IN DEPTH www.mcdoa.org.uk AND IN BREADTH ROYAL The finest underwater equipment in Britain today is made by Siebe Gorman NAVAL DIVING

a. , Ait• - — '14 • magazine

Siebe Gorman supply everything for the diving enthusiast from basic equipment to the most sophisticated demand valves. Wet and dry suits, underwater communication equipment, compressors and underwater lighting arc all included in the range. Siebe Gorman is the leading; !tante in diving. In the early 19th cent tiry, It was Augustus Siebe who produced the in..' ever practical diving suit. Today, thr Army, the Navy, the Marines and I he Police all use Siebe Gorman equipment., The professional standards of Siebe Gorman diving equipment are within reach of every enthusiast. Enquiries to sole distributors and service agents, Collins & Chambers Ltd. 197 Mare Street, London, E.8 Telephone : Amherst 9970

Siebe Gorman Er Company Limited, Davis Road, Chessington, Surrey. LOWer Hook 6171 Blackfriars Bridge Bomb (see page 33) www.mcdoa.org.uk Printed by Coasby & Co. Ltd., St. James' Road, Southsea. Hants Vol. 13 No. 1

STEEL STEEL

THICK THICK

for all your welding welding your all for

1945 has made possible possible made has 1945

and cutting equipment equipment cutting and

of of

Will be pleased to quote quote to pleased be Will

the— the—

`SEAFIRE `SEAFIRE

plate plate

cutters cutters

VIXEN VIXEN

steel steel

KIRKHAM KIRKHAM

the the

many many

hydrogen when when hydrogen

When using our No 4 nozzle To Cut Cut To nozzle 4 No our using When

than than

less less

steel steel

2" 2"

thick thick

uses even even uses

LANCING LANCING

P. KIRKHAM & SON SON & KIRKHAM P.

4 RING ROAD ROAD RING 4

ECONOMICAL CUTTING AT A LOWER LOWER A AT CUTTING ECONOMICAL

ADVANCED CUTTER AVAILABLE AVAILABLE CUTTER ADVANCED PRICE AND A NEW NAME FOR THE MOST MOST THE FOR NAME NEW A AND PRICE

MAINTENANCE MORE EFFICIENT AND AND EFFICIENT MORE MAINTENANCE

PARTS THAN P. KIRKHAM'S PREVIOUS PREVIOUS KIRKHAM'S P. THAN PARTS

DESIGN WHICH HAS RESULTED IN EASIER EASIER IN RESULTED HAS WHICH DESIGN

AN IMPROVED CUTTER USING 14 FEWER FEWER 14 USING CUTTER IMPROVED AN

P. Kirkham's Patented and Designed Designed and Patented Kirkham's P.

Cutter Cutter

VIXEN Oxy-Hydro Under Water Water Under Oxy-Hydro VIXEN

consume when cutting cutting when consume

cutting cutting

only only

Every minute of the day day the of minute Every SET OXYGEN & HYDROGEN to 301bs. 301bs. to HYDROGEN & OXYGEN SET

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

now now

111,8 111,8

watch. watch.

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YOU WOULD BE PROUD TO TO PROUD BE WOULD YOU 1 1 No. 1

THOMPSON

E.

NEAVE

P.O. R.

.. SILT. J.

,

Spring 1966

EDITORIAL STAFF

Vernon is

EDITOR'S NOTES

Editor

Treasurer

R.N. Diving Magazine

PART from having survived the move to our new quarters

in Creasy (W) building, a

In keeping with the Navy's The centre pages of this volume have been devoted to the programme

Following a questionaire being

Vol. 13

of events and a line drawing of the lake.

holding an Open Day at Horsea poor unfortunates were dragged Island on Sunday 22nd May. Sub/Smash exercise when several terest in diving and diving safety, policy to encourage civilian in- the Diving Section of

Horsea Island Open Day • go to sea with the duty Tug and fairly quiet Spring Term. duty Destroyer. This has been a made known later. Divers Dinner A World it has been decided to bring screaming from their R.A. beds to the date of the Dinner forward to October. The exact date will be circulated around the Diving

6

7

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

17

34

31 36 40 37 23 33 13 29 31

41 25 41 19 13 42 44

45 48 49 15

•

6

1965 ..

..

Contents

NI

..

..

INCIDI

DIVIRS

1111

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1

1

SCI1001., OPEN DAY

,

AND ADVANCLNIENTS

1-1.M .S. 'DINGLEY'

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DiviNci

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DD WIIII

1

ROTHESAY' — DIVING IN THE WEST INDIES

I

'Ai uu)N'

`HECLA' DIVING NEWS

`PALLISER' REPORT

Aoi

FROM BOSSINGTON

AND ( 'INMAN') DIVERS DINNER

.1).'1'.,

.

Iii

M ti.

M .S. '

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF THE TORPEDO

I)'u'

A IWOTIC MANIFESTATIONS

III

I

R.N. DivIN(i

N

DIVING WITH THE GHANA NAVY .. Pliumomms NEws

H.M.S. WIIA1

Sc1)11

11.S.(

U.S. NAVY DEEP SUBMERGENCE PROGRAMME 11 SAIVADI

FOR THE VERY OLD DIVERS

MORE ABOUT SHARKS EDITOR'S NOTES A DIVING WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN TIN FISH LETTER TO THE EDITOR WORDS FROM `WHITBY' H.M.S. ADMIRALTY EXPERIMENTAL DIVING UNIT COMMERCIAL DEEP DIVING DIVERS AND THEIR BONES

THE NATIONAL UNDERWATER INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION

Vernon. Vernon.

recommissioned in the the in recommissioned

Whitby Whitby

Although we have not done any- done not have we Although

A.B. P. Houghton Houghton P. A.B.

Of these Messrs. Richards and and Richards Messrs. these Of

A.B. P. Shepherdson Shepherdson P. A.B.

Finally, we would all like to thank thank to like all would we Finally,

Next year much the same type of of type same the much year Next

Our last task this year was to pay pay to was year this task last Our

finishing refit, workup and leave, leave, and workup refit, finishing

spring of 1964 at Pompey and after after and Pompey at 1964 of spring

tralasia). In short we get around. around. get we short In tralasia).

Southern) and from four continents continents four from and Southern) (Europe, Asia, Africa and Aus- and Africa Asia, (Europe,

oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and and Indian Pacific, (Atlantic, oceans

ground. We have dived in four four in dived have We ground. wise and we have covered a lot of of lot a covered have we and wise

an interesting commission diving- commission interesting an

thing spectacular (yet!) it has been been has it (yet!) spectacular thing

outside. outside.

Shepherdson left us to go home to go go to home go to us left Shepherdson

efforts. efforts.

Our confidence and knowledge of of knowledge and confidence Our

diving are most certainly due to their their to due certainly most are diving the instructors of H.M.S. H.M.S. of instructors the

and with better visibility, so that the the that so visibility, better with and

scope of our work can be increased. increased. be can work our of scope

hoping that we can obtain more more obtain can we that hoping

experience perhaps diving deeper deeper diving perhaps experience

work will be carried out. We are all all are We out. carried be will work

later. later.

attack. The result will be known known be will result The attack.

and nail in place a piece of plastic, plastic, of piece a place in nail and see whether it is resistant to barnacle barnacle to resistant is it whether see

another visit to the end of our groyne groyne our of end the to visit another said to be proof against fouling, to to fouling, against proof be to said

be approached successfully using this this using successfully approached be

prove valuable when observations observations when valuable prove

and captures are required. required. are captures and

technique, a fact which will no doubt doubt no will which fact a technique,

escape. This proved that seals can can seals that proved This escape. yards of them before they made their their made they before them of yards

managed to approach to within 25 25 within to approach to managed

to them, and in this manner we we manner this in and them, to

5 5

is on her way way her on is

Words from Whitby Whitby from Words

Whitby Whitby

home again from a Far East East Far a from again home

OW that that OW

commission, and almost safely safely almost and commission,

A.B. I. K. Major Major K. I. A.B.

A.B. M. J. Nicklin Nicklin J. M. A.B.

L.R.E.M. P. Worley Worley P. L.R.E.M.

L.Sea B. Richards Richards B. L.Sea A.B. E. J. Hills Hills J. E. A.B.

A.B. G. F. Mallott Mallott F. G. A.B.

Lt. I. P. Whatley Whatley P. I. Lt.

Sub.-Lt. J. E. S. Thake Thake S. E. J. Sub.-Lt.

Lt. H. H. F. F. Thurstan Thurstan F. F. H. H. Lt.

Another expedition took place in in place took expedition Another

has generally been 11 strong, who who strong, 11 been generally has were: were:

N Led by our Captain, Commander Commander Captain, our by Led

J. G. Wemyss, R.N. our diving team team diving our R.N. Wemyss, G. J.

through the Canal, a few words words few a Canal, the through from the divers may be of interest. interest. of be may divers the from

of the sandbank we tried to crawl up up crawl to tried we sandbank the of

the majority of the seals were on top top on were seals the of majority the

very curious as to what we were. As As were. we what to as curious very

them in the water, the seals being being seals the water, the in them

to approach to within 15 yards of of yards 15 within to approach to

them as best we could, and managed managed and could, we best as them

towards the seals, trying to imitate imitate to trying seals, the towards

and just use snorkels. We then swam swam then We snorkels. use just and

to leave our S.C.U.B.A. sets behind behind sets S.C.U.B.A. our leave to

about one mile away. We decided decided We away. mile one about

which were basking and swimming swimming and basking were which

many sandbanks in the area. Our Our area. the in sandbanks many

target was in fact a herd of seals seals of herd a fact in was target

on seals. We donned our wet suits suits wet our donned We seals. on and travelled by boat to one of the the of one to boat by travelled and

Vaughan, the Laboratory's authority authority Laboratory's the Vaughan,

went to King's Lynn with Bill Bill with Lynn King's to went

September when two of the team team the of two when September

trouble. trouble.

recheck the whole of the pump pump the of whole the recheck

system to find the cause of the the of cause the find to system

water. The engineers then had to to had then engineers The water.

be encrusted with barnacles but still still but barnacles with encrusted be

oratory. The intakes were found to to found were intakes The oratory.

free enough to allow the intake of of intake the allow to enough free get any seawater up to the Lab- the to up seawater any get

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

seawater seawater

Consequently a a Consequently

holes in the the in holes

necessary because, try as as try because, necessary

the Laboratory were free. free. were Laboratory the

Our next dive was a return to the the to return a was dive next Our

Filming entailed work with a a with work entailed Filming

just above the seabed. When the the When seabed. the above just

This was was This

intake to to intake

result was found, in that the larger larger the that in found, was result

but after various defects had been been had defects various after but

whether the the whether

the engineers might, they could not not could they might, engineers the

groyne near the Laboratory, to see see to Laboratory, the near groyne

the door closes again. At first this this first At again. closes door the

from the trawl mouth. An interesting interesting An mouth. trawl the from

discovered and corrected it worked worked it corrected and discovered

smaller ones. ones. smaller

fish escaped more readily than the the than readily more escaped fish

see what fish, if any, were escaping escaping were any, if fish, what see filming of a small trawl in action, to to action, in trawl small a of filming

opened, and when it leaves the seabed seabed the leaves it when and opened,

operation was not always successful, successful, always not was operation satisfactorily. We also did some some did also We satisfactorily. metal-framed nylon-meshed net net nylon-meshed metal-framed

which runs along the seabed on on seabed the along runs which bottom phinkton sampler; this is a a is this sampler; phinkton bottom

door on the net is automatically automatically is net the on door

sampler is lowered onto the seabed a a seabed the onto lowered is sampler

sampling the floating animals living living animals floating the sampling

skids. It is towed behind the ship, ship, the behind towed is It skids.

than was the action of the grab. grab. the of action the was than

boat. This method was found to be be to found was method This boat.

less dependent on the type of bottom bottom of type the on dependent less

place at the bottom and water with with water and bottom the at place

seabed contents is drawn up into the the into up drawn is contents seabed

suction effect from the tube takes takes tube the from effect suction

siderable force. force. siderable

it travels up the tube with con- con- with tube the up travels it

pressed air cyclinder controlled by by controlled cyclinder air pressed

the diver. When the air is turned on on turned is air the When diver. the

another tube leading from a com- a from leading tube another

boat to the seabed, which is joined joined is which seabed, the to boat

(at about two feet off the bottom) by by bottom) the off feet two about (at

...amismkseit ...amismkseit

by a special suction apparatus con- apparatus suction special a by consists of a tube, running from the the from running tube, a of consists

structed by the team. This apparatus apparatus This team. the by structed

4 4

by by

(111 (111

s to to s

a

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1

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11

Fisheries Laboratory—Lowestoft Laboratory—Lowestoft Fisheries

.

111 111

111

Lowestoft is situated situated is Lowestoft

111e sensed, The ling ling The sensed, 111e

groyne near the Lab- Lab- the near groyne

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Penetration into deeper deeper into Penetration

I his enables the sea tem- tem- sea the enables his I

1

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III III

Vernon. Vernon.

1 1

1 1

1

1

Diving Work accomplished in 1965 1965 in accomplished Work Diving

B. HOLFORD, W. BLACKNELL, M. VINCE AND B. TH A I N N I A TH B. AND VINCE M. BLACKNELL, W. HOLFORD, B.

a a

Our next expedition was to Ang- to was expedition next Our In I%4, before the team was was team the before I%4, In

Fisheries & Food's Fisheries Fisheries Food's & Fisheries

the Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture, of Ministry the

N March, 1965, the diving team of of team diving the 1965, March, N

was then decided to compare a a compare to decided then was

normal grab sample with that taken taken that with sample grab normal were hammered into the seabed. It It seabed. the into hammered were

taken, both by grab and by core core by and grab by both taken,

First of all a general bottom fauna fauna bottom general a all of First

perature to he observed from within within from observed he to perature to us. Seabed samples were then then were samples Seabed us. to

of water, using our aquaplane which which aquaplane our using water, of the Laboratory at any time. time. any at Laboratory the visibility, a condition not unfamiliar unfamiliar not condition a visibility,

is towed behind the research vessel vessel research the behind towed is

water was hindered by the poor poor the by hindered was water samplers, i.e. perspex tubes which which tubes perspex i.e. samplers,

survey was made in about twenty feet feet twenty about in made was survey

ling programme in Red Wharf Bay. Bay. Wharf Red in programme ling

lesey in Wales, to carry out a samp- a out carry to Wales, in lesey

tusk to to tusk

hinting the ai lutit lutit ai the hinting

ortooly. ortooly. 111.'1

Tellina. Tellina.

