MAY 1955 1955 MAY
Vol. 3, No. 2 2 No. 3, Vol.
77 77
,**
1/- 1/-
e+v e+v
PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH
H.M.S. VERNON VERNON H.M.S.
'/ ,4 Royal Naval Naval Royal ,4
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
7 7
&CUP &CUP
Gp11 Gp11
L
EVERYTHING FOR SAFETY EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE SAFETY FOR EVERYTHING
SIEBE
Apparatus Apparatus
CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY FOR OVER A ( INHIRy INHIRy ( A OVER FOR ADMIRALTY THE TO CONTRACTORS
TELEPHONES TELEPHONES
EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT
UNDERWATER UNDERWATER
TELEVISION TELEVISION
EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT
SIEBE, GORMAN GORMAN SIEBE,
MARCONI - - MARCONI
TOLWORTH • SURBITON • SURREY SURREY • SURBITON • TOLWORTH
Davis Submarine Escape Escape Submarine Davis
DIVER'S LOUDSPEAKING LOUDSPEAKING DIVER'S
UNDERWATER LAMPS, etc. etc. LAMPS, UNDERWATER
CUTTING AND WELDING WELDING AND CUTTING
Original Designers and and Designers Original
Manufacturers of " Self- " of Manufacturers
based. based.
Contained " Apparatus Apparatus " Contained
on which all types are are types all which on
OF ALL TYPES TYPES ALL OF DIVING APPARATUS APPARATUS DIVING www.mcdoa.org.uk 116..4 •••••••••••••••••••••“•••••••••••••••••••••••1111.1....••••••••••.....1111.••••••••••••••••41,...... "...411.0.411.••••••••••••14....1111,...1. 1905 TAILORS AND 1955 Contractors to Admiralty, Ministry of Supply, Foreign CONTRACTORS TO THE R.N. Governments, Dock and Harbour Authorities, i Pearling and Sponge Fishing i Industries i i i FIRST DIP-1 820 i i i. STILL DEVELOPING i i —1955 i i i q K i i i i C. E. HEINKE & Co. Ltd. i i MASKS TUBES FINS i LONDON, S.E. 1 i ! etc. i Phone Ber. 4461/5 i i i BATHING SHORTS & TRUNKS i Manufacturers of i i HIGH QUALITY DIVING GEAR i by " Jantzen " and c Bukta " interchangeable with all other makes i HELMETS i .i DRESSES i CUIEIUN1 !DIU HOSE LTD. i HEINKE DIVERPHONE SETS i i LONDON Underwater Swimwear Stockists i. COMPRESSORS, Etc. i i 123-7 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH i. Experimental Designs Developed • i i (and Branches) 1111.4.110...16.11.110.a.116.1.11111.4.1111...... 110....11.0.1•01111...”•••••••••••••110.11.0,S•0...... “...00.0.00.1.40.11•004.111•014....110,...... 1
BLAZER BADGES MADE TO ANY DESIGN www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk R.N. Diving Magazine EDITORIAL STAFF CONTENTS Editor: Petty Officer R. L. Benfield Treasurer: S. f. NeWinan, Snr. Cmd. Gnr. (TAS) R.N. EDIToRIAL May, 1955 No. 2 TREASURER'S NOTES 3 A NOT So BRIEF ENCOUNTER 4 EDITORIAL H.M.D.T " CLEARWATER " 6 Dear Readers, CRUISE OF H.M.S. " RECLAIM " Once again there has been a change in the editorial BOMB AND MINE DISPOSAL NOTES 11 staff due, I am sorry to say, to service requirements. Our last Editor, Lt. Sagar, has departed for Canada to A DIP IN WOOI(EY HOLE 13 start life afresh in the Canadian Navy. The, last ODD ODE 16 Treasurer, Mr. Currie-Davis, has departed for the distant outpost of Portland, Dorset. ' OBSERVATION CHAMBER AND ARTICULATE6 ARMOURED DRESS DIVING This, our first magazine under the new staff, I trust 17 contains news /for all, but Oh ! the pain of obtaining it.
" oF MARINE SALVAGE 416 27 May I remind every one that the future of this
1,11 11\ 1115 28 magazine rests in your hands, so please let us have your support. Send, any material you have to R.N. A I. 11 I 1\,,11,•-• „ 29 Diving Magazine, H.M.S. Vernon, Portsmouth. I would In\ mil 1, .„ 30 like to thank all those who have given us support In'this . . our first issue by sending in stories and photographs, not u \ I 1 \ IN1 1)1 \ \. I , 11,1 \I 11,Am 31. forgetting our cartoonist. Let us hear from a few more of you lads, it does not matter how tall story might II I' ' 1111' int \ .1.1, Acton sound, we will find room for it. EDITOR. 1 1 :12 MI oil, I I \ \ 11.1NI 36 it‘iir\ru 36 TREASURER'S NOTES Iii l',AH I NI 37 As mentioned h\ the !here has been complete change of staff for this magazine. Many of you will have received a letter and new I iN. TECHNICAL ADVISOR subscription fotm from me; there are still many to go out, but it is a long I I UPLIFTER " AT BLYTH ,111 job. Nevertheless the response so hit is very encouraging, and I trust that in the very dear future olir circulation will have more thaiVdoubled 50TH C.D.T. H.M.S. " DIVER " 42 itself. A FISHY STORY - 43 ;Remember it is your magazine, and you can help in increasing the AND HERE IS A FISHY STORY TO END ALL 11)..S41" 6"4101‘5 45 size and circulation by sending in yoUr contributions, also piss.ing your magazine on for others to look at and interest them in becoming a sub- scriber -also. Pletse remember to let me know any: change of address, it is quite a problem to keep in touch with you all especiallY,these days with shorter conunisious, etc. All for now, S. J.N.
3
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port side side port
Clearwater Clearwater
Pamir—thank Pamir—thank
Pamir's Pamir's
tri tri
was moored in a position on on position a in moored was
an all steel four-masted barque of 3,103 tons, was was tons, 3,103 of barque four-masted steel all an
cadets were very interested in the diving operations and and operations diving the in interested very were cadets
and at the same time I was being hauled out of the water; water; the of out hauled being was I time same the at and
Pamir, Pamir,
Clearwater Clearwater
rallied round and soon I was attired in seaboots, khaki slacks, slacks, khaki seaboots, in attired was I soon and round rallied
Pamir Pamir
Pamir's Pamir's
resources. resources.
On the third day, with the completion of the task almost in sight, I I sight, in almost task the of completion the with day, third the On
The The
As I had only come out for an afternoon, the gear I had was what I I what was had I gear the afternoon, an for out come only had I As
At the request of her Captain we had our meals on on meals our had we Captain her of request the At
On the second day, Staff Captain Gruppe was down on on down was Gruppe Captain Staff day, second the On
Already Already
On deck we were greeted by Captain Herman Eggers and Staff Staff and Eggers Herman Captain by greeted were we deck On
We came alongside her under the critical gaze of the entire German German entire the of gaze critical the under her alongside came We
under the water, the Army are sailing about in boats, and the Navy are are Navy the and boats, in about sailing are Army the water, the under
photographs, a pair of wire-scratched hands and a most enjoyable insight insight enjoyable most a and hands wire-scratched of pair a photographs,
had to take my leave; so with my souvenirs, tally bands, autographed autographed bands, tally souvenirs, my with so leave; my take to had
two blue jerseys, the P.O's jacket and my R.A.F. beret—an odd but but odd beret—an R.A.F. my and jacket P.O's the jerseys, blue two
very good English: " I don't understand it—the Air Force is working working is Force Air it—the understand don't I " English: good very in the air."—I could not attempt an explanation ! ! explanation an attempt not could air."—I the in
it was quite a task getting into a suit as there were so many pairs of keen keen of pairs many so were there as suit a into getting task a quite was it three-day task such as this one turned out to be. However, the crew of of crew the However, be. to out turned one this as such task three-day
but amateurish hands trying to help. We also had a German officer on on officer German a had also We help. to trying hands amateurish but
when an R.A.S.C. launch came alongside. A naval helicopter was closely closely was helicopter naval A alongside. came launch R.A.S.C. an when he'looked at me and shook his head in a puzzled manner and said in his his in said and manner puzzled a in head his shook and me at he'looked mous steaks, eggs, etc., washed down with Rhine wine, excellent coffee coffee excellent wine, Rhine with down washed etc., eggs, steaks, mous
duty with us for the purpose of producing anything we needed from from needed we anything producing of purpose the for us with duty
inspecting inspecting
workable assortment of clothing. clothing. of assortment workable worked up underneath and inside the rope guard, and as this was not a a not was this as and guard, rope the inside and underneath up worked
a section would have to be cut out of it. it. of out cut be to have would section a
and the inevitable Schapps. Schapps. inevitable the and
goodness, as corned beef and biscuits can soon get monotonous !—enor- monotonous get soon can biscuits and beef corned as goodness, I.U.W.S.S. and gas mask inspecting the task. Some 30 feet of steel wire wire steel of feet 30 Some task. the inspecting mask gas and I.U.W.S.S.
Pamir's Pamir's
Clearwater Clearwater
unaided, and the cost of engaging a tug would be prohibitive. prohibitive. be would tug a engaging of cost the and unaided, stood up in, and a battledress and raincoat was not an ideal dress for a a for dress ideal an not was raincoat and battledress a and in, up stood
examination to be made. This revealed that the offending wire had had wire offending the that revealed This made. be to examination
functioning, as without it she would be unable to dock or proceed up river river up proceed or dock to unable be would she it without as functioning, rope was then removed from the propellor shaft, enabling a more detailed detailed more a enabling shaft, propellor the from removed then was rope
standard fitting but was welded directly on to the hull, it was evident that that evident was it hull, the to on directly welded was but fitting standard
We learned that that learned We
retired to the wardroom where the traditional Schnapps was produced. produced. was Schnapps traditional the where wardroom the to retired adjacent to her counter, bottom lines rigged, and the first diver in Mk. Mk. in diver first the and rigged, lines bottom counter, her to adjacent
cadets. Whilst proceeding down Channel one of the mizzen course (or (or course mizzen the of one Channel down proceeding Whilst cadets.
Captain Helmit Gruppe and after much saluting and handshaking, we we handshaking, and saluting much after and Gruppe Helmit Captain
lower sail) sheets had carried away and fouled the screw of her diesel diesel her of screw the fouled and away carried had sheets sail) lower bound from Hamburg to the River Plate ; hef crew consisting mainly of of mainly consisting crew hef ; Plate River the to Hamburg from bound
auxiliary. It was absolutely imperative that the auxiliary should be be should auxiliary the that imperative absolutely was It auxiliary. crew, who were then treated to the impressive sight of Mr. Walker swarm- Walker Mr. of sight impressive the to treated then were who crew,
ing aboard by means of a rope. A rope ladder was then lowered and I I and lowered then was ladder rope A rope. a of means by aboard ing ascended in a more sedate and less precarious manner. manner. precarious less and sedate more a in ascended
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wardroom, I had arrived back back arrived had I wardroom,
Naar Naar
Vernon's Vernon's
which was lying in St. Helen's Roads with with Roads Helen's St. in lying was which
and heading out towards Spithead and the the and Spithead towards out heading and
portsmouth Evening Evening portsmouth
Pamir Pamir
Clearwater Clearwater
NOT SO BRIEF ENCOUNTER ENCOUNTER BRIEF SO NOT
and asked if I would like a run out to have a look at the the at look a have to out run a like would I if asked and
and was contemplating the cold muddy waters around the the around waters muddy cold the contemplating was and
A A
By kind permission of of permission kind By
Clearwater Clearwater
Having obtained the reluctant approval of my diving instructor, I I instructor, diving my of approval reluctant the obtained Having
After a pleasant luncheon in in luncheon pleasant a After
Deepwater Deepwater
from from
was soon aboard aboard soon was
German training ship ship training German
a fouled screw. screw. fouled a
on on
Pamir. Pamir. stern with little enthusiasm for my forthcoming dip,' when I was hailed hailed was I when dip,' forthcoming my for enthusiasm little with stern www.mcdoa.org.uk into life on board one of the fastfdisaPP6aring windships," I 'left the Thigturned out to be a " Pig's Orphan " of a job, due to the extreme excellent comradeship of all on Clearwater, and with the shouts of coldness of the water and a constant rise and fall under the counter of " Coward ! " and " Keep 'a level head " from ,Mr. Walker-I reluctantly some' three' to five feet, giving the divers a steady " shoulder massage " returned to Vernon. against the hull and rudder, in the best traditions of a Peruvian yo-yo C. T. LYNAS, Squadron Leader,Royal Air Force. champion. (In fact, life became a series of ups and downs !) Through-theieffects of the above, work progressed painfully slowly, one diver being knocked out, one having a finger severely gashed (later H.M.D T. CLEARWATER operated on by the German doctor on Pamir), and all having a generous proportion of cuts and bruises. The barque had been on her way down channel on what promised to be a record run to the River Plate. Her speed was a steady 16 knots, when she ran into head winds. Starting her auxiliary diesel to assist her, she was unortunate in having the mizzen course sheet pendant (24- wire) carry away and foul the screw. The winds forcing her back up channel, she put into St. Helen's Roads, and requested help from Commander-in- Chief, Portsmouth. Strangely enough, on the day Clearwater went to Pamir's assistance; we had, already been out in the vicinity of the Nab Tower, assisting the B. & M.D. Unit under Mr. Currie-Davies. On returning we circled Pamir for a closer look. Little did we know then that our services were so urgently needed. The hospitality of the German captain and his crew was over- ei whelming. They gave every possible help, even to unofficial " diver's attendants," and including as liaison officer, the third mate. Truly, 'as his nickname. implied, " A man and a half." Standing six foot four, and built accordingly, he had a friendly habit of'picking up our cox'n with one hand, and wishing him " Guten Morgen." Meals—always hurried business—became something of, an ,erribar, 1.111.1 1..1 1111. • 1, 111 of i'OrtNin nith li ve i ng NTIVS rassment, for, if one failed to consume enough for six, our generous hosts became alarmed, thinking we were ill. (The miracle was—why we never 111 1•\ c1 111eic ,I l ilesday. were !)
