Military Despatches Vol 7 January 2018 Stranger than fiction Naval facts, figures and trivia Bite the bullet... and other expressions given to us by the military

Head-to-Head The ten strongest navies in the world

Forged in Battle Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier

The raid that stunned the world Operation Thunderbolt

For the military enthusiast Military Despatches January 2018 What’s in this month’s edition

Feature Articles 6 Naval facts, figures & trivia Click on any video below to view A few facts, figures and trivia about navies, war at sea, and general nautical information. How much do you know about movie theme 12 Where did you come from? songs? Take our quiz Ever wonder where some of the expressions we use come from? You’d be surprised at just how many of and find out. them originated from the military or warfare. We look at just a few of them. Page 6 Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African 15 Military Myths and Urban Legends Page 15 Goede interviews former Defence Force used In the last article of this series (for now), we look at 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, some military myths and determine the truth about Williams. Afrikaans, slang and them. techno-speak that few 18 This is our song outside the military Ever since Joshua brought the house down at Jericho, could hope to under- music and the military have shared a close relation- stand. Some of the terms ship. We look at some music that has become synony- were humorous, some mous with certain units, regiments and corps. were clever, while others were downright crude. Head-to-Head 22 The world’s strongest navies Part of Hipe’s “On the How the Top 10 navies measure up. couch” series, this is an interview with one of Quiz author Herman Charles 33 General Military Knowledge Bosman’s most famous This month we want to test your general military characters, Oom Schalk knowledge. We have 23 questions for you and you tell Page 22 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in us the answers. dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area Famous Figures war between rival taxi plagued with gang 34 Able Seaman Just Nuisance organisations. violence, to view first- Able Seaman Just Nuisance was probably one of the hand how Project most unique characters to ever enlist in the Royal Ceasefire is dealing with Navy. the situation. Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Cover Photograph thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. As the sun rises the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Arliegh Burke heads towards port in Simon’s Town. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 39 Memorable Moment Page 34 AB Daniella Grootboom tells of a memorable mo- ment at the 2017 Annual Sea Cadet Camp. Forged in Battle 40 Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier Editor’s Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, PUBLISHER equipment or units that have been tried and tested on Sitrep Hipe Media the battlefield. This month we look at the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. EDITOR Matt Tennyson Battlefield Page 46 sue. Both of these articles had CONTRIBUTORS 46 Operation Thunderbolt song titles that, if you clicked Raymond Fletcher, Daniella ell, here we are, it’s On the night of 3 and 4 July, 1976, a group of Israeli on them, allowed you to listen Grootboom, Ryan Murphy, 2018 and another commandos carried out one of the most audacious to the actual songs. Matt O’Brien, Matt Tennyson, year has past. special forces raids in history - and they travelled W So this month we’ve included Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil. more than 5,000 kilometres to carry it out. I trust that everyone had a another interactive music arti- good Christmas and New Year. cle. These are all songs that are Military Despatches is pub- 51 TS Tiburton assists disabled fishers And talking about the new year, synonymous with certain corps, lished on-line every month. let’s hope that it is a good one. How a group of Sea Cadets from Durban make a dif- regiments or units. The articles used in Military ference. By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil. I had a most pleasant Christ- It’s interesting to note that Despatches are copyrighted mas, thanks for asking. In our each branch of the United States and may not be used without Page 54 family we would always have Armed Forces - Army, Navy, prior permission from the edi- our Christmas ‘lunch’ on the Reviews Air Force, Marine Corps, and tor. 52 Game Review - Atlantic Fleet evening of the 24th December. Coast Guard - has their own The views stated in this mag- This meant that on Christmas Admiral Matt O’ Brien is all at sea as he prepares to theme song. azine do not necessary reflect take on the might of the fleet. Day no-one had to slave away What I personally found in- the views of Hipe!, the editor, in the kitchen. You just pigged teresting was the marching the staff, or Hipe Media. out on left-overs. song of the US 7th Cavalry. It’s 54 Movie Review - Das Boot This year I had eight people called Garryowen. It is named Hipe! This epic German film about World War II submarine around, seven of them were after Garryown in Limerick, P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 warfare was nominated for six Academy Awards. veterans. Republic of Ireland. It’s also South Africa. This month there is a bit of where I was born and lived un- 55 Book Reivew - Men of the Mendi Page 56 a nautical feel to the maga- til the age of 13. email Written by Brenda Shepherd, this is the story of the zine. You may remember that Later this month we will be [email protected] sinking of the SS Mendi during WW1, the bravery of in October we had a number launching our very own Mili- the men on board and the ensuing inquiry conducted of articles about pilots and air- tary Despatches website. Some- by the Board of Trade in London. craft. So to ensure that our navy thing else we will be launching readers don’t feel left out, this is our own channel on YouTube. month has a number of articles This is where we will upload that they will hopefully find in- videos for our readers to watch. The Lighter Side teresting. Many of the videos will tie in to 56 Salty Sea Stories A number of readers sent e- articles in the magazine. A radio conversation that was supposed to have really mails saying that they enjoyed Until next month. happened, a rewriting of history, and two jokes make the articles “Music to March up this month’s ‘On the Lighter Side’. to” in the November issue, and “The Alternative Christmas Playlist” in the December is- Matt 4 5 ture. As such, even the holi- • One of the nicknames for Naval facts, figures & trivia est of holy men can’t escape the Royal Navy is “The An- A few facts, figures and trivia about navies, war at sea, and general nautical trivia. the nicknames they get in drew” and its origin is sub- the service, which include: ject to speculation. Some Padre, Bish, Bible Puncher, say the name comes from he first recorded action and 61 fleet torpedo boats, apparently originated as a Bible Basher, Devil Dodger, Andrew Miller, seen as Dodgy Deacon, God Both- an over-zealous officer of at sea is said to have while the numerically supe- sign of good faith; by dis- Boatswain’s Pipe taken place in 1210 BC rior British fleet was com- charging your guns, you erer, Maker’s Rep, Holy Joe, the Impress Service, or the T tar from the sheets and rig- and Sin Bosun. “press gang”, that forced when the Hittites defeated the posed of 28 battleships, 9 temporarily disarmed your- Cypriots near Cyprus. Egyptian battle cruisers, 8 armoured self and thereby showed ging and it was considered • The Boatswain’s Pipe, also sailors into service. Other King Ramses III defeated the cruisers, 26 light cruisers, yourself to have peaceful in- unseemly to show an officer known as a Bosun’s Pipe, is suggested origins are that ‘Sea Peoples’ at the Battle of 78 destroyers, 1 minelayer, tentions. or a member of the Royal one of the oldest and most Andrew was also a name of the Delta in 1190 BC. and 1 seaplane carrier. Brit- • During WWII John F. Ken- family a dirty palm. distinctive pieces of nauti- a Man O’ War ship or that For thousands of years a na- ain lost more ships and twice nedy commanded the patrol • In the Royal Navy commis- cal equipment. The pipe or Miller was such a huge sup- tions strength was defined by its as many men as Germany, boat PT-109. He was run sioned ships and submarines flute, was used in Greece plier of provisions to the power at sea. Sea power was although ultimately the out- over by a Japanese destroy- wear the White Ensign at and Rome to keep the stroke Navy that it was said be- the sum of a nation’s capabil- come was beneficial for the er. He and the survivors had the stern whilst alongside of galley slaves. The pipe tween those and the sailors ities to implement its interests British as the battle resulted to make their way to an is- during daylight hours and at was used in the Crusades to that he owned the Navy. in the ocean, by using the in the successful contain- land, find food and shelter the main-mast whilst under call English cross bowmen • While many ship losses re- sulted from sea battles, some ocean areas for political, eco- ment of the German fleet. and signal the Navy for res- way. When alongside, the on deck for attack. In time, of the highest death tolls nomic, and military activities in Union Jack is flown from the the pipe came to be used as • The first time ships were cue. were caused by the bomb- peace or war in order to attain used by English forces in • The Cat O’Nine Tails, also jackstaff at the bow, but can a badge of office by com- only be flown underway on manders. The whistle was ing or torpedoing of vessels national objectives—with prin- combat dates back to Alfred known as the Cat, was an carrying refugees and other cipal components of sea pow- the Great, who used ships instrument used in former special circumstances i.e.: used for salutes to distin- guished persons as well as civilians. The German lin- er being naval power, ocean to repel a Viking invasion. times for flogging at sea. It when dressed with masthead er Wilhelm Gustloff, laden to pass orders. science, ocean industry, and Used mostly to transport consisted of nine pieces of flags (when it is flown at the with civilian refugees and ocean commerce. soldiers, England didn’t cord with three knots in each jackstaff), to signal a court- • Here are some pipe calls wounded German soldiers No fewer than 113 countries arm ships with guns and use cord, the whole attached to a martial is in progress (when used by the US Navy. Click and sailors, was torpedoed around the world have navies. them in naval battles until short thick rope as a handle. it is flown from the starboard on the link to listen to them. off the coast of Poland by a Let’s take a look at some na- Henry VIII. His daughter, Flogging was done on the yardarm) or to indicate the Clear Mess Decks. Soviet submarine, S-13, on val trivia and traditions. Elizabeth I, built the Navy bare back of a sailor by a presence of an Admiral of Dinner for crew. 30 January 1945. Although • In terms of total tonnage of into one of the most formi- ship’s boatswain mates. the Fleet,including the Lord Knock-off ships work. imprecise, some sources ships involved, Jutland was dable defensive forces in the • Originally, sailors would re- High Admiral or the Mon- Mail, POs pick up mail. even suggest a figure as high the largest surface battle. world and ultimately put an move their headgear to a su- arch (when it is flown from Muster Reports Due. a 9,400, the probable death toll being some five times as It took place during World end to the might of the Span- perior. Queen Victoria insti- the highest hoist). Relieve Watch. • A ship’s rate class was typi- Reveille. great as that of the Titanic. War I between 31 May and ish Armada. tuted the hand salute in the • Clean water was hard to 1 June, 1916, near Jutland, • In days gone by, whistling Navy to replace uncovering cally determine by the num- Secure fuel detail. ber of guns it had. “First Secure mess line. get out in the middle of the Denmark. This was the was a sign of mutiny. The when she sent for certain of- ocean, so sailors’ supply of Rate” ships tended to be Set normal underway watch. only major engagement be- only crew member aboard ficers and men to Osborne rum wasn’t a luxury, it was Set special sea anchor detail. tween battleships. The Im- the ship allowed to whis- House to thank them for ren- the largest and had the most a necessity. Sailors received perial German Navy’s High tle was the chef. When the dering help to a distressed guns and thus were the flag- Smoking lamp out. a daily ration of rum, known Seas Fleet was commanded chef was whistling the crew German ship, and did not ships. Second Rate, Third Sweepers. as “grog”, that was pretty by Vice-Admiral Reinhard could hear that he wasn’t like to see men in uniform Rate, and Fourth Rate ships Taps high in alcohol content at Scheer and the British Grand eating their food. without headdress. were progressively smaller. • In the US Navy a ship with a 70-80%. Eventually, the Fleet was under Admiral Sir • The tradition of firing blank • The normal military salute Fifth and Sixth Rate ships hull number beginning with Navy started to dilute it with John Jellicoe. The German rounds from the gun batter- had the palm of the saluting were the frigates. DDG is a Guided Missile water and citrus, the latter fleet consisted of 16 dread- ies of both ships and forti- hand facing outwards. The • In the Royal Navy Chaplains Destroyer. helping to combat scurvy. nought and 6 pre-dread- fications as a form of salute navy salute had the palm are a vital part of the service • Britain invented the steam There was legend that when nought battleships, 5 battle goes back almost to the ear- facing inwards because sail- and nicknames are an en- catapult, used to launch air- Admiral Nelson was mor- tally wounded in battle, he cruisers, 11 light cruisers, liest days of naval guns. It ors’ hands were covered in demic part of military cul- craft from an aircraft carrier. 6 7 asked for his body to be old Swordfish planes. They brought back to England in a sank the Italian battleship rum cask. Occasionally, the Littorio and severely dam- sailors would partake of rum aged two other battleships. from the cask, leading Royal • Launched on 24 Septem- Navy rum to have the nick- ber, 1960 by Newport News name “Nelson’s Blood”. Shipbuilding and Drydock • In 1740 Admiral Vernon, the Co, the USS Enterprise commander in chief of the (CVA(N) 65) became the West Indies, replaced the world’s first nuclear pow- neat rum which was then ered aircraft carrier. issued to all sailors twice • Telling a person to Shake daily, with a watered-down A Leg means encouraging version. The Admiral was a them to get on with a task. In well-known figure and had recent centuries the phrase the nickname ‘Old Grog’ be- was well used in public cause of his trademark Gro- school dormitories, prisons gam coat (a rough mixture NOT JUST A YACHT: This Royal Navy vessel was the yacht of and other institutions where of mohair and silk). Accord- the British Royal Family. people sleeping in commu- ing to The Guardian’s Notes sive, contemptuous remark, promotion), Friday - A Will- nal rooms would be ordered & Queries, Series I, the un- WORLD FIRST: The USS Enterprise became the world’s first although now it has devel- ing Foe and Sea-Room, and out of bed at dawn every happy sailors of the fleet nuclear powered aircraft carrier. oped into a more friendly Saturday - Our Wives and day. The origin of the saying soon began calling the new expression, often implying Girlfriends (may they never dates back to the time when watered-down ration ‘Grog’ aircraft carrier named after of “crossing the line” are shock and disbelief. Back meet). In 2013, in keeping civilian women were first and as a natural progression him. The other three, Theo- ancient and their derivation on the high seas, in the days with political correctness, allowed on board a ship. At drunk sailors were consid- dore Roosevelt, Abraham is lost. It is well known that when women were allowed the Tuesday and Satur- that time the bosun’s mate ered ‘groggy’. Lincoln and George Wash- ceremonies took place long to live on board the ships, day toasts were officially would traditionally rouse • If you watch most films fea- ington, all have aircraft car- ago when the ship crossed unexpected pregnancy was a changed. The Tuesday toast the sailors with the cry turing the Royal Navy in the riers named after them. the thirtieth parallel, and regular occurrence. The area is now “Our Sailors (to re- ‘Shake a leg or a purser’s 17th and 18th Centuries, it • In US Navy terms, to ‘deep also when going through the behind the mid-ship gun, flect female members of the stocking.’ When a stocking- can seem like a brutal life six’ something means to Straits of Gibraltar. Early and behind a canvas screen, service) and the Saturday clad female leg appeared the full of floggings and lashes throw it away. Originally, ceremonies were rough and was usually where the infant toast is now “Our Families|. lady was allowed to stay in for any number of punish- ‘deep six’ was the call of the to a great extent supposed was born. If paternity was Despite the change, many her bunk until the men were ments. However, the legal leadsman signifying that the to try the crew to determine uncertain, and it isn’t hard personnel still prefer the tra- all up and departed. This system on board ship was water is more than six fath- whether or not the novices to imagine this happened ditional toasts and they are was an obvious attempt to actually more lenient than it oms deep, but less than sev- on their first cruise could more often than not, the still widely used. preserve her modesty while was in civilian courts. This en. Now, it’s a euphemism endure the hardships of life child would be entered into • The first battle that showed dressing, but it would seem is because sailors were a for throwing something at sea. The custom then, the log as the ‘son of a gun’. that aircraft could inflict se- fair to suggest that a lady valuable commodity and overboard or away. as at present, is primarily a • Toasting is an old tradition rious damage to the heaviest on board a ship full of 18th- while discipline had to be • In the US Navy a Boat- crew’s party. in the Royal Navy ward- armoured warships either at century sailors may not kept, death was a punish- swain’s Mate is also known • During the Falklands War rooms. Following the Loyal sea, or anchored in a bay or have had much modesty left ment reserved for only the as an Anchor Clanker. The in the 1980s, HMS Sheffield Toast to the monarch by the harbour was not, as many worth preserving. most serious of crimes. history of the Boatswain’s and HMS Coventry were most junior officer, a toast may believe. Pearl Harbour. • On September 30, 1954, the • In many navies an informal Mate is as old as the Navy sunk by Argentinian forces is offered depending on the It was in fact the Battle of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) be- hearing for minor offenses itself. From the beginning of on different days in May day of the week. The toasts Taranto. In November of came the first commissioned by the unit, ship or station seafaring ships, there’s been 1982. On both occasions, as are as follows: Sunday - Ab- 1940 more than a full year nuclear powered ship in the commander is known as a need for able-bodied men the ships’ crews awaited res- sent Friends, Monday - Our before Pearl Harbor the Brit- United States Navy. ‘Captain’s Mast’ and is not to lower the thick masts, cue, the sailors began to sing Ships at Sea, Tuesday - Our ish attacked the Italian Navy • HMY Britannia, was more the same as a court martial. swab the decks and pipe 12 Monty Python’s “Always Men, Wednesday - Our- at the Gulf of Taranto. Using than just a Royal Navy ves- • Of the four American presi- o’clock reports. This need Look on the Bright Side of selves (as no one else is like- only aircraft from the HMS sel, it was also the yacht dents depicted on Mount formed into the Boatswain’s Life”. ly to be concerned for us), Illustrious and a few from for the Royal Family. Larg- Rushmore, only Thomas Mate