C.D's surface swimming for seemed to open up but there was still- some time some time to come. The relay was won by the to go before the first visitors were due so there was Aquatic Club and the overall winners of the com- still some hope. However, there was a very cold petition were the Southsea B.S.A.C. The competition north wind, that was to remain throughout the day, provided such interest, that I feel that it will become sometimes gusting up to gale force when squalls a bigger attraction in the future when all the clubs passed close by. get the message. Visitors started coming soon after eleven and immediately made themselves at home. A refresh- One question that always seems to be on the lips ment tent had been set up in a field overlooking the of R.N. Divers, 'Is it worth it?' This you may be lake with the idea that visitors who had travelled able to answer by asking yourself two questions. long distances could relax, but the cold really made `Are the visitors enjoying their opportunity to meet this impossible. Soon the visitors were watching the Navy?', and 'Are the Navy putting over their the preparations and enjoying them as much as the message to both commercial and divers of the Misplays that were to follow. The D.U.K.W. Crew, dangers involved'. If you can say 'yes' to both of their own initiative, started entertaining the questions then there can only be one conclusion, it is younger element early, and soon the lake echoed to worth the effort. To all the people both service and the whistles, which were on the life jackets, and the civilian who made this day possible, and my task calls of the children. easier, thank you! Frantic last minute preparations by the Standard Dressers completed and the Island was open to visitors. Most of the visitors seemed to head for the standard diving area, which provided some amuse- ment. One diver was seen to bob to the surface like Bomb Disposal Officers a balloon, which is the image almost everyone has of a standard diver. Reunion Dinner Displays provided by the Special Boat Section, Royal Marines, of canoeing, canoe rolling, and dinner for serving and retired officers of all attack procedures were very well presented. The three services who are qualified in Bomb commentary on these items was concise and very A Disposal is tentatively planned for the 12th clearly understood by the visitors, enabling them to September 1969. It will be held in the Royal enjoy the items presented to them. Engineers Mess, Brompton Barracks, Chatham. The C.D's qualifying provided the fast dressing Total number 120. Mess Undress or Dinner display with a fast time of 1 minute 34 seconds. Jacket. Cost about 35/-. Some overnight accom- Other items of interest were the J.S.B.D.S. display, modation may be available. welding, S.A.B.A. swims, and the cinema which Any C.D. or M.C.D. officer who would like to provided a very good 'smog locker' as well as films attend please contact Lt.-Cdr. H. Parker, R.N., of great interest to the public. Ministry of Defence (Navy), Room 122D, Ensleigh, A new inovation and the final items of the day Bath, Somerset, who will advise officers interested was a competition between the clubs for a trophy when the date, and other details are confirmed. 41

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Hobbs Savill & Bradford (South West) Ltd.

CONSULTANTS FOR LIFE ASSURANCE

MORTGAGES AND ESTATE DUTY PLANNING

2 St. Andrew's Cross, Plymouth

Telephone: Plymouth 67263 4

and

Coronation House, Kings Terrace Southsea

Telephone: Portsmouth 25448 9

FREE ADVICE ON ALL DIVING INSURANCES

PRIVATE INTERVIEW AT PLYMOUTH, PORTSMOUTH,

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43 43

picked up two bottles of a rather posh Claret and a a and Claret posh rather a of bottles two up picked tive, success in the days to follow. follow. to days the in success tive,

time-scale, but we did have a look at the job and and job the at look a have did we but time-scale, postage by wishing all friends, old, new and prospec- and new old, friends, all wishing by postage

we didn't actually get the gun mountings up in that that in up mountings gun the get actually didn't we me from so many 'out of touch' friends. Also save save Also friends. touch' of 'out many so from me

hour or two that would be fine with them. Well, Well, them. with fine be would that two or hour you for the 'stray' greetings cards that have reached reached have that cards greetings 'stray' the for you

Ricasoli Breakwater. If we could fix it in the next next the in it fix could we If Breakwater. Ricasoli May I please impose and take space to say thank thank say to space take and impose please I May

during the night) so that they could mount same on on same mount could they that so night) the during

a drink on him! him! on drink a

salvage three 4.7 inch twins from the the from twins inch 4.7 three salvage Maori Maori (sunk (sunk

where in N.E.2 instead of N.W.2 I suggest you have have you suggest I N.W.2 of instead N.E.2 in where

Army rang me up one morning to say would I kindly kindly I would say to morning one up me rang Army

the unfortunates that found themselves stuck some- stuck themselves found that unfortunates the

recovering from a punch-up with a minefield, the the minefield, a with punch-up a from recovering

East instead of West. (I owe him a drink). As for for As drink). a him owe (I West. of instead East