1111111' 1111111'

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formed, Bruce Milford had already already had Milford Bruce formed, HMI 11'11W1' HMI

done some diving for the Laboratory, Laboratory, the for diving some done

most of our diving had to be carried carried be to had diving our of most

out elsewhere. elsewhere. out

visibility rarely exceeding two feet, so so feet, two exceeding rarely visibility

on the east coast of East Anglia Anglia East of coast east the on conditions are far from ideal, the the ideal, from far are conditions

where unfortunately diving con- diving unfortunately where

H.M.S. H.M.S.

Blacknell, Martin Vince and Bernard Bernard and Vince Martin Blacknell,

Thain, all having been trained at at trained been having all Thain,

operational. The members of the the of members The operational.

team are Bruce Holford, Warren Warren Holford, Bruce are team

Laboratory at Lowestoft became became Lowestoft at Laboratory I The use of such a chamber has

One would like to say that divers

combined dive without decompress- ing between each dive. under direct supervision, and if necessary the diver can carry out a

the diving operation; the diver can also decompress in comfort and

conventional methods; it speeds up

to continue when adverse surface

operating depth of the chamber to permit the attendant to pass into the conditions would restrict diving by many advantages :—it allows diving,

emergency the upper compartment

occupied by the diver(s). In an can be pressurised to the maximum attendant will breathe an oxy-helium mixture. lower chamber is open via a hatch to lower chamber. Both diver and

odically but I think it is true to say that ever been reported in a diver serving dry, as for a normal S.D.C. This is because of divers like him that the Royal Navy.

Navy remains vigilant and bone the sea and is pressurised to keep it divers will continue to be taken peri-

no case of aseptic necrosis of bone has were normal. X-rays of clearance in the United States Navy or in the

X-rays have been taken, all of which over 60 years old and who had been getting bends about once a week for

fact one patient was a diver who was 40 years, usually on a Monday! It is hat' divers who would appear not to have followed current decompression

rarities are some commercial 'hard- schedules in the Diving Manual. In

are a few awkward exceptions. These

himself to this degree. do not get bone damage, but there

Clearance Diver just does not hazard

7

continues

Commercial Deep Diving

that will provide divers and

WO British firms have recently

got together to form a company

pheric pressure and accommodates

relatively rapid decompressions

the attendant or an observer. The

hundreds of such exposures. In general therefore one can say that a

commercial workers each have many as is thought, bone necrosis is due to watertight door. The upper chamber partment chamber separated by a is normally maintained at atmos- the firm intend to construct for the one such shift every day for months on end. So it can be seen that if, following very long dives, then these on the diving vessel. There is nothing practised by Naval divers for many new in this technique. It has been purpose, is new. It is a two com-

9 minutes per p.s.i. These workers do years but the design of the chamber

diver being taken down and operat- used by the divers is an extension of ferring to a decompression chamber equipment for operations down to the 'transfer under pressure,' the subsequently surfacing under pres- sure within the chamber and trans- depths of 600 feet. The system to be

there they 'bleed off' at rates of up to T ing from a submersible chamber

half the absolute pressure and from

decompressions are, by Naval shifts of up to 8 hours and the But what are the differences between standards, rapid. Their first stop is work in compressed air is done in happen to divers if one uses the diving and tunnelling ? Commercial

yardstick of compressed air workers.

better even if the patient It is now thought that these less of effect is the worst that could to work in compressed air! This sort

serious forms of bone disease get www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Since then however we have had a

After a memorable Christmas in

With best wishes from all of us to

There is no doubt that there is a

1965 was spent in the Singapore

Rushcutter's Bay at Sydney and

Straits or Naval base. I lore one had the usual day and night routine Hobart and Bunbury W.A. The and Indonesian problems do not

diving training to do, but mud, tide definitely one of the highlights of the commission. Some of us dived with beer was great and the visit was first class visit to Australia,—Sydney, Australians were most hospitable, the R.A.N. Mobile Clearance Diving

make Singapore a 'fun-diving' centre. the R.A.N. Diving School from tried out the R.A.N. S.S.B.A., their

equivalent of S.D.D.E.—very light

Team before, earlier in the year.

and simple and with much to recom- mend it. We had also met the

Western Australia, we are now heading home via the Suez Canal published (I sincerely hope.) Right and will be back by the time this is now, leave is first in everyone's minds

back, even in mid-winter.

all our readers.

and next drafts after that. It has been a good run but we shall be glad to be pressed air and bone disease. For

short review is to put it into per- spective. have some changes in their bone definite link between work in com- of four men needed a surgical op- instance, of some 500 workers em- ployed in building a tunnel at Glas-

gow almost one fifth were shown to

eration. The important finding was X-rays, but of these only some three

that most of t hese signs of apparent

damage were just 'curly warnings.'

6

Divers and their Bones

number of divers have been

expressing their anxiety recently

about the condition known to

During this time we had two

Apart from Borneo patrol, a week

basa for Christmas and New Year. 1964. We got sidetracked to Mom-

months away in Tawau (Borneo) on off days anchored off Tawau, a to be a bad shark harbour. Away then to Singapore where the ship or underwater damage from hitting patrol. This is busy diving country minesweeper or patrol boat would

An interesting spot, but not for too sailed for the Far East in November trouble here, although it is reputed spent most of January—November long. Incidentally, we had no shark ular spots to visit. These are tropical for a frigate. On most of our stand- Sibuan (Battleship) Island were pop- one of the many floating tree-islands 1965 on patrol and exercises. arrive with a foul screw to be cleared

in the area. When the ship only had

islands just off the Borneo coast with excellent beaches for swimming and a few hours stand-off, Sipidan or coral reefs for diving. The visibility

in Hong Kong and a few days in Manila, all our time till November

is good, little tide, amazing coral free. colours and shoals of fish, and shark-

doctors as 'aseptic necrosis of bone.' A

those who work in compressed air, `unknown' than by the damage it They fear that they, like some of may become crippled in later life by this form of arthritis which attacks not fully understood, bone necrosis

ever, like so many things which are

the hips and other large joints. How-

actually does. The purpose of this is a bogey to divers more by being

Phoebe) Phoebe)

However, after a year in in year a after However,

M.E.1. Stout S.D. S.D. Stout M.E.1.

L.R.O.(T) Anderson S.D. S.D. Anderson L.R.O.(T)

E.R.A.1. Davies S.D. S.D. Davies E.R.A.1.

L.Std. West (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) West L.Std.

A.B. Didwell* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Didwell* A.B.

A.B. Davies* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Davies* A.B.

M.E. . Barnes (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Barnes . M.E.

A.B. Broady* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Broady* A.B.

Cook Logan* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Logan* Cook

M.E. . Phillips* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Phillips* . M.E. L.Sea Lewis* (Q) S.D. S.D. (Q) Lewis* L.Sea

L.Sea Crees S.D. S.D. Crees L.Sea

Lt. Gavin S.D.O. (lent from from (lent S.D.O. Gavin Lt.

Lt. Taylor S.D.O. S.D.O. Taylor Lt.

On completion of this article in in article this of completion On

Being on trickle draft, our major major our draft, trickle on Being

As far as equipment goes, we still still we goes, equipment as far As

are those that qualified on board:— board:— on qualified that those are

past year—those 'starred' having now now having 'starred' year—those past ing times been in the team during the the during team the in been times ing

left the ship. Those listed with a 'Q' 'Q' a with listed Those ship. the left

January, the following have at vary- at have following the January,

programme must be working at last. last. at working be must programme

from the ship, so the fleet diving diving fleet the so ship, the from

our first Ships Divers not trained trained not Divers Ships first our

commission we have now received received now have we commission

time. time.

the number of divers on board at the the at board on divers of number the

had invariably to be adapted to suit suit to adapted be to invariably had

headache has been in training enough enough training in been has headache

divers for a team, and exercises have have exercises and team, a for divers

in the water alongside the gemini. gemini. the alongside water the in

proved invaluable, as it will easily easily will it as invaluable, proved which necessitates slipping the sets sets the slipping necessitates which take our four sets and 5 or 6 men, men, 6 or 5 and sets four our take

though is our Gemini which has has which Gemini our is though

use when fishing! Our best asset asset best Our fishing! when use D.U.C.S. which is a great help when when help great a is which D.U.C.S.

doing husbandry jobs, but not much much not but jobs, husbandry doing

at last succeeded in acquiring acquiring in succeeded last at

are awaiting our S.D.D.E. but have have but S.D.D.E. our awaiting are

under-water. under-water. erend Talbot, to start converting converting start to Talbot, erend

commissioned commissioned

H.M.S. Palliser Report Report Palliser H.M.S.

Palliser Palliser

a few weeks earlier, earlier, weeks few a

plement of divers was one one was divers of plement

in January last year, her com- her year, last January in

HEN HEN

Our other activities have ranged ranged have activities other Our

On another notable day we were were we day notable another On

convince an R.N.R. vicar, the Rev- Rev- the vicar, R.N.R. an convince

from the usual exercises to trying to to trying to exercises usual the from

the pipe intact. intact. pipe the

he took some very gentle persuasion persuasion gentle very some took he

before he let go, fortunately leaving leaving fortunately go, let he before

the outboard and the fuel tank and and tank fuel the and outboard the

to grab hold of the fuel line between between line fuel the of hold grab to

One of the monsters even managed managed even monsters the of One

topping our Gemini up completely. completely. up Gemini our topping

Western Isles when we recovered 30 30 recovered we when Isles Western

crabs in almost as many minutes, minutes, many as almost in crabs

in a secluded anchorage in the the in anchorage secluded a in

were found under two feet of mud. mud. of feet two under found were

weeks turned into 3 years, and they they and years, 3 into turned weeks

them six months previously. How- previously. months six them ever, as the dive dragged on, the six six the on, dragged dive the as ever, Russian Water Carrier, who were were who Carrier, Water Russian

fisherman, who claimed he'd lost lost he'd claimed who fisherman, the moorings belonging to a local local a to belonging moorings the

then, for a suitable reward, recovered recovered reward, suitable a for then,

convinced we were somewhat somewhat were we convinced

amateurish 'Buster Crabbes,' and and Crabbes,' 'Buster amateurish

Harbour Master, under the eyes of a a of eyes the under Master, Harbour

overboard in 25 feet from H.M.S. H.M.S. from feet 25 in overboard

surveyed the harbour bottom for the the for bottom harbour the surveyed

recovered a silver salver dropped dropped salver silver a recovered

Penelope Penelope Lerwick where, in one forenoon, we we forenoon, one in where, Lerwick

Our greatest field days were at at were days field greatest Our

Arctic Circle to relieve monotony. monotony. relieve to Circle Arctic

in September with dives inside the the inside dives with September in around the Western Isles of Scotland Scotland of Isles Western the around

in January to beautifully clear water water clear beautifully to January in

changing from black Port Edgar mud mud Edgar Port black from changing

activites have been very varied and and varied very been have activites

so have the water conditions, conditions, water the have so

one of them, Leading Seaman Lewis, Lewis, Seaman Leading them, of one

is now going through for C.D. Our Our C.D. for through going now is unteers were soon persuaded and and persuaded soon were unteers

W

low Water Diver. However, vol- However, Diver. Water low

Ship's Diving Officer and one Shal- one and Officer Diving Ship's

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

of our principals principals our of

FLYING ON DUTY DUTY ON FLYING

obtain our advice. Every enquiry enquiry Every advice. our obtain

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Finally, we are delighted to see see to delighted are we Finally,

If any of you have any suitable suitable any have you of any If

let us know how you are getting on. on. getting are you how know us let

through Vernon and, if you are too too are you if and, Vernon through

far away to visit us, write a letter and and letter a write us, visit to away far

any diver who happens to be passing passing be to happens who diver any

anything of interest please. please. interest of anything

and photographs you can—in fact, fact, can—in you photographs and

demonstration areas so get cracking cracking get so areas demonstration

and send us all the amphora, coral coral amphora, the all us send and

have three stories and plenty of of plenty and stories three have

lighted to receive them. We shall shall We them. receive to lighted

water atmosphere I should be de- be should I atmosphere water

new headquarters the essential under- essential the headquarters new

articles that could be used to give our our give to used be could that articles

imagine. imagine.

entertain must think of us I hate to to hate I us of think must entertain

head of all diving in the Royal Navy. Navy. Royal the in diving all of head

What some of the distinguished distinguished the of some What

foreign visitors whom we have to to have we whom visitors foreign

11 11

the A.E.D.U. should should A.E.D.U. the

; ;

taken place in the A.E.D.U. A.E.D.U. the in place taken

during the last few weeks. 1 have have 1 weeks. few last the during

ONSIDERABLE changes have have changes ONSIDERABLE

Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit Unit Diving Experimental Admiralty

Anyway, to get back to more more to back get to Anyway,

The editor has asked me to pro- to me asked has editor The

poorest sub-aqua club let alone the the alone let club sub-aqua poorest

building would be a disgrace to the the to disgrace a be would building

pectable centre within eighteen eighteen within centre pectable

months, As you all know the present present the know all you As months,

pleasant things, at last the new new the last at things, pleasant a bit of luck we shall have a res- a have shall we luck of bit a

A.E.D.U. building is in sight. With With sight. in is building A.E.D.U.

a very simple shopping exercise. exercise. shopping simple very a

involved in what would appear to be be to appear would what in involved

appreciated how many people were were people many how appreciated is pretty disgusting, but I can assure assure can I but disgusting, pretty is

fault of the A.E.D.U. I never really really never I A.E.D.U. the of fault you that the delay has not been the the been not has delay the that you

taken a long time and I agree that it it that agree I and time long a taken

production. I can at least tell you you tell least at can I production. the Wet Suits. I know that they have have they that know I Suits. Wet the

that we are now on the final lap of of lap final the on now are we that

to remain classified until they are in in are they until classified remain to not quite so easy; all our items have have items our all easy; so quite not

date on the various projects which we we which projects various the on date

are working on. This, I am afraid, is is afraid, am I This, on. working are

our terms of reference. reference. of terms our

duce a screed to bring you all up to to up all you bring to screed a duce

now be in a position to offer help on on help offer to position a in be now

to face. Indeed face. to

any aspect of diving, although of of although diving, of aspect any

course we must aim to operate within within operate to aim must we course

helm who knows from first hand hand first from knows who helm

experience the problems that we have have we that problems the experience

terests so well. It does mean, how- mean, does It well. so terests

ever, that we have a diver at the the at diver a have we that ever, tolerant and looking after our in- our after looking and tolerant

Indeed, we thank them for being so so being for them thank we Indeed,

mand. This is not meant in any way way any in meant not is This mand.

us so well over the last fifteen years. years. fifteen last the over well so us

Commanders who have looked after after looked have who Commanders

to cast reflections on the non-diving non-diving the on reflections cast to

of Diving. To many of the old hands hands old the of many To Diving. of

over the chair as The Superintendent Superintendent The as chair the over

qualified Clearance Officer in com- in Officer Clearance qualified

like myself it is indeed a thrill to see a a see to thrill a indeed is it myself like

Commander Phillip White has taken taken has White Phillip Commander relieved Morty Drummond and now now and Drummond Morty relieved C

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

Vernon. Vernon.