rate in 1797. • The expression “Son of a Thursday - A Bloody War or the HMS Eagle, the British er ships have a Catering Jefferson does not have a US • The boisterous ceremonies gun” began as a dismis- a Sickly Season (and a quick sent two attack waves using Branch specialist whose ti- 8 9 tle is Supply Officer. On the which pipes or cigars could Britannia, that officer’s title be lit. It was a safety mea- is Keeper and Stewart of sure to keep the fire hazard the Royal Apartments. The away from highly combusti- Britannia was also the only ble woodwork and gunpow- ship where plimsolls were der. It was usually located a standard part of a sailor’s in the forecastle or the area uniform, in order to keep directly surrounding the gal- noise down and not dam- ley. When the officer of the age the timber boards of the deck gave the order “The deck. Since the 1990s, sail- smoking lamp is lit” it meant ors wore deck shoes on the that smoking was permitted yacht. HMY Britannia was in the allocated area. Like- retired in 1997 and is now a GITMO: The US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. wise, when the officer of museum in Edinburgh. the deck gave the command • Most of the Los Angeles term has nothing to do with commissioned US Navy “The smoking lamp is out”, class submarines are named the male anatomy. An early ship. usually before drills, refuel- after cities. The USS City of type of engine governor • Admiral Hyman G. Rick- JOLLY ROGER: During World War I Lt Commander Max Horton ing or taking on ammuni- Corpus Christi is the only (speed control) consisted of over is considered to be the would fly the Jolly Roger when returning from successful sub- tion, it was the navy’s way one with the words ‘City’ as two metal balls connected to ‘father’ of nuclear propul- marine patrols. of saying that smoking was part of its name. This was to a shaft. As speed increased, sion in the US Navy. now forbidden. While you quell religious groups that centrifugal force made the • A Nimitz-class aircraft car- The Americans lost one car- ship. It may get its name will no longer find smoking protested naming a hunter- balls move outward. At rier, with embarked airwing, rier and a destroyer. While from the fact that CPO’s lamps on board ships these killer submarine ‘Body of maximum speed they would carries a crew of 5,680. the Japanese lost one light are older than most of the days, the figure of speech Christ’. So ‘City of’ was be horizontal, nearly touch- • The aircraft carrier USS carrier and had two others crew (i.e., are “old goats”), has survived in many navies added so that it could be said ing the walls of the space Nimitz went a remarkable 26 damaged. Neither of the two but another explanation says around the world. that the sub was named after that contained them. Hence, years between its launch and fleets ever sighted the other, that goats were once carried • Article 1282 of US Navy the city specifically, not the when a ship is going “balls its first refuelling. only their naval aviators. onboard Navy ships to pro- Regulations directs that body of Christ. to the wall,” she is cruising • In 1910 Curtis and Ely de- • In the US Navy engineering vide milk for the sick, and all persons on deck aboard • In the US Navy destroy- at high speed. veloped the equipment for ratings (Machinist’s Mates, the CPO’ were in charge of ships passing the USS Ari- ers and other small combat • When given an unpleas- landing a plane on a car- Boiler Tech’s, Electrician’s the goats. zona Memorial at Pearl Har- ships are known as tin cans, ant task to perform, you rier. They used strands of Mates, etc.) are referred to • The Jolly Roger is a sym- bour, Hawaii, between sun- presumably because their might hear US sailors using rope with the ends tied to as “snipes.” Non-rated (i.e., bol that has been used by rise and sunset be called to armour was as thin as the the term, “Bohica”. This is sandbags stretched across E-3 and below) personnel submarines, primarily those attention, and that those not metal on a tin can. short for “Bend over, here it the flight deck. They used who work in engineering of the Royal Navy Subma- in formation render the hand • US Navy submariners are comes again.” 22 ropes for each attempted are known as firemen, not rine Service and its prede- salute as the ship passes the referred to by personnel • Sailors refer to US Marines landing. They had a hook seamen. They can be distin- cessors. The practice came memorial, which symbol- on surface ships as bubble- as ‘jarheads’. They are also attached to the tail of the guished by the fact that they about during World War I. izes the losses suffered in heads. known as a bullet sponge or aircraft to grab one of the wear red stripes on their Remembering comments the surprise Japanese attack • Geedunk is a generic term gyrene. ropes and eventually slow uniforms, whereas seamen by First Sea Lord Admi- on the morning of 7 Decem- used by US sailors for any • The U.S. Naval Station in the plane down. Although wear white stripes. ral Sir Arthur Wilson, who ber, 1941. In addition, it is kind of sweet, but usually Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the technology used today • Radiomen are almost al- complained that submarines customary for distinguished it implies candy. The US was established in 1903. It has changed greatly, the ba- ways called “Sparky” or were “underhanded, unfair, visitors to Pearl Harbour to National Defense Service is nicknamed ‘Gitmo’. sic concept is still the same “Sparks.”Electrician’s and damned un-English” pay tribute at the memorial, Medal, which was given to • In the US Navy a Mustang is today as it was back in 1910. Mates are sometimes ref- and that personnel should be normally by laying a wreath everyone who served dur- an officer who has ‘come up • The first naval battle at sea ered to by this same name. hanged as pirates, Lieuten- in front of the memorial tab- ing specific periods of time, through the ranks’, i.e. start- where neither force ever It comes, of course, from the ant Commander Max Hor- lets bearing the names of is sometimes called the ed out as an enlisted man saw the other, no surface ac- early days of the Navy when ton began flying the flag af- those who were lost aboard “Geedunk Medal.” and earned a commission. tion occurred, and only car- radio equipment was likely ter returning from successful the battleship and by throw- • When travelling at top • Over 200 years old and rier based aircraft were used to emit sparks. patrols. ing a flower lei into the sea speed, sailors will often say originally launched on 21 by both sides was the Battle • The “Goat Locker” is the • The Smoking Lamp stems above the sunken hull. that the ship or boat is go- October, 1797, the USS of the Coral Sea between the berthing space for Chief Pet- from the days of the square- ing “balls to the wall.” This Constitution is the oldest US and Japan in May 1942. ty Officers onboard a Navy rigger. It was a lamp from 10 11 side St Patrick’s Cathedral in Prince of Wales Crest Dublin. The Kildares laid siege Where did you come from? outside until Gerald Fitzpatrick, the Earl of Kildare, decided the that the gun could feud had gone too far and at- Ever wonder where some of the expressions we use come from? You’d be surprised at be fired. tempted a reconciliation. just how many of them originated from the military or warfare. We look at just a few It has not been But the Ormonds were sus- of them. recorded how picious of his offer of peaceful many digits were settlement and refused to leave really want to get this ar- applied soldiers would drink ning a task. lost on the battle- the cathedral. As a desperate ticle finished soon. Mainly from other people’s kegs and Sixteenth-century muskets fields. measure to prove his good in- I because I wanted to take a take them down a ‘peg or two’. were always slow to fire their tentions Fitzgerald ordered a bit of a break over Christmas. Just goes to show that even charge due to the delay between A Feather In hole to be cut into the cathedral So I’d better bite the bullet and back then soldiers knew how to lighting the gunpowder in the Your Cap means door and then thrust his out- pull my finger out. gypo. touch-hole and detonation. you have done stretched hand through, putting Ever wondered where some This was known at the time as something well his arm at the mercy of those in- of those expressions we use To Be Hoisted By One’s ‘hang-fire’ and the expression and it has been duly side as it could easily have been originated? You’d be surprised Own Petard means to become was soon used to describe any noted, although cut off. Instead, Butler took his to discover just how many of a victim of your own deceit, or person delaying or slow to take Of military origin, the phrase not rewarded by hand and peace was restored. them came from the military or caught in your own trap. action. emerged during the use of early any tangible means other than from warfare. Here are the ori- Back in medieval times a pe- flintlock muskets. Sometimes by having a ‘feather placed in To Bite The Bullet is to car- gins of a few of them. tard was a thick iron container To Throw Down The Gaunt- gunpowder would ignite with your cap’. ry out a task against the doer’s which was filled with gunpow- let is to lay a challenge, origi- a flash in the lock-pan but the In medieval England knights wishes. It means getting on To take someone Down A der and set against medieval nally of combat but latterly to main charge failed to light, who had shown great courage with something that just ‘has to Peg Or Two means to reduce gates, barricades and bridges. any form of contest. meaning the shot in the barrel in battle were afforded plumes be done’. their status among their peers. The wicks, however, were A gauntlet is a medieval ar- did not discharge. to wear in their helmets. This phrase has its origins in It is possible the origin of this unreliable and often detonated moured glove, forming part of It was a ‘flash in the pan’ and The Black Prince, 16 year old the British Empire as the Vic- phrase is found at sea, and the the gunpowder immediately, a knight’s suit the expression was in regular Prince Edward, the Prince of torians made friends around the peg used to fly a ship’s colours. of armour. Tra- use by 1741. Wales of his day, showed such world at the point of a gun. The lower the peg, the less im- ditionally a courage at the Battle of Crecy At the time of the Indian Mu- pressive the achievement. Gauntlet knight would The phrase Pull Your Finger in 1346 (the first great battle of tiny, gun cartridges came in two Yet there is also a refer- challenge an- Out is associated these days the Hundred Years War) he was parts with the missile part being ence dating as far back other to a duel with encouraging someone to awarded the crest of one of his inserted into the base and held as the 10th century by throw- get a move on, or hurry up and defeated enemies, John of Bo- in place by grease made of ei- and King Edred’s ing down his complete a task more quickly. hemia. ther cow or pork fat. sheer anger at gauntlet. If Like so many English phrases That crest, of three ostrich To charge the bullets the two the amount that his opponent it has a military or naval origin. feathers, remains the crest of parts had to be bitten apart and his army was picked it up it Loaded cannons would have the Prince of Wales to this day. the base filled with gunpowder drinking. meant he was gunpowder poured into a small before they could be fired. Aware that accepting the chal- ignition hole and held in place To Chance Your Arm is to This task was usually left to he needed his lenge and battle would begin. blow- with a wooden plug. take an uncalculated risk, where low-ranking Hindu soldiers soldiers sober Taking Up The Gauntlet has ing up the But in times of battle, when the outcome is completely un- who eat neither beef or pork. for the great since been a phrase used for ac- engineer in the process. In speed was of the essence, the known: a blind bet, if you like. The cow is regarded as a holy battles against cepting a challenge. which case he was ‘hoisted powder would be pushed in and It dates back to Ireland as long animal and is sacred, while pigs the Vikings, Edred ordered pegs (blown up) by his own petard then held in place by a gun crew ago as 1492. During a feud be- are regarded as ‘unclean’. to be put into the side of ale bar- Flash In The Pan is used to (container of gunpowder)’. member using his finger. Impa- tween two distinguished fami- However they were forced, rels and no man was allowed to describe something or some- tient artillerymen, anxious to lies, the Kildares and the Or- against their wishes and their drink below the level of the peg body making a great impression Hanging Fire is often used to fire their cannons at the enemy, monds, during which Sir James religious beliefs, to ‘bite the in a single sitting. at the outset but ultimately fail- describe a pause before begin- would shout at the crew mem- Butler, the Earl of Ormond, and bullet’ in times of battle. But as soon as this rule was ing to deliver any real result. ber to ‘pull his finger out’ so his family took sanctuary in- 12 13 To Beat A Hasty Retreat means to abandon something, Military myths and urban legends to leave quickly and avoid the consequences of remaining in Over the next few months we will be looking at some well-known, and some lesser the same position. known, myths and legends about the military and seeing if they are true or not. This term dates back to the time when a marching army would take its orders from the ast month we looked at a on the West Coast were justifi- The Verdict drummer. Positioned next to the few military myths and ably afraid of what was coming False on both counts. commanding officer, the drum- Lurban legends and dis- next. Rumours were flying that The Reality mer boy would beat the orders covered that most of them were Japanese submarines, ships and Although this is a theory of- Once The Balloon Has Gone During the Second World to an army on a battlefield. not true. paratroopers were on their way. ten cited by opponents of fluo- Up you know there is trouble War, strong barrage balloons At night time, or during a During World War I the Brit- So when a weather balloon ride’s use in municipal water ahead. connected to the ground with battle when things were not go- ish were not saved from being broke free on a dark night and supplies, there is no supporting During the First World War, thick steel cable were raised ing well, the drummer would be annihilated at Mons by angels. was illuminated by searchlights, evidence to show this. observation balloons would be around English cities. ordered to beat a ‘retreat’ and During World War II war it’s not surprising that anti-air- Fluoride hasn’t yet been sent into the sky at the first sus- The idea of these was to im- on hearing the signal a fighting crimes were not only commit- craft batteries were convinced found to have any kind of effect picion of an enemy attack, in pede low-flying enemy aircraft, army would immediately cease ted by the SS. The Wehrmacht they saw Japanese aircraft. Nat- on human physiology. order to monitor distant enemy which might crash into them in battle and return to company played their part as well. urally they opened fire. And not a single reference to troop movements. To most this the darkness or clip their wings lines as quickly as they could. The US Navy did not develop By the time it was over they fluoride can be found in any of was a sign of impending action. on the steel cable. technology to make ships invis- had fired more than eight tons the paperwork recovered from ible in the “Philadelphia Exper- of shells into the air. They old any German POW or concen- iment”. saying “what goes up, must tration camp. And finally, Hitler did not es- come down” came into effect. The idea of the Nazis subdu- Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH) cape Berlin and live out the rest And the shells did come down ing their victims with fluoride of his life in Argentina. - onto the panicked residents of originates with a self-published This month we look at the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, a veterans organisation that Let’s look at a few more Los Angeles. Five people died pamphlet by Australian anti- was started after World War I. military myths and see if they in car accidents or heart attacks, fluoride partisan Ian E. Ste- are true, or nothing more than and thousands of buildings phens. The pamphlet is titled he Memorable Order of Each district will have a myths. across the city were damaged. Fluoridation: Mind Control of Tin Hats or the MOTH number of Shellholes. These It wasn’t until 1983 that the the Masses? as it is more popularly Shellholes are where the Moths The Myth Air Force finally divulged what Stephens cites Charles Elliot T In 1942, Los Angeles was the exact cause of the panic had Perkins, an American chemist known is an ex-serviceman’s gather for their monthly meet- organisation founded in Dur- ings and social events. attacked by the Japanese - or been, ensuring four decades who traveled to Germany after ban, South Africa, in May 1927 Each Shellhole has an ex- aliens. of speculation about aliens, the war and claimed he was told by Charles Alfred Evenden. ecutive that consists of an Old The Verdict hoaxes, false flags and secret by “German chemists” of: The Order is an independent Bill, Deputy Old Bill, Adjutant, False. Japanese technology could take “a scheme to control the popu- brotherhood of ex-service men Pay Bill and Shellhole Sergeant The Reality hold. But none of the support- lation in any given area through and women as well as serving Major. The “Battle of Los Angeles” ing documents from either 1942 mass medication of drinking men and women whose mem- There are Shellholes through- was a real event that took place or any other time confirm any- water. In this scheme, sodium bership is confined to those who out South Africa, as well as in in February, 1942. thing other than a panic taking fluoride occupied a prominent served or currently serve their The three MOTH ideals are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, The ‘battle’, however, had place in the fog of war. place. country in the armed services in True Comradeship, Mutual Namibia and the United King- nothing to do with the Japanese, “Repeated doses of infinitesi- an active theatre of operation. Help, and Sound Memory. dom. or alien invaders for that matter. The Myth mal amounts of fluoride will The Order is added on con- The order is made up of the To find out more about the It was more about jittery gun- The Nazis used fluoride in in time reduce an individual’s cord and harmony and operates General Head Quarters (GHQ), Memorable Order of Tin Hats, ners and public panic. water to keep concentration power to resist domination by independently of race, religion situated in Durban. There are visit their website by clicking You have to take into account camp prisoners docile. This slowly poisoning and narcotiz- or politics in the same way as nine Provincial Dugouts which on the link here. that the attack on Pearl Har- is because fluoride affects the ing a certain area of the brain front line service, but with full each have a number of District bour had taken place only two brain and can make a person and will thus make him submis- democracy. Dugouts. months before. So residents submissive. sive to the will of those who 14 15 wish to govern him.” man who, in forty odd years, Stephens never offers any- would be president of the Unit- thing science-based to back ed States), was delirious, bleed- these claims up, while Perkins ing, vomiting off the side of his was asked on numerous occa- small life raft, and lucky. sions for more evidence, but Of the more than 100 Ameri- continued only repeating his can pilots that were shot down initial claim. during the raids over the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands preced- The Myth ing the landings on places like Adolph Hitler had only one Iwo Jima, Bush was only one of testicle. three airmen that were rescued. The Verdict Scores of others perished with False. their aircraft or died in the cold FROM PILOT TO PRESIDENT: Lieutenant George H. Bush was The Reality not only a fighter pilot during World War II, he was also shot waters. He almost