On another occasion in Malta, when we were were we when Malta, in occasion another On

pain and unannounced visits in his error of going going of error his in visits unannounced and pain

sore eyes and parched throats. throats. parched and eyes sore navigator has probably saved me a great deal of of deal great a me saved probably has navigator

man down, Speakie Loe, the G.I., saw a sight for for sight a saw G.I., the Loe, Speakie down, man issue may I take the liberty in pointing out that the the that out pointing in liberty the take I may issue

Aurora's Aurora's team was on the job in a flash and our first first our and flash a in job the on was team With reference to your amendment in the last last the in amendment your to reference With

wardroom wine store to fall out. Needless to state, state, to Needless out. fall to store wine wardroom Dear Sir, Sir, Dear

Sound (Scapa) which caused the bottom of the the of bottom the caused which (Scapa) Sound

NOTICE TO MARINERS MARINERS TO NOTICE

sustained a near miss when anchored in Gutter Gutter in anchored when miss near a sustained

BOOZE. For instance, one of our wobbly friends friends wobbly our of one instance, For BOOZE.

As I recall, the chief object of our dips was was dips our of object chief the recall, I As

ALEXANDER McKEE. McKEE. ALEXANDER

meant 'I want to come up, pull me up'. up'. me pull up, come to want 'I meant

Yours sincerely, sincerely, Yours

tweaks on the rope, which in my case generally generally case my in which rope, the on tweaks

for—the readers of the 'Parkhurst Gazette?' Gazette?' 'Parkhurst the of readers for—the brass titfers, Bootneck type boots made of lead and and lead of made boots type Bootneck titfers, brass

creels or traps'. Who does he think I was writing writing was I think he does Who traps'. or creels around all over the place. Those were the days of of days the were Those place. the over all around

have advised divers not to 'rob other people's pots, pots, people's other 'rob to not divers advised have on the team then, but I know that I was plunging plunging was I that know I but then, team the on

Particularly the last, for here he suggests I ought to to ought I suggests he here for last, the Particularly his diving activities at that time. Perhaps he wasn't wasn't he Perhaps time. that at activities diving his

standing almost from the first paragraph to the last. last. the to paragraph first the from almost standing My Chalky colleague has not said anything about about anything said not has colleague Chalky My

I must complain at what looks like wilful misunder- wilful like looks what at complain must I

Leading Seaman White and Lieutenant Le Fanu. Fanu. Le Lieutenant and White Seaman Leading

he is just getting his own back, and good luck to him !) !) him to luck good and back, own his getting just is he

curious public that World War II was won by by won was II War World that public curious

either a psychologist or a sociologist (in which case, case, which (in sociologist a or psychologist a either

point and I am happy to be able to inform your your inform to able be to happy am I and point

Unless your reviewer of 'Farming the Sea' is is Sea' the 'Farming of reviewer your Unless

Fortunately Fortunately my my memory is quite clear on this this on clear quite is memory

Dear Sir, Sir, Dear

I wonder? wonder? I

The Editor, Editor, The World War II, but how many know who won it, it, won who know many how but II, War World

more aged readers may actually have heard of of heard have actually may readers aged more

This is of course a long time ago; a few of your your of few a ago; time long a course of is This

General Manager, R.N. R.N. Manager, General

between air attacks." attacks." air between M. LE FANU, FANU, LE M.

Petty Officer on the bridge of of bridge the on Officer Petty Aurora Aurora off Narvik Narvik off Yours respectfully, respectfully, Yours

Boys' Divisional Officer. He passed me out for for out me passed He Officer. Divisional Boys'

And here's 10/- for your next five issues. issues. five next your for 10/- here's And

Boys' Instructor for Lieutenant Le Fanu the the Fanu Le Lieutenant for Instructor Boys'

are really desperate, you can print this. this. print can you desperate, really are Seaman—Captain of S.2 twin four inch and and inch four twin S.2 of Seaman—Captain

You say you are short of contributions. If you you If contributions. of short are you say You

in 1939-41. I was a Leading Leading a was I 1939-41. in Aurora Aurora Lord in in Lord

"For the record I served with the First Sea Sea First the with served I record the "For When we step on the bus. bus. the on step we When

And may there there may And no moaning at the bar bar the at moaning no be be Commander White also said in his letter:— letter:— his in said also White Commander

And one clear call for us. us. for call clear one And

of their exploits. exploits. their of

Sunset and even star, star, even and Sunset

Officer Clark were doing. Roll on the next report report next the on Roll doing. were Clark Officer

more or less— less— or more

other sources how well Lieutenant Lafferty and Petty Petty and Lafferty Lieutenant well how sources other

near that lovely Terminal Grant. As Tennyson said said Tennyson As Grant. Terminal lovely that near