H.M.S. H.M.S.

10 10

P. WHrrE, Superintendent of Diving, Diving, of Superintendent WHrrE, P. CDR. CDR.

Facilities are first class onboard, onboard, class first are Facilities

Diving News News Diving

The aim of the third project is is project third the of aim The

with a large air conditioned diving diving conditioned air large a with

missioning. missioning.

pleted the aptitude test since com- since test aptitude the pleted

rating's that have successfully com- successfully have that rating's

ants being recruited from four junior junior four from recruited being ants

diver in the water at a time, attend- time, a at water the in diver

Officer) it is only possible to have ohe ohe have to possible only is it Officer)

depths. depths.

cater for larger ships from deeper deeper from ships larger for cater

is hoped that if the equipment is is equipment the if that hoped is successful it would be improved to to improved be would it successful

from a maximum depth of 600 feet. feet. 600 of depth maximum a from

where on the continental shelf that is is that shelf continental the on where

This is the immediate objective but it it but objective immediate the is This requirement to improve the existing existing the improve to requirement

of ships of up to 1,000 tons from any- from tons 1,000 to up of ships of

salvage equipment to enable recovery recovery enable to equipment salvage

graphic work. The last project is a a is project last The work. graphic

rescue operations the vehicle would would vehicle the operations rescue

be available for general oceano- general for available be

divers. When not employed on on employed not When divers.

bell which can be operated without without operated be can which bell

It would be a form of mobile diving diving mobile of form a be would It

transfer of the trapped personnel. personnel. trapped the of transfer

tressed submarine and so permit permit so and submarine tressed

craft with accommodation for 12 to to 12 for accommodation with craft

15 men would lock on to the dis- the to on lock would men 15

by a parent submarine. The rescue rescue The submarine. parent a by

light to be transported by air and/or and/or air by transported be to light

submarine, but which is sufficiently sufficiently is which but submarine,

similar capabilities to that of a a of that to capabilities similar

of a small submersible vehicle with with vehicle submersible small a of

personnel from a bottomed submar- bottomed a from personnel

accomplished by the development development the by accomplished research into deep sea rescue of of rescue sea deep into research

ine. It is envisaged that this will be be will this that envisaged is It ine.

of the magazine. magazine. the of

is given in Volume 11 No. 3 edition edition 3 No. 11 Volume in given is

13 13

Hecla Hecla

the first of three three of first the

H.M.S. H.M.S.

With only three divers divers three only With

M.S. Hecla, Hecla, M.S.

new Oceanographical Survey Survey Oceanographical new

Ships commissioned on 8th 8th on commissioned Ships

HE U.S. Navy have embarked embarked have Navy U.S. HE

programme aimed at improving improving at aimed programme

on a five year deep submergence submergence deep year five a on

onboard (including the Diving Diving the (including onboard

H

limited. limited.

her time at sea and the opportunity opportunity the and sea at time her

to don the rubber suit has been been has suit rubber the don to

September 1965. Unfortunately Unfortunately 1965. September

since then the ship has spent most of of most spent has ship the then since

detailed list of underwater vehicles vehicles underwater of list detailed

known, the only vehicle with an an with vehicle only the known, operating depth of 20,000 feet. A A feet. 20,000 of depth operating

Piccard's Triests 2 is, as far as is is as far as is, 2 Triests Piccard's

not have 'the depth capability. capability. depth 'the have not

Cousteau's Deepstar to the recently recently the to Deepstar Cousteau's

by commercial firms ranging from from ranging firms commercial by

completed Aluminaut, but they do do they but Aluminaut, completed

water vehicles have been constructed constructed been have vehicles water

observations and the recovery of of recovery the and observations

small objects. A number of under- of number A objects. small

ment of an underwater vehicle which which vehicle underwater an of ment

for the purpose of oceanographic oceanographic of purpose the for

can operate to depths of 20,000 feet, feet, 20,000 of depths to operate can

The second project is the develop- the is project second The

existence for a period of 90 days. days. 90 of period a for existence

with a completely automonous automonous completely a with

is to operate divers on the seabed seabed the on divers operate to is

this project, the ultimate aim of which which of aim ultimate the project, this

the magazine, is the second stage of of stage second the is magazine, the

was reported on in the last edition of of edition last the in on reported was

prolonged periods. Sealab 2, which which 2, Sealab periods. prolonged

underwater dwelling for use to to use for dwelling underwater

divers live and work at this depth for for depth this at work and live divers

study of the problems created when when created problems the of study

of publicity, is the creation of an an of creation the is publicity, of

has already received a certain amount amount certain a received already has

depths of 800 feet, involving the the involving feet, 800 of depths

water operations. The first, which which first, The operations. water

the capabilities in four major under- major four in capabilities the

U.S. Navy Deep Submergence Programme Programme Submergence Deep Navy U.S.

T

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(Harwich) Ltd. Ltd. (Harwich)

MAIN ROAD, HARWICH HARWICH ROAD, MAIN

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BRANCHES AT ALL PRINCIPAL PORTS PORTS PRINCIPAL ALL AT BRANCHES

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Make sure sure Make

from Coopers. Coopers. from your new suit is is suit new your

Sensible Chap! Chap! Sensible

COOPERSTYLE COOPERSTYLE

for generous Credit Credit generous for Terms. Terms. www.mcdoa.org.uk store, a medium Gemini craft, four up and that he won't be able to S.A.B.A.'s, two S.D.D.E. sets and exchange that little Citroen car that Diving with the Ghana Navy numerous pin-ups of non-divers he got in Singapore for at least an- (all with built in water wings). other pay day ? He seemed to be HIS cry from the wild will give fined to a space between the dwarf Although Diving has been limited genuinely pleased to see a face that Treaders in the outside World bulkhead on the bottom 3ft. apart we have managed to be submerged he knew (even if the last time that he some idea of diving in the and approx. 8ft. 6ins. from the side of in water temperatures ranging from saw the face all he said was 'get down, Ghana Navy. The team consists of the dredger. It was decided that two —3°C to 28°C and visibility from your not a bloody sun worshipper'), Lt. Riley, R.N., C.P.O. Slim Welsby, splinter boxes of local manufacture zero (in the River Foyle) to 50' in but even so the Bosun couldn't get P.O. Arfer Fisk, P.O. Tex Titmarsh would be able to cover the damage. South Africa. one of the super South African 'wet and S.Lt. Oppong, G.N., at Tema Another diver would be needed to suits' out of him. which is Ghana's Guzz. help place them accurately. Lt. In December, a two day visit to We say goodbye to A.B. Dobson, Equipment-wise, we have 2 Riley explained the splinter boxes to Akureyri in Iceland, gave the Ships Sh. Diver; he starts his C.D. course S.A.B.A., 2 Minstrals and 1 set of the engineer, who started right away Divers the chance of swimming in in June and we wish him good luck underwater burning/cutting gear. and manufactured some. really cold water only 60 miles south (he will need it) and hope that his The diving part of our job is small of the Arctic Circle, with the Air Lt. Riley and P.O. Fisk proceeded relief passes the ship's diver's course because as yet there is no proper back to Takoradi to collect more temperature at —12°C the sea water or we will be in dire straits. diving branch in the Ghana Navy and at —3°C was relatively warm (or so Diving sets and Slim Welsby, to- the team are all Cox'ns and the gether with respective wives, who they told me once they started Remarks overheard :— officers, 1st Lieut's of ships. So we breathing again). The locals couldn't thought a couple of days up country (i) By a Maltese steward about to are spread about a bit, except when would do them good as well. We believe their eyes and we collected small routine jobs such as screw quite a crowd, but when one fishing do his aptitude test in Loch Ewe, and arrived back on Sunday night, 22nd watching two 12' porpoise jumping fouling crop up. We also dive and August. Starting Monday morning, boat Captain was observed arming give assistance to any Government his harpoon gun, we called it a day. the height of the M.F.V's wheel- the divers tried to place the splinter In complete contrast our dives in house. undertakings. boxes in position but due to the Simonstown Dockyard were a piece One which occurred recently was corrugation of the deck and clear- 'O.K. Senor! I punch him on the 135 miles from the sea in a crocodile ances needed, an effective seal could of cake. Hecla is equipped with a nose if he come near me, eh!' transverse thrust propellor in the bow river, at Dunkwa-on-offin. On the not be made. So it was think again and the two large metal doors that (ii) By the Ship's Divers when con- 20th August, a Ghana State Mines all round. The Engineer in Charge seal the ends of the tunnel were fronted with Hecla's flat bottom. Inspector approached Naval Officer had not been idle and had con- giving trouble and the Diving in Charge, Takoradi, for the assist- structed a rubber pad. This was built Officer's report was that a week in `Just like walking along the M.1. ance of the Naval Diving Team in on a framed swivel pivot outboard Dry Dock in Capetown was the only upside down at night.' repairing a Gold Dredger, which was and sunk to below ship's bottom then answer! Needless to say, we sailed holed and sinking at Dunkwa-on- pivoted through 180 degrees. A on schedule. Diving Team offin. The dredger of some 450 tons, diver then went down inside and S.Lt. Brydon. (S.D.)(B) Sh. Diver was listing to port and that side of picked up a wire strop in the centre During our stay in Simonstown the after deck was under water. The of the mat, passing it through the the South African Navy gave us the A.B. Dinnage, SR*. Sh.Diver dredgemaster, Mr. Currie a Scot, damaged hole and on to a Weston run of their well equipped Diving A.B. Dobson, U.W.*, Sh.Diver reported that he had located some purchase. Then both ends were School, and we were able to rub up large holes in the bottom of the hauled tight to give an effective seal. on ditching drill and free ascent in port 'fwd' pontoon by using a sound- the beautiful clear and warm 32 foot It was then decided to winch back CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT ing pole and he required a more the dredger on its tailings, as it was tank (a change from burning and accurate report of the damage. welding in the cold murky tank in thought dangerous to lose buoyancy AN AMERICAN corporation working P.O. Fisk dived in the area of the Londonderry). Readers may be in U.K., Europe, Middle East and that had been gained. Further interested to hear that, that old hole, reporting it to be 3ft. by 2ift. assistance of the divers was required U.S.A. require all classes of diving with edges torn and twisted upwards. rogue 1, C.P.O. Fawcett, C.D.1, staff (surface and U/W). Send for to make the sealing of the collision R.N.Ret. is making a nice little A smaller hole about 2ft. square was mat more effective by laying Tondu application forms and details to also found together with a split on empire for himself as the underwater Sanford Bros, International Divers cement' between the dwarf bulk- demolition expert in the South the edge, where the dwarf bulkhead heads. Eighteen bags of cement were Inc., P.O. Box 9, Scarborough, joined the deck. African Navy. He maintains that Yorks. spread over the area and worked South African Naval Divers are hard The damage was apparently con- into gaps in the seal. Next morning 14 15 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

the cement was rock hard, but as a ineer to build a permanent coffer further precaution two plates were dam over the area, thus putting the PO/MOW'some MEAGER laid and wedged on top with shores dredger back into operation in a on angle bar frame. The pumps week, instead of three months as at EXTENT Of PAMAGE were started and 12ft. of water was first thought. down to 3ins. when—calamity—a power failure occurred and the For the 'Barons', there was gold pontoon was flooded again, buckling dredged from the river bottom and PLAN VIEW the effective seal on the holes. With even some diamonds too. Funny, three large pumps in action the but all the big bits go unnoticed and water was just contained at 12ft. are pushed back during the wash, Three more were put down to hold only the flakes being separated. DWARF BULKHEAD the plugs while all six pumps were What a waste and no free samples set pumping. One hour later the either! We had heard a rumour that water was down to 3 ins., and minor all the `crocs' evacuated this river as COLL/S/ON MAT leaks around the mat were easily they do not like the taste of 'Dunlop &FRAME /At PLACE contained. This enabled the Eng- and sweaty blue undersuits.'

