PATRON H.R.H. THE PRINCE PHILIP DUKE OF EDINBURGH OTTAWA BRANCH THE NAVAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Box 505, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6 “To make all levels of Government and the general public clearly aware of the vital need for, and value of adequate and effective Maritime security forces to protect and further the interests of Canada.” (Branch Constitution, Article III.) 45.02 “Trying the depth of the water and the quality of the bottom line.…” November 2009 The Lockheed-Martin Multi-Function Workstation See the cover story on the Halifax Class Modernization starting on page 5 Soundings November 2009 1 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ From the President By Bob Bush necessary to help share the load. In this edition… I am committed to the ongoing renewal of the NOAC, set in motion with P2. President’s Remarks the acceptance of the Fowler Report and being P.3 Editor’s Desk well-guided in its implementation with P.3 SLt Down Part 13 Richard Archer at the helm. P.5 Halifax Class This initiative is essential to the longevity of the NOAC. Modernization Dear Branch Members, Further, I can think of no P.8 SHINPADS better way to commence the As the new second 100 years of naval P.9 Entertainment News President, I have the service than to provide privilege to be involved in serving and retired officers P.10 CNAG an exciting time for the with a relevant and engaged NOAC. With the Navy’s social and professional P.11 NOAC Conference Centennial celebrations, association. In this light, I 2010 which kicked off in October value the relationship that this year and will extend we have built with the P.12 Branch Meeting into 2010, we of the naval Society of Naval Architects P.13 Naval Aviation RV community will have an and Marine Engineers excellent opportunity to (SNAME). It is one of my P.14 Pogo turn the country’s attention personal goals as President towards the significance of to develop similar P.16 Golf Course maritime affairs, and to relationships with other Memorial celebrate our Navy’s like-minded organizations. contributions over the past To this end I have met with P.17 Salty Dips century. As the NOAC the Secretary of the moves to rejuvenate the Washington DC Branch of P.18 Up Periscope organization, maintaining the Surface Navy the camaraderie which we Association, and will soon P.19 Manfield Plate all enjoy while contributing meet with the President to P.20 Remember in a relevant way to our discuss areas where our country’s maritime future, two “National Capital P.20 HMCS Carleton the convergence of our Region” organizations can renewal efforts with the work together. These types P.21 Seen-in-Passing Centennial provides our of relationships have the association with a unique potential to add greatly to P.21 Membership opportunity to get involved the value of an NOAC P.22 Hawaii and contribute. This of membership, and offer course will be a busy time unique opportunities to P.27 Officers and for many of us, and I hope interact with other Directors that the Board of Directors maritime professionals. will be able to draw on the As Richard Gimblett P.28 Branch Info membership if it becomes moves on to the Ottawa National Director position, I 2 Soundings November 2009 want to thank him for all has done over the From the Editor past 5 years that he has served as Vice- By Richard Archer President and President. Rich has provided very sound leadership and has brought The cover story in this edition is on the about some welcome changes, particularly in Halifax Class Modernization, something I the Board of Directors with the creation of believe we can all be very interested in as the Director-at-Large positions. With these new Navy moves to make itself over for the positions in place, succession within the coming challenges. Thanks to Branch Board will become “planned” rather than member, and not incidentally both the “press ganged”. I also wish to thank Heather author of the Fowler Report on NOAC Armstrong who has surrendered the Ottawa Renewal and the Project Manager for HCM, National Director position to Rich. Heather Cdr Russ Fowler for facilitating the article by ends 7 years of service to the NOAC in the LCdr Owen Brine. Vice-President, President and National As an old Ops Officer and one-time Director positions and has seen us through a Operational Requirements Manager for the good many changes including the initiation original CPF Project I continue to have an of the renewal project. BZ Heather for all of interest in all things that help our sailors do your contributions! their jobs. Back in the early 80s one of the I look forward to greeting all members big tasks was to support Jim Carruthers and at the monthly meetings and at the mess, his technical whizzes on getting SHINPADS and to working with the Board of Directors into the frigates. Our contribution in the as we move ahead on the many issues and Project Office was to ensure the competing activities that will flow down