• , I br re \.• ( /,•0/•• •//• iew ,lie concerned, are'noW two Mondays 9 Whilst the job progressed, sound friendships were made, and much (11, 1 111, - ,1,1\ ), \\ ,1.1\ , 1111H .d,(\', Hr., Tuesday haying been...unapi- regret was expressed _by a certain ` Alexander the Great " (and one other), mow,' " •, 1111 , I ,, .1 " 11 ,,111 (he weck. Hrr 11 11111 been thisfatelul day .that, at not being in a.. position to accompany Pamir's crew on their voyage. ,1111,,111 - .1 (he mole (1m1,-,11,11 jobs have been undertaken 1)y • It was noted that the linguistic capabilities of one other provoked great envy in the leading stoker mechanic of Clearwater, whose grasp of i. H .1 \\ \\ .11 miliesweeper in Southampton with more than the-German language after four days was limited to the equivalent of 1111 1,111 dim l ,,1 (hedge' 's cable around her screw.. The usual " faster " mouse-hound." 1,1 1 111c MIS undertaken in somewhat chilly conditions and a mass ,; Hon cable was finally cleared, the job taking two days am! much On Pamir finally continuing her voyage, her crew gave the team a 11.1ish to complete. Damage to the C.M.S. consisted of half-a- wonderful " Chuck-up " which was heartily reciprocated, both vocally do/c11 Hamar chips from the port screw. and on the Clearwater's siren. To such good effect that the L.S.M. had to A matter of interest—the captain , of. this particular vessel was. one keep up pressure by running, the compressor. (This, aided by much of the two survivors of H.M.S. Hood; which was sunk ,on Empire I )ay, basic English, interspersed with his own brand of " German " curses, 1941 by the German battle cruiser Bismark. turned the atmosphere of the engine room a beautiful shade of Royal Blue.) The following Tuesday, at almost the same time, we were off again, The eager friendliness and unbounded hospitality of Pamir was this time something really unique. A foul screw on the four masted emphasized by a most complimentary signal of thanks to the Commander- barque Pamir, a German cadet training vessel of 3,103 tons net. in-Chief, Portsmouth. 6 www.mcdoa.org.uk
9 9
struck lucky; the weather during our our during weather the lucky; struck
Reclaim Reclaim
and anchored until daybreak. With the light we we light the With daybreak. until anchored and
Needless to say our sailors took to the sport like like sport the to took sailors our say to Needless
Hamlet, Hamlet,
Reclaim. Reclaim.
The dawn came round much to quickly, and in very bad visibility we we visibility bad very in and quickly, to much round came dawn The
However, all good things must come to an end, and we prepared for for prepared we and end, an to come must things good all However,
The captain, Lieutenant Commander C. R. Sims, was in great demand demand great in was Sims, R. C. Commander Lieutenant captain, The
Meanwhile the diving went on apace, and we were able to demonstrate demonstrate to able were we and apace, on went diving the Meanwhile
A rugged mountain, Floyen, towers over the city, and is to Bergen Bergen to is and city, the over towers Floyen, mountain, rugged A
Bergen proved to be a very old and picturesque town, founded in in founded town, picturesque and old very a be to proved Bergen
Kattegat. Early on Friday morning we passed Helsingor, the Elsinore of of Elsinore the Helsingor, passed we morning Friday on Early Kattegat.
Nemedri routes we felt our way round the Skagen Horn and into the the into and Horn Skagen the round way our felt we routes Nemedri
alongside the whispering pines ' of Langelinie. Langelinie. of ' pines whispering the alongside
company had become the proud father of a daughter. Following the the Following daughter. a of father proud the become had company
weighed anchor and before another hour had passed we were secured secured were we passed had hour another before and anchor weighed Shakespeare's Shakespeare's
Saint Patrick's day came and with it the announcement that one of our our of one that announcement the it with and came day Patrick's Saint
men sailed the seas before Decca was invented, and we ploughed on. on. ploughed we and invented, was Decca before seas the sailed men
met us as we entered the North Sea, and once again our Decca failed; hut hut failed; Decca our again once and Sea, North the entered we as us met
Byfjiord. It was breath-taking and unforgettable. unforgettable. and breath-taking was It Byfjiord.
sailed from Bergen for Copenhagen. Blinding snowstorms and blizzards blizzards and snowstorms Blinding Copenhagen. for Bergen from sailed
blackness relieved by seemingly millions of twinkling diamond lights, like like lights, diamond twinkling of millions seemingly by relieved blackness
reflections of the stars. A golden half-moon, floating serenely in the sky, sky, the in serenely floating half-moon, golden A stars. the of reflections
Floyen to have a last look at the fairyland that is Bergen by night. A A night. by Bergen is that fairyland the at look last a have to Floyen
carpet of velvety darkness stretched away to the waters of the fjiord, the the fjiord, the of waters the to away stretched darkness velvety of carpet
sent a shimmering path of soft light across the cold black surface of the the of surface black cold the across light soft of path shimmering a sent
known for his propensity for sticking silver paper cups on the deck-heads deck-heads the on cups paper silver sticking for propensity his for known
sailing. The night before we left, your correspondent went to the top of of top the to went correspondent your left, we before night The sailing.
erroneously claimed by some journalists as a world record. This was was This record. world a as journalists some by claimed erroneously
rather embarrassing, but then we must remember that newspapermen have have newspapermen that remember must we then but embarrassing, rather
dox means, notably our number one, Lieutenant Hefford, who was well well was who Hefford, Lieutenant one, number our notably means, dox
to live too. too. live to
our technique to the Royal Norwegian Navy. The water was 5° C on an an on C 5° was water The Navy. Norwegian Royal the to technique our
average but, despite this, we eventually achieved a depth of 411 feet, feet, 411 of depth a achieved eventually we this, despite but, average as a lecturer. Other officers attained fame or notoriety by more unortho- more by notoriety or fame attained officers Other lecturer. a as
of certain well known hotels. hotels. known well certain of
up and start all over again. Luckily during our stay we had no serious serious no had we stay our during Luckily again. over all start and up
Lieutenant Commander Peter Salen, a number of pairs of skis were were skis of pairs of number a Salen, Peter Commander Lieutenant
an ankle. ankle. an
accidents, the only casualty being Leading Seaman Puttock, who sprained sprained who Puttock, Seaman Leading being casualty only the accidents,
ducks to water, and made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in skill. skill. in lacked they what enthusiasm in up made and water, to ducks
The locals were highly amused to see No. 8 clad British tars charging down down charging tars British clad 8 No. see to amused highly were locals The
allocated to to allocated
most of the populace ascend in the train for the favourite Norwegian Norwegian favourite the for train the in ascend populace the of most
steep slopes, go flying into snowdrifts, and then doggedly pick themselves themselves pick doggedly then and snowdrifts, into flying go slopes, steep
sport of ski-ing. Through the good offices of our estimable liaison officer, officer, liaison estimable our of offices good the Through ski-ing. of sport
are he'd say " No, I am from Bergen." Bergen." from am I No, " say he'd are
as " Furriners." In fact, ask a local if he's from Norway, and the chances chances the and Norway, from he's if local a ask fact, In Furriners." " as
the hinterland by tall mountain ranges. This has led to an independent independent an to led has This ranges. mountain tall by hinterland the
what the Peak is to Hong-Kong, or Table Mountain to Capetown. The The Capetown. to Mountain Table or Hong-Kong, to is Peak the what
summit is reached by a very modern funicular railway, and at week-ends week-ends at and railway, funicular modern very a by reached is summit
Norway, 74" annually, but but annually, 74" Norway,
spirit among the inhabitants, and they tend to regard all other Norwegians Norwegians other all regard to tend they and inhabitants, the among spirit
1070 by King Olaf Kyrre. It is reputed to have the heaviest rainfall in in rainfall heaviest the have to reputed is It Kyrre. Olaf King by 1070 stay was cold, but in the main dry. The city is practically isolated from from isolated practically is city The dry. main the in but cold, was stay
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HOOKY. HOOKY.
0 0
farewell dance was held in the Grand Hotel on the night night the on Hotel Grand the in held was dance farewell
CRUISE OF H.M.S. " RECLAIM " " RECLAIM " H.M.S. OF CRUISE
Reclaim's Reclaim's
This time the weather proved kind to us, giving a little push if any- if push little a giving us, to kind proved weather the time This
Next day, having weathered the worst storm in most of our memories, memories, our of most in storm worst the weathered having day, Next
Half an hour went by and bit by bit we were being driven inshore. inshore. driven being were we bit by bit and by went hour an Half
Rounding Cape Wrath was an experience. We met howling gales gales howling met We experience. an was Wrath Cape Rounding
Without wasting any time we started our diving, the first dive being being dive first the diving, our started we time any wasting Without
It may be added that everyone managed to " keep a level head " " head level a keep " to managed everyone that added be may It
Our first stop was Portland, where for ten days we worked up, up, worked we days ten for where Portland, was stop first Our
On Monday morning, January 17th we slipped from the North Wall, Wall, North the from slipped we 17th January morning, Monday On
To work on one of the last sailing ships was truly a memorable and and memorable a truly was ships sailing last the of one on work To
Byfjiords, and secured alongside in Bergen harbour a.m. Saturday, 26th 26th Saturday, a.m. harbour Bergen in alongside secured and Byfjiords,
the captain laughed with relief as he shouted a magnetic course to the the to course magnetic a shouted he as relief with laughed captain the
thing, and after a couple of days we steamed through the Pudde and and Pudde the through steamed we days of couple a after and thing,
February. February.
there licking our wounds and making ourselves look pretty again, and we we and again, pretty look ourselves making and wounds our licking there
we thankfully passed over our berthing wires at Port Edgar. A week week A Edgar. Port at wires berthing our over passed thankfully we
from STOP to HALF-AHEAD. There was a lifting of tension and and tension of lifting a was There HALF-AHEAD. to STOP from
quartermaster. quartermaster.
All eyes were on the telegraphs and suddenly, unbelievably, they clanged clanged they unbelievably, suddenly, and telegraphs the on were eyes All
set off for Norway, the land of the Vikings. Vikings. the of land the Norway, for off set
beating in from the north, and pushing us steadily towards the black black the towards steadily us pushing and north, the from in beating
and watching him we could feel the responsibility that rested on his his on rested that responsibility the feel could we him watching and
The reason was that we had lost suction owing to the terrific rolling of the the of rolling terrific the to owing suction lost had we that was reason The
frantic phone calls went on between the bridge and the engine room. room. engine the and bridge the between on went calls phone frantic
forbidding rocks of Cape Wrath. The N.U.C. signal was hoisted and and hoisted was signal N.U.C. The Wrath. Cape of rocks forbidding
shoulders. shoulders.
ship. Outwardly calm the captain rested his arms on the bridge screen, screen, bridge the on arms his rested captain the calm Outwardly ship.
howl to a high-pitched scream. The helm was quickly put over to bring bring to over put quickly was helm The scream. high-pitched a to howl
our head to the sea. Helplessly we wallowed in the grip of the waves waves the of grip the in wallowed we Helplessly sea. the to head our
come. Suddenly the engine telegraphs clanged and registered STOP. It It STOP. registered and clanged telegraphs engine the Suddenly come.
navigator packing up when both were most needed. The worst was yet to to yet was worst The needed. most were both when up packing navigator
We had some navigational difficulties, our gyro compass and Decca Decca and compass gyro our difficulties, navigational some had We
seemed at that precise moment that the sound of the wind changed from a a from changed wind the of sound the that moment precise that at seemed
and hurricane force winds, some of the gusts being more than 70 m.p.h. m.p.h. 70 than more being gusts the of some winds, force hurricane and
of February 14th, and a wonderful dance it was. Then with regret we we regret with Then was. it dance wonderful a and 14th, February of
there. there.