certainly had two. down and almost captured by the Japanese. The most unfortunate of A German medic who claimed all were those that flew in the to have saved Hitler’s life in Of the 655 people on board, at night they would come out bombing raid with Bush on 3 World War I also claimed that only twelve were saved, drift- in large, armed groups and rob September, 1944. Some of the the future leader of Germany pilots were shot down and cap- ry charged German tanks with body was never recovered. ing to land clinging to small the dead and dying of uniforms, had one of his testicles either floats. Lord Horatio Kitchener supplies, weapons and ammu- tured by the Japanese soldiers shot off or damaged by shrap- their lances, dying in the pro- The Verdict stationed on Chichi Jima. There cess. True. was never seen again. nition. nel at the Battle of the Somme. Today, the wreck lies upside Eventually these groups be- were nine, in total, and only While military records indi- The Verdict The Reality one survived. The others disap- False. Kitchener won notoriety for down at a depth of around 40 came so numerous and uncon- cate Hitler was wounded in the fathoms and is designated as trollable that the military au- peared, their files sealed by the left thigh at the Somme, they’re The Reality his imperial campaigns, most U.S. government until decades This is one of the most re- especially his scorched earth a war grave. We must assume thorities on both sides decided silent on the matter of his repro- that the bones of Lord Kitch- to wipe them out with gas. later. ductive organs. peated urban legends of the war, policy against the Boers and his The horrific fate of these avia- and is completely incorrect. establishment of concentration ener still lie there. No one knows exactly where A Soviet autopsy of Hitler’s this urban legend began, but tors was virtually unknown past body that was released in the The real Charge at Krojanty camps during the Second Boer the war trials after World War II was a Polish cavalry charge, but War. The Myth there are no records of it ever 70’s also claimed that the left During World War I soldiers happening. until James Bradley, author of testicle was missing, but this against infantry caught in the In 1914, at the start of the Flags of Our Fathers, investi- open. And it worked, with Pol- First World War, Kitchener from opposing sides deserted was probably just a propaganda and went into hiding together. The Myth gated the now unsealed files, gesture. ish lancers breaking up a Ger- became Secretary of State for found living eye-witnesses, and man attack and sending panic War. On 5 June, 1916, he was They stayed hidden during the George H. Bush narrowly es- In reality, the “Hitler has only day and came out at night to rob caped being executed and eaten published the book Flyboys: A one ball” rumor almost certain- through their lines. It was only making his way to Russia to at- True Story of Courage, in 2003. after a German counterattack tend negotiations. the dead and dying of their sup- by the Japanese in World War ly comes from a British song of plies. II. The fate of the pilots that were the same name written in 1939 with armored cars that journal- He was travelling aboard the captured by the Japanese - they ists were shown the bodies of HMS Hampshire when it struck The Verdict The Verdict to satirize the leader of the False. True. were beaten, tortured, beheaded country England had just gone fallen Polish troops and horses a German sea mine 2,4 km west and eaten. and told they charged tanks. of the Orkney Islands in Scot- The Reality The Reality to war with. While the medic’s This rumour was very popu- In September 1944 the sub- account of Hitler’s monarchism But the “charge against tanks” land. It was 19h40, visibility And that’s about all we have was German propaganda swal- was poor, it was raining, and lar, especially during World marine USS Finback surfaced has been accepted by many me- War I itself. a few kilometres off the coast space for this month. This will dia outlets, there’s no compel- lowed, hook, line and sinker by the seas were very rough. probably be the last in this se- Allied writers. On board, the crew scram- Wild stories about desert- of Chichi Jima, an island some ling evidence to support it, and ers living together in aban- 1,126 km South of Tokyo. It’s ries of Military Myths and Ur- is mostly the stuff of tabloids. bled to lower lifeboats, but their ban Legends for the time being. The Myth efforts were futile. The huge doned caves, villages, and even periscope had popped above trenches were rife. the water and spotted the man We will try and find some The Myth Field Marshal Horatio Her- north sea waves smashed the more military myths to exam- bert Kitchener was killed at sea lifeboats to kindling against the It was said that they would re- they were there to save. In a shocking display of fool- main hidden during the day, but Lt. George H. W. Bush (a ine later in the year. ish bravery, Polish horse caval- by a German mine in 1916. His cruiser’s side. 16 17 Namibia). This song is known as Das Südwesterlied or Hart wie Kameldornholz. This is our song In 2017, the German army was banned from publishing song Ever since Joshua brought the house down at Jericho, music and the military have books containing Panzerlied shared a close relationship. We look at some music that has become synonymous and other marching songs by the with certain units, regiments and corps. Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen as part of new efforts n the November issue we ders and communicating. Think with new lyrics. at denazification. brought you an article about of bugle calls such as Taps, The The Marine’s Hymn is the Erika is a common German theme music from some Last Post and Reveille. official song of the United I female name and is also the Ger- iconic war movies. And in De- Certain songs and march- States Marine Corps and was man word for heather. Herms cember we did an article titled es, whether sang a cappella or introduced by the first Director Niel wrote the song, Erika, in “Music to March to”. played by a full military band or of USMC Band, Francesco Ma- the 1930s. It would not only go In these articles you could orchestra, have become synony- ria Scala. It is the oldest official no to become a popular march- click on links and actually listen mous with certain units, regi- song in the United States Armed SWIRL OF THE PIPES: Many Scottish and Highland regiments ing song of the German military, to the music. From the feedback ments, corps and even armies. Forces. would be led into battle by a piper. it would also become the march- we received, many of our read- Dixie, also known as Dixie’s The third verse of the song is ing song of the Waffen SS. ers seemed to enjoy this. So this Land, was written by Daniel also used as a toast during for- in 1927 by USCG officer Fran- It is the official hymn of the The Funkerlied was the offi- month we’re bringing you more Emmett. During the American mal events, such as the birthday cis Saltus Van Boskerck. armored forces in the Chilean cial march of the German Signal of the same. Civil War it was adopted as a de ball and other ceremonies. Le Boudin is officially titled army and is sung during parades. Troops. The world funker means Music and the military have facto anthem of the Confederacy Anchors Aweigh is the fight Marche de la Légion Étrangère It has been translated to Castil- ‘radio operator’. shared a close relationship for (The South). song of the United States Na- and is the official march of the ian Spanish, but the title was left Not to be outdone, the South thousands of years. Much of Garryowen is a suburb of val Academy and march song of French Foreign Legion. unchanged. African Corps of Signals had the military music has been Limerick in Ireland. It was also the United States Navy. It was Le Boudin” is a reference to The song is also sung by some their own march titled Certa composed to announce military the name of an Irish drinking composed in 1906 by Charles A. boudin, a type of blood sausage motorized and parachute units Cito, which is their motto. It events as with bugle calls and song. Zimmermann with lyrics by Al- or black pudding. Le boudin col- of the Italian army, most espe- means ‘Swift and Sure’. fanfares, or accompany march- It later became the march- fred Hart Miles. Another Acad- loquially meant the gear (rolled cially by the 185th Paratroopers Battotai was the official ing formations with drum ca- ing tune for the American 7th emy Midshipman, Royal Lovell up in a blanket) that used to be Division Folgore under the title march of the Imperial Japanese dences, or mark special occa- Cavalry Regiment during the (class of 1926), later wrote what carried on top of the Legion- of Sui Monti e Sui Mar. Army during World War II. sions as by military bands. late 19th century. The tune was would be adopted into the song naires backpack. The Korean adaptation of the Katyusha is a 1938 Russian However, music has been em- brought to the 7th Cavalry by as its third verse. Képi Blanc is another song song is also used by the South song that gained fame with the ployed in battle for centuries, Brevet Colonel Myles W. Keogh The Air Force Song, also of the French Foreign Legion. It Korean Army as a march for the Red Army during World War II sometimes to intimidate the ene- and other officers with relations known as Off We Go, was origi- is sung to the tune of the Pan- country’s tank and motorized as an inspiration to defend one’s my and other times to encourage to the Fifth Royal Irish Lancers nally titled “Army Air Corps”. zerlied, a popular German Weh- units. land from the enemy. In Russia, combatants, or to assist in orga- and the Papal Guard. The name Robert MacArthur Crawford rmacht song during World War The first, second and fifth stan- the song is still popular. nization and timing of actions in of the tune has become a part of wrote the lyrics and music dur- II. The Foreign Legion adopted zas of the song are used by the The song is the probable warfare. the regiment, the words Garry ing 1938. During World War II, it in the late 1940s. Brazilian Army under the title source of the nickname of the Depending on the culture, a Owen are part of the regimental the service was renamed “Army Talking about World War II of Canção Da Tropa Blindada BM-8, BM-13, and BM-31 variety of percussion and musi- crest. Listen to the original. Air Force”, and the song title and the Germans, they had a (Song Of the Armored Troops) “Katyusha” rocket launchers cal instruments have been used, The American Army, Marine changed. In 1947, when the Air number of songs that became with the lyrics translated to Por- that were used by the Red Army such as drums, fifes, bugles, Corps, Navy, Air Force and Force became a separate service, synonymous with certain regi- tuguese. in World War II. trumpets or other horns, bag- Coast Guard all have their own the song became the “Air Force ments and formations. The second half of the Pan- The Rhodesian African Rifles pipes, triangles, cymbals, as official songs. Song”. The Panzerlied is one of the zerlied tune is used as chorus had a long and proud history. well as larger military bands or The United States Army song Semper Paratus (Latin for best known Wehrmacht songs. for the unofficial anthem for During 1942, when they were full orchestras. is The Army Goes Rolling “Always Ready”) is a 1928 It was composed in June 1935 the German community of Na- still known as the King’s Afri- Instruments such as the bugle Along. It was adopted in 1956 song and the official march of by Oberleutnant Kurt Wiehle. mibia, and the unofficial anthem can Rifles, troops were sent to and trumpet have been used as and used the melody from the the United States Coast Guard Since then the song has done the of the then South African-ruled the South African city of Durban an effective way of giving or- U.S. Field Artillery March but (USCG), having been composed rounds. South-West Africa (present day to escort Italian prisoners of war. 18 19 A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE: Blood Upon The Risers is a paratrooper song that originated in World War II. It was there that the Regimen- official march of several Com- Of The Belgian Paratroopers) tal song Sweet Banana first monwealth navies including the as their official quick march began and, although it would Royal Canadian Navy, and the and Lili Marlene as their slow evolve significantly, it would Royal New Zealand Navy. march. The British Parachute retain its chorus of ‘I will buy The Royal Air Force March Regiment have Ride of the you a sweet banana’, influenced Past is the official march of the Valkyries as their quick march by the abundance of the fruit in Royal Air Force (RAF) and is and Pomp and Circumstance Natal. used in some other Common- No 4 as their slow march. Bush War Books has probably one of the finest Popular singer John Edmond wealth air forces. The Royal Regiment of Scot- included a version of Sweet Ba- The original score was com- land has Scotland The Brave as collections of military titles available. Especially nana on his album Troopiesong. pleted by Walford Davies in its official quick march. on the South African Border War. Sarie Marais is a traditional 1918 for the new RAF; it com- Fare Thee Well Inniskilling Afrikaans folk song created ei- bined the rhythm of the bugle is the regimental quick march ther during the First or Second call of the Royal Flying Corps of The Royal Dragoon Guards. Anglo-Boer Wars. The Royal with that of the Royal Naval Air The Enniskillen Dragoon is an Marines (RM) are the marine Service. The call appears in both Irish folk song associated with Click here to visit their website. corps and amphibious infantry the introduction and the coda. the Inniskilling Dragoons, a of the United Kingdom. Sarie It was originally known as the British Army regiment based at Marais was adopted in 1953 as Adastral I (in reference to the Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the official march of the Royal RAF’s motto). The second part in what is now Northern Ireland. Marines Commandos and is of the march past, the trio, was And finally, Blood Upon the played after the Regimental composed by Sir George Dyson. Risers is an American para- March on ceremonial occasions. The march can be played both trooper song from World War II. Interesting enough, it is also as a slow march and a quick It is also known as Mancha Roja the official song of the Girl march, and has been used as (Spanish for “Red Stain”) in Guides of Sri Lanka who heard both when the Queen’s Colour many airborne units from mul- Boer prisoners of war singing Squadron and RAF Central tiple Latin American countries. the song while in British POW Band perform public duties such In Spain it is called Sangre en camps. Back then Sri Lanka was as mounting the guard at Buck- las cuerdas. The song uses the still known as Ceylon. ingham Palace. melody of the Battle Hymn Of Heart of Oak is the official The British Special Air Ser- The Republic. march of the Royal Navy of the vice (SAS) use the Marche des “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” United Kingdom. It is also the Parachutistes Belges (March 20 Head to Head MARITIME STRENGTH Frigates - 6 Corvettes - 24 Strongest navies in the world LPDs - 5 LST/LSMs - 23 his month in head- the number of vessels a navy vies, this is not true. Landing Craft - 55 to-head we wanted to has. The Korean People’s Navy Of the 113 countries that Mine Warfare Ships - 11 Texplore modern-day has over 700 vessels and 98 are maintain a navy, very few of Patrol Ships - 70 navies. Which 10 countries cur- in service. Yet most of these are them have blue-water capabili- Total Ships 194 rently have the strongest navies light craft such as patrol boats. ty. A blue-water navy is one that in the world? They wouldn’t last long against can commit its vessels to loca- Conventional Attack The first thing to decided was a 100,000 ton Nimitz-class su- tions around the world, thou- Submarines - 2 the criteria upon which this percarrier. sands of kilometres from home Total Submarines - 2 Indonesian first Sigma-class frigate completes sea trials. would be based. We couldn’t So we decided to look at the bases. Navies that can literally base it on manpower. The total tonnage of each navy’s sail the seven seas. Mexican Navy, for example, warships. So, basing our results on total 9. Republic of Korea Navy employs 56,000 people, but it Back in 1979 pop group The tonnage, let’s take a closer look only has two destroyers. If we Village People had a number at the 10 strongest navies in the 233,805 metric tons used manpower as the criteria, one hit with In The Navy. Part world. the Mexican Navy would be the of the chorus to the song went, Database Source: CIA World seventh biggest in the world. “In the navy, you can sail the Factbook. Likewise, we couldn’t go with seven seas.” Sadly, for most na- The Republic of Korea Navy As a part of a plan to strength- (Daehanminguk Haegun), is en the surface combatant forc- Places of Origin also known as the ROK Navy. es, the ROK Navy launched the South Korea 10. Indonesian Navy The ROK Navy is the old- lead ship of the Gwanggaeto est branch of the South Korean the Great class destroyer in 199,250 metric tons Active Since armed forces. It is responsible 1996 to replace the former U.S. 1945 for conducting naval operations Navy destroyers. The Indonesian Navy (Ten- strengthen by two major fleets and amphibious landing opera- For building up a subma- Force Type tara Nasional Indonesia-Ang- known as “Armada” which are tions. rine force, the ROK Navy pur- katan Laut), is not a blue-water Komando Armada Barat (West- Main Navy Places of Origin Since the end of the Korean chased its first submarine (other navy. ern Fleet Command) located in War, the South Korean navy has than midget submarines), the Indonesia Number of Personnel It’s role is to patrol Indone- Tanjung Priok and Komando concentrated its efforts to build- Chang Bogo (SS 061), from 70,000 (Includes Marine sia’s long coastline and patrol Armada Timur (Eastern Fleet ing naval forces to counteract Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Active Since and enforce the territorial wa- Command) located in Surabaya Corps personnel) 1945 the North Korean navy, which of Germany in 1992. In order ters and Exclusive Economic with one Military Sealift Com- has littoral naval capabilities. to replace its antiquated S-2 Ships Zones. It is also tasked with mand (Komando Lintas Laut As a part of its mission, the Tracker anti-submarine war- Force Type protecting Indonesia’s maritime Militer). The Navy also heads 195 Main Navy ROK Navy has engaged in sev- fare airplanes, South Korea strategic interests, protecting the Marine Corps. eral peacekeeping operations purchased a squadron of P-3C Submarines the islands surrounding Indone- All commissioned ships of since the turn of the 21st cen- Orion maritime patrol aircraft. Number of Personnel 23 sia, and defending against sea- the TNI-AL have the prefix tury. These were delivered to the 74,000 (Includes Marine borne threats. KRI, standing for Kapal Re- Corps personnel) Since the 90s, the ROK Navy ROK Navy starting in 1995. The Indonesian Navy is the publik Indonesia (Republic of has been steadily upgrading its South Korea has a joint mili- largest navy in South East Asia Indonesia Ship). naval forces. In 1995, Admiral tary partnership with the United Ships based on the number of active Their motto is Jalesveva 194 An Pyong-tae, the Chief of Na- States as outlined by the Mutual personnel and ships. Jayamahe, which is Sanskrit val Operations, presented his Defense Treaty signed in 1951. The Indonesian Navy is head- for “Victorious on the Sea|. plan for the future of the ROK Their motto is Bada-ro Segye- Submarines ed by a Navy Chief of Staff 2 Navy, which included building ro - To the sea, to the world. (Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut – a blue-water navy by 2020. Kasal). The Indonesian Navy is 22 23 MARITIME STRENGTH MARITIME STRENGTH Destroyers - 12 Destroyers - 4 Frigates - 11 Frigates - 22 Corvettes - 35 Corvettes - 1 LPDs - 1 LSDs - 1 LST/LSMs - 4 LST/LSMs - 13 Landing Craft - 41 Landing Craft - 278 Mine Warfare Ships - 10 Mine Warfare Ships - 14 Patrol Ships - 80 Patrol Ships - 51 Total Ships 195 Total Ships 384