SH/PS S/DE NAT FRAME P/YOT H.M.S. Rothesay—Diving in the West Indies S'/DE VIEW CHAN PURCHASE URING the foreign leg of her was struck with the United States General Service Commission on Underwater Swimmer's School. As Dthe West Indies Station, H.M.S. a result a joint diving expedition was Rothesay's divers have been in action arranged for the ship's divers from SHIPS SIDE in a variety of ways and places. the American Underwater Demol- MAr FRAME SI/ Activities have varied from searching ition Team. Unfortunately wind and (unsuccessfully) for the British weather conditions meant that we Ambassador to Costa Rica's cere- were not able to see the famous monial sword (lost over the side), to Florida Reefs at their best, as our entertaining (most successfully) hosts had hoped. However, we were FIRSPEC77YE r/EW childrens' parties in Martinique and able to do a great deal of diving both — CHAIN BLOCKS- Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. in S.A.B.A. and in the American Of MAT /N PLACE In the ideal conditions out here, set, S.C.U.B.A., and both teams of everyone is naturally very keen to get divers were able to use the other's into the water, and it is often difficult equipment. to find sufficient work to keep nine We all very much enjoyed diving : Ship's Divers fully occupied and in in S.C.U.B.A., although it did at first practice, although of course the seem strange to be wearing a half- thought of lobster on the menu is face mask, and to be able to remove .:0•4•040 enough to make any First Lieutenant the breathing tube at will (though encourage Expedition Diving — in this is not recommended underwater! vain so far in Rothesay I regret to say ! We were all impressed, however, but However it has been possible to were attracted most of all by the organise one particularly successful United States Navy's standard Wet outing, which would also be open to Suit. In the West Indies these are SII/Pe S/DE other ships on the station. ideal, and we have frequently lam- During a recent visit to Key West ented our lack of them, whilst being Naval Station, a very friendly liaison grateful for our own Dry Suits in the 16 17 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk cold waters of England. However, The commission is now slowly Narcotic Manifestations we were assured by American divers drawing towards its close, but diving that they have worn them under the plans are still very full. We hope to Ice Cap—and we admired their dive with the Territorial Army in by 13.F.' courage! Two or three of the ship's Bermuda, with whom we have a diving team have been moved to buy liaison, which will give us another APTURE of the Deep' may the picture changes rapidly. Firstly, their own Wet Suits, however, and opportunity to dive in S.C.U.B.A. 4 Rbe a somewhat poetic phrase the senses become mulled and do not we should have even more by the end We also expect and hope, to have for Nitrogen Narcosis but it really seem to want to know what of the commission. diving jobs given to us by anyone is, nevertheless, a very apt description is going on. A surealistic noise Somewhat to our surprise, the who needs our help—variety being of the effect that air diving has on the exists rather like that of high revving American divers enjoyed using the spice of life underwater too ! So, majority of divers at depths some- machinery three decks down and a S.A.B.A. and were favourably im- an enthusiastic diving team should what deeper than 200 feet. Shallower voice speaking over the telephone pressed—although their minds bog- have their hands full until we finally than this the effect of breathing air seems at first to be coming from gled slightly at the thought of the pay off in May. hardly merits such strong terms and I another world. This is 'depth maintenance involved, a problem H.M.S. Rothesay's Ship's Diving find it difficult to assess whether the awareness' plus and should be they do not really have with loss of mental efficiency, particularly regarded as a warning to the diver Team:— S.C.U.B.A. In particular, they were 4 in the field of memorising things, is to call up all his reserves of self con- impressed by our full face mask, and Sub.-Lt. J. J. Blackham due to narcosis, or to the fact of trol in order to stay 'with it' and had we been able to follow it up, a L.S.B.A. J. Evans being in an unnatural environment. perform the task at hand. Those good avenue for trade would have A.B. J. E. Cook Impairment of one's ability to mem- most affected between 200 feet and been opened! All agreed, however, A.B. J. E. Home orise facts seems to happen at very 230 feet either just 'float' away to the that the outing was a great success A.B. A. R. Pitcher shallow depths indeed and I feel sure arms of Morpheus, begin to talk a and the hope was expressed by the R.E.M.T. Meakin that I am not the only diver who has lot, make corny jokes, sing or Americans that the liaison would be Mne. K. A. Gates had to go back and recheck when provide other garrulous drunken-like continued by Royal Naval ships Mne. A. Cardwell making a detailed inspection of what manifestations. Nitrogen Narcosis visiting Key West in the future. Mne. D. C. Powell was a comparatively simple situation, symptoms at this stage are indeed in only a few feet of water. Nobody very similar to those of drunkenness would suggest that this mental and the simile even goes a stage inefficiency was Nitrogen Narcosis further, inasmuch that those who can but most divers would, I think, agree carry their liquor well usually make that extra mental alertness is nec- the best deep divers. essary as soon as one submerges and this applies whether breathing air or We now come to the 'depth oxygen. In the latter case of course barrier' as far as diving on air is nitrogen narcosis does not enter the concerned i.e. 230-250 feet. This picture. Accepting that there is some would appear to be the last obstacle loss of mental efficiency, even at very to getting to 300 feet, beyond which shallow depths, I have always re- oxygen poisoning becomes an even garded the additional mental reaction greater hazard. The last obstacle in when one goes deeper to somewhere this case is, as one would expect, the CHOOSE WISELY-CHOOSE NAAFI HP between 90 feet and 200 feet, as toughest and in the 'hard hat' days being 'depth awareness' and I do not of deep diving with air it was only The key to secure ownership think Nitrogen Narcosis comes sig- those of iron will power who arrived UK—Naafi will finance the purchase of a new car or a used nificantly into the picture until the at 300 feet with mental processes car (up to five years old) from a dealer or from another 200 foot mark is passed. I say this reasonably intact. The most extra- member of H.M. Forces. because, although there is a sen- ordinary things happened to other- Belgium, Gibraltar, Germany, Aden, Malaya, Singa- sation of depth, there does not seem wise excellent divers, when trying to pore and Hong Kong—Naafi will finance the purchase of to be any significant further decrease descend through this depth barrier. new cars from a dealer. in mental ability as a result of going I know of a few incidents which I Full details of the advantages offered by Naafi HP are contained in leaflets available from your Naafi manager or, Controller of Credit Services, NAAFI, London, SE11. Telephone: RELiance 1200 deeper. Beyond 200 feet, however, will recount briefly here, but I am 18 19 www.mcdoa.org.uk

A

What about Helium Narcosis ? ? Narcosis Helium about What

not even guessing at either answer. answer. either at guessing even not

have yet to be ascertained and I am am I and ascertained be to yet have

reason for it and its potential danger danger potential its and it for reason

of a nuisance than a real threat. The The threat. real a than nuisance a of

legs, which has so far proved more more proved far so has which legs, trembling usually of the arms and and arms the of usually trembling

the 'shakes'. This is an involuntary involuntary an is This 'shakes'. the

siological phenomena, which we call call we which phenomena, siological

however, met a new diving phy- diving new a met however,

identified as Narcosis. They have, have, They Narcosis. as identified toms which can be positively positively be can which toms

800 ft. have not experienced symp- experienced not have ft. 800

breathing at a pressure equivalent to to equivalent pressure a at breathing

who have indulged in Oxy-Helium Oxy-Helium in indulged have who

what we already know. Our divers divers Our know. already we what

follows theoretical extensions of of extensions theoretical follows

ft., but diving physiology seldom seldom physiology diving but ft.,

with Helium at around 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500 around at Helium with ticipate significant narcosis problems problems narcosis significant ticipate

Narcosis ? On the basis of the molec- the of basis the On ? Narcosis

nlar weights of the gases we might an- might we gases the of weights nlar

in a similar manner to Nitrogen Nitrogen to manner similar a in

perienced and will it manifest itself itself manifest it will and perienced

At what depth is it likely to be ex- be to likely it is depth what At

brief spell before returning to duty. duty. to returning before spell brief

away' to the 'narcotic regions' for a a for regions' 'narcotic the to away'

think why he was there. We put it it put We there. was he why think

down to the fact that he had 'floated 'floated had he that fact the to down

self on the surface but could not not could but surface the on self

wards that he suddenly found him- found suddenly he that wards turning to his task. He said after- said He task. his to turning

and came to the surface before re- before surface the to came and

the machine left it for a few moments moments few a for it left machine the

series who worked extremely hard on on hard extremely worked who series understood well enough before leav- before enough well understood

ing surface. Another diver in this this in diver Another surface. ing

have a clue as to what he was sup- was he what to as clue a have

posed to be doing, although he he although doing, be to posed

throughout his dive and told us quite quite us told and dive his throughout

frankly afterwards that he didn't didn't he that afterwards frankly

machine to pieces or 'render it safe' safe' it 'render or pieces to machine

fact, he did nothing constructive constructive nothing did he fact, as he might have treated a mine. In In mine. a treated have might he as

us watching on closed circuit T.V., T.V., circuit closed on watching us

that he was either going to take the the take to going either was he that

21 21

is an an is

2 2

build up. We have always always have We up. build

2 2

The third and last instance of of instance last and third The

manner, which suggested to those of of those to suggested which manner,

task' appraising the machine in a a in machine the appraising task'

performed some excellent opera- excellent some performed

tional dives, spent his entire time 'on 'on time entire his spent dives, tional

the swim machine. This particular particular This machine. swim the

diver, who I must add had recently recently had add must I who diver,

the divers were instructed to operate operate to instructed were divers the 250 feet in the Deep Trials Unit when when Unit Trials Deep the in feet 250

however during a series of dives to to dives of series a during however

Narcosis with S.D.D.E. It happened happened It S.D.D.E. with Narcosis

totally unprepared for Nitrogen Nitrogen for unprepared totally

ledge at the back of my mind I was was I mind my of back the at ledge markedly improved. With this know- this With improved. markedly

a result the performance of the divers divers the of performance the result a

the circulation rate in the helmet. As As helmet. the in rate circulation the

of work was done on the deep diving diving deep the on done was work of

equipment which almost doubled doubled almost which equipment

important contributory factor to to factor contributory important

Nitrogen Narcosis and in 1947/48 a lot lot a 1947/48 in and Narcosis Nitrogen

been led to believe that C.O. that believe to led been

C.O.

piece non return valves, thus prac- thus valves, return non piece tically eliminating the possibility of of possibility the eliminating tically

uses a demand valve with mouth- with valve demand a uses

was breathing from S.D.D.E. which which S.D.D.E. from breathing was

surprised me immensely as the diver diver the as immensely me surprised

Nitrogen Narcosis which I will re- will I which Narcosis Nitrogen

count occurred very recently and and recently very occurred count

build up and get too big for me. me. for big too get and up build

to lick both problems before they they before problems both lick to

rather like ear clearing I put it into into it put I clearing ear like rather

surface with the result that I manage manage I that result the with surface

operation from the time of leaving leaving of time the from operation

tration became an obsession and, and, obsession an became tration

didn't get caught again. Concen- again. caught get didn't

permitted my concentration to flag flag to concentration my permitted

for one second with the result that I I that result the with second one for

valuable lesson and for my sub- my for and lesson valuable

sequent dives in deep water I never never I water deep in dives sequent

make a reasonably dignified ascent ascent dignified reasonably a make

Although my ego suffered badly badly suffered ego my Although

via the S.D.C. to the surface. surface. the to S.D.C. the via

from this experience it taught me a a me taught it experience this from numerous turns out of the shot and and shot the of out turns numerous

iately and although I did not con- not did I although and iately tinue this dive I was able to take take to able was I dive this tinue

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

processes seemed to return immed- immed- return to seemed processes

progressing, complete with shot, shot, with complete progressing, towards the surface. The mental mental The surface. the towards

panied by the realisation that I was was I that realisation the by panied

to consciousness and sanity, accom- sanity, and consciousness to

Chief Diver's voice coaxing me back back me coaxing voice Diver's Chief

disintegration I became aware of the the of aware became I disintegration

before the centrifugal force from the the from force centrifugal the before Guy Fawkes night. Fortunately, Fortunately, night. Fawkes Guy

gyrations reached the point for my my for point the reached gyrations

catherine wheel nailed to a post on on post a to nailed wheel catherine

ever increasing speed, just like a a like just speed, increasing ever to gyrate around the shot rope at at rope shot the around gyrate to

vividly the idea that I was beginning beginning was I that idea the vividly

hands to the shot rope, that picture picture that rope, shot the to hands

had superimposed on it even more more even it on superimposed had

I still retained a vivid picture of my my of picture vivid a retained still I

leech like attachment with both both with attachment like leech

My resistance was not strong enough enough strong not was resistance My or was applied too late, for, although although for, late, too applied was or

I was in an effort to relate myself to to myself relate to effort an in was I

I could, furiously telling myself where where myself telling furiously could, I this material thing—the shot rope. rope. shot thing—the material this

shot with both hands just as hard as as hard as just hands both with shot

sive forces into play and gripped the the gripped and play into forces sive

appreciation I brought all my defen- my all brought I appreciation

danger soon enough. Whatever the the Whatever enough. soon danger

cause and regardless of the delay of of delay the of regardless and cause

and was probably not alert to the the to alert not probably was and

—then it hit me! I may have been been have may I me! hit it —then

getting over confident and careless careless and confident over getting

unduly affected by nitrogen narcosis narcosis nitrogen by affected unduly

allotted for each dive without being being without dive each for allotted

satisfactorily performed the tasks tasks the performed satisfactorily

dives as required by the syllabus and and syllabus the by required as dives

this. I made progressively deeper deeper progressively made I this.

the shot, though I couldn't count on on count couldn't I though shot, the

underwater lamp, I might even see see even might I lamp, underwater

and if I was near enough to the the to enough near was I if and

shot rope as a point of mental focus, focus, mental of point a as rope shot

stop and concentrate like mad on the the on mad like concentrate and stop

should feel myself 'going off' I would would I off' 'going myself feel should

Scottish Loch. To do this I figured figured I this do To Loch. Scottish

that, on the way to the bottom, if I I if bottom, the to way the on that,

easily in the inky black depths of a a of depths black inky the in easily

sciousness as I knew it would too too would it knew I as sciousness

allow it to drift away into uncon- into away drift to it allow

would keep my mind alert and not not and alert mind my keep would

Secondly, I was determined that I I that determined was I Secondly,

no unnecessary utterance whatsoever. whatsoever. utterance unnecessary no

20 20

My next incident is first hand as it it as hand first is incident next My

The first incident of severe nit- severe of incident first The

resist all temptation to sing or joke joke or sing to temptation all resist

problem. Firstly, I would firmly firmly would I Firstly, problem.

how I was going to overcome the the overcome to going was I how and in fact I was determined to make make to determined was I fact in and

occurred to me whilst I was qualify- was I whilst me to occurred

matter and had made up my mind mind my up made had and matter

that it was all a question of mind over over mind of question a all was it that

hauled up, demanded to be told why! why! told be to demanded up, hauled ing Deep Diver. I had appreciated appreciated had I Diver. Deep ing

what peeved at finding himself being being himself finding at peeved what

that the diver returned to his normal normal his to returned diver the that

telephone, dissuading him from the the from him dissuading telephone,

hazardous action he was taking and and taking was he action hazardous glass up again. The outcome was was outcome The again. up glass

encouraging him to screw his face- his screw to him encouraging senses at about 200 feet and, some- and, feet 200 about at senses

slowly with fast talking over the the over talking fast with slowly

from the surface in hauling him up up him hauling in surface the from much later due to prompt action action prompt to due later much

heard over the telephone. Fortun- telephone. the over heard

ately, he didn't get 'ashore' until until 'ashore' get didn't he ately,

remove his faceglass and go ashore. ashore. go and faceglass his remove being unscrewed could be clearly clearly be could unscrewed being

this and the noise of the faceglass faceglass the of noise the and this

the telephone that he was going to to going was he that telephone the

him to tell the surface personnel over over personnel surface the tell to him

ready for shoregoing. This prompted prompted This shoregoing. for ready Sure enough he began to do just just do to began he enough Sure

hallucination of seeing himself in his his in himself seeing of hallucination faceglass, dressed in his No. 1 suit, suit, 1 No. his in dressed faceglass,

barrier' this diver actually had the the had actually diver this barrier'

personality. On hitting the 'depth 'depth the hitting On personality.