said goodbye to our friends in the Highlands, and set off for Port Edgar. Edgar. Port for off set and Highlands, the in friends our to goodbye said
play between the work, the Highland populace of Fort William proving proving William Fort of populace Highland the work, the between play many a budding romance having its conception during our three weeks weeks three our during conception its having romance budding a many
wonderfully hospitable and kind. The lasses were very co-operative too, too, co-operative very were lasses The kind. and hospitable wonderfully
to 200 feet. Gradually working down the gauge for the next three weeks, weeks, three next the for gauge the down working Gradually feet. 200 to
we exercised all our divers to 50% fathoms. Naturally there was some some was there Naturally fathoms. 50% to divers our all exercised we
Linnhe, where we arrived on Monday 31st after a rather a rough passage. passage. rough a rather a after 31st Monday on arrived we where Linnhe,
Portsmouth and set off on the first lap of our Scandinavian cruise. cruise. Scandinavian our of lap first the on off set and Portsmouth
performing A/S exercises, meeting old ships, and generally getting our our getting generally and ships, old meeting exercises, A/S performing
unforgettable experience. experience. unforgettable
sea legs. From there we sailed to Fort William, at the head of Loch Loch of head the at William, Fort to sailed we there From legs. sea although it was a distinct strain on occasions. occasions. on strain distinct a was it although I
www.mcdoa.org.uk The B.N.A. Commander Potter and our Danish liaison officer, Lieutentant Pelle Mosbech, made us extremely welcome, and organised Early on Monday morning we left Karlskrona to a volley of fireworks diversions like visits to the Carlsberg and Tuborg Breweries, which were from our friends of the Royal Swedish Navy. It was a pleasant day as we thoroughly enjoyed by the lucky types who went. Your unfortunate sailed through the minefields of the Southern Baltic, bound for home via correspondent was otherwise employed each time. the Kiel Canal. A glorious dawn heralded our entry into the canal, but the promise didn't hold good and before long we ran into blizzards that The Royal Danish Navy was very interested in our diving. Res- reduced visibility to a few yards. The Kiel Canal winds and twists for tricted to comparatively shallow depths, helium diving proved rather a 98 kilometres, roughly 60 miles, and the whole length of it is covered with novelty. Mr. Otley, D.0.1, proved an able lecturer to the squads of as much shipping as Piccadilly Circus is with motor traffic. On a fine Danish officers and doctors who visited us. Here, too, we had some very day it would be a wonderfully interesting and beautiful trip, but the bad good journalistic friends. Nigger, our ship's cat, was sadly libelled, being visibility made it a nightmare. However, magnificent ship-handling by credited with innumerable feline wives from Spitzbergen to Shanghai, the captain got us through safely, and at 4 p.m. we entered the estuary of and with more offspring than Solomon. Poor old Nigger, he's been a the Elbe. Miraculously, the weather cleared and we had a comparativery eunuch for years ! innocuous passage through the Nemedri routes until we cleared the Sailing day came round just as we were getting to know the place, minefields. and on Wednesday we found ourselves ploughing through the Southern Baltic en route for Karlskrona. Our objective was a buoy a few miles Good times were had, friends were made, interesting places were seen, south of Karlskrona, where we should pick up a pilot. A Decca fix put and at times it saddened one to say the eternal goodbye. The cruise was us right on the buoy on the morning of Thursday. Unfortunately, no now a pleasant memory, something to talk and think about in future days. buoy had been laid and, after cruising round searching for it in obviously The main concern now was the state of the No. l's and the time of the dangerous waters, the captain thought it more prudent to drop anchor first liberty boat when we arrived in Pompey. and wait for the pilot to come to us. Eventually a small boat chugged There was a keen feeling of anticipation as that old friend the Nab out and we embarked the pilot and Lieutenant Lennart Malmborg, our Tower loomed up on the horizon. As we passed Dophin and Vernon, and Swedish liaison officer. the pipes whistled and trilled, there was a pleasant glow in our hearts— What a sight awaited us as we entered harbour. The whole area was " Here we come, Pompey, the Smoke, Brum, the sailor is home from the absolutely ice-bound. Reclaim proved an efficient ice-breaker, however, sea." and we carved through it like a hot knife through butter. Getting along- side was no easy task, as the ship compressed the ice into one mighty BOMB AND MINE DISPOSAL NOTES fender. By dint of sea-sawing with the head and stern wires we eventually got near enough to put a brow out. As usual, the first ashore was Nigger, Since our last issue the New Year found followed closely by the postman. command teams rather busy dealing with The Royal Swedish Navy, thorough as usual, had left nothing to a variety of mines, missiles and projectiles chance, and a rather full programme was laid on. Part of this was a visit washed up or uncovered as a result of the to the Swedish Training Establishment, which proved very interesting. rather heavy gales, abnormal for even that About 60 officers and men were conducted round and were very impressed particular time of the year. by the brightness and cleanliness of the classrooms and workshops. The Senior Commissioned Gunner (C.D.) porcelain factory was another attraction which proved of great interest. " Jackie " Rae, fresh (?) from the Goodwin The Swedish diving ship Belos, commanded by bluff Commander lightship search, spent a busy time in the Holger Donhammer, very quickly became our chummy ship. A demon- Nore commond, the high-light of which was stration of the Swedish rescue bell was laid on for our divers by Belos, and a Mk. 17 at Margate. Nothing quite re- Reclaim's diving officers had the experience of descending in the bell to a markable about this except that the party submarine, transferring, and coming back into harbour on the bridge of tackled the job under arduous weather con- that craft. We did a demonstration of deep diving and a surface recom- ditions after 60 hours without sleep. So pression, and now Commander Donhammer feels he has a good lever with if you see any of the Nore team with " bags " which to pry a new diving vessel from the Swedish Admiralty, his own under the eyes, that's the reason. being somewhat ancient, more than 70 years old. The British and Swedish The Plymouth command team also chiefs and petty officers became friends quickly, the one learning to say sometimes have this optical affliction but for " Skaal " and the other to say " Cheers " in rapid time, while large totally different reasons. However, 3 jobs in quantities of aquavit and beer were consumed. A dance was held at the 5 days, entailing a distance of 1,400 miles, is Savoy Hotel where British tars were welcomed with open arms, and on pretty good going, and it can well be imagined that " Bluey " and his Sunday night many a fond adieu was taken of Nordic lady friends in quiet team made their usual impression on the Welsh mountains and Lancashire isolated corners. " Parting is such sweet sorrow." mud-flats. 10 11 www.mcdoa.org.uk
C.D. C.D.
uses the following following the uses
peaceful peaceful
13 13
By BUBBLE AND SQUEAK SQUEAK AND BUBBLE By
A DIP IN WOOKEY HOLE HOLE WOOKEY IN DIP A
Greater ease of depth changing when swimming as there is no no is there as swimming when changing depth of ease Greater
counterlung whose buoyancy varies when subjected to fluctuating fluctuating to subjected when varies buoyancy whose counterlung
ambient pressures. pressures. ambient
Minimum of drill required for use. use. for required drill of Minimum
No risk of oxygen or carbon dioxide excesses or deficiencies. deficiencies. or excesses dioxide carbon or oxygen of risk No No rubber counterlung to tear. tear. to counterlung rubber No
No reasonable depth limitations. limitations. depth reasonable No
No danger if internal parts of apparatus are accidentally flooded. flooded. accidentally are apparatus of parts internal if danger No
The only other gear that they had besides swim suits and fins were were fins and suits swim besides had they that gear other only The
They did not come to blows over this divergence of opinion—they opinion—they of divergence this over blows to come not did They
Squeak (a professional) on the other hand was fully aware of the one one the of aware fully was hand other the on professional) (a Squeak
(e) (e)
(d) (d)
(c) (c)
(b) (b)
(a) (a)
(f) (f)
Bubble is a whole hearted compressed air fanatic (he is incidentally incidentally is (he fanatic air compressed hearted whole a is Bubble
The nom-de-plume under which this article is written is justified not not justified is written is article this which under nom-de-plume The
The Joint Services Advance B.D. Course held last December at the the at December last held Course B.D. Advance Services Joint The
Finally we should like to record that our liaison with the bomb bomb the with liaison our that record to like should we Finally
the so called " average man." It is no hardship in Wookey to have one's one's have to Wookey in hardship no is It man." average " called so the
hands or head in water as the temperature throughout the year remains remains year the throughout temperature the as water in head or hands
hood as his 11" neck becomes uncomfortable in the neck seal made for for made seal neck the in uncomfortable becomes neck 11" his as hood
diver's knives, D.S.E.A. torches and some hanks of codline. It is of of is It codline. of hanks some and torches D.S.E.A. knives, diver's
interest that though they both favoured neck seals, Bubble had to use a a use to had Bubble seals, neck favoured both they though that interest in the 48°-50° region. region. 48°-50° the in
with pure oxygen on hand demand. By using his emergency bottle his his bottle emergency his using By demand. hand on oxygen pure with
pieces of apparatus. Bubble had a 2,400 litre Siebe Gorman C.A.B.A. and and C.A.B.A. Gorman Siebe litre 2,400 a had Bubble apparatus. of pieces
endurance would be over 120 minutes. minutes. 120 over be would endurance
merely turned up at Wookey Hole one Saturday night with their respective respective their with night Saturday one Hole Wookey at up turned merely
emergency oxygen supply. Squeak has a standard U.B.A. rigged for use use for rigged U.B.A. standard a has Squeak supply. oxygen emergency
80 minutes' endurance at 10 feet with a completely alternative 20 minutes' minutes' 20 alternative completely a with feet 10 at endurance minutes' 80
point when squeezing through narrow rocky passageways. passageways. rocky narrow through squeezing when point
a cut-down D.S.E.A. set for emergency use. This gave him an estimated estimated an him gave This use. emergency for set D.S.E.A. cut-down a
of given duration. Linked with this he realised that the bulk of his his of bulk the that realised he this with Linked duration. given of apparatus would be very much less than that of Bubble's—an important important Bubble's—an of that than less much very be would apparatus He realised that for a dive to 33ft. for instance, about 1/50 of the quantity quantity the of 1/50 about instance, for 33ft. to dive a for that realised He
of gas only need be carried as compared with the C.A.B.A. type for a dive dive a for type C.A.B.A. the with compared as carried be need only gas of
great advantage of the pure oxygen regenerative type of set—endurance. set—endurance. of type regenerative oxygen pure the of advantage great
advantages fully outweigh the disadvantages:— disadvantages:— the outweigh fully advantages
an amateur) for he considers that for nearly all all nearly for that considers he for amateur) an
opinion about breathing apparatus on the part of the two spelean divers. divers. spelean two the of part the on apparatus breathing about opinion
only on the grounds of anonymity but also because of the divergence of of divergence the of because also but anonymity of grounds the on only
till next time. time. next till
busters at Broadbridge Heath is still on an excellent basis. Thanks is is Thanks basis. excellent an on still is Heath Broadbridge at busters everyone feel more than " at home " and so to them and to you all, cheerio cheerio all, you to and them to so and " home at " than more feel everyone
the value of their experience has helped in the dealings that we have have we that dealings the in helped has experience their of value the
Army School was a great success and the " Sappers " as usual made made usual as " Sappers " the and success great a was School Army
expressed for their very kind assistance on more than one occasion, and and occasion, one than more on assistance kind very their for expressed
encountered in somewhat limited B.D. work. work. B.D. limited somewhat in encountered
• • gr gr
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12 12
the Borstal institution but as officer-in-charge of the clearance clearance the of officer-in-charge as but institution Borstal the
We are soon to say goodbye to Commissioned Bos'un S. Currie-Davis Currie-Davis S. Bos'un Commissioned to goodbye say to soon are We
The appointment of Senior Commissioned Gunner E. Plapply as the the as Plapply E. Gunner Commissioned Senior of appointment The
not not
We here in Portsmouth, the smallest, but I don't think least in in least think don't I but smallest, the Portsmouth, in here We
We have, alas, heard little from the Mediterranean team, apart from from apart team, Mediterranean the from little heard alas, have, We
Scottish command had a G.Q. late last year and have been quite busy busy quite been have and year last late G.Q. a had command Scottish
Photo by kind permission Lalonette, West Street, Bognor Regis Regis Bognor Street, West Lalonette, permission kind by Photo
they be—. No, we couldn't quite pin him down on what sort of ex- of sort what on down him pin quite couldn't we No, be—. they
periences (nuff said) ! Senior Commissioned Gunner D. Donoghue takes takes Donoghue D. Gunner Commissioned Senior ! said) (nuff periences
No No
remission) and has vastly benefited by his experience—many and varied varied and experience—many his by benefited vastly has and remission)
over in Portsmouth and we wish him equal success. success. equal him wish we and Portsmouth in over
thus now making our responsibilities " world wide." We wish him luck luck him wish We wide." world " responsibilities our making now thus
Far East Station Bomb and Mine Disposal Officer has just been announced, announced, been just has Officer Disposal Mine and Bomb Station East Far (living team. The " bandit " had a good innings of over two years (no (no years two over of innings good a had " bandit " The team. (living
who, having completed his sentence at Portsmouth, leaves for Portland. Portland. for leaves Portsmouth, at sentence his completed having who,
in his new job, and congratulate him on his recent promotion. promotion. recent his on him congratulate and job, new his in
was quite overwhelming. overwhelming. quite was
mention a couple of 1,000 lb. bombs and a German G.V., the latter at at latter the G.V., German a and bombs lb. 1,000 of couple a mention Bognor Regis where, I might add, the hospitality of the local inhabitants inhabitants local the of hospitality the add, might I where, Regis Bognor
but then, as we always have bags under our eyes, it's difficult to decide decide to difficult it's eyes, our under bags have always we as then, but
when and what we have been doing (no cracks please). In passing, we we passing, In please). cracks (no doing been have we what and when
found and recovered from the clear depths of Grand Barbour at Malta G.C. G.C. Malta at Barbour Grand of depths clear the from recovered and found
importance of the command areas, have had a fair share of the harvest; harvest; the of share fair a had have areas, command the of importance
a brief paragraph in the national dailies about a German bomb being being bomb German a about dailies national the in paragraph brief a
country dancers have a large and rugged parish to cover, and despite the the despite and cover, to parish rugged and large a have dancers country
silence from them we are sure they are well engaged. engaged. well are they sure are we them from silence with a considerable variety. " Pete " Messervy and his team of Scottish Scottish of team his and Messervy " Pete " variety. considerable a with
1880 1880
I tablished tablished I
• •
FOREMOST EVER SINCE SINCE EVER FOREMOST
5 5
Lessons Learnt: Learnt: Lessons
Interport Naval Traders' Association Ltd.) Ltd.) Association Traders' Naval Interport
PRICE LIST ON REQUEST REQUEST ON LIST PRICE
(Members, (Members,
Naval Tailors and Outfitters Outfitters and Tailors Naval
BAUN R CO CO R BAUN
NAVAL ALLOTMENTS ARRANGED ARRANGED ALLOTMENTS NAVAL
6908 6908
Phone Phone
FIRST IN THE FIELD FIELD THE IN FIRST
172 & 182 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH STREET, QUEEN 182 & 172
on emerging from the river some :30 minutes later ! ! later minutes :30 some river the from emerging on
Sunday morning dip. At all events his suit was flooded throughout throughout flooded was suit his events all At dip. morning Sunday
manicured nails of the dresser that perforated his Cuff before the the before Cuff his perforated that dresser the of nails manicured
also assisted with dressing and Bubble suspected that it was the the was it that suspected Bubble and dressing with assisted also
transporting gear from the entrance of the cave to the river. She She river. the to cave the of entrance the from gear transporting
practically impossible to locate anything. anything. locate to impossible practically
Bubble took his wife to the cave and a very useful Sherpini she made, made, she Sherpini useful very a and cave the to wife his took Bubble
permit speech—and to find these requires a most intimate know- intimate most a requires these find to speech—and permit
chamber there are very few air surfaces—the use of which would would which of use surfaces—the air few very are there chamber
ledge of the cave, for once the water has been disturbed it is is it disturbed been has water the once for cave, the of ledge
between the divers on the buddy line. Once beyond the fifth fifth the beyond Once line. buddy the on divers the between
to the diving equipment. equipment. diving the to
Some means of communications should be worked out in advance advance in out worked be should communications of means Some
An underwater compass would have been a most useful addition addition useful most a been have would compass underwater An
3. 3.