Conventional Attack Conventional Attack Submarines - 2 Submarines - 4 Coastal and Midget Total Submarines - 4 Submarines - 9 Total Submarines - 23 A Chamsuri class patrol craft and a Sohn Won-yil class submarine ROC Navy Kang Ding-class (Lafayette-class) frigate with S-70C helicopter. 8. Republic of China Navy 241,654 metric tons 7. French Navy 295,790 metric tons

The Republic of China Navy The ROCN has also purchased (Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūn), is Lafayette-class frigates from Places of Origin The French Navy (Marine means that the French Navy is a also known as ROCN. France and Zwaardvis-class Nationale), is informally known blue water one. Taiwan (ROC) Places of Origin The ROC Navy’s primary submarines from the Nether- as La Royale. The Navy is organised into France mission is to defend ROC ter- lands as well as four U.S. Kidd- Active Since It is one of the world’s old- four main operational branch- ritories and the sea lanes that class (renamed Keelung) de- est naval forces and can trace es. The Force d’Action Navale 1924 Active Since surround Taiwan against a stroyers originally intended for its roots back to 1624. It played (Naval Action Force), the Forc- 1624 blockade, attack, or possible in- Iran. Force Type a major role in establishing the es Sous-marines (Submarine vasion by the People’s Libera- Despite the ROCN refurbish- French colonial empire. forces), Aviation Navale (Naval Main Navy Force Type tion Army Navy of the People’s ing and extending the service life Since the early foundings, air force), and Fusiliers Marins Main Navy Republic of China. Operations of its vessels and equipment, it Number of Personnel maritime force roles of the (Naval riflemen - including the include maritime patrols in the has suffered from procurement French Navy have been defined Navy special forces Comman- 38,000 (Includes Marine Number of Personnel Taiwan Strait and surrounding difficulties due to pressures ex- around the seven seas within dos Marine). Corps personnel) 36,776 (Includes Marine waters, as well as counter-strike erted by the People’s Republic formulating permanent and In addition, the National Gen- Corps personnel) and counter-invasion opera- of China (PRC). It has only two Ships non-permanent deterring forc- darmerie of France maintain a tions during wartime. useful submarines. es, including aeronaval, main- maritime force of patrol boats 384 Ships The Republic of China Ma- They could have bought four taining intelligence, protecting that falls under the operational 100 rine Corps functions as a branch four Nazario Sauro-class refur- Submarines populations, preventing crises, command of the French Navy - of the Navy. bished submarines decommis- intervening wherever necessary Gendarmerie maritime (Coast 4 Submarines Traditionally, most ROCN sioned by the Italian Navy, but to reestablish peace, and deter- Guard of France). 10 equipment is purchased from Tapei rejected the offer, saying ring by permanent oceanic mis- Their motto is Honneur, pat- the United States, though sev- they wanted new submarines. sions any threats against vital rie, valeur, discipline - Honour, eral ships have been built do- The ship prefix for ROCN French interests. Homeland, Valour, Discipline. mestically under licence or combatants is ROCS (Republic The 42,500 metric ton air- through domestic development. of China Ship). craft carrier Charles de Gaulle

24 25 MARITIME STRENGTH MARITIME STRENGTH Aircraft Carriers - 1 Aircraft Carriers - 1 Destroyers - 9 Destroyers - 11 Frigates - 13 Frigates - 14 LHD/LHAs - 3 Corvettes - 23 LPDs - 1 LPDs - 1 LST/LSMs - 2 LST/LSMs - 9 Landing Craft - 41 Landing Craft - 32 Mine Warfare Ships - 18 Mine Warfare Ships - 7 Patrol Ships - 12 Patrol Ships - 72 Total Ships 100 Total Ships 170

Ballistic Missile Ballistic Missile Submarines - 4 Submarines - 1 Nuclear Attack Nuclear Attack Submarines - 6 The French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle. Submarines - 1 INS Chakra, the Indian Nav Total Submarines - 10 Conventional Attack nuclear attack submarine. Submarines - 13 6. Indian Navy Total Submarines - 15 317,209 metric tons 5. Royal Navy 415,390 metric tons The Indian Navy (Bhāratīya dian Navy promotes bilateral Nau Senā) can trace its roots relations between nations. Places of Origin back to 1612 when the East The 45,400 metric ton aircraft The Royal Navy traces its or- the Fleet Air Arm, the Subma- India India Company’s Marine was carrier Vikramaditya makes the igins back to the 16th century. It rine Service,the Royal Marines, founded to protect British mer- Indian Navy a blue water navy. is the oldest of the UK’s armed and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Active Since Places of Origin chant shipping in the region. The Marine Commando services, it is known as the Se- It remains one of the world’s 1830 United Kingdom In 1830 the colonial navy Force (MCF), also known as nior Service. foremost blue-water navies. was titled Her Majesty’s Indian MARCOS, is a special forces “Rule Britania, Britania rules However, reductions in naval Force Type Active Since Navy. When India became a unit that was raised by the In- the waves”. And often she spending have led to the Royal Main Navy 1660 republic in 1950, the Royal In- dian Navy in 1987. They are waived the rules. From the mid Navy suffering from multiple dian Navy as it had been named also actively deployed on anti- 18th century it was the world’s problems during the 21st centu- Number of Personnel Force Type since 1934 was renamed to In- piracy operations throughout most powerful navy until sur- ry, including a personnel short- 58,350 (Includes Marine Main Navy dian Navy. the year. passed by the United States age and a reduction in the num- Corps personnel) The primary objective of the The names of all in service Navy during the Second World ber of warships. Number of Personnel navy is to safeguard the na- ships (and Naval Bases) of the War. The major roles of the Royal Ships 32,8800 (Includes Marine tion’s maritime borders, and in Indian Navy are prefixed with At the start of the Second Navy are to prevent conflict, 170 Corps personnel) conjunction with other Armed the letters INS, designating In- World War in 1939, the Roy- provide security at sea, help Forces of the union, act to deter dian Naval Ship or Indian Navy al Navy was the largest in the cement relationships with the Submarines Ships or defeat any threats or aggres- Station,whereas the sail boats world, with over 1,400 vessels UK’s allies, maintain a readi- 15 101 sion against the territory, people are prefixed with INSV (Indian The Royal Navy played a key ness to fight, protect the econ- or maritime interests of India, Naval Sailing Vessel). part in establishing the British omy, and provide humanitarian Submarines both in war and peace. Through Their motto is Sham No Empire as the unmatched world aid. 11 joint exercises, goodwill visits Varunaḥ - May the Lord of the power during the 19th and first Their motto is “Si vis pacem, and humanitarian missions, in- Water be auspicious unto us. part of the 20th centuries. para bellum” - If you wish for cluding disaster relief, the In- The Royal Navy is made up peace, prepare for war. of five arms. The Surface Fleet, 26 27 MARITIME STRENGTH Aircraft Carriers - 1 MARITIME STRENGTH Destroyers - 6 Aircraft Carriers - 4 Frigates - 13 Destroyers - 38 LHD/LHAs - 1 Frigates - 6 LPDs - 2 LST/LSMs - 3 LSDs - 3 Landing Craft - 20 Landing Craft - 37 Mine Warfare Ships - 35 Mine Warfare Ships - 16 Patrol Ships - 6 Patrol Ships - 22 Total Ships 112 Total Ships 101 Conventional Attack Ballistic Missile Submarines - 19 Submarines - 4 Total Submarines - 19 Nuclear Attack Submarines - 7 The Kongo-class destroyer JDS Kirishima returns to Hawaii at the end of exercise RIMPAC ‘98. Total Submarines - 11 HMS Vanguard was the Royal Navy’s first Vanguard-class nuclear powered submarine. 3. Russian Navy 4. Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force 1,017,584 metric tons 462,007 metric tons

The present Russian Navy and Artillery Troops). was formed in January 1992, The Russian Navy is a blue- The Japan Maritime Self-De- have also conducted joint naval Places of Origin succeeding the Navy of the water one and currently has one fense Force (Kaijō Jieitai) was exercises with the Indian Navy. Russia Places of Origin Commonwealth of Independent aircraft carrier, the 55,500 met- formed in 1954 following the With an increase in tensions Japan States, which had itself suc- ric ton Admiral Kuznetsov. dissolution of the Imperial Jap- with North Korea following Active Since ceeded the Soviet Navy follow- The 1991 dissolution of the anese Navy after World War II. the 1993 test of the Nodong-1 1992 Active Since ing the dissolution of the Soviet Soviet Union led to a severe Its main tasks are to maintain missile and the 1998 test of 1954 Union in December 1991. decline in the Russian Navy. control of the nation’s sea lanes the Taepodong-1 missile over Force Type Yet its roots go back far lon- Defense expenditures were se- and to patrol territorial wa- northern Japan, the JMSDF has Main Navy Force Type ger than that. The regular Rus- verely reduced. Many ships ters. It also participates in UN- stepped up its role in air de- Main Navy sian Navy was established were scrapped or laid up as ac- led peacekeeping operations fense. A ship-based anti-ballis- Number of Personnel by Peter the Great in October commodation ships at naval (PKOs) and Maritime Interdic- tic missile system was success- 133,000 (Includes Marine Number of Personnel 1696, making it one of the older bases, and the building program tion Operations (MIOs). fully test-fired on 18 December Corps personnel) 50,800 (Includes Marine navies. was essentially stopped. The JMSDF frequently car- 2007 and has been installed Corps personnel) The Russian Navy possesses In 2012, President Vladi- ries out joint exercises with the on Japan’s Aegis-equipped de- Ships the vast majority of the former mir Putin announced a plan to US Navy. They also participate stroyers. The JMSDF, along 237 Ships Soviet naval forces, and cur- build 51 modern ships and 24 in RIMPAC, the annual multi- with the Japan Coast Guard, 112 rently comprises the Northern submarines by 2020. Of the 24 national military exercise near has also been active in prevent- Submarines Fleet, the Russian Pacific Fleet, submarines, 16 will be nuclear- Hawaii that has been hosted by ing North Korean infiltrators 62 Submarines the Russian Black Sea Fleet, powered. the US Navy since 1980. from reaching Japan and in De- 19 the Russian Baltic Fleet, the The Russian Navy motto is The JMSDF dispatched a ship cember 2001, engaged and sank Russian Caspian Flotilla, Na- “С нами Бог и Андреевский to the Russian Vladivostok har- a North Korean spy ship. val Aviation, and the Coastal флаг!” - God and St. Andrew’s bour in July 1996 to participate Troops (consisting of the naval flag are with us! in the Russian Navy’s 300th an- infantry and the Coastal Missile niversary naval review. They 28 29 MARITIME STRENGTH MARITIME STRENGTH Aircraft Carriers - 1 Aircraft Carriers - 2 Battleships/Battlecruisers - 2 Destroyers - 32 Cruisers - 3 Frigates - 55 Destroyers - 15 Corvettes - 32 Frigates - 10 LPDs - 4 Corvettes - 73 LSDs - 15 LST/LSMs - 20 LST/LSMs - 85 Landing Craft - 25 Landing Craft - 153 Mine Warfare Ships - 53 Mine Warfare Ships - 53 Patrol Ships - 35 Patrol Ships - 208 Total Ships 237 The flagship of the Russian Navy, Total Ships 639 the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Ballistic Missile Ballistic Missile Submarines - 13 KEY China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier with accompanying Submarines - 6 Nuclear Attack LHD/LHAs - Amphibious Assault Ships fleet conducts a drill in an area of South China. Nuclear Attack Submarines - 18 Submarines - 8 LPDs - Landing Platform/Dock Conventional Attack Conventional Attack LSDs - Landing Ship/Dock Submarines - 23 Submarines - 51 Total Submarines - 62 LST/LSMs - Tank Landing Ships Total Submarines - 65

2. People’s Liberation Army Navy 1. United States Navy 1,245,513 metric tons 3,450,878 metric tons

The People’s Liberation Army ate in the first and second island The United States Navy is the U.S. foreign and military policy. Navy, also known as the PLA chains. Chinese strategists term largest and most capable navy The United States Navy has Navy, is the naval warfare the development of the PLAN in the world. It has the world’s six active numbered fleets – Places of Origin branch of the People’s Libera- from a green-water navy into “a Places of Origin largest aircraft carrier fleet, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh China (PRC) tion Army, which is the armed regional blue-water defensive United States of America with eleven in service, one in Fleet and Tenth Fleets are each wing of the Communist Party and offensive navy.” the reserve fleet, and two new led by a vice admiral, and the Active Since of China and, by default, the The People’s Liberation Active Since carriers under construction. Fourth Fleet is led by a rear ad- 1950 national armed forces of the Army Navy is composed of five 1775 It has 276 deployable com- miral. These six fleets are -fur People’s Republic of China. branches; the Submarine Force, bat vessels and more than 3,700 ther grouped under Fleet Forces Force Type Before the 1990s the PLAN the Surface Force, the Coast- Force Type operational aircraft as of June Command (the former Atlan- Main Navy had traditionally played a sub- al Defense Force, the Marine Main Navy 2017. tic Fleet), Pacific Fleet, Naval ordinate role to the People’s Corps and the Naval Air Force. The 21st century U.S. Navy Forces Europe-Africa, and Na- Number of Personnel Liberation Army Ground Force. The PLA Navy is divided Number of Personnel maintains a sizable global pres- val Forces Central Command, 255,000 (Includes Marine By 2009 the PLA Navy had be- into three fleets. The North Sea 508,046 (Includes Marine ence, deploying in strength in whose commander also doubles Corps personnel) come a green-water navy. Fleet, based in the Yellow Sea, Corps personnel) such areas as the Western Pa- as Commander Fifth Fleet; the In 2008, General Qian Li- the East Sea Fleet, based in the cific, the Mediterranean, and the first three commands being led Ships hua confirmed that China plans East China Sea, and the South Ships Indian Ocean. It is a blue-water by four-star admirals. 639 to operate a small fleet of -air Sea Fleet, based in the South 450 navy with the ability to project Their official motto is “Sem- craft carriers in the near future, China Sea. Each fleet consists force onto the littoral regions of per Fortis” - Always Coura- Submarines but for the purpose of regional of surface forces (destroyers, Submarines the world, engage in forward de- geous. They also have an un- 65 defence as opposed to “global frigates, amphibious vessels 68 ployments during peacetime and official motto “Non sibi sed reach”. As of 2013 PLA officials etc.), submarine forces, coastal rapidly respond to regional cri- patriae” -Not for self but for have also outlined plans to oper- defence units, and aircraft. ses, making it a frequent actor in country.