I later knew very well and whom I I whom and well very knew later I

admired for his ability and quiet quiet and ability his for admired

cellent calibre and character whom whom character and calibre cellent happened during the 1930-1933 1930-1933 the during happened

deep diving trials to a diver of ex- of diver a to trials diving deep

rogen narcosis that came to my my to came that narcosis rogen

and impressed me immensely. It It immensely. me impressed and

mental album was truly incredulous incredulous truly was album mental

of us all. all. us of

hope readers will write in and recount- and in write will readers hope

them for the benefit and amusement amusement and benefit the for them

one fully told is a story in itself I I itself in story a is told fully one

icularly to older divers, and as each each as and divers, older to icularly sure many more are known, part- known, are more many sure www.mcdoa.org.uk

H.S.C.D.T., H.M.S. Dingley Quality and Service OWARDS the end of Christmas and sent to Kinloss, where it was laid leave 1965 the 1st Lt. and five out in a hangar for inspection by Tmembers of H.S.C.D.T. were boffins to ascertain the cause of the through BERNARDS recalled from leave to proceed to crash. Scotland in order to complete the After an overnight journey by rail recovery of a Shackleton aircraft lost and air to Kinloss the members of Over very many years Bernards have developed an unrivalled service in Moray Firth on the 5th December. H.S.C.D.T. were briefed on the work to the Royal Navy, both for quality and personal service. The Shackleton was based on R.A.F. to be carried out. This entailed the Kinloss, and was carrying out a recovery of one crew member and the Through Bernards a customer may normal landing approach to Kinloss tail section of the aircraft, which was airfield when it ditched in 130ft. of obtain his Uniform and Civilian Clothing, considered vital to the investigation. water about 3 miles offshore. There was some concern amongst the and practically every requirement of his pilots since it was thought that the family and self including Footwear, Sports The first ships on the scene were the Boom Defence vessel Barfield and tail unit may have dropped off in the Goods and Wear, Radios, Electrical Ap- H.M.S. Kirkliston. The aircraft was air. Their concern was understand- pliances, Fancy Goods, Toys and Games, located fairly quickly and Kirkliston able in the circumstances. Cycles, Cameras, Ladies' Wear, Jewellery, proceeded to search a large area in The team was accommodated order to ascertain whether or not it ashore at Invergordon and was to be Rings and Watches, Nursery Furniture, was in one piece. Lifting operations transported to the job by R.A.F. Clocks, and a Chocolates, Biscuits and were started soon afterwards and, in Rescue launch daily. This entailed a Floral Bouquet Service. spite of very rough weather a good journey of approximately 20 miles, part of the Shackleton was rec Dcered which took 1 hours. You may have Where customers prefer to open a Credit Account for settlement by Allot- ment or Banker's Order, this can be arranged, and full details of the Bernard Service will gladly be sent on request.

Remember —

You really do BUY BETTER at BERNARDS C. H. BERNARD & SONS LTD 8 Queen Street, Portsmouth Telephone 23535

Branches at : Chatham, Devonport, Deal, Dunfermline, Gibraltar, Helensburgh, Grimsby, Londonderry, Valetta and Sliema, Malta, Portland; also at Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Brawdy, Culdrose, Corsham, Lympstone, Worthy Down,Yeovilton,Poole, H.M.S. Dolphin and H.M.S. Pembroke. Officers' Shops at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Southampton

Head Office: Anglia House, Harwich, Essex. Telephone Harwich 2281

" Parts of the aircraft being raised onto the Bar Boat."

23 www.mcdoa.org.uk

Ob-

Ports-

Vernon Vernon

H.M.S. H.M.S.

IIDAY IIDAY

25 25

Foreword Foreword

PROGRAMME PROGRAMME

H.M.S. VERNON VERNON H.M.S.

13.00 22nd MAY, 1966 1966 MAY, 22nd 13.00

IID IIE IIE IID

HORSEA ISLAND ISLAND HORSEA

from established Sub Aqua Clubs. Clubs. Aqua Sub established from

ROYAL NAVAL DIVING SCHOOL SCHOOL DIVING NAVAL ROYAL

We are grateful to our friends in the Southsea Sub Aqua Club Club Aqua Sub Southsea the in friends our to grateful are We

Unfortunately the one activity the visiting sub aqua Club Club aqua sub visiting the activity one the Unfortunately

This whole day is designed for the benefit of the members of all all of members the of benefit the for designed is day whole This

On Sunday 22nd May 1966 the Instructional Diving Section will will Section Diving Instructional the 1966 May 22nd Sunday On

It was with the greatest regret, however, that the visits were were visits the that however, regret, greatest the with was It

Some years ago it used to be the practice for Sub Aqua Club's Club's Aqua Sub for practice the be to used it ago years Some

Admission to the Open Day will be by application only. only. application by be will Day Open the to Admission

for all their help with organisation. organisation. with help their all for

understand. understand.

involved this poses too many problems as any Diving Marshal will will Marshal Diving any as problems many too poses this involved

numbers using the standard diving equipment. With the numbers numbers the With equipment. diving standard the using numbers

members will not be able to do is to dive, except for very limited limited very for except dive, to is do to able be not will members

Sub Aqua Clubs whatever their experience and so your comments comments your so and experience their whatever Clubs Aqua Sub

and suggestions for the future will be most welcome. welcome. most be will future the for suggestions and

water tools. tools. water

and so will the Standard diving equipment, with a selection of under- of selection a with equipment, diving Standard the will so and

divers to answer questions or merely discuss the many problems problems many the discuss merely or questions answer to divers

common to all divers. The Compression Chamber will be on display display on be will Chamber Compression The divers. all to common

be a series of static and live displays, cinema shows, with plenty of of plenty with shows, cinema displays, live and static of series a be

play Host to Sub Aqua Clubs from all over the country. There will will There country. the over all from Clubs Aqua Sub to Host play

`Open Day' has been established. established. been has Day' `Open

Diving Section once again and it is in answer to these letters that the the that letters these to answer in is it and again once Section Diving

clubs who have written to the Captain for permission to visit the the visit to permission for Captain the to written have who clubs

stopped some two years ago. Since that time there have been many many been have there time that Since ago. years two some stopped

which was to everyones benefit. benefit. everyones to was which

visits established a firm liaison between service and civilian divers divers civilian and service between liaison firm a established visits

about the underwater techniques that Naval divers employ. These These employ. divers Naval that techniques underwater the about

mouth, to see the diving equipment used in the Royal Navy and learn learn and Navy Royal the in used equipment diving the see to mouth,

to visit the instructional Diving Section at at Section Diving instructional the visit to tainable tainable

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

Ed. Ed.

had been on on been had

Barfield Barfield

OBITUARY OBITUARY

Mrs. Elder has asked me to thank thank to me asked has Elder Mrs.

The amount raised on behalf of of behalf on raised amount The

THE JOCK ELDER FUND FUND ELDER JOCK THE

On behalf of all divers in the Royal Royal the in divers all of behalf On

It is with deep regret that we have have we that regret deep with is It

L.S. Evans C.D.3. C.D.3. Evans L.S.

L.S. Pastides C.D.3. C.D.3. Pastides L.S.

L.S. Allardyce C.D.3. C.D.3. Allardyce L.S.

P.O. Davies C.D.2. C.D.2. Davies P.O.

P.O. Bray C.D.1. C.D.1. Bray P.O.

S.Lt. Lombard C.D.O. C.D.O. Lombard S.Lt.

The job was completed in due due in completed was job The

and donations. donations. and

all concerned for their sympathies sympathies their for concerned all

Jock Elder and forwarded to his wife wife his to forwarded and Elder Jock so far is £1.93 1 ls. ls. 1 £1.93 is far so

zie's wife and relatives. relatives. and wife zie's

Navy I would like to extend our our extend to like would I Navy

sincere condolences to P.O. McKen- P.O. to condolences sincere

hopper bucket in Poole Harbour. Harbour. Poole in bucket hopper

injuries when attempting to remove remove to attempting when injuries

an unexploded shell from a dredger dredger a from shell unexploded an P.O. Jock McKenzie C.D.1. Late Late C.D.1. McKenzie Jock P.O.

Team. P.O. McKenzie suffered fatal fatal suffered McKenzie P.O. Team.

member of the Portland Diving Diving Portland the of member

to announce the untimely death of of death untimely the announce to

The team were :— :— were team The

Portsmouth. Portsmouth.

course and the team returned to to returned team the and course

of time gives you some idea of their their of idea some you gives time of form. form.

helpful and cheerful over that period period that over cheerful and helpful

uously for over 5 weeks. To remain remain To weeks. 5 over for uously

the job at anchor almost contin- almost anchor at job the

appreciated that that appreciated

24 24

Barfield Barfield

backed us up up us backed

Barfield Barfield

Co-operation between the Ad- the between Co-operation

The remaining body was found found was body remaining The

The method employed by the the by employed method The

The equipment used was C.D.B.A. C.D.B.A. was used equipment The

were A.1. in all respects. It must be be must It respects. all in A.1. were

and particularly the chef of of chef the particularly and divers was very good, and the crew, crew, the and good, very was divers miralty Salvage Divers and our own own our and Divers Salvage miralty

on different occasions. occasions. different on

even the galley sink were recovered recovered were sink galley the even

seats, radar sets, flaps, ailerons and and ailerons flaps, sets, radar seats, miscellaneous bits and pieces such as as such pieces and bits miscellaneous

one of the fins were recovered by the the by recovered were fins the of one

clearance divers. Apart from these, these, from Apart divers. clearance divers and the bulk of the tail and and tail the of bulk the and divers

and recovered by one of the civilian civilian the of one by recovered and

trated. trated.

wreckage was known to be concen- be to known was wreckage

and also to clear up an area where where area an up clear to also and

50 ft. stray lines to secure to any any to secure to lines stray ft. 50 from the main wreckage was clear clear was wreckage main the from

to confirm that a wide area away away area wide a that confirm to

small pieces of wreckage. This was was This wreckage. of pieces small

two divers on the shot with several several with shot the on divers two

area of the wreckage, while dropping dropping while wreckage, the of area

searches off the shot outside the main main the outside shot the off searches

divers was a series of 50 ft. circular circular ft. 50 of series a was divers

into stoppage times. times. stoppage into

shackle on his find before running running before find his on shackle

in sufficient time for the diver to to diver the for time sufficient in

admirably by providing lifting wires wires lifting providing by admirably must be stressed at this point that that point this at stressed be must

the crew of of crew the

were rewarding materially, and it it and materially, rewarding were early afternoon when the sun was at at was sun the when afternoon early

its highest point. Most of the dives dives the of Most point. highest its

time for diving was late forenoon and and forenoon late was diving for time

It was found that the most favourable favourable most the that found was It

extremely good, up to 25 ft. at times. times. at ft. 25 to up good, extremely

one dip daily. The visibility was was visibility The daily. dip one

to 17 mins. with each diver having having diver each with mins. 17 to

proved extremely useful and light light and useful extremely proved

jackstay gear. Divers were limited limited were Divers gear. jackstay

with 40/60 mixture, D.U.C.S. which which D.U.C.S. mixture, 40/60 with

departure was at an unholy hour. hour. unholy an at was departure

daylight hours at the time of year, year, of time the at hours daylight gathered that in view of the short short the of view in that gathered HOFtSEA ISLAND 26 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk 1. Key to 3. 4. 2. Static Displays Compression Chamber Main Display Static DisplayAreas Army Display Children's Creche Refreshment tent Compression ChamberDives. at 1400,visitorsareadvised totakeuppositionsaroundthe Underwater Tools. Gas Analysis. Diving TrainingintheRoyalNavy. Diving EquipmentandTools. Bomb andMineDisposal. Mine IdentificationandDisposal. Life Saving. carried outto a maximumof10persons per dive. lake bythistime. The maindisplaywilltakeplace inthelakeandwillcommence Practical operation anddivesto80ft.inthe chamberwillbe Chart:- 27 5. 7. Footbridgefrommainland 6. Cinema 8. Toilets First AidShelter

Reclaim. Reclaim.