2. 2.
1. 1.
was very bad so after a short search they returned to the surface. The The surface. the to returned they search short a after so bad very was
Wookey Hole area was finally left with the feeling that the overall air of a a of air overall the that feeling the with left finally was area Hole Wookey
first dive in a pothole of that nature had been achieved. achieved. been had nature that of pothole a in dive first
further upstream were now having their effect lower down. Visibility Visibility down. lower effect their having now were upstream further
decided to have a look. Unfortunately the ' squaring off ' operations operations ' off squaring ' the Unfortunately look. a have to decided
the Axe might have uncovered more bones on the river bed, so they they so bed, river the on bones more uncovered have might Axe the
thought that the very heavy rain of a month before which had swollen swollen had which before month a of rain heavy very the that thought
the previous evening the resident ' archaeologist and hearing his tales tales his hearing and archaeologist ' resident the evening previous the of finding human skulls and miscellaneous relics in that area. It was was It area. that in relics miscellaneous and skulls human finding of
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14 14
spite of care, the movement of fins, knees and elbows had distur- had elbows and knees fins, of movement the care, of spite
the rocky ceiling to disturb the mirrorlike surface. surface. mirrorlike the disturb to ceiling rocky the
In In
Having achieved this they decided to have a final dive under the rock rock the under dive final a have to decided they this achieved Having
Over an enormous steak in the Wookey Hole Inn they decided during during decided they Inn Hole Wookey the in steak enormous an Over
The next (10 seconds lasted far longer than one minute. Bubble did did Bubble minute. one than longer far lasted seconds (10 next The
via via
The divers disappeared again at the top end of the third chamber and and chamber third the of end top the at again disappeared divers The
Bubble and Squeak started by having a trim dive in the open water water open the in dive trim a having by started Squeak and Bubble
Wookey Hole has been known to exist for centuries and has a most most a has and centuries for exist to known been has Hole Wookey
between the first and second chambers. This was prompted by meeting meeting by prompted was This chambers. second and first the between
return to the cave after breakfast on Sunday to locate these " missing " " missing " these locate to Sunday on breakfast after cave the to return air surfaces, recover the abandoned lines, and generally tidy up after the the after up tidy generally and lines, abandoned the recover surfaces, air
night before. before. night
and had swum beyond the waters of the sixth. A resolution was made to to made was resolution A sixth. the of waters the beyond swum had and
a post-mortem that they had in fact missed the fourth and fifth air surfaces surfaces air fifth and fourth the missed fact in had they that post-mortem a
rather thankfully surfaced in the third chamber. chamber. third the in surfaced thankfully rather
that Bubble had burst! In fact he was only about a foot away ! They They ! away foot a about only was he fact In burst! had Bubble that
which they had between their wrists. Feeling no resistance he thought thought he resistance no Feeling wrists. their between had they which
soon afterwards groped their way out, back along the codline guide and and guide codline the along back out, way their groped afterwards soon
rock. Squeak cautiously pulled in about 10 feet of the 12 feet buddy line line buddy feet 12 the of feet 10 about in pulled cautiously Squeak rock.
his spare reel of codline and had got it caught up with body, apparatus and and apparatus body, with up caught it got had and codline of reel spare his
bed the bottom of this very slow-flowing river. river. slow-flowing very this of bottom the bed
not know whether Squeak intended to go on or back. Bubble had dropped dropped had Bubble back. or on go to intended Squeak whether know not
immediately surrounded by a thick reddish silt that reduced visibility to to visibility reduced that silt reddish thick a by surrounded immediately
nil. nil.
ravine to a lower level. They hesitated, and as they did so they were were they so did they as and hesitated, They level. lower a to ravine
this, from a place about 150 feet beyond and 15 feet below the third third the below feet 15 and beyond feet 150 about place a from this,
from the third to the ninth chamber, successfully negotiated one narrow- one negotiated successfully chamber, ninth the to third the from chamber, that they saw the groundline disappear down a dark looking looking dark a down disappear groundline the saw they that chamber,
looking hole (in spite of the D.S.E.A. set and C.A.B.A.). It was soon after after soon was It C.A.B.A.). and set D.S.E.A. the of spite (in hole looking
outcrops of rock. They had, guided by the groundline that runs through through runs that groundline the by guided had, They rock. of outcrops
Wookey. They felt confident and warm. They could see within the the within see could They warm. and confident felt They Wookey.
and, beneath, a rippled sandy bottom of varying gradients broken by by broken gradients varying of bottom sandy rippled a beneath, and,
range of their D.S.E.A. torches—about 15 feet—and it was a most most a was it feet—and 15 torches—about D.S.E.A. their of range
interesting " landscape." A mixture of rocky walls, valleys and crevices crevices and valleys walls, rocky of mixture A landscape." " interesting
of one hank of codline that they wondered what was the " problem " of of " problem " the was what wondered they that codline of hank one of
swam steadily upstream. Morale was so high on reaching almost the end end the almost reaching on high so was Morale upstream. steadily swam
check the progress of the divers. They saw the torches flashing and heard heard and flashing torches the saw They divers. the of progress the check
way way
occasional rushes of air from Bubbles' apparatus eventually finding its its finding eventually apparatus Bubbles' from air of rushes occasional
which was ignored but the " dry party " from the banks were able to to able were banks the from " party dry " the but ignored was which the third chamber. The second chamber has a very small air surface surface air small very a has chamber second The chamber. third the
clear water under about 100 feet of rock at an average depth of 10 feet to to feet 10 of depth average an at rock of feet 100 about under water clear
of the first chamber and then proceeded upstream through beautifully beautifully through upstream proceeded then and chamber first the of
third chambers. On occasions when the river level is low it is possible to to possible is it low is level river the when occasions On chambers. third
go by small boat to the fourth and fifth chambers. chambers. fifth and fourth the to boat small by go mercialised and for a small sum the public can visit the first, second and and second first, the visit can public the sum small a for and mercialised
used to provide water for a paper mill situated in Wookey Hole village. village. Hole Wookey in situated mill paper a for water provide to used
Diving has been carried out in the river rather intermittently for the past past the for intermittently rather river the in out carried been has Diving 20 years and it is by no means fully explored. The cave is highly com- highly is cave The explored. fully means no by is it and years 20
many years the river Axe which flows through the cave system has been been has system cave the through flows which Axe river the years many interesting history which can be looked up at any public library. For For library. public any at up looked be can which history interesting
gold re- gold
They are are They
observation observation
Niagara Niagara
and and
VATION CHAMBER CHAMBER VATION
TYPES OF OBSER- OF TYPES
Observation chambers are of of are chambers Observation
The use of of use The
covery enterprises, to name but but name to enterprises, covery
been carried out in depths of of depths in out carried been
Egypt Egypt
over 400 feet, notably the the notably feet, 400 over
having their adherents. Suc- adherents. their having
cessful salvage operations have have operations salvage cessful
tal manufacturers, both types types both manufacturers, tal
made by British and Continen- and British by made
jettisonable solid ballast and and ballast solid jettisonable
compressed air. air. compressed
two standard types, firstly with with firstly types, standard two
and water ballast controlled by by controlled ballast water and
secondly with fixed solid ballast ballast solid fixed with secondly
marine world. world. marine
qualified personnel whose acti- whose personnel qualified
for deep divers, divers, and and divers, divers, deep for vities are engaged in the sub- the in engaged are vities
For this reason, the following following the reason, this For
and diving armour is provided provided is armour diving and
time factors on the sea bed. bed. sea the on factors time guide for the use of chambers chambers of use the for guide
economic solution to the deep deep the to solution economic
dicaps, will rarely prove an an prove rarely will dicaps,
sea salvor, owing to limiting limiting to owing salvor, sea
logical and decompression han- decompression and logical technique, linked with physio- with linked technique,
using the flexible dress and and dress flexible the using
future, in spite of the great great the of spite in future,
advances made in late .years .years late in made advances
synthetic mixtures. The latter latter The mixtures. synthetic
diving and salvage purposes in in purposes salvage and diving
crease for deep and ultra-deep ultra-deep and deep for crease
culated armour is going to in- to going is armour culated
chambers and improved arti- improved and chambers
17 17
Deep Diving Officer Officer Diving Deep
ARMOURED DRESS DIVING DIVING DRESS ARMOURED
By LIEUTENANT C. W. CHADWICK, ROYAL NAVY (RETD.) (RETD.) NAVY ROYAL CHADWICK, W. C. LIEUTENANT By
the future. future. the
two, and very much deeper and exploratory projects are envisaged in in envisaged are projects exploratory and deeper much very and two, OBSERVATION CHAMBER AND ARTICULATED ARTICULATED AND CHAMBER OBSERVATION
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T.E.T. T.E.T.
14 14
ODD ODE ODE ODD
His stern's too badly knocked about. about. knocked badly too stern's His
Upon the flagship's quarterdeck. quarterdeck. flagship's the Upon
He'll never ride again I doubt, doubt, I again ride never He'll
It was a perfect three-point landing landing three-point perfect a was It
He's had to put his spurs away. away. spurs his put to had He's
His exploit caused a great sensation, sensation, great a caused exploit His
He'd impaled himself upon a bollard. bollard. a upon himself impaled He'd
He dug his spurs in at this juncture juncture this at in spurs his dug He
Upon a MIG and damaged it. it. damaged and MIG a Upon And now at last I'm grieved to say, say, to grieved I'm last at now And
He quickly had his legs astraddle. astraddle. legs his had quickly He Our old friend Perce just sat and hollered, hollered, and sat just Perce friend old Our
On what he used when not standing. standing. not when used he what On
And earned for him a decoration. decoration. a him for earned And He landed on a met. ballot', ballot', met. a on landed He
He came down with an awful Wheck Wheck awful an with down came He
Whilst up aloft he scored a hit, hit, a scored he aloft up Whilst
Returning late that afternoon afternoon that late Returning
And thinking he was in the saddle, saddle, the in was he thinking And
Waving his pals a fond goodbye. goodbye. fond a pals his Waving And caused a rather large-sized puncture. puncture. large-sized rather a caused And
Poor Perce flew high into the sky, sky, the into high flew Perce Poor
He felt the shark being to stir stir to being shark the felt He
All mines were triggered and actuated. actuated. and triggered were mines All
He straightway mounted on its back. back. its on mounted straightway He
Then digging in his starbord spur, spur, starbord his in digging Then
And give a roar so aggravated, aggravated, so roar a give And
No more to-do at all made he, he, made all at to-do more No But simply gave a loud whoopee, whoopee, loud a gave simply But
Working on a mine beneath the ocean, ocean, the beneath mine a on Working
And swimming in the darn thing's track track thing's darn the in swimming And He saw a big shark was approaching. approaching. was shark big a saw He It shall not be recorded here here recorded be not shall It
How he cleared a minefield. in Korea. Korea. in minefield. a cleared he How
He volunteered for, Clearing Mines. Mines. Clearing for, volunteered He
Yet went to sea to ask for more, more, for ask to sea to went Yet
And being keen to fill S.9's S.9's fill to keen being And
He'd managed to survive the war, war, the survive to managed He'd
Before he joined, a famous jockey. jockey. famous a joined, he Before
Who wore a diving dress and spurs. spurs. and dress diving a wore Who
A little man just short and stocky, stocky, and short just man little A
This is the tale of Diver Perce, Perce, Diver of tale the is This The Medical Officer of A .E.D.0 . has the writer under close observation. observation. close under writer the has . .E.D.0 A of Officer Medical The
18 18
Water Ballast Type Type Ballast Water
Observations chambers in general, fitted with water ballast arrange- ballast water with fitted general, in chambers Observations
DRAIN. A drain is fitted at the bottom of the chamber in the side side the in chamber the of bottom the at fitted is drain A DRAIN.