30 31 MARITIME STRENGTH Quiz Aircraft Carriers - 11 Cruisers - 22 Destroyers - 67 General Military Knowledge Frigates - 8 his month we want to test your general military knowledge. We have 23 questions for you LHD/LHAs - 9 and you tell us the answers. LPDs - 10 T Answers on page 53. LSDs - 12 Landing Craft - 245 1. Who was the top air ace of World War II? Mine Warfare Ships - 11 2. What was the name of the aircraft that dropped the second Patrol Ships - 55 atomic bomb on Nagasaki? Total Ships 450 3. By what name was the German Panzerkampfwagen V better known as? Ballistic Missile 4. What was the nickname given to Britain’s’ Home Guard dur- Submarines - 14 ing World War II? Nuclear Attack USS Nimitz (CVN-68), a US Navy 5. Who was the only woman to ever win the American Medal of Submarines - 54 Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Honour? Total Submarines - 68 6. What was the NATO codename for the Russian Mig-21 fighter jet? 7. What does the military acronym HALO stand for? 4 49. South African Navy 8. By what name are the Russian Special Forces commonly 22,190 metric tons known as? 9. What did the acronym M.A.S.H stand for? 10. Where did the shortest war on record take place, and how long did in last? 11. Which Rhodesian unit was known as “The Saints”? 12. Who said, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping gi- And now a question that most landing craft. ant and fill him with a terrible resolve”? people will have asked. Where • 3 x Type 209/1400 Con- 13. What famous American aviation group flew P-51 Mustangs does the South African Navy ventional Attack Subma- with bright red tails? rank? rines. 14. During what war did Florence Nightingale help to found mod- We come in at a respectable # Although the SAN does not ern nursing? Places of Origin 49 on the list. operate any aircraft itself, air- 15. What conflict is sometimes called the African World War? South Africa The South African Navy craft used on ships or support- 16. Which island was awarded the George Cross for gallantry dur- 14 comprises of the following. ing the SAN are operated by 22 ing World War II? Active Since • 4 x Valour-class frigates Squadron SAAF: 17. Lord Haw-Haw broadcast Nazi propaganda to Britain from 1861 • 3 x Warrior-class off-short • 1 × Atlas Oryx – medium German during World War II. What was his real name? patrol boats. utility helicopter (deployed 18. At the Battle of Trafalgar, what was the name of Lord Nelson’s Force Type • 4 x River-class minehunt- on the SAS Drakensberg). flagship? Main Navy ers. • 4 × Westland Super Lynx 19. Who was the only member of the South African Air Force to 22 • 21 x Namacurra class har- 300 Mk64 – ASW and become Chief of the SADF? Number of Personnel bour patrol boats. ASuW helicopter (deployed 20. Which country has the smallest army in the world? 7,702 • SAS Drakensberg - on the Valour-class frigates). 21. Who wrote ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ about an event Replenishment vessel. There is a planned programme in the Crimean War? Ships • SAS Protea - Hecla-class to equip the frigates with UAVs 22. Which former heavyweight boxing champion was a paratroop- 18 survey vessel. to supplement the helicopters. er during World War II? • 6 x Coastal & Harbour 23. Who was the pilot of the Enola Gay? Submarines tugs 3 • 6 x Lima-class utility