Indeed I am very interested, and I had heard from from heard had I and interested, very am I Indeed

are coming to the end of our eighth five and getting getting and five eighth our of end the to coming are

of the R.N. participation in SEALAB III. III. SEALAB in participation R.N. the of World War III for you lot. But not for long as we we as long for not But lot. you for III War World

expectation that I might be interested in the account account the in interested be might I that expectation and I stand ready, if detailed off to volunteer, to win win to volunteer, to off detailed if ready, stand I and

Assistant a copy of the Summer Magazine, in the the in Magazine, Summer the of copy a Assistant finally, and in that connection Commander White White Commander connection that in and finally,

Superintendent of Diving kindly sent my Naval Naval my sent kindly Diving of Superintendent And so finally, victory was assured. Well, fairly fairly Well, assured. was victory finally, so And

Sir, Sir, case of Blue Label. Label. Blue of case

Letters to the Editor Editor the to Letters www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

If by chance there is one that knows one, I am same time—Corkhead or Steamer—if you have a seriously interested in purchasing a volume of`Jane' s `Coffee Pot' on your arm you are welcome at, 'The Fighting Ships', 1937-38 or preferably 1938-39. Ox and Gate'. I 'will not attempt to mention individuals at this TAFF PACKER. stage of the game, it would be impossible. At the

All Quiet on the Western Front HE Western Fleet Clearance Diving team come forward to give their services but this has been returned from Christmas leave on 6th January, cured in the traditional Service manner by starting Tto what was to be an extensive period of sea- with the most junior and working up the list. Many bed searching lasting the best part of two months. members are now much slimmer than they were. The period started with the normal 250 feet con- With the reductions in the Mediterranean, the tinuation diving training in Scotland which also long forecast for the W.F.C.D.T. appears rosy and included the age old problem of getting rid of includes exercises in Greece and Turkey as well as an Christmas leave headaches and cobwebs. On the M.C.M. exercise near Den Helder. It goes without 13th January, however, the team was required to go saying that between then and now anything can to Cardigan Bay together with H.M.S. Iveston where happen. sea bed searching 'exercises' would take place. It was dining this time that the problem of coping with Dave Lardner left the team and the Navy on the strong tidal conditions, no visibility and the very 13th May in the true traditions of the C.D. branch, jumbled bottom posed itself yet again. The normal frantically giving '4 and 2' to get back on his feet. techniques of sea bed searching were all tried at One final note, the Officer in Charge's relief has varying times and for one reason or the other failed arrived and the run down period/work-up- period has to produce the right answer and it was in the last started. fortnight that a search technique using 300 feet of light jack stay and two unmarked swimmers was evolved. I do not think anyone on the completion of these 'exercises' was sorry to see the end of Divers welcome' Cardigan Bay although one person in the team at least will be returning on August 23rd to marry one of the local girls. Mrs. S. W. Ayre On completion of the Cardigan Bay frolic, the team went to Cawsand Bay for exercise Razor Sharp invites you to stay at where the hospitality shown by the Portuguese ships was literally overwhelming. A further period was spent in Scotland working-up 'ate Oeepsf new members of the team to 250 feet and yet again R.A.E., Farnborough asked for our services to carry 30 WHITWELL ROAD out ejector seat trials at Glenfruin. All this of course was interspersed with visits to Portland for the usual SOUTHSEA • HANTS exercises with Flag Officer Sea Training. May found the team in Falmouth once again working for Farnborough where an extremely cordial liaison was made between the R.A.F. Marine Bed and Breakfast Evening Meal Craft Unit and ourselves. Currently, the team is employed upon evaluation Open all year Close to sea-front of the one-man R.C.C./T.U.P. which entails 'willing volunteers' being loaded in the one-man pot, driving Boats for diving parties arranged around the country with the chamber at varying depths and then being transferred under pressure to Telephone: PORTSMOUTH 33142 the main chamber. There has understandably been a slight reluctance among the willing volunteers to

Printed by Coasby Plus Ltd, Festing Buildings, HighlandiRoad,'Southsea, Hants, England

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Underwater Science and Technology

The increasing importance of applied underwater research throughout the world has led to a growing requirement for a comprehensive source of reference to all published information on the subject.

Iliffe's new monthly Underwater Science and Technology Information Bulletin meets this need by providing indexed references to all recently-published articles having any techno- logical significance. It also includes patents abstracts and the latest information on new equipment, new books and important conferences, meetings and exhibitions.

The Information Bulletin—launched in March—is complemented by a quarterly Underwater Science and Technology Journal. This provides an international forum for the exchange of original ideas on applied research, development and practice in the underwater environment.

For further details of these two new publications, or for sample copies, write to The Editor, Underwater Science and Technology, life House, 32 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, England.

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