BUOYANCY. The chamber has a reserve of buoyancy in excess of of excess in buoyancy of reserve a has chamber The BUOYANCY.
TRIM. The chamber, with diver and necessary equipment, will will equipment, necessary and diver with chamber, The TRIM.
GAUGES. A pressure gauge is fitted within the chamber, luminous luminous chamber, the within fitted is gauge pressure A GAUGES.
TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT. The telephone equipment most suitable suitable most equipment telephone The EQUIPMENT. TELEPHONE
SUSPENSION EYES. Two eyes are fitted on the upper part of the the of part upper the on fitted are eyes Two EYES. SUSPENSION
The duration of submarine operations is solely governed by the the by governed solely is operations submarine of duration The
HOOK FOR CABLE WAY. A special hook is fitted, operable from from operable fitted, is hook special A WAY. CABLE FOR HOOK
BREATHING APPARATUS. There are many variants of self-contained self-contained of variants many are There APPARATUS. BREATHING
FENDER. At the maximum diameter of the chamber a substantial substantial a chamber the of diameter maximum the At FENDER.
discharge and regulation of ballast, and an anchoring sinker operated by by operated sinker anchoring an and ballast, of regulation and discharge the diver can be provided. With such chambers, the diver can be rendered rendered be can diver the chambers, such With provided. be can diver the
ballast compartment encircling the upper part of the chamber. High- chamber. the of part upper the encircling compartment ballast
pressure air cylinders are provided either internally or externally for the the for externally or internally either provided are cylinders air pressure
ments, are chiefly cylindrical in section, of steel, and constructed with with constructed and steel, of section, in cylindrical chiefly are ments,
may have gained admission to the chamber. chamber. the to admission gained have may
wall, operated externally by box key, in order to clear any water which which water any clear to order in key, box by externally operated wall,
phone cables are cut in emergency. emergency. in cut are cables phone
remain suspended vertically with light ballast in a stream up to 11 knots. knots. 11 to up stream a in ballast light with vertically suspended remain
excess of 2 knots. The chamber in all cases, will emerge and float with with float and emerge will cases, all in chamber The knots. 2 of excess
about 10° list when the ballast is released and the suspension and tele- and suspension the and released is ballast the when list 10° about 180 pounds, and in later versions this is further improved. improved. further is this versions later in and pounds, 180
be exercised in seeing the external orifice to the gauge with the fine gauze gauze fine the with gauge the to orifice external the seeing in exercised be
The heavy ballast should enable work to be carried out in a stream in in stream a in out carried be to work enable should ballast heavy The
cover is free from obstruction. obstruction. from free is cover
freedom of rotable observation within the chamber with no hampering hampering no with chamber the within observation rotable of freedom
mouth piece. Sound power telephones can also be utilised. utilised. be also can telephones power Sound piece. mouth
and calibrated to 1,000 feet in pounds per sq. inch and feet. Care must must Care feet. and inch sq. per pounds in feet 1,000 to calibrated and has proved to be the laryngophone type, giving the diver absolute absolute diver the giving type, laryngophone the be to proved has
protosorb should be used for each dive, the endurance of the existent existent the of endurance the dive, each for used be should protosorb
fixed and portable canister being one hour of CO, free breathing. breathing. free CO, of hour one being canister portable and fixed
supply of oxygen and CO, absorbent taken down by the diver. Fresh Fresh diver. the by down taken absorbent CO, and oxygen of supply
tubing to a CO, absorbent canister. canister. absorbent CO, a to tubing
prior to each dive. Another method is for the diver to wear a nose mask, mask, nose a wear to diver the for is method Another dive. each to prior
breathing apparatus that are applicable for work in observation chambers, chambers, observation in work for applicable are that apparatus breathing
secured by light elastic webbing, the mask being attached by corrugated corrugated by attached being mask the webbing, elastic light by secured
the standard supply being a 6 volt D/C motor—fed by 4 x 1.5 volt electro- volt 1.5 x 4 by motor—fed D/C volt 6 a being supply standard the
which should be freshly charged to 120 atmospheres (1,800 lbs/sq. ins.) ins.) lbs/sq. (1,800 atmospheres 120 to charged freshly be should which
absorbent, thus removing accumulated carbon dioxide. Oxygen is is Oxygen dioxide. carbon accumulated removing thus absorbent,
lytic batteries—which draws the chamber air through a charge of CO, CO, of charge a through air chamber the draws batteries—which lytic This can be slipped at will by the diver. diver. the by will at slipped be can This
rolling and the chamber is in operation. operation. in is chamber the and rolling within the chamber, for securing a wire distance line to the shot-rope. shot-rope. the to line distance wire a securing for chamber, the within
supplied, hand operated by the diver, from one or two flasks of oxygen, oxygen, of flasks two or one from diver, the by operated hand supplied,
body of the chamber to facilitate lifting on deck without placing on the the on placing without deck on lifting facilitate to chamber the of body
rubber fender is fitted for protection against damage when the ship is is ship the when damage against protection for fitted is fender rubber
dome or lid. lid. or dome
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
9 cubic feet feet cubic 9
.
5 5
.
21
19 cubic feet feet cubic 19
5 feet feet 5
75 pounds pounds 75
3 feet feet 3 5 feet 11 inches inches 11 feet 5
660 pounds pounds 660 977 pounds pounds 977
1,637 pounds pounds 1,637
984 feet feet 984
2
1,148 feet feet 1,148
18 18
thickness, are tested to a working pressure of 45 atmospheres atmospheres 45 of pressure working a to tested are thickness,
1k" 1k"
DESCRIPTION OP OBSERVATION CHAMBER CHAMBER OBSERVATION OP DESCRIPTION
BALLAST. The chamber is provided with removable ballast, of two two of ballast, removable with provided is chamber The BALLAST.
ROTARY FRAME AND SADDLE. Within the chamber is fitted ,40. ,40. fitted is chamber the Within SADDLE. AND FRAME ROTARY
THE LOWER ZONE. Is closed at the bottom by a heavy base which which base heavy a by bottom the at closed Is ZONE. LOWER THE
THE CHAMBER DOME OR LID. Is secured to the chamber by means of of means by chamber the to secured Is LID. OR DOME CHAMBER THE
OBSERVATION PORTS. Fifteen in number, situated six in upper top top upper in six situated number, in Fifteen PORTS. OBSERVATION
THE CHAMBER. Is constructed of high tensile steel plate on a a on plate steel tensile high of constructed Is CHAMBER. THE
Displacement Displacement
Inside capacity capacity Inside
The chamber is fitted with the following equipment to afford maxi- afford to equipment following the with fitted is chamber The
Maximum diameter ...... diameter Maximum
Height without lid ...... lid without Height
Height base to upper eye bolt bolt eye upper to base Height
Weight in air without ballast ballast without air in Weight
Weight of dome or lid lid or dome of Weight
Weight of heavy ballast ...... ballast heavy of Weight
Weight in air with ballast ...... ballast with air in Weight
Working depth depth Working Safety ratio ...... ratio Safety
The most widely used type of observation chamber, constructed by by constructed chamber, observation of type used widely most The
Tested depth ...... depth Tested
by the diver by means of a lever and safety catch, which operate special special operate which catch, safety and lever a of means by diver the by
types, light at 330 pounds, heavy at 660 pounds. This ballast is controlled controlled is ballast This pounds. 660 at heavy pounds, 330 at light types,
hooked pawls which engage within the recess of the ballast. ballast. the of recess the within engage which pawls hooked
housing for oxygen cylinders. The frame can be divided in two parts for for parts two in divided be can frame The cylinders. oxygen for housing rotary frame, with flanged rollers and saddle, steel stirrups and the the and stirrups steel saddle, and rollers flanged with frame, rotary
removal by unscrewing two nuts on the roller frame. frame. roller the on nuts two unscrewing by removal
acts as fixed ballast, and is recessed to house the removable ballast. ballast. removable the house to recessed is and ballast, fixed as acts
of the telephone cable, of size up to 20 mm, with adjustable ring washers. washers. ring adjustable with mm, 20 to up size of cable, telephone the of
for securing the suspension cable, with cutting shears to sever the tele- the sever to shears cutting with cable, suspension the securing for
Watertightness is ensured by a circular section washer fitted within a a within fitted washer section circular a by ensured is Watertightness
phone cable in emergency. A watertight gland is also fitted to entry entry to fitted also is gland watertight A emergency. in cable phone
groove in the lid. In the centre of the lid is fitted a detachable eyebolt eyebolt detachable a fitted is lid the of centre the In lid. the in groove
feet). Each glass has a free flooding protective glass port, which is is which port, glass protective flooding free a has glass Each feet).
a ring of " steel studs, with throw back hinge, nuts fitted to the lid. lid. the to fitted nuts hinge, back throw with studs, steel " of ring a
(or 1,485 feet), with specimen glasses tested to 60 atmospheres (or 1,980: 1,980: (or atmospheres 60 to tested glasses specimen with feet), 1,485 (or
detachable and normally- held in position by a feather and feather way way feather and feather a by position in held normally- and detachable
and spring plunger. Circular fairing plates to obviate risk of fouling fouling of risk obviate to plates fairing Circular plunger. spring and
also surround each port. port. each surround also
jointing being electrically welded. welded. electrically being jointing
zone, six in lower top zone, and three in the lid for upward viewing. The The viewing. upward for lid the in three and zone, top lower in six zone,
glasses, glasses,
mum vision, comfort for the operator, and facility for every seamanlike seamanlike every for facility and operator, the for comfort vision, mum
manoeuvre under water. water. under manoeuvre spherical zone system, with forged interior reinforcement plates, the whole whole the plates, reinforcement interior forged with system, zone spherical
modified improved types are in course of development. development. of course in are types improved modified
a Continental manufacturer, has the following broad characteristics, but but characteristics, broad following the has manufacturer, Continental a Solid Ballast Type. Type. Ballast Solid
21 21
After the day's submersion the suit should be thoroughly relubri- thoroughly be should suit the submersion day's the After
The diver should wear waders and arm guards, the latter to prevent prevent to latter the guards, arm and waders wear should diver The
CO2 PURIFICATION. Is carried out by 6-volt fan motor and proto- and motor fan 6-volt by out carried Is PURIFICATION. CO2
OXYGEN. Oxygen is supplied in two cylinders containing 310 litres litres 310 containing cylinders two in supplied is Oxygen OXYGEN.
COMPRESSED AIR. Compressed air is required for trimming the the trimming for required is air Compressed AIR. COMPRESSED WINDOWS OR OBSERVATION PORTS. Ten windows are fitted with with fitted are windows Ten PORTS. OBSERVATION OR WINDOWS
ANKLETS. Ate provided of 50 pounds in weight each, to encircle the the encircle to each, weight in pounds 50 of provided Ate ANKLETS.
DETACHABLE EYEBOLT. Is also fitted with the same regulations regulations same the with fitted also Is EYEBOLT. DETACHABLE
BUOYANCY. The armour is adjusted for buoyancy by the diver, diver, the by buoyancy for adjusted is armour The BUOYANCY.