32 33 menacing growl. Famous Figures in Military History Many of the sailors, as well as regular train commuters, of- fered to buy Just Nuisance a Able Seaman Just Nuisance train ticket. One civilian even Able Seaman Just Nuisance was probably one of the most unique characters to ever enlist offered to buy a monthly pass. in the Royal Navy. The railway authorities, how- ever, were having none of it. They sent a stream of de- s this month has a bit In February 1937 he was of- that month the Chaneys moved mands to Mr. Chaney to confine of a naval theme, I de- ficially registered as a Great to Simon’s Town, where Mr the dog or get rid of it. Finally Acided that this month’s Dane under the name “Pride of Chaney became the manager they warned that they would Famous Figure in Military His- Rondebosch”. of the United Services Institute have the dog put down if he tory would have to reflect that. The following month he was (USI). persisted in boarding trains. There was a wide selection of sold to Mr and Mrs Chaney. The USI was a hostel fre- The sailors were determined people to choose from, people They lived in Mowbray, also to quented mostly by Royal Navy that nothing was going to hap- such as John Paul Jones, Fran- the south of Cape Town. Later sailors when they came ashore. MATELOT MUTT: Just Nuisance was welcome aboard any pen to Just Nuisance. A stream cis Drake, Horatio Nelson, At that stage the Royal Navy Royal Navy ship and he could always be sure of getting more of letters were written to the Chester W. Nimitz, or even was in charge of the Si- than enough attention. Commander-in-Chief of the Otto Kretschmer - the most suc- mon’s Town Naval Base. Navy. His solution was nothing cessful German U-boat com- ‘Pride” was not a He would often take himself and well-known, train commut- short of genius - he would enlist mander in the Second World small dog. On his hind off on walks, following the er. This soon led to problems. Just Nuisance into the Royal War and later an admiral in the legs he stood at 1.92 sailors. His walks began to take Dogs were not allowed to Navy. Bundesmarine. Instead I went metres (6’3”) and he him further and further away travel on the train, especially a During the war years service for someone really unique. weighed 67 kg (148 from the USI. First the naval dog that was unaccompanied. men were issued with free pass- He officially enlisted in the lbs). Yet he was a very base, then the dockyards, and The sailors would do their best es for travelling on the trains. As Royal Navy as an ordinary sea- friendly dog and the eventually onto the Royal Navy to hide him from the ticket in- a serving member of the Royal man on Friday, 25th August sailors loved him. ship at their moorings. spector. But let’s be realistic Navy, Just Nuisance would be 1939. He never actually went to As such he was He was particularly fond of - hiding a Great Dane that is fully entitled to travel on any sea and the highest rank he ob- treated to all sorts of visiting HMS Neptune, where nearly two metres long is no train he wished. tained was that of able seaman. titbits from the sailors, he would curl up on the brow of easy task. Regulations were followed His official trade was ‘Bone including pies and the deck at the top of the gang- Just Nuisance would lie to the letter. Just Nuisance was Crusher’ and his religious beers. They would plank. His sheer size made it stretched out across the seat, given the prescribed medical denomination was given as also often take him difficult for anyone to get past. taking up space meant for three examination and was declared ‘Scrounger’. His name was Just for walks. Sailors grumbled that he was passengers. fit for active duty. He signed his Nuisance, and he was a He recognised the just a nuisance. And the name Much to the protests of the enlistment form with one of his Great Dane. sailors by their bell stuck. Just Nuisance he was, sailors, Just Nuisance was of- huge paws. It is not certain bottom trousers and and Just Nuisance he would ten forced off the train at the On his official papers his when he was square blue collars. stay. next station. Not that it both- Christian name was given as born, but the of- Anyone dressed Sailors on shore leave would ered him. He would simply lay “Just” and his surname as “Nui- ficial date given in that uniform often head off for the big city on the platform and wait for the sance”. His trade was given as is 1 April, 1937. was his friend. lights of Cape Town, some next train heading in the same “Bone crusher” and his reli- He was born Any service 35 km to the north. Of course direction. gious denomination was listed in the suburb men wearing the easiest method of getting to There were a few incidents as “Scrounger”. This was later of Rondebosch, different types and back from Simon’s Town with angry ticket inspectors updated to the more dignified just south of Cape of uniforms or was by commuter train. when Just Nuisance tried to “Canine Divinity League (Anti- Town. His breeder civilians were Just Nuisance began to follow explain his side of things. He vivisection Body)”. was Mr H. Bosman, his sire normally given them as well, boarding the train would stand on his hind legs, He commenced his duties was “Koning” and his dame the cold shoul- without a care in the world. Be- place his massive paws on the with the Royal Navy on Friday, was “Diana”. der. fore long he became a regular, official’s shoulders, and utter a 25 August 1939, with the rank 34 35 of ordinary seaman. He was is- sued with his own sailors cap and a special collar was made for him in the Naval Dockyards. His free rail pass was attached to the collar. Just Nuisance was quartered at HMS Afrikander, where he had his own bunk. He would lie stretched out to full length with his head on the pillow. He also had a bed at the Union Jack Club in Cape Town. He was given his own bat- man, a sailor that was responsi- Just Nuisance would lie stretched ble for his personal hygiene and OKAY, TRY AND MOVE ME: out on a train seat meant for three passengers. ensuring that he was dressed in HIS FULL STORY: This book his navy cap for parades. was at home on any ship that gel. Three recorded offences about Just Nuisance is still His train journeys did not called in at the port. shows that he was charged with available for purchase. stop with his enlistment. Just Due to his celebrity status, he traveling on the railways with- GOING NOSE TO NOSE: Just Nuisance’s size meant that he Nuisance took it upon himself was often required to assist the out his pass, sleeping in a bed could look any sailor in the face. to escort drunk sailors on the War Effort by attending special in the Petty Officer’s dormitory, train back to a bunk in Simon’s functions. A marriage between and resisting ejection from the erinary surgeon was that noth- head of his last resting place. Hill is a regular stopping point Town. Some of the sailors that him and Adinda, another Great Sailors’ & Soldiers’ Home. ing more could be done for him. Considering the fact that the for visitors. he “helped back home” were Dane, was arranged. Five pup- For the first offence he was On 1 April 1944, the day of his Royal Navy was heavily en- The Simon’s Town Museum not even stationed in Simon’s pies resulted from this union confined to the banks of Froggy seventh birthday, Just Nuisance gaged in fighting the War, it is has in it’s collection all Just Town. and two of them, Victor and Pond, Lily Pool, with all lamp set off on his last trip. Accom- remarkable that the naval sig- Nuisance’s official papers, his One thing that Just Nuisance Wilhelmina, arrived to an al- posts removed. He was de- panied by some sailors, he was nal announcing Just Nuisance’s collar and many photographs. really disliked was when sailors most ticker-tape welcome at prived of bones for seven days taken by lorry to the Simon’s death and burial, was sent to A special display has been would fight amongst each other. Cape Town station where they for the second offence. No pun- Town Naval Hospital where he every naval ship and establish- mounted in the Museum and a As soon as fists began to fly, he were auctioned by the Mayor of ishment was awarded for the was put to sleep. ment, worldwide! slide show giving the story of would leap into action, stand- Cape Town for war funds last offence. At 11h30 on 2 April 1944, in Since then, the life and story this famous dog is shown daily ing on his hind legs with his Sales of a book about him, There were other offences accordance with naval tradi- of Just Nuisance has become so to children and tourists from all paws on their chests, pushing Just Nuisance - Able Seaman for which he was not charged. tion, his body was wrapped in a much a part of Simon’s Town. over the world. Visit their web- them apart. It was almost as if Who Leads A Dog’s Life writ- These included going AWOL, canvas bag and covered with a There is a statue of him on Jubi- site by clicking here. he were saying, “that’s enough ten by Leslie Steyn in 1941, as losing his collar, and resisting white Royal Navy Ensign. Able lee Square and his grave on Red of that.” well as postcards of him with eviction from pubs at closing Seaman Just Nuisance R.N. was It wasn’t that long before he his pups, raised large sums of time. His most serious offence laid to rest with full military was promoted from Ordinary money for the War Effort. was fighting with the mascots honours at Klaver Camp at the Seaman to Able Seaman. And While Just Nuisance never of other Royal Navy vessels. top of Red Hill, Simon’s Town. his new rank came with addi- went to sea, he would often go He caused the death of the mas- A party of Royal Marines fired a tional perks - naval rations. AWOL (Absent Without Leave) cots on both the HMS Shrop- salute and a lone bugler played From the moment Just Nui- and head off to Wingfield. Here shire and the HMS Redoubt. The Last Post. A simple granite sance joined the Royal Navy he would go flying with the pi- On Monday 1 January, 1944, gravestone stands guard at the his actions and activities be- lot of a Fairy Fulmer - a coastal Able Seaman Just Nuisance was gan to make news wherever he reconnaissance plane used to given an honourable discharge DESIGNER COLLAR: The went. He became an overnight spot enemy submarines off the from the Royal Navy. A throm- collar made for Just Nuisance celebrity. South African coast. bosis following a car accident at the Naval Dockyards. His Any ship that visited Simon’s As his official ‘Conduct Sheet’ was slowly paralysing him. free rail pass would be at- Town knew who he was and he shows, he wasn’t always an an- The prognosis from the vet- tached to the collar. 36 37 FINAL REST: Able Seaman Just Nuisance R.N. was laid to Memorable Moments rest with full military honours. This included a Royal Marine By AB (SCC) Daniella Grootboom, TS Lanherne firing party and a bugler sound- ing The Last Post. he SA Navy hosted the annual Sea Cadet camp Tat SAN barracks in De- cember 2017 with the oppor- tunity being managed by SAS Simonsberg. More than 90 Sea Cadets from eight units around the country participated in various experi- ences and training designed to GRAVE: The grave of Just Nui- give them an experience of na- sance at Klaver Camp, Redhill. val life. The opportunity also The inscription reads: provided for new skills and the Great Dane “Navy way” of doing things so Just Nuisance that the Sea Cadets can transfer Able Seaman R.N. this knowledge back to their H.M.S. Afrikander 1940 - 44 Units. Died 1 April 1944 On our second last day we visited the dockyard and a vari- WELCOME HOME AMATOLA: Sea Cadets and SA Navy In- Age 7 Years structors on board a tug in False Bay awaiting to take F145 SAS ety of ships berthed alongside. Amatola alongside. This was the highlight of the camp as we were able to see first hand what happened on ences seamen that these mam- Training Ships; nine are active board the ships and what tasks mals often protected those who and developing those values and the sailors performed. fell overboard. skills required to ensure that the Several of the Sea Cadets This was a very inspiring, fun maritime industry is provided were afforded the opportunity and learning experience to see with recruits who have a passion of going to sea on board one of the SA Navy in action. for the sea. the tugs which brought the SAS Thank you to the SA Navy Sea Cadets are taught and as- STILL KEEPING WATCH: Amatola alongside. She had and staff for making this oppor- sessed on practical skills includ- This statue of Able Seaman been out of port and on patrol tunity available to the Sea Ca- ing seamanship, communica- Just Nuisance stands in Jubi- and exercises for several weeks dets from different Units, many tions, engineering, catering, first lee Square, Simon’s Town. It and it was a privilege to wel- who came from Gauteng and aid, survival at sea, fire fighting, looks over the harbour where come her home. seldom see the sea. n restricted maritime radio and he once spent much time We were afforded a rare op- welding. aboard the ships during World portunity of experiencing the Several of the courses are cer- War II. role of the tug in providing as- The Sea Cadet in South Af- tified and accredited via national sistance to a frigate when berth- rica movement traces its origins bodies providing the Sea Cadets ing and the seamanship required back to the first South African with the necessary certification to ensure that all evolutions Training Ship (TS) located on towards their chosen career. were successfully completed. Woodstock beach Cape Town. Whilst undergoing the train- The Sea Cadets also wit- TS Woltemade was opened on ing they also develop their lead- nessed a school of dolphins 08 June 1905. The movement ership, team building and self- swimming alongside the tug spread throughout South Af- discipline under the watchful and hearing from the experi- rica and currently there are 15 eye of experienced Instructors. 38 39 Forged in Battle Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz USS Dwight D. USS Carl USS Theodore USS Abraham The city at sea Eisenhower Vison Roosevelt Lincoln Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the US Navy Nimitz-class Air- I/J-band flight, the United States, the long as a ship doesn’t get too craft Carriers. Combat Data System United Kingdom and Germany close to any nation’s coast, the • ACDS block 0 or block 1 were launching test flights from carrier can operate as if it is on Weapons Control platforms attached to cruisers. American soil. tanding 20 stories above warships, the carriers use two • 3 x Mk91 MOD 1 fire con- The experiments proved the water and stretching A4W pressurized water reac- Beam trol system (for Sea Sparrow largely successful, and the vari- Composition 333 metres from bow to tors which drive four propeller • 40.8 m missile) ous naval forces started adapt- An aircraft carrier bascially S Engines ing existing warships for this has to do four things. It needs stern, the sheer size of a Nimi- shafts. They are categorized as Draught tz-class super aircraft carrier is nuclear-powered aircraft carri- • 11.9 m • 2 x GE PWR A4W/A1G - purpose. The new carriers al- to: impressive. What’s really im- ers and are numbered with con- Flight Deck 194MW lowed military forces to trans- • Transport a variety of air- pressive, however, is watching secutive hull numbers between • 333 m x 77 m • 4 x emergency diesels - port short-range aircraft all over craft to any destination. the activity on the flight deck. CVN-68 and CVN-77. Displacement 8MW the world. • Launch and recover aircraft. Currently the US Navy has As a result of the use of nu- • 102,000 tons (full load) Fixed Wing Aircraft One of the major obstacles of • Serve as a mobile command ten nuclear-powered Nimitz- clear power, the ships are ca- Speed • 12 x F/A-18E/F using air power in war is get- centre for military opera- class aircraft carries in service. pable of operating for over 20 • 30 knots • 36 x F/A-18 ting the planes to their destina- tions, and years without refueling and are Surface-to-air-missile • 4 x E-2C Hawkeye tion. To maintain an air base • House all of the people The lead ship of the class is predicted to have a service life • 3 x Raytheon GMLS Mk29 • 4 x AE-6B Prowler in a foreign region, the United needed to accomplish this. named after World War II Unit- of over 50 years eight-cell launchers for Sea • 6 x S-3B Viking States (or any other nation) has To get everything done, an ed States Pacific Fleet com- The lead ship of the class, Sparrow • 2 x ES-3A Shadow to make special arrangements aircraft carrier has to be a mander Fleet Admiral Chester was commissioned on 3 May Guns Helicopters with a host country, and then ship, an air force base, and a W. Nimitz, the U.S. Navy’s last 1975, and USS George H.W. • 4 x Phalanx Mk15 CIWS • 4 x SH-60F has to abide by that country’s small city at the same time. fleet admiral. Bush, the tenth and last of the (three in CVN 68 and CVN • 2 x HH-60H Seahawk rules, which may change over Among other things it needs: Then ten carriers in service class, was commissioned on 10 6) time. • A flight deck - a flat surface are: January 2009. Since the 1970s, ESM At its most basic level, an Needless to say, this can be on top of the ship where air- Nimitz subclass Nimitz-class carriers have par- • AN/SLQ-32(V)4 aircraft carrier is simply a ship extremely difficult in some craft can take off and land. • USS Nimitz. ticipated in many conflicts and Decoys outfitted with a flight deck -a parts of the world and impos- • A hangar deck - an area • USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. operations across the world, in- • 4 x SRBOC, SSTDS torpe- runway area for launching and sible if the nation is hostile. below deck to stow aircraft • USS Carl Vinson. cluding Operation Eagle Claw do defence system landing airplanes. Under international Freedom when not in use. Theodore Roosevelt subclass in Iran, the Gulf War, and more • AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo This concept dates back al- of Navigation laws, aircraft car- • An island - a building on • USS Theodore Roosevelt. recently in Iraq and Afghani- decoy most as far as airplanes them- riers and other warships are rec- top of the flight deck where • USS Abraham Lincoln. stan. Air Search selves. Within 10 years of the ognized as sovereign territories officers can direct flights • USS George Washington. Let’s begin by looking at the • ITT AN/SPS-48E E/F band Wright Brothers’ historic 1903 in almost all of the ocean. As and ship operations. • USS John C. Stennis. figures for a standard Nimitz- • Ratheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 • USS Harry S. Truman. class aircraft carrier. C/D band USS George USS John C. USS Harry S. USS Ronald USS George Ronald Reagan subclass • Raytheon Mk23 TAS D- Washinton Stennis Truman Reagan H.W. Bush • USS Ronald Reagan. Crew band • USS George H.W. Bush. • 3,184 (including 203 offi- Surface Search cers) • Northrop Grumman AN/ Instead of the gas turbines • 2,800 aircrew (366 officers) SPS-67V G-band or diesel-electric systems used Length Navigation for propulsion on many modern • 317 m • Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)9 40 41 • Room for the crew to live ity on the flight deck and within and work. a eight kilometer radius. • A power plant and propul- One level below is the bridge. sion system to move the ship It is from here that the captain from point to point, as well controls the ship from a com- as generate electricity for fortable leather chair, surround- the entire ship. ed by computer screens. • Various other systems to The captain directs the helms- provide food and fresh wa- man, who actually steers the ter, and to handle other ship, who in turn directs the en- things that any small city gine room to control the speed has to deal with. This would of the ship. include sewage, trash, mail The captain also directs the and laundry. They would Quartermaster of the Watch, also need newspapers and who keeps track of navigation radio and television stations. information, and a number of • Medical facilities with doc- FLOATING CITY: A single Nimitz-class carrier will often carry GO! An F-14D Tomcat fighter jet prepares to launch from the lookouts and support personnel. tors and dentists. more aircraft than some countries have in their entire air force. deck of a Nimitz-class carrier. When the commanding officer • The hull - the main body of is not on the bridge, he puts an the ship, which floats in wa- is exactly what is sounds like Landing Signals Officers plane is coming in too high; if aircraft are always tightly se- Officer of the Deck in charge of ter. - an extended hook attached to (LSOs) help guide the plane in, the amber light appears below cured to keep them from sliding operations. the tail of the plane. through radio communication the green lights, the plane is around as the deck rocks back The level below the bridge is The Flight Deck The pilot’s goal is to snag the as well as a collection of lights coming in too low. If the plane and forth. the flag bridge, the command The system that is used by tailhook on one of four arrest- on the deck. is coming in way too low, the center for the admiral in charge Nimitz-class carries to launch ing wires, sturdy cables woven If the plane is off course, the pilot will see red lights. Pilots The Island of the entire carrier group. and recover aircraft is known from high-tensile steel wire. LSOs can use radio commands will often be instructed over the The island on an aircraft car- Below that, there are vari- as the CATOBAR (Catapult The arresting wires are or illuminate other lights to cor- radio, “Keep your eyes on the rier is the command centre. It ous operational centers, includ- Assisted Take-Off Barrier Ar- stretched across the deck and rect him or her or “wave him ball.” is from here that almost every- ing the flight deck control and rested Recovery) system. are attached on both ends to hy- off” (send them around for an- As soon as the plane hits the thing on the ship is run. launch operations room. In this Steam-driven catapults are draulic cylinders below deck. If other attempt). deck, the pilot will push the It stands about 46 metres tall, tight, windowless space, the used to launch planes from the the tailhook snags an arresting In addition to the LSOs, pilots engines to full power, instead but it’s only six metres wide aircraft handling officer (also deck. The catapult officer care- wire, it pulls the wire out, and look to the Fresnel Lens Optical of slowing down, to bring the at the base. This is so that it called the handler or mangler) fully monitors the steam pres- the hydraulic cylinder system Landing System, commonly re- plane to a stop. This may seem doesn’t take up too much space and his or her crew keep track sure level so it’s just right for absorbs the energy to bring the ferred to as the lens, for land- counterintuitive, but if the tail- on the flight deck. of all the aircraft on the flight the particular plane and deck plane to a stop. ing guidance. The lens consists hook doesn’t catch any of the The top of the island, howev- deck and in the hangar. conditions. The arresting wire can stop of a series of lights and Fresnel arresting wires, the plane needs er, is spread out to provide more The handler’s primary track- If the pressure is too low, the a 24,500 kg plane travelling at lenses mounted to a gyroscopi- to be moving fast enough to room. It carries an array of ra- ing tool is the “Ouija Board,” plane won’t get moving fast 241 k/ph in only two seconds. cally stabilized platform. The take off again and come around dar and communication anten- a two-level transparent plastic enough to take off, and the cata- There are four parallel arrest- lenses focus the light into nar- for another pass. nas that monitor surrounding table with etched outlines of pult will throw it into the ocean. ing wires, spaced about 5015 row beams that are directed into The landing runway is tilted ships and aircraft, intercept and the flight deck and hangar deck. If there’s too much pressure, metres apart, to expand the tar- the sky at various angles. at a 14-degree angle to the rest jam enemy radar signals, target Each aircraft is represented by the sudden jerk could break the get area for the pilot. Pilots are The pilot will see different of the ship, so bolters like this enemy aircraft and missiles, a scale aircraft cut-out on the nose gear right off. aiming for the third wire, as it’s lights depending on the plane’s can take off from the side of the and pick up satellite phone and table. When a real plane moves If taking off from an aircraft the safest and most effective angle of approach. If the plane ship instead of plowing into the television signals. from point to point, the handler carrier is difficult, landing on target. They