from the NOAC ship integrators designed the ops room renewal initiative. layout right. Part 1 of Jim’s article on the launch of SHINPADS describes the start of Cheers, Bob S an intriguing epoch in Canadian ingenuity and technical excellence. Enjoy this edition of Soundings! S From Sub-Lieutenant Down – followed by grand periods of vacation breaks. Part 13 Such was the case in the Spring of 1956. What to do, where to go, what the cost, what By Ted White the fun? Through the good graces of Sean, one Fond memories of our formative years as of our Royal Marine classmates, four of us young officers can be characterized in the were invited to Ireland for a week or so, to great numbers of minor, mostly humourous include a few days living out of his home in incidents, that we all lived through, by merely Dublin and then a subsequent visit to the going the 'nothing ventured--nothing gained' grandmother's cottage at Ballydooley, County route. Herein are selected vignettes from the Roscommon. 'fifty's, reflecting our life and times. Sean's father was a physician, serving in St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin. His Firstly…"Ale, man, ale's the stuff to drink, home mailing address (only in Ireland) was, For fellows whom its hurts to think." "Fassaugh House, Finglas Road, Across from A.E.Housman the Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland." Sean's father was the spitting image of We intellectuals, attending Royal the well-loved movie actor, Louis Calhearn Naval College, Greenwich England, were ('High Society' with Bing Crosby and Frank given, in what seemed very short semesters Sinatra). Tall, proper moustache, aristocratic Soundings November 2009 3 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ and immaculately turned out in his Colonel's The tag, one white Easter lily. I had uniform of the Irish Army. St. Bricin's had contributed to the Irish Republican Army. been built by the British Engineering Corps The next few rounds were on me. in different days. I attended but did not remember With great anticipation, off we charged teatime. on Brit Rail to Liverpool and the ferry to Not to get into overload, the greater Dublin. Sean's home was the classic, roomy fun was our visit to grandmother's cottage at Victorian. His mother was out of Jane Balleydooley. Austin, gracious and welcoming. But that is for another time. Some rules of the home were quietly pointed out. One room only for smoking, and Secondly…"The True Pleasure of Life is to everyone was expected to attend 'tea'. Other circulate with one's inferiors ." than that our time was our own. Thackery But the Colonel had other ideas. As visiting officers, we were expected to pay our respects to the Officer's Mess at St. Bricin's on our first day. I will never forget the announced call to the household, at 1100. "We'll be going to get the papers Bessie”, the response being, "that’s foine -- be home for tea." Being 'tail-end Charlie', entering the military complex, I was approached by, and donated silver change to a ragged looking Boy Scout, soliciting the entrance area. He placed a memento tag on my lapel. HMS Excellent Into the welcoming Mess, we were Whale Island immediately burdened with a pint of Guinness. The Colonel spent the next few hours, leaning on the fireplace mantle, It was the annual Gunnery Branch where, was placed a steward call button Mess dinner at HMS Excellent (WHALE which upon execution, out of the anteroom ISLAND). All participant autos were directed came Mr. Hannah, an oil-slicked back head straight ahead to park on the disreputable of hair who could have been out of Ealing gravel parade ground. Onto the bridge Studios, and his oft-repeated "Wotl it be, approached a putt-putt Morris Mini Minor, Sir?” was immediately responded to: driven by a boat-cloaked elderly salt. “Hannah, these gentlemen Officers will be Standard directions to the parade having themselves a round, and have one, grounds were disregarded as the 'old chap' yourself too." "Very good, Sir!" took a right turn, up the incline and parked As other officers entered, introduced, in one of the four VIP parking spots, located claimed they all knew our families in various at the Wardroom entrance. counties and to commemorate our visit, it Commander "G", telescope in hand, in was another "round." all his finery, with polished, condescending As the afternoon progressed, Hannah, after smile, approached the driver's side with, feeling the relaxed protocol, approached the "Terribly sorry old chap, but would you mind Colonel and in a loud voice, "Shur! these proceeding to the parade ground…these gentlemen Officers be they in Her Majesty's spots are for special senior guests." Navy, are they not?" The door squeaked open, out came a "Why, yes they are, Hannah." spry oldster, waving his boat cloak aside and "Well, does that one Officer know what he gruffly acknowledged, with his now visible he is wearing on the edge of his lapel?' one broad and three narrows, "Damn good All eyes turned to me.