TELEPHONE AND BREATHING EQUIPMENT. Fitted identically as the the as identically Fitted EQUIPMENT. BREATHING AND TELEPHONE
pitting will be inevitable due to small ingress of water and condensation condensation and water of ingress small to due inevitable be will pitting
assembled armour is recommended when the suit is stowed for sea between between sea for stowed is suit the when recommended is armour assembled bearings remain in position on the rocking joints. The inner steel surfaces surfaces steel inner The joints. rocking the on position in remain bearings during storage. The use of silica gel in an open container hung inside the the inside hung container open an in gel silica of use The storage. during
cated by removal of the main securing rings, making sure that the rolling rolling the that sure making rings, securing main the of removal by cated should be kept immaculately clean and heavily Vaselined, or rust and and rust or Vaselined, heavily and clean immaculately kept be should
under pressure during descent. If a major leak develops in any joint, joint, any in develops leak major a If descent. during pressure under
the joints on first immersion. These are of little moment and seal up up seal and moment little of are These immersion. first on joints the the dress must be hauled to the surface and the defective joint further further joint defective the and surface the to hauled be must dress the
tightened. tightened.
chafe when manipulating the tools. A slight leak may be apparent from from apparent be may leak slight A tools. the manipulating when chafe
that dual equipment be used, i.e. breathing mask and container for long long for container and mask breathing i.e. used, be equipment dual that method whilst at work, leaving the diver free of facial obstruction. obstruction. facial of free diver the leaving work, at whilst method
descents, ascents, and preliminary search; and the automatic absorption absorption automatic the and search; preliminary and ascents, descents,
charging. charging.
sorb housed within the suit, operable by a switch. It is recommended recommended is It switch. a by operable suit, the within housed sorb
of gas at 120 atmospheres. The diver cracks his oxygen bye-pass valve valve bye-pass oxygen his cracks diver The atmospheres. 120 at gas of
as required for breathing purposes, the same valve being used when when used being valve same the purposes, breathing for required as
valve in front of the diver. The venting valve consists of a small lever lever small a of consists valve venting The diver. the of front in valve
to surface in an emergency. Two cylinders are fitted which carry 1,720 1,720 carry which fitted are cylinders Two emergency. an in surface to
side of the diver. diver. the of side
armour during work at depth and to exhaust the ballast tank if required required if tank ballast the exhaust to and depth at work during armour
litres of air at 150 atmospheres, linked together and operated by a control control a by operated and together linked atmospheres, 150 at air of litres
situated at the left rear of the diver. The charging valve is on the right right the on is valve charging The diver. the of rear left the at situated
retention, or releasing. releasing. or retention,
to govern conditions of the dive according to the tidal factors. Fully Fully factors. tidal the to according dive the of conditions govern to
operation and the tools, with practice, are easy to operate for grabbing, grabbing, for operate to easy are practice, with tools, the and operation vented, the diver can manoeuvre with ease all his limbs, walking with a a with walking limbs, his all ease with manoeuvre can diver the vented,
natural gait but bending slightly forward. The joints are smooth in in smooth are joints The forward. slightly bending but gait natural who operates his blowing and venting arrangements from within the•suit the•suit within from arrangements venting and blowing his operates who
or progress, but must be jettisoned if worn and emergency ascent becomes becomes ascent emergency and worn if jettisoned be must but progress, or lower legs when working in a tideway. They in no way impede movement movement impede way no in They tideway. a in working when legs lower
necessary, in order to regain reserve of buoyancy. buoyancy. of reserve regain to order in necessary, 1k" thick glasses and unbreakable protective glass. They are disposed disposed are They glass. protective unbreakable and glasses thick 1k"
applicable as for chambers. chambers. for as applicable
six to the front covering all angles of vision, two in rear, and two in the the in two and rear, in two vision, of angles all covering front the to six
solid ballast chamber previously described. described. previously chamber ballast solid dome. dome.
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
steel steel
r r
inches inches
January—
pounds pounds
11 11
60 pounds pounds 60
55 pounds pounds 55
960 pounds pounds 960
800 pounds pounds 800 150 pounds pounds 150
121 121
101 pounds pounds 101
860 pounds pounds 860
5 feet 8 inches inches 8 feet 5
6 feet 7 inches inches 7 feet 6
2 feet feet 2
990 feet feet 990
825 feet feet 825
1,650 feet feet 1,650
Yoke Peter, Peter, Yoke
......
310 litres at 120 atmospheres atmospheres 120 at litres 310
......
1,720 litres at 150 atmospheres atmospheres 150 at litres 1,720
20 20
......
......
......
......
......
Castor oil and pure Vaseline are the only lubricants lubricants only the are Vaseline pure and oil Castor
ARTICULATED DIVING ARMOUR ARMOUR DIVING ARTICULATED
LUBRICATION. LUBRICATION.
Glasses tested to to tested Glasses
Working depth with full limb mobility mobility limb full with depth Working
Tested depth ...... depth Tested
THE SUIT. Comprises a main body, with articulations of shoulders shoulders of articulations with body, main a Comprises SUIT. THE
Internal capacity ballast ballast capacity Internal
Capacity oxygen cylinders cylinders oxygen Capacity
Internal capacity capacity Internal
Displacement Displacement Capacity air cylinders cylinders air Capacity
Height without dome dome without Height
Maximum diameter diameter Maximum
Height overall overall Height
Weight of dome or lid lid or dome of Weight
Weight of ballast chamber chamber ballast of Weight
Weight of one arm ...... arm one of Weight
Weight of one leg ...... leg one of Weight
Weight in air complete complete air in Weight
The articulated diving equipment of latest tested and improved improved and tested latest of equipment diving articulated The
This type of diving equipment dates back to 1715, and while the the while and 1715, to back dates equipment diving of type This
This chamber was used for the salvage of Comet Comet of salvage the for used was chamber This
The chamber, suitably ballasted, may be tested for leaks by immersion immersion by leaks for tested be may ballasted, suitably chamber, The
Fixed ballast types of chamber obviate this difficulty by means of a a of means by difficulty this obviate chamber of types ballast Fixed
to be used with the entire assembly. assembly. entire the with used be to
diver for siezing, grabbing, or manipulating ropes, etc. etc. ropes, manipulating or grabbing, siezing, for diver
socket water-tight joint which houses the special tools operable by the the by operable tools special the houses which joint water-tight socket
and rotating movement. The dome secures to the main body by by body main the to secures dome The movement. rotating and
studs and throw back hinge nuts. The arms terminate in a ball and and ball a in terminate arms The nuts. hinge back throw and studs
and thighs of a gymbal type, with feet fitted with ankle joints of rocking rocking of joints ankle with fitted feet with type, gymbal a of thighs and
design has the following characteristics:— characteristics:— following the has design
depths far beyond the capacity of the flexible dress diver. diver. dress flexible the of capacity the beyond far depths
designer and submarined engineer, much useful work is projected at at projected is work useful much engineer, submarined and designer
on a muddy sea bed and in a strong tideway. Nevertheless, with in- with Nevertheless, tideway. strong a in and bed sea muddy a on
improvements made in articulation, free movement is naturally impeded impeded naturally is movement free articulation, in made improvements
genious new tools coupled with the latest development of a Continental Continental a of development latest the with coupled tools new genious
resistance to external pressure has been largely overcome and very great great very and overcome largely been has pressure external to resistance
April, 1954. 1954. April,
test figures, subject to the systematic periodic overhaul of the chamber. chamber. the of overhaul periodic systematic the to subject figures, test
operational depth, where possible, but full reliance may be placed upon upon placed be may reliance full but possible, where depth, operational
descents it is recommended the chamber be dived to 150 feet in excess of of excess in feet 150 to dived be chamber the recommended is it descents
to 50 feet, then heaved inboard and examined. Prior to very deep deep very to Prior examined. and inboard heaved then feet, 50 to
necessary adjunct for successful operations in both types. types. both in operations successful for adjunct necessary
The whole of the components listed for fixed ballast chambers are a a are chambers ballast fixed for listed components the of whole The
" monkey," or counterweight on deck, which proves very satisfactory. satisfactory. very proves which deck, on counterweight or monkey," "
recognisable advantage of this type. type. this of advantage recognisable immune from the movement of the parent ship, this being the only only the being this ship, parent the of movement the from immune www.mcdoa.org.uk decks. The dome should be checked clear to allow for ventilation. To get continuous satisfactory results with absence of leaks, great care is necessary in stripping and assembly with particular reference to washers and ball bearings. DIVERS—SUITABILITY The diver, if of normal stature, will find the standard assembly an excellent " fit " but, for operators exceeding six feet in height, extension pieces are provided for the legs, which bolt in between the ankle and thigh sockets. Also, in the case of light men, it is necessary to provide up to 40 pounds of lead ballast, hung about the body of the armour inside, to attain stability when at work. The great point about HINTS FOR OPERATIONS IN CHAMBER AND ARMOUR The tide, always the handicap of the flexible suit, diver, comes to the clothes made by Flemings aid of the chamber diver, and in a minor degree to the articulated armour is that each garment is diver. With a flexible steel wire shot-rope to which is shackled a swivel and a one ton " shot," the chamber diver can be connected by wire cut to your own personal distance line, releasable at will from within the chamber. The chamber measures with the result must be rigged to travel down tide and with judicious use of the derricks will maintain position. When diving at slack water a backhaul must be that there is an shackled to the shot-wire to keep diver and shot-rope clear and obviate individual finish and a turns. A light stop should be secured around the diver's suspension wire, telephone cable, and submarine lamp cable, at about every 30 feet during fitting that is exclusive descent, and removed during ascent, this ensuring minium risk of fouling to yourself. The on wreckage. Knowing the position of the " shot," and using it as a guide, it is practicable for the chamber diver to give orders for shifting skill of our experienced ship, derrick, or " shot," in a positive tideway, relative to the wreck or craftsmen makes it so. other objective. When using diving armour the same rules apply; distance line may be Call or send for styles slipped if required and the diver having mobility on a firm bottom may order the purchase wire to be veered away to attain freedom for search. and patterns UNDERWATER ILLUMINATION The whole of salvage operations which require the services of the observation chamber or articulated diving armour are closely linked with submarine illumination because in the majority of cases, except in the Mediterranean, natural light is practically non-existent below 300 feet. A series of trials have been carried out on the majority of feasible types of FLEMINGS lamps and filannts and it has been proved that a moderate wattage lamp, with true parabolic reflector fitted, will give the best light, and in waters where the light scatter is high due to plankton and other minute of PORTSMOUTH organisms the use of an additional removable amber glass or plastic filter is recommended. This does away with the complications of current • • supply and vulnerability of sodium and mercury vapour units, which BRANCHES AT : have the added disadvantage of being required to burn in a static position. PORTSMOUTH • DEVONPORT • CHATHAM • WEYMOUTH Positioning of the lights for maximum viewing efficiency has been found DUNFERMLINE • GIBRALTAR • MALTA to be on the suspension wire, at a height where the beams can be diverted and around the diver. The lamp units must be fitted so that they are re- H.M.S. MERCURY • H.M.S. BLACKCAP • H.M.S. leasable with the purchase wire, in order to retain reserve of buoyancy of GAMECOCK the chamber or armour. Lights should be sited to the front of the dome 22 '3 www.mcdoa.org.uk
'...... 0.0.1A '...... 0.0.1A
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Clothing Clothing
Devonport, Deal, Dun- Deal, Devonport,
25 25
Members of the I.N.T.A. I.N.T.A. the of Members
who serve you well wherever you are serving. serving. are you wherever well you serve who
Haven, Rosyth, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Rothesay, Rothesay, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Rosyth, Haven,
Harwich, Invergordon, Londonderry, Milford Milford Londonderry, Invergordon, Harwich,
fermline, Falmouth, Grimsby, Helensburgh, Helensburgh, Grimsby, Falmouth, fermline,
Skegness, Wetherby, Weymouth, Gibraltar, Valletta Valletta Gibraltar, Weymouth, Wetherby, Skegness,
Naval & Civilian Tailors & Outfitters Outfitters & Tailors Civilian & Naval Branches at:—Chatham, at:—Chatham, Branches
C. H. BERNARD & SONS LTD. LTD. SONS & BERNARD H. C. 8-9 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH STREET, QUEEN 8-9
Make out your Allotment to Bernards Bernards to Allotment your out Make
Branches or Head Office. Office. Head or Branches
be supplied on request at at request on supplied be
which full details will will details full which
Allotment Service of of Service Allotment
of Bernards Monthly Monthly Bernards of
advantage may be taken taken be may advantage
_ _
HEAD OFFICE: HARWICH, ESSEX. Tel. 880 880 Tel. ESSEX. HARWICH, OFFICE: HEAD
Anthorn, Kete, Brawdy, St. Merryn, Helston, Corsham and Worthy Down Down Worthy and Corsham Helston, Merryn, St. Brawdy, Kete, Anthorn,
and Sliema, Malta, and at Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Abbotsinch, Eglinton, Eglinton, Abbotsinch, Arbroath, Lossiemouth, at and Malta, Sliema, and
not desired to pay spot cash for orders, orders, for cash spot pay to desired not
In addition to this unrivalled clothing service service clothing unrivalled this to addition In
embracing practically every need of the the of need every practically embracing
there are many other Bernard Departments Departments Bernard other many are there Serviceman and his family, and where it is is it where and family, his and Serviceman s...... $11...... o.wir...... 6...... 0......
Where tailored to measure clothes are re- are clothes measure to tailored Where
quired, Bernards offer a prompt delivery. delivery. prompt a offer Bernards quired,
fectly fitting suit. suit. fitting fectly
comprehensive size range whereby most most whereby range size comprehensive
customers may immediately obtain a per- a obtain immediately may customers
is faultlessly tailored by Bernards of Harwich Harwich of Bernards by tailored faultlessly is and is available at all Bernard branches in a a in branches Bernard all at available is and
Uniform and Civilian Civilian and Uniform
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atmosphere 1 1 atmosphere
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27 27
Safeguard Safeguard
this consists of a fairly all-embracing tour tour all-embracing fairly a of consists this
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Safeguard; Safeguard;
H.M.S. " SAFEGUARD " " SAFEGUARD " H.M.S.