never shoot for the is right on target, the pilot will planes on the other end of the Below this is the Primary moves the model plane accord- one is even more so. first wire because it’s danger- see an amber light, dubbed the deck. Flight Control, or Pri-Fly. In ingly. When the plane is out of To land on a flight deck that ously close to the edge of deck. “meatball,” in line with a row As soon as an aircraft lands, the Pri-Fly, the air officer and service, because it needs repair only has about 150 metres of To pull off a carrier landing, of green lights. it’s pulled out of the landing air officer assistant (known as work, the handler turns it over. runway space the aircraft make the pilot needs to approach the If the amber light appears strip and chained down on the the “Air Boss” and the “Mini There are a number of ad- use of a tailhook. The tailhook deck at exactly the right angle. above the green lights, the side of the flight deck. Inactive Boss”) direct all aircraft activ- ditional control centers below 42 43 deck, including the carrier air anchor chains -160 kg pacity - 2,040 metric tons, • Each carrier has its own zip traffic control center (CATCC), • Weight of each propeller - enough to cool more than code (postal code) which takes up several rooms 30,000 kg 500 houses) • Number of dentists - five on the galley deck (immediate- • Weight of each rudder - 41 • Storage capacity for re- • Number of medical doctors ly below the flight deck). Like metric tons frigerated and dried food: - six a land-based air traffic control • Storage capacity for avia- enough to feed 6,000 people • Beds in hospital ward - 53 center, the CATCC is filled tion fuel - 12.5 million litres for 70 days. • Number of chaplains in in- with all sorts of radio and radar • Number of telephones on- • The desalination plant terdenominational chapel - equipment, which the control- board - 2,500+ makes 1,514,164 lt of fresh three lers use to keep track of aircraft • Number of televisions on- water from the sea ever day • Number of haircuts every in the area (in this case, main- board - 3,000+ – enough for 2,000 homes week - 1,500+ ly the aircraft outside the Air • Total length of electrical ca- • Mail processed every year • Number of barbershops - Boss’s supervision). ble onboard - 1,600+ km by onboard post office - one The CATCC is next to the KEEPING TABS: The Air Boss and the Mini-boss keep a close • Air conditioning plant ca- 450,000 kg combat direction center (CDC), eye from the Pri-Fly as helicopters take off from the flight deck. the ship’s battle command cen- Flight Deck Crew ter. The CDC’s primary respon- hangar, which move the aircraft stowage bin and upright locker The flight deck crews of a Carrier Air Wing wear coloured jerseys to distinguish their functions. sibility is to process incoming from the hangar to the flight for clothes and personal be- Aircraft handling officers Plane handlers (Trainees) information on enemy threats deck. The high-speed, alumi- longings, and everybody in the Catapult and arresting gear of- Chocks and chains – entry-level in order to keep the command- num hydraulic elevators are big compartment shares a bathroom ficers flight-deck workers under the ing officer fully informed. enough and powerful enough to and a small common area with Yellow Plane directors – responsible for Blue yellowshirts lift two 34,000 kg fighter jets. a television hooked up to one of all movement of all aircraft on Aircraft elevator operators Aft of the hangar bay, in the the carrier’s satellite dishes. The Hangar the flight/hangar deck Tractor drivers stern of the ship, you’ll find the Officers enjoy more space While a small number of air- Messengers and phone talkers craft can be kept on the flight Aircraft Intermediate Mainte- and finer furnishings, but their Catapult and arresting gear crews deck, there is not nearly enough nance Division (AIMD) shops. space is limited, too. Every- Visual Landing Aid electricians room for the 80 to 100 aircraft The men and women in these body onboard has to get used to Air wing maintenance personnel Purple Aviation fuel handlers stationed on a typical carrier. shops are constantly repairing tight quarters. Air wing quality control person- Aircraft not in use are secured and testing aircraft equipment The ship has everything its nel Air wing plane captains: squad- Cargo-handling personnel in the hangar bay. Think of it as to keep the flight squadron op- residents need to live, even if Green ron personnel who prepare air- a carrier’s ‘parking garage’. erating at maximum efficiency. it’s not as comfortably as they Ground support equipment (GSE) Brown craft for flight The hangar bay is located two At the very end of the ship, the would like. There are multiple troubleshooters Air wing line leading petty of- decks below the flight deck, just AIMD shops lead to an open-air galleys (kitchens) and mess Hook runners ficers below the galley deck. The bay engine testing area on the ship’s halls onboard, which collec- Photographer’s mates itself is 34 meres wide, eight fantail. This is the only place on tively serve as many as 18,000 Helicopter landing signal enlisted personnel (LSE) Final checker (inspector)The metres wide, and 209 metres the ship where the maintenance meals a day. White/ flight deck crews of a Carrier long - more than two-thirds the crews can safely blast aircraft The ship also has a sizable Quality Assurance (QA) Black Air Wing wear colored jerseys to length of the entire ship. It can jet engines to make sure they’re laundry facility, dentist and Squadron plane inspectors distinguish their functions. hold more than 60 aircraft, as working properly. doctor’s offices, various stores Landing signal officer (LSO) well as spare jet engines, fuel and a bank of telephones where Air transfer officers (ATO) White tanks and other heavy equip- Life below decks personnel can talk to their fami- Liquid oxygen (LOX) crews ment, in four zones divided by The berthing compartments lies via satellite. Safety observers sliding doors (a safety precau- (sleeping quarters) are ex- Medical personnel (white with tion to stop a fire from spread- tremely tight. Enlisted person- Trivia Red Cross emblem) ing). nel share a compartment with A few facts and figures: The hangar is three decks about 60 other people, all sleep- • Number of compartments Ordnance men high, and it’s flanked by various ing in single bunks, generally and spaces onboard - 4,000+ Crash and salvage crews single-deck compartments on called racks, crammed together • Weight of each anchor - 27 Red Explosive ordnance disposal both sides. There are also four in stacks of three. metric tons (EOD) giant elevators surrounding the Each person gets a small • Weight of each link in the Firefighter 44 45 during the journey. The Israelis Battlefield did not have the capacity to re- fuel four to six aircraft in flight so far from Israeli airspace. Operation Thunderbolt They would have to find some- On the night of 3 and 4 July, 1976, a group of Israeli commandos carried out one where they could land and re- of the most audacious special forces raids in history - and they travelled more than fuel. While several East African 5,000 kilometres to carry it out. nations, including the logisti- cally preferred choice Kenya, n the morning of 27 Hostage situation of the airplane, they demanded were sympathetic, none wished June, 1973, Air France It soon became evident that the release of 53 Palestinian and to incur the wrath of Amin or Flight 139 departed not only was the Ugandan gov- Pro-Palestinian militants, 40 of the Palestinians by allowing O the Israelis to land their aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel ernment supporting the hijack- whom were prisoners in Israel. Aviv, Israel. ers, they were expecting them. They threatened that if these within their borders. There were 246 passengers They were personally wel- demands were not met, they The raid could not proceed and a crew of 12 on board. Most comed by Ugandan dictator Idi would begin to kill hostages on SHOT UP: The control tower at Entebbe Airport. Click on the without assistance from at least of the passengers were Israeli. Amin. 1 July 1976. photograph above to watch a short documentary on the raid. one East African government. The plane flew to Athens, The four original hijackers The Jewish owner of the Block Greece, where it picked up an- were met at Entebbe by at least Plans are prepared hotels chain in Kenya, along other 58 passengers, including four others. Israel tried using political av- to 4 July. He needed to take a Entebbe Airport is located on with other members of the Jew- four hijackers. The passengers and crew enues to obtain the release of diplomatic trip to Port Louis, the edge of the huge lake. The ish and Israeli community in Flight 139 departed for Paris were transferred to the transit the hostages. A retired Israeli Mauritius, to officially hand commandos would then use Nairobi, may have used their at 12h30. Acting under the or- hall of the disused former air- Defence Force (IDF) officer, over chairmanship of the Or- rubber boats to travel to the air- political and economic influ- ders of Wadie Haddad (who port terminal where they were Baruch “Burka” Bar-Lev, had ganisation of African Unity to port. They would then kill the ence to help persuade Kenya’s had earlier broken away from kept under guard for the follow- known Idi Amin for many years Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. hijackers and free the hostages. President Jomo Kenyatta to the Popular Front for the Lib- ing days. Amin came to visit and was considered to have a This extension of the dead- They would then ask Amin for help Israel. The Israeli govern- eration of Palestine (PFLP) of the hostages almost on a daily strong personal relationship line would prove crucial in giv- safe passage home. ment secured permission from George Habash), two Palestin- basis, updating them on devel- with him. At the request of the ing the IDF enough time to get The plan was abandoned be- Kenya for the IDF task force to ians from the Popular Front for opments and promising to use cabinet, he spoke with Amin on to Entebbe. cause of three important fac- cross Kenyan airspace and re- the Liberation of Palestine – Ex- his efforts to have them freed the phone many times, trying to tors. First of all they lacked the fuel at what is today Jomo Ke- ternal Operations (PFLP-EO), through negotiations. gain the release of the hostages, The raid necessary time to plan the oper- nyatta International Airport. and by two Germans, Wilfried The hijackers separated all without success. Even though the Israelis were ation. Secondly, Amin was sup- The Mossad, the Israeli intel- Böse and Brigitte Kuhlmann, Israelis and several non-Israe- The Isrealis also approached trying to negotiate a political porting the hijackers and would ligence agency, built an accu- from the German Revolution- li Jews from the larger group the United States government solution, they realised that their probably have not been pre- rate picture of the whereabouts ary Cells, sprung into action and forced them into a separate to deliver a message to Egyp- only real option was a military pared to give the commandoes of the hostages, the number of shortly after takeoff. room. tian president Anwar Sadat, operation to rescue the hostag- safe passage out of the country. hijackers, and the involvement The hijackers diverted the Over the following two days, asking him to request Amin to es. The third reason was because of Ugandan troops from the re- flight to Benghazi, Libya. It re- 148 non-Israeli hostages were release the hostages. Naturally a rescue mission the Israelis received word that leased hostages in Paris. mained on the ground for seven released and flown out to - Par Meanwhile the IDF was posed certain problems. First Lake Victoria was infested with Then the Israelis had a lucky hours while it was refueled. is. Ninety-four, mainly Israeli, tasked to prepare a military so- of all Entebbe was more than crocodiles. break. The terminal where the During this time the hijackers passengers along with the 12 lution. 5,000 km away from Tel Aviv. The plan that was adopted hostages were being held had released British-born Israeli cit- member Air France crew, re- On the 1 July deadline the Is- They would have to cross the was simple. Fly a rescue force actually been build by Solel izen Patricia Martell who pre- mained as hostages and were raeli cabinet said that they were airspace of at least three coun- from Israel to Entebbe, rescue Boneh, a large Israeli construc- tended to have a miscarriage. threatened with death. willing to negotiate with the hi- tries to get there. the hostages, and fly back to Is- tion company. While planning The flight left Benghazi and On 28 June, a PFLP-EO hi- jackers if they were prepared to They initially conceived a rael. the military operation the IDF at 15h15 touched down at its jacker issued a declaration and extend the deadline to 4 July. plan that involved dropping na- The planes selected to be used erected a partial replica of the final destination - Entebbe Air- formulated their demands: In Unknown to the Israelis, val commandos into Lake Vic- were Lockheed C-130 Hercules airport terminal with the as- port in Uganda. addition to a ransom of five mil- Amin had also asked the hi- toria. aircraft. The problem was that sistance of civilians who had lion US Dollars for the release jackers to extend the deadline they would have to be refueled helped build the original. 46 47 One of the French-Jewish pas- the Israelis had placed infra- sengers that had been released red markers along the runway. by the hijackers had a military Two more C-130s landed. Each background and a ‘phenomenal of the C-130s carried two ar- memory’. He was able to pro- moured personnel carriers. Two vide Mossad with detailed in- were used to guard against a formation about the number of possible attack by Ugandan weapons carried by the hijack- forces. ers, their number, and the loca- The Israelis were worried that tion of where the hostages were the Ugandans might scramble being kept. the squadron of MiG fighters based at Entebbe. They could Task Force have pursued the Israeli C-130s On 3 July, at 18h30, the Israeli AMIN’S WHEELS: The black Mercedes Benz used during the and attacked them. To prevent cabinet approved a rescue mis- raid stands in front of one of the C-130s that took part. this the other two armoured sion, presented by Major Gen- SCRAP METAL: Some of the remains of the Ugandan Air Force personnel carriers were used eral Yekutiel “Kuti” Adam and that were stationed at Entebbe. to destroy the MiGs. They then Brig. Gen. Dan Shomron. The The Golani force led by Col. Kenya, likely across Somalia conducted a sweep of the air- rescue mission was code named Uri Sagi – tasked with securing and the Ogaden area of Ethio- self would do. Jean-Jacques Maimoni, a 19 field to gather intelligence. ‘Operation Thunderbolt’. the C-130 Hercules aircraft for pia. They turned west, passing At they approached the ter- year old French immigrant to The forth C-130 landed and The Israeli ground task force the hostages’ evacuation, get- through the African Rift Valley minal two Ugandan sentries Israel, stood up and was killed taxied directly up to the termi- would comprise of approxi- ting it as close as possible to the and over Lake Victoria. ordered them to stop. The sen- when Israeli company com- nal building. It would be used mately 100 personnel. They terminal and boarding the hos- Following the C-130s were tries were aware that Amin had mander Muki Betzer and an- to evacuate the assault team and would be made up as follows: tages; also while acting as gen- two Boeing 707 jets. One con- recently purchased a new white other soldier mistook him for a the hostages. The ground command and eral reserves. tained medical facilities and it Mecedes Benz. hijacker and fired at him. control element The Sayeret Matkal force led landed at Jomo Kenyatta In- The commandos shot the sen- Another hostage, Pasco Co- The departure This small group comprised by Major Shaul Mofaz – tasked ternational Airport in Nairobi, tries with silenced pistols, but hen, 52, a region manager at After the assault was com- the operation and overall with clearing the military air- Kenya. The commander of the did not kill them. As they pulled the Meuhedet health fund, was pleted the Israelis began load- ground commander, Brigadier strip, and destroying the squad- operation, General Yekutiel away, an Israeli commando in also fatally wounded by gunfire ing the hostages onto the wait- General Dan Shomron, the air ron of MiG fighter jets on the Adam, was on board the second one of the following Land Rov- from the commandos. In addi- ing C-130. force representative Col. Ami ground, to prevent any possible Boeing, which circled over En- ers killed the sentries with an tion, a third hostage, 56 year Ugandan soldiers began to Ayalon and the communica- interceptions by the Ugandan tebbe Airport during the raid. unsuppressed rifle. old Ida Borochovitch, a Rus- shoot at them from the airport tions and support personnel. Air Force; also with holding off The first C-130 landed at En- The task force now feared that sian Jew who had emigrated to control tower. A brief but in- The assault element hostile ground forces from the tebbe on 3 July at 23h00 with the hijackers would have been Israel, was killed by a hijacker tense fire-fight took place as the A 29 man assault unit led city of Entebbe. their cargo bay doors already alerted by the gunfire, so the as- in the crossfire. Israelis returned fire with the by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanya- open. The control tower had sault team quickly approached At one point, an Israeli com- AK-47s. hu – this force was composed The route in turned the landing lights on. the terminal. mando called out in Hebrew, At least five commandos were entirely of commandos from The task force took off from The aircraft stopped at the “Where are the rest of them?” wounded and the Israeli unit Sayeret Matkal (The Unit), and Sharm el-Sheikh and flew along end of the runway and three The hostage rescue referring to the hijackers. The commander, Lt. Col Yonatan was given the primary task of the international flight path vehicles were driven out. One The Israelis leapt from their hostages pointed to a connect- Netanyahu was killed. His sec- assaulting the old terminal and over the Red Sea. The flew at a was a black Mercedes Benz that vehicles and sprinted towards ing door of the airport’s main ond in command, Major Muki rescuing the hostages. height of no more than 30 me- looked like Idi Amin’s vehicle. the terminal. hall, into which the comman- Betzer, then took command. The securing element tres to avoid radar detection by It was accompanied by two The hostages were in the dos threw several hand gre- They returned fire at the The Paratroopers force led Egyptian, Sudanese, and Saudi Land Rovers that usually acted main hall of the airport build- nades. Then, they entered the control tower with light ma- by Col. Matan Vilnai – tasked Arabian forces. as his escort. ing, directly adjacent to the run- room and shot dead the three chine guns and a rocket-pro- with securing the civilian air- Near the south outlet of the The Israelis were hoping that way. Entering the terminal, the remaining hijackers, ending the pelled grendade, suppressing port field, clearing and securing Red Sea the C-130s turned the vehicles would allow them commandos shouted through a assault. the Ugandans fire. One of Idi the runways, and protection and south and passed south of Dji- to bypass security checkpoints. megaphone, “Stay down! Stay In the meantime the run- Amin’s sons later said that the fuelling of the Israeli aircraft in bouti. From there, they went The vehicles drove to the termi- down! We are Israeli soldiers,” way lights had been switched soldier who shot Netanyahu, a Entebbe. to a point northeast of Nairobi, nal building just as Amin him- in both Hebrew and English. off. This was not a problem as cousin of the Amin family, was 48 49 killed in the return fire. The Israelis finished evacuat- TS Tiburton assists disabled fishers ing the hostages, loaded Netan- yahu’s body onto the plane, and By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Navy Reserve. one by one the planes took off. They flew to Nairobi, Kenya, raining Ship (TS) Tiburon where they refueled before set- Sea Cadets annually assist ting off on the return leg of the disabled fishermen / wom- journey. T en at the local fishing competition, The C-130 carrying the hos- that is organized by Frank Kruger tages arrived in Tel Aviv short- of the Quad Para Association of ly after midday on 4 July. They KwaZulu Natal. were given a rapturous wel- Assistance is provided by come by family and friends. throwing in lines, dispensing re- Spontaneous celebrations broke THE ROUTE TO ENTEBBE: This was the flight path followed by freshments, making breakfast and out all over Israel as the news of the Israelis on their way to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. lunch for over 500 people. the rescue spread. This assistance is greatly appre- his aircraft exploded. zerland and France praised the ciated by organisers and partici- The Ugandan reaction operation. Representatives of pants and provides the Sea Cadets Dora Bloch, a 74 year old The Aftermath the United Kingdom and Unit- with an opportunity to participate HERE COMES THE SUN: Helpful Sea Cadets from TS Tiburon Israeli who also held British During Operation Thunder- ed States offered significant in community service whilst as- warming up in the sun. citizenship, was left behind in bolt, of which the actual assault praise, calling the Entebbe raid sisting those who enjoy the sport. PO (SAN) Graham Smith. with the fishermen / women that Uganda. lasted only 30 minutes, All sev- “an impossible operation”. The TS Tiburon Sea Cadets who The Sea Cadets reported that were honoured on the day, with During the hostage drama she en hijackers were killed, as were It was an audacious military assisted were under the leadership they had a great outing and had new respect for people with dis- had choked on a chicken bone between 33 and 45 Ugandan operation, planned and execut- of S/Lt (SCC) Denise Gouws and some memorable conversations abilities. while eating. She was taken to soldiers. Eleven Soviet-built ed in only six days and carried Mulago Hospital in Kampala. MiG-17 and MiG-21 Ugandan out more than 5,000 km away. Useful links After the raid she was mur- Air Force fighter planes were Something that is interesting dered by officers of the Ugan- destroyed on the ground at En- to note is that no fewer than Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- dan Army, as were some of her tebbe Airport. three future Israeli prime min- line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. doctors and nurses that had Of the 106 hostages, three isters played a role in the raid. Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for tried to intervene. were killed, one was left in Yitzhak Rabin was the serv- veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The Amin also ordered the killing Uganda, and approximately 10 ing prime minister who signed second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click of hundreds of Kenyans living were wounded. The Israeli ca- of on the rescue. His Defence on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. in Uganda in retaliation for Ke- sualties were one dead and five Minister was Shimon Peres, nya’s assistance to Israel in the wounded. a future PM, and Ehud Barak, raid. The new Chairman of the Or- yet another future PM was dis- It was Kenyan Minister of ganisation of African Unity laid patched to Keya to make the ar- Agriculture Bruce MacKen- a charge with the United Na- rangements for the refueling on zie that had persuaded Kenyan tions Security Council, accus- the C-130 aircraft on the way President Kenyatta to permit ing Israel of an “act of aggres- home. Mossad to collect intelligence sion.” Finally, Benjamin Netan- prior to the operation, and to al- The resolution failed to re- yahu, the current Prime Minis- low the Israeli Air Force access ceive the required number of ter of Israel, was a member of to the Nairobi airport. affirmative votes due to two ab- Sayeret Matkal at the time of In retaliation, Ugandan Presi- stentions and seven absences. the raid. He did not take part dent Idi Amin ordered Ugandan Western nations, however, in the raid because his elder agents to assassinate MacKen- spoke in support of the raid. brother, Lt. Col Yonatan “Yoni” zie. He was killed on 24 May West Germany called the raid Netanyahu, was already taking 1978 when a bomb attached to “an act of self-defence”. Swit- part. 50 51 Gaming