As the evening drew to a close it it close a to drew evening the As

Later we had an interval in which which in interval an had we Later

By 9.30 p.m. everything was in full full in was everything p.m. 9.30 By

Finally the doors were thrown thrown were doors the Finally

would be sent to the 'Jock Elder Elder 'Jock the to sent be would

after they had been drawn and put put and drawn been had they after self in that he confiscated the prizes prizes the confiscated he that in self

fund.' Ginger Bryant excelled him- excelled Bryant Ginger fund.'

fixed raffle and anything we made made we anything and raffle fixed

together and decided it would be a a be would it decided and together

the money in! The committee got got committee The in! money the

the canteen manager until we got got we until manager canteen the

These were promptly borrowed from from borrowed promptly were These

not yet been drawn, this was not not was this drawn, been yet not

surprising as we hadn't any prizes. prizes. any hadn't we as surprising

was pointed out that the raffle had had raffle the that out pointed was

group from the the from group

entertained by an up and coming coming and up an by entertained

mein, also during the eats we were were we eats the during also mein,

served up a very fine chicken chow chow chicken fine very a up served

nosh was served. Many thanks to our our to thanks Many served. was nosh

chef and steward who cooked and and cooked who steward and chef

queer.' queer.'

of 'all divers who can't tap dance are are dance tap can't who divers 'all of

quartet, who turned out to be off off be to out turned who quartet,

watch C.I.D. officers, and the strains strains the and officers, C.I.D. watch swing with dancing to a very good good very a to dancing with swing

many of us did the old Oliver Twist Twist Oliver old the did us of many

blackcurrant juice. Needless to say say to Needless juice. blackcurrant

vodka and one full teaspoon of of teaspoon full one and vodka job and went round the buoy again. again. buoy the round went and job

consisting of 1 bottle rum, 4 bottles bottles 4 rum, bottle 1 of consisting

buying raffle tickets. The punch it- punch The tickets. raffle buying

self was made strictly for the ladies, ladies, the for strictly made was self

main hall where the punch was being being was punch the where hall main dished out for those first conned into into conned first those for out dished

drinks all the evening. On to the the to On evening. the all drinks

enough from tips to keep him in in him keep to tips from enough Porter, who incidentally made made incidentally who Porter,

were promptly whipped from their their from whipped promptly were backs and stamped by George George by stamped and backs

`word'. On arrival, the guests coats coats guests the arrival, On `word'.

to the Forth Bridge Hotel to pass the the pass to Hotel Bridge Forth the to open, Bob Frazer having been sent sent been having Frazer Bob open,

29 29

With permission permission With

for the use of the the of use the for

Lochinvar Lochinvar

Scotland Command Divers Dinner Dinner Divers Command Scotland

noons off it was decided that it it that decided was it off noons would be a good idea if a Divers Divers a if idea good a be would

URING one of our few after- few our of one URING

Everything went fine until the the until fine went Everything

After some consideration a ques- a consideration some After

make it back in time and the panic panic the and time in back it make

Bridge collapsed and looked like like looked and collapsed Bridge

evening. However, we managed to to managed we However, evening. was averted. averted. was afternoon of the 3rd when the Tay Tay the when 3rd the of afternoon

endangering our run ashore that that ashore run our endangering

`nosh.' `nosh.'

scale `bum's rush' which included included which rush' `bum's scale

old friendships and started a full full a started and friendships old

the normal drunken drivers. After After drivers. drunken normal the

we at B. & M.D.U. promptly renewed renewed promptly M.D.U. & B. at we the cover charge had been collected, collected, been had charge cover the

punch and late night transport for for transport night late and punch

swapping our extra issue for Chinese Chinese for issue extra our swapping

have some capital so a £1 per 'couple' 'couple' per £1 a so capital some have was charged to include eats, band, band, eats, include to charged was

of the 3rd December. We had to to had We December. 3rd the of

Hottila Club. Club. Hottila

in, the date was fixed for the evening evening the for fixed was date the in,

H.M.S. H.M.S.

granted, and a bar extension thrown thrown extension bar a and granted,

required a pretty large place, so we we so place, large pretty a required

`run' in South Queensferry. To To Queensferry. South in `run'

house forty or so divers and partners partners and divers so or forty house

approached the Commander of of Commander the approached

Once we knew the numbers to be be to numbers the knew we Once

catered for we decided to hold the the hold to decided we for catered

decided to bring wives or girl friends. friends. girl or wives bring to decided

questionnaire and forty divers divers forty and questionnaire

We had a good response to the the to response good a had We where would they like it to be held. held. be to it like they would where

a 'stag' or an accompanied run and and run accompanied an or 'stag' a

the North asking if they would like like would they if asking North the

tionnaire was sent to all divers in in divers all to sent was tionnaire

Dinner held at Portsmouth. Portsmouth. at held Dinner

permitting many of us attending the the attending us of many permitting

Dinner where held up here. This was was This here. up held where Dinner

and the lack of free railway warrants warrants railway free of lack the and due mainly to service commitments commitments service to mainly due D

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

Phoenix. Phoenix.

28 28

GENERAL INFORMATION INFORMATION GENERAL

Matapan Road, and overflow into H.M.S. H.M.S. into overflow and Road, Matapan

vehicles. vehicles.

It is hoped to demonstrate the use of small underwater underwater small of use the demonstrate to hoped is It

Emergency Resuscitation. Resuscitation. Emergency

Physical effects of pressure. pressure. of effects Physical

Physiological effects of breathing gases under pressure. pressure. under gases breathing of effects Physiological

Continuous film programme which includes:— includes:— which programme film Continuous

person or property whether due to negligence or otherwise. otherwise. or negligence to due whether property or person

be accepted by the Secretary of State for Defence, his Servants or or Servants his Defence, for State of Secretary the by accepted be

Agents, for any injury (including fatal injury), damage or loss to to loss or damage injury), fatal (including injury any for Agents,

Visitors to Horsea Island do so at their own risk. No liability will will liability No risk. own their at so do Island Horsea to Visitors

which may arise. They are there for your assistance. assistance. your for there are They arise. may which Please do not hesitate to ask the Naval personnel any questions questions any personnel Naval the ask to hesitate not do Please

Car Parks Parks Car

Underwater Vehicles Vehicles Underwater Cinema Cinema www.mcdoa.org.uk them up for auction with the result prizes and the raffle tickets, we were Centaur Diving that a bottle of vodka was sold for able to send £31 7s. to the 'Jock £7 10s. and four old copies of the Elder Fund.' I think you will agree ENTAUR divers again, but the SOLUTION TO POMPEY DOCK- Diving Magazine for £2 2s. 6d. All it was a fine way to end a great ship paid off last September. in all, with the money from the other evening. C.B.J. CThe D.O. suggested 'Take your YARD PARKING ? leave in Guernsey, excellent diving with full board and lodging on the One final event before closing. Pusser.' Wife trouble and new drafts What does a diver do when he finds kept numbers down but spare billets a car on the bottom ? Portsmouth were eagerly filled by Victorious di- City Police were most interested vers. The Chief Stoker came as chef for the car was stolen in 1963. The and what a job too with that D.O. possibility of bodies in the car led to wanting his plaice poached on a flam- various dives to knock in the win- ing M.F.V. coal range. Diving con- dows, forcing the door, but have, you ditions were no disappointment with tried entering a Ford Anglia in nil trips each day by gemini. It was a vis with a S.A.B.A. set on ?! Next case of take your choice with under- step was to salvage the car, hence water photography, spearing fish or the picture. collecting scallops. Socially most successful judging by the hours kept Editor's Note by some members, the final bottle party will be remembered by both The tread on some of the tyres still the locals and the crew who faced look reasonable. I wonder if they a Force 7 gale on sailing. were salvaged ?

Diver's Efficiency

T is a well known fact that at high and oxy-helium as the breathing pressures nitrogen has a narcotic gases. Firstly simple arithmetic tests Ieffect and thus it must be removed carried out by the divers at a depth from the breathing gas when at of 200 feet showed that the mental depth. Generally divers are not processes were slowed down by 15 seriously affected by this narcosis at to 20 % than when at the, surface. depths to 240 feet and air can be Secondly small manual tasks under- breathed safely by a well trained taken at the same depth took 32 diver at this depth. However because longer on helium and 47 % longer on of its advantages there is a trend to air than at the surface. Also during use oxy-helium instead, of air when the first tests more mistakes were diving below 200 feet, but helium made when breathing air than when is expensive and is not readily avail- breathing oxy-helium. able like air, so the relative merits of the two gases must be considered Thus it is reasonably conclud4d when planning an operation. This that the diver's mental efficiency and problem met by a group of University his manual dexterity are impaired at divers and the Applied Psychology depth but that this limitation can be Research Unit of Cambridge Univ- reduced when breathing a oxy-helium ersity have recently completed a gas mixture. _ series of comparison tests using air G.A. F . 30 31 www.mcdoa.org.uk

These included included These

Further restrictions restrictions Further

The incident got wide publicity in in publicity wide got incident The

Operations recommenced at 0930, 0930, at recommenced Operations

or London. London. or

at the Guildhall by the Lord Mayor Mayor Lord the by Guildhall the at

guests at the Palladium Show and and Show Palladium the at guests also entertained to a civic luncheon luncheon civic a to entertained also

the National Press and the unit were were unit the and Press National the

Southend Pier. Pier. Southend

a 'full order' explosion 1 miles off off miles 1 explosion order' 'full a

end. It was with a sigh of relief that that relief of sigh a with was It end.

the team watched the bomb go up in in up go bomb the watched team the

empty with traffic piled up at each each at up piled traffic with empty

It was quite a sight to see all bridges bridges all see to sight a quite was It

Ferries were stopped and other other and stopped were Ferries

shipping was asked to pass slowly. slowly. pass to asked was shipping

down river. Each bridge and each each and bridge Each river. down

tunnel was closed as the ship passed. passed. ship the as closed was tunnel

were imposed as the vessel went went vessel the as imposed were

onboard the lifting craft, which which craft, lifting the onboard

placed into a prepared bed of fenders fenders of bed prepared a into placed river. down However, by 1130 the bomb was was bomb the 1130 by However,

immediately 'slipped' and proceeded proceeded and 'slipped' immediately

radius of 500 yards from the bomb. bomb. the from yards 500 of radius

evacuating the North bank within a a within bank North the evacuating

Bridge, stopping river traffic and and traffic river stopping Bridge,

were imposed. imposed. were stopping rail traffic over Blackfriars Blackfriars over traffic rail stopping

and therefore full safety restrictions restrictions safety full therefore and

operation, during which the bomb bomb the which during operation,

could have been inadvertently jolted jolted inadvertently been have could

ready for the lift. This was consid- was This lift. the for ready

ered to be a hazardous part of the the of part hazardous a be to ered

task for the divers was to fit the lift- the fit to was divers the for task ing straps. By 1120 everything was was everything 1120 By straps. ing

vessel was in position and the first first the and position in was vessel

depth being 45ft. when the lifting lifting the when 45ft. being depth

remove the fuse in situ than to re- to than situ in fuse the remove move the bomb and countermine it it countermine and bomb the move in a safe area. area. safe a in

hazard to the bridge to attempt to to attempt to bridge the to hazard

rent. In view of this fact it was was it fact this of view In rent. thought that it would be more of a a of more be would it that thought

`watching' at tides other than low and and low than other tides at `watching'

tugging from the fast running cur- running fast the from tugging

had a lifting effect with constant constant with effect lifting a had

33 33

The Blackfriars Bomb Incident Incident Bomb Blackfriars The

Command B. & M.D. team were were team M.D. & B. Command

ruary,1966, a unit of Portsmouth Portsmouth of unit a ruary,1966,

N the evening of the 1st Feb- 1st the of evening the N

The possibility that the bomb may may bomb the that possibility The

Diving commenced at 0345, A/C A/C 0345, at commenced Diving

The unit arrived at the Thames Thames the at arrived unit The

line to a large buoy, which was was which buoy, large a to line

marking the bomb, had secured his his secured had bomb, the marking

very slightly. This was caused by the the by caused was This slightly. very fact that the civilian diver, when when diver, civilian the that fact

turbance fuse was discounted when when discounted was fuse turbance it was noticed that the bomb moved moved bomb the that noticed was it

have been fitted with an anti-dis- an with fitted been have

covered. covered.

the whole of the bomb was un- was bomb the of whole the

knives. By 0505, when the tide was was tide the when 0505, By knives.

again running too fast to continue, continue, to fast too running again

digging out the bomb with diving diving with bomb the out digging

period of slack water was used in in used was water slack of period

Authority could not supply a lifting lifting a supply not could Authority

vessel until 1100 so the remaining remaining the so 1100 until vessel

250 KG bomb*. The Port of London London of Port The bomb*. KG 250 ensions, it was identified as a German German a as identified was it ensions,

transverse fuse pocket could be felt felt be could pocket fuse transverse

and, from this and estimated dim- estimated and this from and,

angle of 45 degrees. An empty empty An degrees. 45 of angle

two thirds of which was buried at an an at buried was which of thirds two

vious that the object was a bomb, bomb, a was object the that vious

2i knots. It was immediately ob- immediately was It knots. 2i

20ft. and with a tide running at about about at running tide a with and 20ft.

vestigation at a depth of just over over just of depth a at vestigation

B.M.D.O. making the initial in- initial the making B.M.D.O.

resentatives and the City Police. Police. City the and resentatives

Port of London Authority rep- Authority London of Port of the area and in conference with the the with conference in and area the of

possible to dive until 0300 because of of because 0300 until dive to possible

the fast flowing current, the time time the current, flowing fast the waiting was spent in reconnaisance reconnaisance in spent was waiting

river police H.Q. Wapping before before Wapping H.Q. police river

midnight and, as it would be im- be would it as and, midnight

Blackfriars Bridge. Bridge. Blackfriars

that he had found what he thought thought he what found had he that was a bomb on the river bed under under bed river the on bomb a was

after a civilian diver had reported reported had diver civilian a after

O called hurriedly from their homes homes their from hurriedly called

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

TENNIS TENNIS

FISHING FISHING BOXING BOXING

CAMPING CAMPING

FENCING FENCING

FIRE ARMS ARMS FIRE

BOWLING BOWLING

20611 20611

HOCKEY HOCKEY

at at

HANTS HANTS

UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT UNDERWATER

SOUTHSEA SOUTHSEA

48 ELM GROVE GROVE ELM 48

32 32

WOODS WOODS

Tel. PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH Tel.