SCHOOL OF MARINE SALVAGE SALVAGE MARINE OF SCHOOL
The annual inspection of diving equipment in the Scottish command command Scottish the in equipment diving of inspection annual The
About a year ago the National Coal Board (Lothians Area) sought sought Area) (Lothians Board Coal National the ago year a About
A rather larger operation took us farther north to view the har the view to north farther us took operation larger rather A
We have been digging up the D.G. range here for the last three weeks weeks three last the for here range D.G. the up digging been have We
Details on underwater lamps and submarine illumination generally generally illumination submarine and lamps underwater on Details
was carried out by by out carried was
precautions and smoking regulations. On return to surface tired, dirty, but but dirty, tired, surface to return On regulations. smoking and precautions
very much enlightened, we used the lovely bathing and cleaning arrange- cleaning and bathing lovely the used we enlightened, much very
chap want to be a miner. miner. a be to want chap job and have had many volunteers of the Coal Board's Rescue Teams Teams Rescue Board's Coal the of volunteers many had have and job
We were all impressed by the discipline in the mines, safety equipment and and equipment safety mines, the in discipline the by impressed all were We canteen, ate well and returned to to returned and well ate canteen,
ments at the pithead. We were taken into lunch with the shift in the the in shift the with lunch into taken were We pithead. the at ments
to the very bowels of the earth. We walked about half a mile, crawled crawled mile, a half about walked We earth. the of bowels very the to doing a very arduous job; we were frayed out merely getting to the spot. spot. the to getting merely out frayed were we job; arduous very a doing
racehorse and a dirt-track rider. We were taken down at terrific speed speed terrific at down taken were We rider. dirt-track a and racehorse
elbow and knee shields, and generally looking like a cross between a a between cross a like looking generally and shields, knee and elbow These chaps were working in very confined spaces in high temperatures temperatures high in spaces confined very in working were chaps These
In reply to our efforts we were invited to become miners for one day. We We day. one for miners become to invited were we efforts our to reply In
period and during the absence of the 51st team we carried on with the the with on carried we team 51st the of absence the during and period
another half a mile and there found the hewers of coal at the coal face. face. coal the at coal of hewers the found there and mile a half another
pits using self-contained diving apparatus. This was demonstrated by by demonstrated was This apparatus. diving self-contained using pits
the 51st flotilla C.D. Team (Lt. Cdr. McLean-Foreman). Since that that Since McLean-Foreman). Cdr. (Lt. Team C.D. flotilla 51st the
arrived and were dressed as miners in new equipment, helmets, lamps, lamps, helmets, equipment, new in miners as dressed were and arrived
the cold clear Scottish waters. One peculiarity was noticed during these these during noticed was peculiarity One waters. Scottish clear cold the
struggling manfully under water, some of them not even being swimmers. swimmers. being even not them of some water, under manfully struggling
advice from Lochinvar on the possibilities of mine rescue work in flooded flooded in work rescue mine of possibilities the on Lochinvar from advice
our diving boots. boots. diving our
dives, it was that we always had many inquisitive eels around our feet feet our around eels inquisitive many had always we that was it dives,
and we assume that the attraction was the highly polished toe caps of of caps toe polished highly the was attraction the that assume we and defences, and many pleasant hours were spent at interesting depths in in depths interesting at spent were hours pleasant many and defences,
billet is dredged so that it can hide itself again in the next two years. years. two next the in again itself hide can it that so dredged is billet
and deep down in the mud it was too ; this we will lay again as soon as the the as soon as again lay will we this ; too was it mud the in down deep and
of this magazine. magazine. this of
are the subject of a separate report and will be given in the next edition edition next the in given be will and report separate a of subject the are
lid ports be blanked externally, as it is frequently necessary to observe observe to necessary frequently is it as externally, blanked be ports lid target. Blanking off the top windows to stop ingress of light to the diver diver the to light of ingress stop to windows top the off Blanking target.
through these windows to see that the suspension wire is clear prior to to prior clear is wire suspension the that see to windows these through
chamber can be tilted by manoeuvring the shot and distance line, or the the or line, distance and shot the manoeuvring by tilted be can chamber
is an asset when working. Under no circumstances should the dome or or dome the should circumstances no Under working. when asset an is
ascending from a wreck. wreck. a from ascending
articulated armour diver can trim ballast to direct the search to the desired desired the to search the direct to ballast trim can diver armour articulated in the case of the articulated suit. To obviate blind spots, if any, the the any, if spots, blind obviate To suit. articulated the of case the in
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
(2 lines) lines) (2
Tel. 6127 6127 Tel.
Tel. 70443/4 70443/4 Tel.
155 London Rd., Portsmouth Portsmouth Rd., London 155
Hargreaves (Sports) Ltd. Ltd. (Sports) Hargreaves
47 Osborne Road, Southsea Southsea Road, Osborne 47
for all all for
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AND SOUTHSEA SOUTHSEA AND
Underwater Equipment Equipment Underwater OF PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH OF
HARGREAVES HARGREAVES
The Specialists Specialists The 1..P...110,11.1111.1•••• 1..P...110,11.1111.1••••
NOTES NOTES
29 29
— —
A.E.D.U. A.E.D.U.
as most readers will probably know has been carrying carrying been has know probably will readers most as
Reclaim Reclaim
The method of bringing the air pipe to the helmet. helmet. the to pipe air the bringing of method The
The method of carrying the weights. weights. the carrying of method The
Other important projects have been started but at present they have have they present at but started been have projects important Other
At Bergen it was intended to report the trials in cold water but but water cold in trials the report to intended was it Bergen At
We are malting a departure from the normal type of harness asso- harness of type normal the from departure a malting are We
H.M.S. H.M.S.
Our main project at the moment is C.A.B.A. (loud cheers). It was was It cheers). (loud C.A.B.A. is moment the at project main Our
(b) (b)
(a) (a)
Our ideas at the moment are for a belt in two sections adjustable adjustable sections two in belt a for are moment the at ideas Our
Progress is being made with the conversion of M.R.O. for standard standard for M.R.O. of conversion the with made being is Progress
There have been one or two changes in staff; Mr. Cowland, Experi- Cowland, Mr. staff; in changes two or one been have There
A.E.D.U. has now settled down in its new quarters; installation of of installation quarters; new its in down settled now has A.E.D.U.
, Development has been going ahead for some time on underwater underwater on time some for ahead going been has Development ,
not yet reached a material stage. stage. material a reached yet not
possible swim suit. A number of suits made of this material are now now are material this of made suits of number A suit. swim possible
undergoing trial with the Experimental C.D. Team. Team. C.D. Experimental the with trial undergoing
two-way stretch nylon. This material, we think, will give us the best best the us give will think, we material, This nylon. stretch two-way
deep diving has been made. made. been has diving deep
unfortunately it was not possible to complete the series due to shortage of of shortage to due series the complete to possible not was it unfortunately swim suits. Recently we have come across a new naterial, rubberised rubberised naterial, new a across come have we Recently suits. swim
time. Nevertheless, as a result of these two series of trials, a big step in in step big a trials, of series two these of result a as Nevertheless, time.
Gibraltar the practical working depth on oxy/helium was extended to to extended was oxy/helium on depth working practical the Gibraltar 430 feet for 30 minutes. minutes. 30 for feet 430
will now become standard and will be promulgated in due course. At At course. due in promulgated be will and standard become now will
deep diving drill were necessary before the trials could commence; these these commence; could trials the before necessary were drill diving deep
out deep diving trials at Gibraltor and Bergen. Certain modifications to to modifications Certain Bergen. and Gibraltor at trials diving deep out
the hooks. The advantages with this type of harness will be; comfort in in comfort be; will harness of type this with advantages The hooks. the
ends of the belt brought to a common point with the ends of straps from from straps of ends the with point common a to brought belt the of ends
ders on two padded hooks. A belt will hold the set into the body, and the the and body, the into set the hold will belt A hooks. padded two on ders
ciated with C.A.B.A. Our ideas are for the set to be slung from the shoul- the from slung be to set the for are ideas Our C.A.B.A. with ciated
wearing, no restriction to movement, and ease of jettisoning. jettisoning. of ease and movement, to restriction no wearing,
developing two separate sets; this will also simplify matters considerably. considerably. matters simplify also will this sets; separate two developing
recently decided that a dual purpose set for damage control and shallow shallow and control damage for set purpose dual a that decided recently
water diving would not give the most efficient answer, so we are now now are we so answer, efficient most the give not would diving water
far indicates that we are on the right lines. lines. right the on are we that indicates far to be removed complete to facilitate undressing when carrying our surface surface our carrying when undressing facilitate to complete removed be to
decompression. A mock-up of this equipment has been dived afid so so afid dived been has equipment this of mock-up A decompression.
the belt is capable of being slipped; this will enable the helmet and airpipe airpipe and helmet the enable will this slipped; being of capable is belt the
non-return valve, at the right air inlet of the helmet. The connection on on connection The helmet. the of inlet air right the at valve, non-return
fashion to the A.S.W.D.D. on air, and thence to an adaptor containing a a containing adaptor an to thence and air, on A.S.W.D.D. the to fashion
front and back and slung from the corselet studs. Curved weights are are weights Curved studs. corselet the from slung and back and front carried on each side of the body and are capable of being slipped. The The slipped. being of capable are and body the of side each on carried
airpipe is brought to a connection on the right side of the belt in a similar similar a in belt the of side right the on connection a to brought is airpipe
diving. The main problems are : : are problems main The diving.
phere of our Drawing Office. Office. Drawing our of phere
the noise and turmoil of Whale Island and joined the quiet placid atmos- placid quiet the joined and Island Whale of turmoil and noise the
mental Officer, has gone to U.C.W.E.; Mr. Payne has been elevated to to elevated been has Payne Mr. U.C.W.E.; to gone has Officer, mental
various test equipment has been completed and this enabled a general general a enabled this and completed been has equipment test various
the peerage and is now our Experimental Officer; Mr. Cullen has forsaken forsaken has Cullen Mr. Officer; Experimental our now is and peerage the
speed-up all round. round. all speed-up
, ,
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
W.B. W.B.
Petty Officer J . Bur- . J Officer Petty
This is a fine fine a is This
WONDER BOY BOY WONDER
DOES IT AGAIN AGAIN IT DOES
who won the Good- the won who
most advanced gliding gliding advanced most hart Trophy for the the for Trophy hart
gess, diver 1st class, class, 1st diver gess,
has again won it this this it won again has of his club last year last club his of
the same person. person. same the
the first time ever that that ever time first the year. Congratulations Congratulations year.
has been won for two two for won been has
this wonderfuly trophy trophy wonderfuly this
consecutive years by by years consecutive
to him from us all. all. us from him to
achievement, as it is is it as achievement,
28 28
Yours Aye, Aye, Yours
THE FLYING DIVER DIVER FLYING THE
and natty exclusive tartan diving dress. dress. diving tartan exclusive natty and
Preparations are now going ahead for another range; we have sur- have we range; another for ahead going now are Preparations
The staff now consists of Mr. W. Barrington (Q.D.D.) ; C.P.O. C.P.O. ; (Q.D.D.) Barrington W. Mr. of consists now staff The
Well, this is the place for work and also the place where we empty empty we where place the also and work for place the is this Well,
veyed the area and with very little squaring off to do we shall soon be be soon shall we do to off squaring little very with and area the veyed
Foreman's relief; and L.Sea. Skiggs who last week relieved P.O. Robinson. Robinson. P.O. relieved week last who Skiggs L.Sea. and relief; Foreman's
of Scotland from Scapa to the border. We had lunch one day at the the at day one lunch had We border. the to Scapa from Scotland of
" George," Inveraray, and all the good people of that village send all all send village that of people good the all and Inveraray, George," "
divers their best wishes. wishes. best their divers
old chads would say, " only need a fanny and a bedcover." bedcover." a and fanny a need only " say, would chads old
the snow out of our boots before we start every morning, not to mention mention to not morning, every start we before boots our of out snow the " Algy " Ware who has recently relieved C.P.O. Gates; L.Sea. Bying, P.O. P.O. Bying, L.Sea. Gates; C.P.O. relieved recently has who Ware " Algy "
laying it out with spirit level accuracy; as it is not deep, we shall, as dear dear as shall, we deep, not is it as accuracy; level spirit with out it laying
from the Mac Barrington Gang, in the land of work, snow-filled boots, boots, snow-filled work, of land the in Gang, Barrington Mac the from our very exclusive tartan diving suits. suits. diving tartan exclusive very our in
d
Daily
classics ? " This
by E. W. Swanton
Esquire's "
by Georges Houot and Pierre
31
Victory in Australia
(3s. 6d.) will need no introduction to those
AND TRIALS TEAM
a book with which you can " live " the physical exer-
during the course of the series and has the added attraction
enjoy your cricket, and if you enjoy the thinking part of it almost
THE CLEARANCE DIVING DEVELOPMENT
This is not a misprint. We are growing and as we grow we seem to
That really should have been the end of this bookshelf. However, See you next issue. One of the reading fashions of the day is the pocket edition. Two of For good value this book also encompasses the fight of one man to
Best of the Bedside Esquire
do
become more static. Those of you who know Titivulus will understand ments.