Admiral Matt O’ Brien is all at sea as he pre- pares to take on the might of the fleet.

his month, keeping with and you get to build your own to slow down. naval theme, I wanted to fleet. The combat phase can of Tlook at a game that fea- My preferred mode is the Dy- course greatly vary depending tured naval warfare. namic Campaign. It take place on the unit you’re commanding. There a quite a few good from 1939 to 1945 and you play It can range anywhere between games that have a naval compo- with limited resources, histori- plain old firing ship’s guns, to nent. Games such as Total War cal units, actual convoy routes launching torpedoes out of a Shogun or Total War Europe and real world-based weather. sub, to dive bombing from a both feature ships and you can The last mode is the Custom carrier-launched plane. fight at sea. These, however, Battle Editor. Here you can set Submarines offer a whole are just small elements of the up a mission to your exact spec- new concept, either playing can use. These include depth ity to lay smoke screens. These historical dates). game. I wanted something that ifications. with them or playing against charges, Hedgehog, Squid and can be used either to disengage Random events including was just about war at sea. The game features 62 his- them. There are three subma- Aerial Depth Charges, and or protect other ships. convoy/merchant attacks, air The game I ended up select- torical ship classes representing rines classes: Triton, Type VII FFAR Bombs. The Dynamic Campaign uses attacks, mines and naval bases ing is Atlantic Fleet, a game de- over 630 ships, 450 subma- and Type IX. When it comes to using your historical convoy routes and bombed (which delays repair of veloped by Killerfish Games. rines and 13 aircraft. There is Besides running on the sur- guns, you first need to get a tar- frequency of convoys. Weath- ships) can influence the game. It’s a turn based tactical and submarine warfare, wolf packs face, submarines can dive to get solution. You need to calcu- er patterns are based on actual Atlantic Fleet is not a bad strategic naval combat that puts and convoys, carrier operations four different depths. They can late the range to the target and meteorological data with West- game at all, especially at the you in command of the Al- and land-based air strikes. The fire both fore and aft torpedoes the elevation you need to fire erlies, Trade winds, seasons price. While the graphics are lies or Kriegsmarine (German navies that are represented are as well as fire torpedo salvos. If at. The more turns you track a etc. Poor weather decreases en- not bad, they are not high defi- Navy) in the longest military the Royal Navy, Royal Cana- a target managed to spot a tor- target, the more accurate your counter detection chance and nition. The good news is that campaign of WWII, The Battle dian Navy, Royal Australian pedoe in time, it can evade. solution becomes. can be used as cover. the game will run on a fairly of the Atlantic. Navy, Royal New Zealand While surface ships and sur- When you fire your gunnery If you lose a ship in combat low-end computer. You take command of surface Navy, United States Navy, and faced submarines use binocular director will report whether the it is gone forever in that cam- I’m having a lot of fun play- ships, submarines as well as Kriegsmarine. or gun directors to view distant last salvo was short, long or if it paign. Ship damage and ammu- ing this game and I can recom- carrier and land based aircraft As I said earlier, the game is targets, submarines that are at straddled the target. nition usage is also permanent. mend it. in the deadly struggle for con- turn based in which every ship the correct depth can use a peri- Direct hits will cause visible You will have to make port to trol of Atlantic shipping lanes. gets a movement phase, fol- scope view. damage on ships. Hits to criti- repair ships or rearm. Protect convoys as the Allies or lowed by a combat phase. If you are going up against cal areas of the ship can cause Germany does get tender ves- go on the offensive with dead- Movement involves pick- submarines you will need to the ship to lose combat effec- sels for rearming at sea, but they ly submarine wolf packs and ing your ship’s speed and turn- detect them first. While surface tiveness. Let’s say that three of cannot carry out any repairs. surface raiders of the German ing angle before hitting move. ships use radar to track contacts, your four gun turrets are out of Land based air strikes are his- Navy. When it comes to movement you would use sonar to detect action, your return fire is not torically based. If you are in an There are a number of modes there are a few things you need and track submarines. Diving going to be all that effective. area that would have been with- Publisher - Killerfish Games that you can select from. First to take into consideration. If deeper gives a submarine the Weapons, sensors, steering and in range of an airfield, those air- Genre - Turn-based strategy, of all there are 30 historic Sin- you order a steel behemoth like chance to escape or avoid de- other subsystems can be dam- craft can be used in combat. Platform - PC gle Missions that you can play. a battleship which is moving at tection. aged. Norwegian and French ports You can also play a campaign flank speed to stop or reverse, it Once you have detected a One of the nice things is that open up to Germany as these Score - 8/10 mode for each navy. There are weighs a few thousand tons. It’s submarine there are multiple surface warships have the abil- invasions are completed (as per Price - R109 50 missions in each campaign going to take multiple turns just anti-submarine weapons you 52 53 Movie Review Book Review Das Boot Men of the Mendi: South Africa’s forgotten heroes of World War I eleased in 1981, Das in October 1941. He has to ac- British tanker, is still afloat and Boot (The Boat) is a company the boat on a patrol, on fire, so they torpedo it again, ritten by Brenda in the starboard quarter by the scripts were declared ‘secret’ RGerman war film writ- taking photographs of them in only to learn there are still sail- Shepherd, this is the much larger cargo ship Darro. and concealed from view for the ten and directed by Wolgang action and reporting on the voy- ors aboard. The U-boat men story of the sinking While Darro survived the next 50 years. Men of the Mendi Petersen, produced by Günter age. watch in horror as the sailors W of the SS Mendi during WW1, collision, the Mendi sank, kill- gives an in depth account of the Rohrbach, and starring Jürgen He meets the submarine’s leap overboard and swim to- the bravery of the men on board ing 616 South Africans (607 of inquiry and the apparent reason Prochnow, Herbert Grönemey- captain (Jürgen Prochnow) in a wards them. Unable to accom- and the ensuing inquiry con- them black volunteers) and 30 for the cover-up. er, and Klaus Wennemann. The French bordello where the cap- modate prisoners, the captain ducted by the Board of Trade crew. R275.00 from Bush War sound track is in German with tain and his crew are celebrat- orders the boat away. in London. The story follows Some men were killed out- Books. English subtitles. ing the captain being awarded The crew, by this time worn the small band of survivors to right in the collision; others were The film is an adaptation of the Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross out, are looking forward to re- France where they complete trapped below decks. Many oth- Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s of the Iron Cross). turning home in time for Christ- their tour of duty. ers gathered on Mendi’s deck as 1973 German novel of the The captain is 30 years old mas. But they are ordered to The First World War rages in she listed and sank. Oral his- same name, the film is set dur- and is openly anti-Nazi, and La Spezia, in Italy. This means Europe, it is a white man’s war, tory records that the men met ing World War II and tells the embittered and cynical about passing through the Strait of but when the British govern- their fate with great dignity. fictional story of U-96 and its the war. Gibraltar—an area heavily de- ment calls for 10,000 black sol- An interpreter, Isaac Williams crew. The next morning the U-96 fended by the Royal Navy. diers to be sent to France as a Wauchope, is reported to have It depicts both the excitement leaves La Rochelle to a cheer- What follows will keep you labour force, men from around calmed the panicked men. of battle and the tedium of the ing crowd and a band playing. glued to the screen. Das Boat South Africa volunteer for ser- This book makes use of vari- fruitless hunt, and shows the Werner is given a tour of the is an excellent film and was vice. ous historical documents and men serving aboard U-boats boat and introduced to the crew. nominated for no fewer than At 05h00 on 21 February the transcripts from the inquiry as ordinary individuals with a The next three weeks are six Academy Awards, including 1917, in thick fog about 19 ki- held in London by the Board of desire to do their best for their spent enduring a relentless Best Director. lometres south o St. Catherine’s Trade to establish causality for comrades and their country. North Atlantic gale. As time This is a film well worth Point on the Isle of Wright, the the large loss of life. On conclu- During production, Heinrich passes Werner observes the ide- watching. Click on the poster troopship SS Mendi was struck sion of the inquiry, these tran- Lehmann-Willenbrock, the ological differences between below to watch a trailer for the captain of the real U-96 and one the new crew members and the film. of Germany’s top U-boat “ton- hardened veterans. General Military Knowledge - The Answers nage aces” during the war, and Shortly after the storm ends 1. Erich Hartmann of the German Luftwaffe attack on Pearl Harbour. Hans-Joachim Krug, former they encounter a British con- with 352 kills. 13. 332nd Fighter Group (The Tuskegee Air- first officer on U-219, served as voy and launch four torpedoes, 2. Bock’s Car. men). consultants. sinking two ships. They are 3. The Panther. 14. The Crimean War. One of Petersen’s goals was spotted by a destroyer and are 4. Dad’s Army. 15. The Second Congo War. It began in August to guide the audience through forced to dive below test depth, 5. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. She was award- 1998 and lasted 10 years. It involved nine “a journey to the edge of the the submarine’s rated limit. ed the medal during the American Civil countries and cost 5.4 million lives. mind”. The film’s tag line is They are depth-charged and War. 16. Malta. “Eine Reise ans Ende des Ver- sustain heavy damage. The 6. Fishbed. 17. William Joyce. standes,” which means “what chief machinist, Obermaschin- 7. High Altitude, Low Opening. 18. HMS Victory. war is all about.” ist Johann (Erwin Leder), pan- 8. Spetsnaz. 19. General Rudolph Hiemstra. The film focuses on war cor- ics and has to be restrained. 9. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. 20. The Vatican Swiss Guard. 110 men. respondent Leutenant Werner After the attack they eventu- 10. Zanzibar. They declared war on Britain and 21. Alfred Lord Tennyson. (Herbert Grönemeyer), who is ally manage to surface when then surrendered 38 minutes later. 22. Max Schmeling. honest but naive. He is assigned night falls. One of the British 11. Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI). 23. Paul Tibbets. The Enola Gay dropped the to the German submarine U-96 ships they torpedoed earlier, a 12. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, after the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. 54 55 vessels have now been desig- On the lighter side nated smoke-free working en- vironments..” Nelson: “In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us Salty sea stories spice the main brace to steel the men before the battle.” A radio conversation that was supposed to have really happened, a rewriting of his- Hardy: “The rum ration has tory, and two jokes make up this month’s ‘On the Lighter Side’. been abolished, admiral. It’s part of the government’s policy on binge drinking.” eeping with our naval Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham going to smash itself against the Nelson: “Good heavens, Har- theme this month, here Lincoln, of the United States rocks, we again insist and sug- dy. I suppose we’d better get on are four nautical stories Navy. The second biggest in the gest that the healthiest and most with it, full speed ahead.” K Hardy: “I think you’ll find for you. American Navy. recommended course of action One is about a radio conver- Currently being escorted by to take is that you adjust your that there’s a four knot speed sation at sea, one is a rewriting two battleships, six destroyers, course 15 degrees south so we limit in this stretch of water. It’s A US Navy aircraft carrier versus a Spanish light- of history, and the final two are five cruisers, four submarines avoid colliding with each oth- YOUR MOVE: an environment protection ini- house. Who do you think won? jokes. and support vessels. er.” tiative.” This first story supposedly We are currently heading to US Navy: “Okay, received, Gulf to take part in an offensive Thomas Hardy at the Battle of Nelson: “Damn it man! We took place during Operation the Persian Gulf to take part in thank you.” against Iraq or anyone else. This Trafalgar in 1805. are on the eve of the greatest sea Enduring Freedom. So that military manoeuvres for an of- information would surely have The story is about how the battle in history. We must ad- would place it some time be- fensive against Iraq. An amusing and entertaining been secret and not something conversation may have gone vance with all dispatch. Report tween 2001 and 2004. I do not suggest, I order you tale. Except that it never hap- that would be transmitted over if the battle had taken place in from the crow’s nest, please.” The conversation was con- to adjust your course by 15 de- pened. an unencrypted radio network. today’s politically correct mili- Hardy: “That won’t be pos- ducted in Spanish. Here is the grees north or we will be obliged This story is nothing more Lastly, the captain mentions tary. sible, sir.” exact translation from voice re- to take the necessary measures than an urban legend. Some that his escort consists of, among Nelson: “What?” cordings. to guarantee the safety and se- versions state that the conver- other vessels, two battleships. Nelson: “Order the signal Hardy: “Health and Safety curity of this fleet. sation was between a US Navy As this incident was supposed Hardy.” have closed the crow’s nest, sir. A-853: “This is A-853, please You belong to an allied nation battleship and a Canadian light- to have taken place sometime Hardy: “Aye, aye sir.” No harness; and they said that adjust your course by 15 de- who is a member of NATO and house, while others give the between 2001 and 2004, this Nelson: “Hold on, this isn’t rope ladders don’t meet regula- grees to avoid collision. is part of the coalition. Please above version. would have been impossible. what I dictated to Flags. What’s tions. They won’t let anyone up You are heading straight for obey my orders immediately Even if you didn’t know that The last four Iowa-class battle- the meaning of this?” there until proper scaffolding us. Distance 25 nautical miles. and get out of our way.” this story was nothing more than ships were decommissioned in Hardy: “Sorry sir?” can be erected.” We advise you to adjust your A-853: “This is Juan Manu- an urban legend, you should the early 1990s, making them Nelson (reading aloud): Nelson: “Then get me the course 15 degrees to avoid col- al Salaas Alcantra. We are two still be able to pick quite a few the last battleships to see active “England expects every person ship’s carpenter without delay, lision.” people currently being escorted holes in the ‘voice recording’. service. to do his or her duty, regardless Hardy.” US Navy: “This is the Cap- by our dog, our food, two beers First of all, with all the ad- of race, gender, sexual orien- Hardy: “He’s busy knocking tain of a ship from the United and a canary that’s currently vanced and sophisticated navi- I’m not sure who wrote the tation, religious persuasion or up a wheelchair access to the States Navy. asleep. gation equipment on board a following story. It has been do- disability. What gobbledygook foredeck, admiral.” We insist that you adjust We have the support of Co- modern-day aircraft carrier ing the rounds on the Internet is this for God’s sake?” Nelson: “Wheelchair access? your course 15 degrees north to runa Daily Radio and the Mari- they would surely have known and I know it was published in Hardy: “Admiralty policy, I’ve never heard anything as avoid collision.” time Emergency Frequency no. exactly where they were. Not the 2016/2 edition of Spring- I’m afraid sir. We’re an equal absurd.” A-853: “We do not consider 16. We are not going anywhere only that, but they would have bok, the journal of the South opportunities employer now. Hardy: “Anti-discrimination this possible or convenient. We since we’re talking to you from known that A-853 was a light- African Legion of Military Vet- We had the devil’s own job get- requirements, sir. We have to suggest you adjust your course dry land. house as well as knowing its erans. Well whoever wrote the ting ‘England’ past the censors, provide a barrier-free environ- 15 degrees north to avoid colli- We are currently in light- exact location. original, take a bow. lest it be considered racist.” ment for the differently abled...” sion.” house A-853 Finisterre on the Secondly, they would not be The story is about a conver- Nelson: “Gadzooks, Hardy. Nelson: “Differently abled? US Navy: “This is Captain Galician Coast. To guarantee broadcasting the fact that they sation between Admiral Lord Hand me my pipe and tobacco.” I’ve only one arm and one eye ****** at the command of the the safety of your ship which is were heading for the Persian Horatio Nelson and Captain Hardy: “Sorry sir. All naval and I refuse to even hear men- 56 57 LEFT AND BELOW: tion of the word. I didn’t rise to ship’s diversity coordinator sailor gets to his feet and stands Those budget cuts are really the rank of admiral by playing hear you saying that sir. You’ll at attention. starting to bite now. the disability card.” be up on a disciplinary report.” “Thank you sailor. Dis- Hardy: “Actually, sir, you did. Nelson: “You must consid- missed.” The Royal Navy is under-repre- er every man an enemy who The British admiral looks at sented in the areas of visual im- speaks ill of your king.” the other three and nods. pairment and limb deficiency.” Hardy: “Not any more, sir. The American admiral calls Nelson: “Whatever next? We must be inclusive in this over a US sailor and tells him Give me full sail. The salt spray multicultural age. Now put on to go to the first floor of the beckons.” your Kevlar vest; it’s the rules. building and dive off onto the Hardy: “A couple of prob- It could save your life.” concrete. lems there too, sir. Health and Nelson: “Don’t tell me - The sailor does as he is in- safety won’t let the crew up the health and safety again. What- structed, hitting the ground in rigging without hard hats. And ever happened to rum, sodomy a heap. He lies there groaning they don’t want anyone breath- and the lash?” until the medics arrive a take ing in too much salt; haven’t Hardy: “As I explained, him off. you seen the adverts.” sir. Rum is off the menu. And Not to be outdone, the Rus- Nelson: “I’ve never heard there’s a ban on corporal pun- sian admiral calls over a Rus- such infamy. Break out the can- ishment.” sian sailor. He tells him to also non and tell the men to stand by Nelson: “What about sod- dive off the building. But from to engage the enemy.” omy?” the second floor. Hardy: “The men are a bit Hardy: “I believe that is now “Yes Comrade Admiral,” he worried about shooting at any- legal, sir.” shouts with a salute. one, admiral.” Nelson: “In that case, kiss me The Russian sailor does as he Nelson: “What? This is mu- Hardy.” is told, with the same results. tiny!” Finally, the South African Hardy: “It’s not that, sir. It’s And finally, a joke rather than admiral calls over one of his just that they’re afraid of being a story. Still, you may, or may sailors. The man saunters over, charged with murder if they ac- not, appreciate it. without bothering to salute. tually kill anyone. There are a “Sailor, I want you to go to couple of legal-aid lawyers on Four admirals, from the Unit- the top of that five storey build- board, watching everyone like ed Kingdom, the USA, Russia ing and dive off of it.” ABOVE: They could have hawks.” and South Africa, are standing The sailor looks at the build- worded this differently Nelson: “Then how are we chatting during a tea break at an ing, looks at the admiral and supposed to sink the Frenchies international naval conference. shakes his head. LEFT: So you think you’re and the Spanish?” The talk turns to the courage “You want me to dive from clever because you can do Hardy: “Actually, sir, we’re of their respective sailors. where? Are you mad. Go get donuts in the parking lot with not.” “Let me show you what cour- stuffed,” he says, turning and your Golf GTi. Try this. Nelson: “We’re not?” age is all about,” says the Brit- walking away while extending Hardy: “No, sir. The French ish admiral. a middle finger over his shoul- and Spanish are our European He calls out to a British sailor der. partners now. According to the who runs up, comes to a halt, The South African admi- Common Fisheries Policy, we and snaps off a smart salute. ral turns to the other three and shouldn’t even be in this stretch “Sailor, I want you to stand at with a look of pride says, “Now of water. We could get hit with attention and then fall flat onto gentlemen, that takes real cour- a claim for compensation.” the concrete while remaining at age.” Nelson: “But you must hate attention.” a Frenchman as you hate the “Yes sir!” devil.” He falls flat on his face, break- Hardy: “I wouldn’t let the ing his nose in the process. The 58 59 E-mail [email protected]

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