SHOP SHOP

SPORTS SPORTS

RUGBY RUGBY

from from

SOUTHERN SOUTHERN

Ken Edwards Edwards Ken

Peter Anderson Anderson Peter

Personal attention attention Personal

THE THE

Sportsmen shop shop Sportsmen

BRICK BRICK

JUDO JUDO

BADMINTON BADMINTON

GAMES GAMES

WEIGHT WEIGHT

INDOOR INDOOR

GOLF FOOTBALL SQUASH SQUASH FOOTBALL GOLF

CRICKET CRICKET

TRAINING TRAINING ATHLETICS ATHLETICS www.mcdoa.org.uk

The unit consisted of Singapore as often as you care to Exercising the ships divers in Lt. C. Churcher C.D.O. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT mention. Part of our helicopter harbour is almost daily routine in C.P.O. R. White C.D.1. squadron is always ashore in Borneo Singapore. The Diving Officer was L.Sea R. North C.D.11. `PAY-AS-YOU-DIVE special —originally at Sibu, but later at almost made to promise the ships company that the next time he L.Sea G. Denton C.D.11. deferred terms available on all diving Labuan where we have had some very A.B. R. Altoft C.D.11. enjoyable `exped. diving', even if the wanted a late night or early morning A.B. W. Pert C.D.11. equipment from ANDREWS & crayfish have escaped through the swim, he would not wake them up as * Later identified as a German DALTON LTD., 136 Hanworth fern leaf coral. well. It is amazing how many people 250 Kg Type SC11 fitted with a Road, Hounslow, Middlesex.' you can wake up at 0400 with one Type 5 fuse (elect. impact). little thunderflash underneath the Ship husbandry has kept us very ship. busy during maintenance periods and our longest task was cleaning off a We don't have any `geminis' that chalk like deposit from the pro- we can use for diving but have. four H.M.S. Albion pellers this Christmas. This took us L.C.A.'s (or L.C.V.P.'s to give them a total of 36 man-diving hours to their up to date name). These are S my term of office in one of the was a spare being flown ashore slung complete, using the only tool that excellent diving boats, lots of deck `Flat Tops' draws to its close, a underneath a helicopter. Unfortun- would touch this very hard deposit— space and a ramp to get in and out of Afew words about life in H.M.S. ately it began to lurch around and a Mk. 1++ paint scraper. However, the water—all very easy. had to be slipped by the pilot. the result of our labours was that the Albion during the past two years may That seems to be all the news from be of interest. Not content with be- ship would go knot faster, so it was At Mombasa our assistance to worth while. the Albion—I am now looking at ing a C.D.O. in a commando Ship, remove a concrete pile was asked for. I also became the N.B.C.D.O. the This was some 3 feet across and was combination of these two abrevia- reinforced throughout its length with tions produced my title N.B. (C.D.)2. steel bars. It was sitting vertically On commissioning at Portsmouth in about twenty feet of water at the in May '64 we had only ten divers, entrance to a new slipway belonging but during the following six months to a local shipyard. Four of us refit, this rose to 24, all ships divers, arrived with all sorts of explosive P.O. Uniform Suits including the 'toothy' as the second machinery. We tried all day to make diving officer. Our 'work up' began a hole or at least crack the concrete. Ready-to-Wear in November and ended in February. Unfortunately it was completely Some of this time was spent at smooth and seemed to be impenet- Gibraltar, so we managed some rable. Finally, using a rod drill we Diagonal Serge ,enjoyable diving for a change. In made a hole in it, breaking half a 18.19.6 March we sailed to begin our dozen drills in the process. This hole Foreign Service Commission in the was gradually enlarged using small Doeskin - - i10.19.6 Far East. quantities of P.E. By the way, there was a beautiful newly constructed Travelling via Suez, Aden, Mom- office block only 50 yards away all Payment by Cash, Monthly Allotment or Banker's Order basa and back to Aden again, we made of glass! finally arrived at Singapore at the end of April. At Aden we assisted In the end the beast was broken off the Services Yacht Club recovering using many turns of `Cordtex' around GREENBURGH BROS. LTD. and relaying moorings and also the pile. I am not sure which was 81/82 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH repaired the shark nets at the bathing harder, the job, keeping the spec- beaches. Some of the team also spent tators away or drinking the beer on Telephone 26331 three fruitless days searching the completion! also at DEVONPORT, GOSPORT, CHATHAM, PORTLAND, eastern end of Aden harbour for a On arrival at Singapore we began SCOTLAND AND MALTA helicopter rotor blade. This blade the usual Commando ship routine had not dropped off a helicopter but of Singapore to Borneo, Borneo to 34 35 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Flight lists for my relief's name due Finally may I correct an error in What to do with the Divers any day now—he is Lt. Cdr. Lovell- the Winter Edition of this magazine Smith. To any others of you who —Surgeon Lieutenant Commander OST of you will agree that a down, was about three yards. The may find yourselves drafted to a big Beckingham belongs to Albion not big problem for any Ships last diver of the day gave four pulls ship may I say that it is not as bad as Victorious please. MDiving Officer is thinking up halfway through his dip and sur- it seems at first. There is facility See you at Guzz. new things for his divers to do during faced with a piece of heavily-bar- aboard for everthing always, and a their underwater exercises. Contrary nacled crockery. At first it seemed a web-footed human is a stranger to N,R.B. to popular belief (popular, that is, useless find, but some quick scraping those onboard, so you may find many amongst those who have never got with a diving knife changed every- friends quickly. their heads wet), there is a limit to the one's opinion; our diver had dug up practising of bottom searches. One a naval cup from the last century, of the well-known alternatives, obviously a relic of the old Britannia. matching up two dozen assorted nuts It was soon confirmed that the diving and bolts twice as fast as the next boat had anchored by chance, over man, has also been known to pall the site of the moorings of the old Salvage of the Future before the commission is half over. `wooden wallers' that laid in the And is there one amongst us who Dart from 1863-1916. has not searched for those elusive NE of the projects that it was salvage field is the use of flotation Coca-Cola bottles in Lazaretto There were two ships, secured head hoped to undertake during the bags which use rocket fuel as the Creek ? At least that was a diverting to stern, the Britannia and the OU.S. Navy's Sealab II operation flotation gas and which can be pastime for there was always the Hindustan; they formed the centre was the salvage of a section of flooded attached to the sunken craft by re- chance of making enough money on of naval officer training for over hull using an injected foam plastic mote control. An American com- them for a couple of pints of beer fifty years, until the college opened technique. The principle involved in pany claims to have developed this between four divers and their attend- in 1905. The old 'Brit.' as she was this method of salvage is simple and technique using hydrazine, a rocket ants. . . . Regretably, the shift affectionately known, was the living could revolutionise salvage oper- fuel to inflate the lifting bags, and a eastwards in defence thinking has ship, and despite the fact that there ations. The diver takes a hose down means of attaching the bags to the taken most of us away from Malta. were sullage agents even then, a good to the sunken craft and inserts the object to be lifted by remote control and those meagre pickings. deal of the gash and a proportion of nozzle into a flooded compartment. from the surface. An underwater the messtraps found their way over A plastic compound is then forced camera is used for means of location After having spent more than one the side. 'Tinkle, tinkle little spoon; under pressure through the hose and but the actual method of attachment commission figuring out what to do knife and fork will follow soon' was as it emerges from the nozzle into the has not been disclosed. It is reported with ten or a dozen S.W.D.'s I was evidently just as applicable one compartment it expands and solid- that the method has already been pleased at least from one point of hundred years ago. ifies into a polyurethane foam. This used to raise a 16 foot cabin cruiser view to be appointed Diving Officer at the Britannia Royal Naval College : Having found a solitary cup, the foam displaces the flood water there- from a depth of 720 feet, and there is obvious plan was to press on and by lightening the ship and thus no apparent reason why the tech- exercising divers there would be easy. And so it was, at least in the summer, establish the complete range of facilitating the lifting operation. nique should not be applicable at china. This was not, of course, as Although the project is still in the deeper depths and for larger vessels. with crabs, lobsters and odd jobs for the Dartmouth Harbour Master easy as one might imagine (What trial stage it has been used success- The problem of controlling the rate diving operation is ?). The tides in fully to refloat a U.S.N. Destroyer of ascent once the craft is clear of the providing plenty of work and fun for the Britannia Sub Aqua Club. the Dart are strong and visibility aground on a coral reef in the South seabed is not stated but undoubtedly frequently very low—no great ob- China Sea. When all conventional this has been considered. The winter changed things, how- stacle to ship's divers but not so methods of freeing the ship had G.A.F. ever, and high winds and seas forced easily overcome by the relatively failed, foam was pumped into the us to spend most of our time in the inexperienced cadets of the Sub flooded compartment displacing the river Dart. That river proved no Aqua Club. Apart from being tidal water and providing the necessary more interesting than the average; the Dart might also be called buoyancy to enable the ship to be no more interesting that is until one `Seasonal,' because in the summer refloate 3. afternoon in March 1964 . . . It was time its lower reaches are infested by The second development in the High Water Springs and visibility pleasure craft of every sort, not a few on the river bottom, forty-five feet of which like to get close to a diving 36 37 www.mcdoa.org.uk Dating the ware was difficult and Most of the cadets who helped had '3d. Off.'' firms and many other people, in- cluding retired naval officers and day's tubes but hardly likely to have help was sought from the pottery victuallers (members of the Depart- and Messtraps at Royal William ment of Victualling, which, in- may not be an immediately fas- land Harbour for instance—and Yard, Devonport). Old Naval china cidentally, has a museum of Uniform cinating subject it is agreed, but try finding some for yourself—in Port- you'll soon get bitten by the bug. erous (if they'll forgive me) to men- tion. The stanchion of the Sub zled old acting S.Lts. and too num- deed for four whole years at the surface the china ware are now griz- College, was Chief Diver Ken Peak. Aqua Club during this time and in- 39 is approximately 100 years old. The pleasure boats finally won and round the Mewstone for rest of bottle, all are from the last century. the summer, eventually returning to the Dart in late Autumn. A small the photograph are about 80 years The patterned plates at the back of we took to chasing lobsters and crabs dashing Hans Hass types (usually selection of the many pieces china, shown in the accompanying photo- graph. Except for the ginger beer boat to show their passengers those a Size 3 cadet in 6 suit). found during the winter 64-65, is breakfast cup and saucer at the left having been made in 1865. The min- old, the mess bowl and matching plates date from 1896, the wardroom of the picture are oldest pieces, to 'J. Schweppe & Co.' and was made eral bottle in the foreground belonged Flanking it are two toothpaste pots —rather more decorative than to- sometime between 1800 and 1880. A selection of the china, both naval and civilian, recovered from bed River Dart by the Brittania Sub-Aqua Club. The breakfast cup and saucer to left of picture www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk 38

Thepre sent R.N. College issi ted onth e Uncle

Charles Atlas

Representative

personally saw

I

from Saville Row

thought a short article on can confirm, if anyone is

I

I

am sorry that we do not have

L.Sea Turner Named only Beak L.Sea Savage Our team Member L.Sea Thomson Our 'Walls'

A.B. Whatley Our Answer to Lt. Waddington Our Man from P.O. Rose Our Representative The R.N. Torpedo Factory at So friends far apart, hope to see

I

Motor Company's works and was Scotland,

Alexandria was orginally the Argyll reason we are coming to the F.E.S. you all very soon. Good diving and to help you all out. As we say (and note) 'you name it, we can do it.' torpedoes might be of interest. But the 'Bossy' still goes on. The going to take your work from you there is always another day. Passage so far has not gone too well, rough seas diverting us into 'Brest.' but don't get us wrong. We are not shore going lads. We are just going don't drink too much. Remember is because you need help out there— The team consists of:— However the Far East, and no doubt we will meet many of our friends at 1145. because we would like to see this in the magazine by the time we reach Jan G. in a rubber bag. We hope that to work to a very tight schedule and this will make the Easter edition still in doubt, that we don't get much time for diving. much diving news for you. We seem

he Bossington

41

Tin Fish

upset

I

News from t

Proof and Experimental Estab-

AVING received in July, 1965, a `pierhead jump' from the

The geminis we have named after

Well, you asked for news from the

Vickers. but we didn't have much luck at Hunters, although Darby Allen didn't les! We had a great time in Scotland, minehunting as the weather was very

the branch, namely Benny and Char- `Stag', and Oh ! those beautiful memories of the Boness Beasties. R.N. Torpedo Factory at Alexandria, always seem to call at 1145. Ted's report that no one took his trousers rough, and diving was down to a namesake Tony brought his lads onboard for a quick preview of the Chatham, one final mad fling in the was changed the next day to Forward and are well known to members of lishment at Pendine, Wales, to the quiet run in the 'Stag'. I am glad to great emphasis on cultural activities, minimum. During our stay we met need any dragging. We were all boats and after many `gibbery' tot two Scottish gentlemen who place many friends. Funny how they Ted, because my 'Sampan' station H times discussing the same we have troubles we sailed for Scotland for off, but I am wondering if looking forward to getting back to We commissioned on the 1st October January. This date just happened to be Bill's birthday, so we joined up at Chatham, and, after initial teething our work-up and arrived on the 7th with the other Hunters' teams for a finally decided to 'put pen to paper.' Dear Ed. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

WATER

P.B.G.

Any would-be

UNDER

L.Sea Lee T. P/059947

A.B. Birch P. J. P/0 84029 C.K.(s) Percival A. P/O 54903

A.B. Moore B. K. P/O 64849

At present in the chair at Dart-

mouth is Lt. Kempsell with P.O. C.D.1. Scott. way past that formidable opposition. to do with the divers.. . Editors Note:— To C.D.II's that would have left our successors crockery fiend will have to fight his with that recurring problem of what

40

SAN

Dive Dive Dive

116 MANNINGHAM LANE, BRADFORD 8, YORKSHIRE.

1966 catalogue to be released soon.

Call or 'phone for a chat with the experts or send for our new free

decompression chambers, compressors and suits. MARINE SPORTS LIMITED, sole distributors for the complete range of Draeger Normalair Diving Equipment:

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L.Sea Moss, M. J. P/J 938036

L.Sea France G. P/JX 899352 Finally—did we find all the china ? P.O. Richardson W. J. 05558283R

P.O. Page R. J. P/J 966697

P.O. Jones W. D. D/JX 819973 P.O. Hodge D. E. P/JX 905998

LIMITED FUA-

Well, it might have been possible to

(C.N.D. has missed his chance to Lt. Gavin, helped by Shpt. Lt.

as he went outside six months ago). Booker and Lt. Cdrs. Schofield and grid up the area and pick it clean, but send Chiefy to the Far East though The Diving Officer until July 65 was Canning.

To C.D.I. www.mcdoa.org.uk opened in 1906 by the present Lord few divers as they are sometimes Montague of Beaulieu's father. The called upon to look for lost torpedoes. designers of this factory were very I recall one occasion in 1953 when a foresighted and workshops and offices new torpedo had been lost, and were built with facilities well ahead prolonged and arduous searches by of their time. The factory was all the local diving teams, both Naval partially derelict, having lain idle and civilian, had failed to find it. since 1924, when the Admiralty As a last resort I, Diving from bought it in 1935 during the Vernon was detailed by signal to send Abyssinian crisis. During the Sec- up a team from the recently formed ond World War the factory was C.D. branch. A small team, or producing from 70-100 torpedoes `shower' would probably be a more per week. Torpedoes from the apt term, led by the intrepid Sam R.N.T.F., Alexandria, are denoted Stanley, arrived at Loch Long after a by the letters 'AA'. Having been a long and hazardous trip from Ports- `chief fore end coolie' (i.e. T.I. or mouth. Amid raucous calls of Torpedo Gunner's Mate) during the `You'll never find it' from a throng war, and hence at the receiving end of onlookers, the Vernon team of the production line we fore end steamed off in a range boat and were chaps got to know our torpedoes back alongside within 10 minutes really well and were wont to place with the torpedo ! Jim Rushton, a them in this order of merit. The best C.D. of fair renown, had spotted it were always reckoned to be `AA'; amongst some very long weed just next would be `AW' (made by before he hit bottom. An extremely Vickers at Weymouth); then 'ER' lucky dip one might say, but it was 21" Mk. IV Warhead (1918) recovered from Victoria Channel, Belfast, 8/11/58. (made by Morris Motors); and a good boost for the fledgling C.D. Golden Rule for Mine Disposal: "Use as few hands as possible." finally, and these came in about 1944, branch. Torpedoes have always been `CL' (made at Cleveland in the expensive items and, like all other U.S.A.) missiles, are becoming more com- 1889. Depth keeping of torpedo bow tubes of the battleships Rodney plicated and more expensive. There- improved by the introduction of the and Nelson. Twenty-three miles to the north- Servo Motor. wards of the factory of Alexandria fore, the importance of the diving 1926. 21in. Mark 7 enriched air lies the R.N. Torpedo Range at search for lost torpedoes cannot be 1898. Torpedo Range at Bincleaves, torpedo introduced. Used mainly in Arrochar, Loch Long, first opened in over-stressed, since the recovery of Weymouth, opened. County class cruisers. one particular torpedo may often 1910. This is used for proving tor- 1910. 21in. Mark 1 and 2 Torpedoes 1927. 21in. Mark 8 torpedo intro- pedoes of new manufacture and for save months of further development introduced. Previous torpedoes had and research work. duced. (The first of the Burner cycle submarine discharge trials. The been 14in., 16in. and 18in., type). range is probably familiar to quite a 1912. R.N.T.F. transferred from 1935. 18in. Mark 11 torpedo intro- Woolwich to Greenock. duced for aircraft dropping. Stokes 1916. 21in. Mark IV torpedoes Bay range was used as a drop- A Brief Summary of the History of the Torpedo introduced. The object shown under ping place for these torpedoes. Golden Rules for mine disposal is a 1870-1871. One 14in. and one at Woolwich Arsenal. The torpedo 1936. 18in. Mark 12 torpedo intro- 21in. Mark IV Warhead made in duced. This was the torpedo which 16in. torpedo were brought back to had first been regarded as a missile, 1918, laid in the Victoria Channel, Britain from Fiume in Italy by Mr. now it was being thought of both as together with the Duplex Pistol Belfast, in 1940, as a control mine (Contact and influence) which was Whitehead. a gun and a missile. and recovered in November, 1958. used so successfully against the 1872. Manufacture of 16in. tor- 1888. Horsea Island Range opened 1918. 21in. Mark 5 torpedo intro- Italian Fleet at Taranto in November pedoes started at Royal Labora- as a Torpedo Range. Prior to this a duced. 1940. tories, Woolwich Arsenal. canal at Woolwich and the dockyard 1924. 24iin. enriched air torpedo 1951. R.N.T.F. transferred from 1887. Manufacture transferred from basins at Chatham and Portsmouth introduced. These were used in the Greenock to Alexandria. the Laboratory to the Gun Factory had been used.

42 www.mcdoa.org.uk 43 www.mcdoa.org.uk

1952. 18in. Mark 10 torpedo intro- I think this is enough fish for duced. This is the torpedo at the today's menu, but looking forward The National Underwater Instructors Association gates of H.M.S. Vernon. to seeing you all at the Diver's by LT.-CDR. S. A. WARNER, D.S.C., Royal Navy Dinner. 1954. 21in. Mark 20 torpedo intro- Yours aye, UST over twelve months ago a With the chasing, chivvying and duced and this is the torpedo used in MAC. meeting was called of all interested persuasion of Jack Atkinson the first sumarines. Jpeople to enquire into the need for part of the course was started just a National Divers Instructor Qual- before Christmas at Ironmongers ification that would be recognised, Row Swimming Bath. More about Sharks not only by all organsiations in Britain, but also by those abroad. I must admit that the first night In the Bahamas, Doctor P. W. Their eyes are of little use until they This meeting was chaired by Partick was not the complete and un- Gilbert of the American Museum of have closed to within 50 feet and at Wall, m.c., V.R.D., M.P. and its aim qualified success that one would Natural History, has been conduct- 10 feet their vision is their primary was the establishment of a standard wish, but at least we got to know each ing investigations on the hearts and sense. for underwater Instructors, both other and even at this early date it sense organs of the shark. A number amateur and professional. was obvious that the knowledge and of sharks were captured and kept So, if you don't vibrate, and you enthusiasm required was present to alive in pens for close study, and don't smell, and you keep the shark At the meeting it was unanimously have a jolly good shot at making this certain experiments were carried out. at a range of over 50 feet, then you agreed that there was a need for a project work. This was followed by As a result of this work the Doctor are as safe as a bikini beauty would British Instructor Grade that would a weekend in Portsmouth during now states that sharks can sense their be at Horsea during a C.D.ls be universally recognised. The high which the weather added a very prey by vibration at a distance of a qualifying course! standard of the French grading was appreciable handicap to an alreday quarter mile, and beyond this range G.A.F. discussed and it was agreed that any tough programme. they rely on their sense of smell. British Standard should be at least as high. Another weekend at Stoney Cove, during which the elements were a A working committee was then set little kinder, enabled us to complete up to sort out the numerous problems the syllabus apart from the written involved and to propose a syllabus and oral examinations. I'm all right Jack ! for the first British National Under- water Instructors course. The final weekend of the 15/16th January hailed the completion of the I deal with I hate to think of the arguments first British National Underwater and machinations, that went on Instructors Course and Examinations. within this committee but I do know As a result of all the trials and trib- JACK BLAIR that the end product—and possibly ulations (and I might add, some the last resort !—was that the Royal pleasant sessions) over a period of Navy were asked to coduct the first one swimming bath evening, two OF PORTSMOUTH course and test. I would like to add weekends at Portsmouth and one at that I think that this was the correct Stoney Cove I am pleased to say that decision because, apart from being out of an initial 9 candidates 6 have Naval and Civilian Tailor and Outfitter able to employ probably the most succesfully completed the course. highly qualified group of divers, medical and pysiological Instructors In my own opinion this is an indica- in Britain, it also meant that the first tion of success and there is now a 48 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH panel of examiners were completely nucleus of qualified Instructors who unbiased. In other words we were have endured the problems of the Telephone 25046 asked to convert the working parties pioneer course. translation of the French Federations Probably the first reaction of a Member of Interport Naval Traders Association. National Moniteur Grading into a Naval Diver is :—How does he com- workable course, with a series of pare with us ? The answer is that the examinations. N.U.I. should be as knowledgeable 44 www.mcdoa.org.uk 45 1/

0

It is hoped that examinations will

I am sure that we shall all find very

be organised to cross train and cross

interested in sport diving. realise that there is a need for cause there is no doubt that the

qualify any C.D.O. or C.D.1. that is

much in common in the future be- happy approach only leads to accid- discipline in diving and that the slap sports world is now coming to

ents.

47

ANY D.u.C.S CHIEF ---30

COULDN'T CET

on purely self contained compressed C.D.1. Indeed, he is not required to will never be as experienced as a knowledge that a C.D.1. does. After air sport as a C.D.1. He, of course, pressed air is above that of a ships cover the wide field of professional all a C.D.1. is probably the most highly qualified diver in the world. the wide field of training carried out The N.U.I. diving ability on com- diver but obviously does not cover

by the C.D.2. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

HEDGES

ala

than this

Could anything

Imported from England

superb gold box?

be more luxurious

Yes. The cigarettes inside

THE BOX IS GOLD —THE PLEASURE PRICELESS

BENSON www.mcdoa.org.uk LETTERS TO THE EDITOR For the Very Old Divers Dear Ed. consider it to be still the best media I read with interest an article in a for training divers, or is it long RRIVING at R.N.B. Devonport 1 fell in with class SDC 11, and back number 'The passing of the distance swimmers that the 'Andrew' in June 1965, I was amazed to cast my rheumy eyes around in the Copper Hat.' The writer paid tribute wants ? It's safe to say that one hard Asee them knocking down Jago's vague hope of seeing one of my to the great work done by 'steamers.' hatted man is equal to three self Mansions, and as the crain driver contemporaries. 'Don't they train It was more like a funeral oration! contained divers on the bottom. swung his heavy steel ball, there were them young these days ? Blimey ! Let me say this :—the day you buried Finally if I were still in the Andrew I cheers from the on-looking matelots The instructor's in an ugly mood `standard' was the death knell of the would suggest the return of Standard when he made a direct hit, and down this morning—wonder why they call Naval Diver. Without training in for training but I suppose the new came the crumbling masonry. My him 'Red'. Please God, no mud runs standard no man can call himself a types will open fin on this. mind went back to 1931 when I first —just yet anyway!' diver. Once manipulation of stand- DAB DAB went into Jago's for a one days gas ard (which is an art) has been mast- course from Defiance. Ah well, on to After three days of cruelty I was ered, any other type of equipment Editor the Diving School in comparative staggering back from the `Matapan,' comes as easy as drinking water. silence, for the gun battery did not heavily laden with stand, weights, That's no 'bull.' If classes could not 1. Strong words from an Ex echo to the screams of Gunnery set, etc. and completely exhausted, be better employed doing a few tasks Steamer but I trust some Cork Instructors. when I saw a familiar face set in in a hard hat and 'spindling up' from Head will be able to give a good 30-40ft. etc, than swimming around answer ! in that pond you have at Horsea Island, send me to the `bagracks!! 2. A week's Standard Diving is The powers that be may consider included in the present course for that 'standard' is outmoded but I Clearance Diver 2nd Class.

Strewth! I'll be glad when these three weeks at Horsea are over ! ! MUM ! !

48 49 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk black rubber. The face and figure The chap next to me said 'You're Doctor Pinto, an American dentist worst cases it can cause inflation and were nearer my age group, and were very chummy with Wack aren't you?' and an enthusiastic SCUBA diver, accumulation of fluid in the Eus- showing visible signs of distress after `Yes we are old ships.' claims that many of the unpleasant tachian tube, which results in im- a `Matapan' search. `Do you know who he is ?' symptoms and ailments suffered by paired hearing, headaches and, `Hello Jan' I said, 'all go isn't it ?' divers can be traced to distortion of dizziness. To overcome all this `No, I can't place him.' the jaw because of mouth piece Doctor Pinto has designed a mask The face smiled politely and nod- `That is Captain Butt.' breathing. The effort required, often which fits over the lower part of the ded. I wondered what ship I had `Well, you never can tell; when subconsciously, to hold the mouth face and under the chin, leaving the been in with him. I was puzzled. they are in a rubber bag they all look piece in position imposes an unfair nose and eyes free. The mask has no load on the teeth and joints of the Two days later I was 'fell in' with the same. mouth piece and is so designed to lower jaw. This can result in serious permit speech at close range without the class, when the Face staggered up If, like me, you have served in a the last few steps to the school. coal-burning battleship, there is not consequences—pains in the jaw and a electronic aids, and tube feeding of much hope of seeing an 'old ship' at numbing sensation of the teeth are the diver. No other details of the `Alright Wack ?' I called in a loud the Diving School—anyway, not common complaints, and if the dive mask is available but it is under- whisper with sympathetic concern. now that Lord Louis has left the is for an extended period, nausea and stood that a prototype is being tested sickness may develop. In the very by the U.S. Navy. G.A.F. Again the polite smile and a nod of service! the head. R. LENNON, C.P.O., R.N.R.

Courage is the Word for Beer

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

The diver s wearing an Under- Dunlop have for many years produced water Swimmer's Dress made from rubber-proofed crimped various types of underwater equipment knitted nylon, and is using SABA (Swimmer's Air Breath- for the Admiralty, playing a leading part Since 1949 TYPHOON DIVING EQUIPMENT has been manufactured for the ing Apparatus). Sports Diver in the United Kingdom. Today the most comprehensible range The suit is manufactured by in the design and development of comprises equipment of our own manufacture, such as Typhoon Suits, Fins, Dunlop General Rubber Goods Masks, Snorkels, etc., as well as selected imported products, Diver's Watches, Division of Manchester, and Underwater Cameras, Harpoon Guns and two-stage, single hose compressed the breathing equipment by apparatus for different specialized air Demand Valves. Dunlop Aviation Division of Coventry. branches of underwater operations. E. T. SKINNER & Co. Ltd. 2 LOCHALINE STREET DUNLOP LONDON, W.6. Tel.: RIVerside 8341 CF1-1PW/24 52

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