(The Daily Telegraph: 2s. 6d.) is chosen in the belief that there must be why the " Trials Team " has now become the " Development and Trials Team " and anyway, it helps us in our struggles against other Establish- deserves, here is the only book in the column of technical diving interest. pleasant thing is that it is very enjoyable reading into the bargain. Make Lovers " and " The Wench is not Amused." The only thing you won't get version has Hemingway, Steinbeck and Sean O'Faolain. You prefer Willm (Hamish Hamilton and Rupert Hart-Davis: 18s.) is the story of the presentative in that neither of them is a cheap version of a book already of you who know the parent magazine. Just to save disappointment let from this pocketful is bored. record descent to 13,125 feet made by the two authors, both French Navy, this a four-star " must." these have caught my eye for this column, though they are both unre- published at a heftier price. very different indeed. It is technically fascinating, from the point of their cricket. The story is, as we all know, a pleasant one to read. If of a prologue and epilogue by C. B. Fry. view of one's job it is something one ought to know about, and the me start off by saying that this pocket edition is not illustrated. 'This Harpoon at a Venture tions and the heartbreaks of the toughest job at sea. establish a new industry. This part of the story is by no means the least you apart it has got everything. You like in February, 1954. I confess to being a little fed up with the steady to be found on the quarter-deck of a minesweeper; then .you will fin The book is composed of reports and articles published in the Telegraph stream of aqua-lung books from French wardrooms. But this is very, something nearer the bone ? Then you will enjoy " Latins are Lousy interesting, so I won't spoil it for you by telling you the dramatic outcome. strictly STOP PRESS and treated with very much less space than it
some members of the diving fraternity who are civilised enough to enjoy 2,000 Fathoms Down in the Bathyscaphe
-as much as the actual playing part, then Swanton must be your man. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
seems to
by Gavin
In the Wet
Requiem for a Wren
I make no apology for
It is some time since Nevil
Most Secret.
Harpoon at a Venture
(Heinemann: 12s. 6d.), which is
of the Royal Navy to find a sub- undoubtedly the most sob-stuffy Shute has ventured into the world
novels. In book this column has so far re- viewed, he makes a successful re- turn. and then recommending it in the ject for one of his best-selling calling this book " sob-stuffy "
and
30
By JAMES BENSON
is patently a tribute to the W.R.N.S. in novel
DIVER'S BOOKSHELF
A Town like Alice
For those of you who know Shute's previous work let me say that I
Requiem for a Wren
My " not-so-new " book this issue is
Gavin Maxwell is an ex-Scots Guards major who bought the island
It is also a book that poses a mystery and sets out to solve it. This part
form. As such it tells a picturesque and convincing war narrative which
have been abandoned and that the old master is almost all the way back was delighted, to find that the unpleasant cynicism of to the standard of enjoy. It is less obviously, but none the less certainly, a man's book. of the book is rather incidental to the main story—more correctly it next breath. It is obviously a book that wives and sweethearts will incidentally is concerned in one very small part with self-contained diving.
it—and at times, I feel, it palls somewhat. The trouble really boils down to the fact that if the mystery could not have been made slightly less
obvious, then it should not have been introduced at all. springs not from the story itself but rather from the author's way of telling Maxwell (Rupert Hart-Davis: 21s.). Published in 1952, this is a work of poetry in its prose style, and enough demonstration of its author's " guts "
" breaking new ground " in its content, enough suggestion of hidden much greater stature than Nevil Shute's. It has enough scientific the islanders with employment. His book delights in so many ways. For those of you who know the lochs of the west coast of Scotland and completely re-captured. If you are also one of the fortunate ones who to place it in the same catagory as Kon-Tiki. experience, even though you may not confess to it, the romance of ships
of Soay, just to the south of Skye and under the shadow of the Cuillins, capstan as a hawser runs out; if you have ever felt that there was any the beautiful islands of the Hebrides it will surely suffice to know that the and started a shark-fishing business to provide himself with interest and atmosphere of—for me at least—one of the world's scenic high-spots is truth in the saying that the only real seamanship left in the Andrew was and wires that surge and the delight of two quick turns caught on the www.mcdoa.org.uk From. a total of six, which the boss could count easily as it was comprised of himself, the chief, Smith and three others, the team has now coastal regions, for several are inland, like Nottingham and Northampton. nearly doubled in size and counting is left entirely to the new chief So much for the potted history of the club's formation to serve as an (Nick Carter) who, as an Instructor fresh from the school, should be able introduction to this magazine. to do it easily. There are two distinct forms of diving as practised by amateur divers, We have drunk two members into a state of matrimony in the past each having its own techniques and merits. One being entirely sporting, few months (Cobb and Whitton) and at least one other is known to have the other embodying the serious aspects of our activities. his foot on the bar. Soon any movement to a trials area will resemble Skin diving is a term used in this country to denote the diver using the march of an ancient Persian army. the basic equipment, i.e. mask, flippers and snorkel. The object of this During the winter months, the annual official and unofficial clothing type of diving is confined mainly to spearfishing. The dive is limited by trials have occupied a large part of our time and discussions on " What the one breath which has to suffice for the descent, the stalking, shooting the Best Dressed Diver is Wearing " have discovered budding Diors even and retrieving of the fish, and the ascent. Fish swim at all levels, but amongst the toughest. Starting at the foundations—quite the most the most satisfying kill, if killing can be satisfying, is at a reasonable important—you will find that black nylons (not too shear) with your depth. So by continual practice in' baths and in the sea the physical and rayon corns really make you feel different. Then be sure to add three or mental endurance is stepped up. The depth desirable for this sport to be four layers of thin material (light-weight woolly reach-me-downs, etc.) effective is at least 30 feet. To take an example of this point, the Dorset and even in the coldest water this is all you need while your figure will be shore slopes away very steeply and levels out at between 30 to 40 feet. just as trim and neat as the baggy folds of the Mk. I will allow. But, The larger fish were adequately camouflaged at the bottom in weeds and don't despair, really tailored garments are on the way which will com- rocks. Those with a maximum dive of 3 or 4 fathoms are fortunate to pletely eliminate unsightly folds and bulges bringing to each of you the see these fish, let alone shoot them. This past winter the practice and svelte lines of a performing seal. training has been more intensive, and armed with a knowledge of hyper- Gloves are now the acknowledged wear of anyone who would sub- ventilation and anoxia possibilities—and of course a harpoon—this summer merge intelligently at 40°F or below and the Annet team have undoub- may prove to be a good sporting season for spearfisherman. Fortunately tedly produced the best example. For your information they use an for the fish, visibility and water temperature weigh heavily in their favour anti-gas (linen lined) shorten it and attach a frog suit cuff. We consider for survival. that a thin woollen underglove should also be worn to avoid pinching. Before the war there were many adepts at spearfishing throughout For those with a delicate skin, the Portland team offer a special Paris the world, except England. However, the slaughter of fish began to pall, Soir face cream which they claim to have found effective. and a Frenchman then redirected the course of man under the sea. Neck seals we claim to be the best wear for all waters of any tem- Jacques-Yves Cousteau produced the first safe self-contained under- perature where a suit must be worn, except when you go bathing in the water breathing apparatus, known now as the aqua-lung. All the lung local sewer or take a bath in a cess-pit. With a scarf ' and a rubber cap did was to convert high pressure air to ambient pressure and to place the one is warmer and freer than anyone in a " C " type hood. Try it and see. exhaust in such a position as to permit easy breathing. The merest hint that we might not call on all of you again this year to To those more familiar with the Service types of equipment, an borrow gear and live on your stores and reputations will doubtless bring attempt is made to summarize briefly the advantages and disadvantages. grief and despondency to many-. So far we have confined our attention to the Home Fleet and Portland teams but we hope something will turn As compressed air is used, all the properties of air at pressure apply up so that we can extend our hospitality and bring you welcome once as in standard diving, decompression, requirements, nitrogen narcosis, again. We have got to start moving if we are to approach the 10,000 quality of air, ear' clearing, sinus, etc. The advantage of having an miles covered going to trials in 1954. automatic air supply are considerable. No blow ups, squeezes, tangled lines, no enormous weights when out of water, no attendants to rely upon, mobility on land and no crucial adjustments to buoyancy; in fact complete REPORT FROM THE SOUTHSEA SECTION independence of all earthly things. The disadvantages are that no hard BRITISH SUB-AQUA CLUB work can be accomplished, the cold is felt more, as even with a suit less clothes can be worn. Submerged duration is less, thus the work at In 1951 there were few people in England apart from the professional depth would be very limited and communications only possible if a life and Service divers who realized what potentialities there were beneath the line is attached; stability is less and energy has to be used for movement sea's surface, let alone had been under to inspect them. Gradually the in all planes. number increased until in 1953 the nucleus of the British Sub-Aqua Club was formed as the future national organisation. Since then branches have With closed circuit diving the advantages of the aqua-lung over been founded all over the country where-ever a sufficient number of local standard apply equally with the exception of manual adjustment of enthusiasts could band themselves together, and not all branches are in buoyancy. The inflatable counter lung for surface floating and controlled surface height, silence, the warming effect of oxygen, duration and the 32 33 • www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk obvious lack of bubbles are additional favourable points. Weighed against oxygen sets are the limitations to depth and the dangers of 02 at relatively shallow depths, CO2 trouble, the efficiency of the canister and the quality of the contents, the vulnerability of the counter lung to punctures, the constant maintenance of the set and the need for adjust- "ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH YOUR -" ment in the water—and not forgetting the ' dribble ' on the soda lime. After consideration on the somewhat broad lines without delving into mixture and combined sets, and realizing that the aqua-lung is not the last word in diving equipment, it would be fair to state that it is at least suitable for lengthy dives of considerable depth, if need there be, and used as an aid to visual interests with very light manual work. The open circuit compressed air set is the only breathing apparatus permitted by the club rules, and the future with it holds many intriguing possibilities. There is a colossal amount of work to be done. under the sea by amateurs. To enumerate the various fields to be investigated in a very general way is all that space allows at present. Marine biology is one of the sciences in which the free diver can prove of value. Little is known of the habits of the majority of sea life, the mass migrations of fish, etc. Just one particular objective is inquiring into the spawning, etc., of the basking shark which inhabits the seas off Scotland. Information on this would probably help the shark oil industry. Too bad if the sharks object to prying eyes 1 Throughout the centuries the sea has encroached on the land and in consqeuence there may be remains of past civilizations awaiting discovery by divers. The Cathedral in Deer Park and the possibilities of Belgic remains near Ventnor are but two of many known archaeological sites. Of course, all scientific ventures would be under specialist direction, as it is essential that archaeological sites especially should not be desecrated by souvenir hunters. If anything has remained underwater through the centuries it will not disappear overnight, and is better to leave it until a thorough expedition with full equipment can tackle it, even if it means years. Geology is yet another subject whereby aqua-lung equipped diving teams can be of service, both for the pure study or as prospectors for mineral deposits. At present we are still groping our way forward, intent on safety and compliance with various regulations by authorities and adding in a few of our own. For instance, hunting fish while wearing a lung is not allowed as, apart from upsetting rod-and-liners, stripping the coast of fish and' possibly causing legislation, this is not sport, just a sadistic butchering of unsuspecting creatures. An unwritten rule, in Portsmouth, at least, is that lobsters must be hand picked. This activity is here to stay, and is increasing in popularity. This country has a lot of leeway to make up on the Continental amateurs, but given a few reasonable seasons we will at least attempt to catch them up. XXXXX-RAY To condense such a large new subject is somewhat a tall order, but I hope that I have conveyed to you some idea of the club and the intentions of its members. The surface of the subject has only been scratched and later, perhaps, someone will offer more specialized topics for publication. 34 31) www.mcdoa.org.uk Kingfisher.
and O.P. Nicholls,
Safeguard
37
and we hope to be taking part in an
FAR EAST TEAM
South Goodwins,
and the
In May, F.C.D.O. and P.O. Butler went over to see 2nd Lieut. David We had a couple of days doing general exercise in Tolo Harbour.
P.S.—We haven't reached the bottom of the barrel after all.
Lieutenant Wardle took the weight of the Far East Team from
In June we did a night exercise on two destroyers of Lieut.-Cdr.
After this four gunner pilots from the local A.O.P. flight came in for At the end of July ill luck struck the team. We were surveying the All the very best to you all from Chatham—not so chatty either. The end of June saw us all at Singapore for a spell where we began by Our next job was to recover some ammunition ditched in 1942 by the For information ; we are now negotiating to use a chalk pit (depth Its amazing how much in demand we are all becoming since the fleet
We welcome both Shan and Crasher Gates to the school.
Algy Ware has left us for H.M.S.
Anyhow we have managed to find a few diversions, such as the S/M
Drop and pick up with an M.F.V. was great fun though hardly the thing.
Brown the local B.D. representative. He has a nice set-up lacking only Broadbridge Heath. buildings alongside and we didn't like to leave the stuff out in the sun by borne ! died in a few minutes after we had got him into the boat. L/Sea Sayer Lieutenant Gash at the beginning of 1954. By this time the latter with taken by a shark in 20 feet of water a few yards from a busy pier. He three years plus to his credit was by far the oldest active naval inhabitant inner harbour of Singapore commercial port when L/Sea. Larkin was the run and was served up with " Bull " by some of the team that made day unless it got angry so we unloaded and countermined each night on an island. We were pleased to see the back of the Selerang River with its Army in Selerang River. Working from an L.C.A. we raised 500 rounds team's performance. running a conversion course to swim for " Terror's shallow water divers. efforts. a Stout • House in the vicinity. It was good to recall the struggle at even F.C.D.O. blush. But he seemed to love it and was pleased by the
of up to 6 inch calibre in a week. We couldn't blow in situ because of in Hong Kong. a dip. They haven't succeeded yet, however, in getting the team air-
Crawford's squadron. Captain Hopkins D.8 came out in the M.F.V. for two sewers, and monkeys chattering derisively to each other about our have been issued with the S.W.B.A.(S) or is it our teams around the complete with new badge, has relieved Shan Tuck in H.M.S.
change. 130 feet) for our deep dives; it's clear water too, so will be a pleasant operation on the 2nd April.
stations giving them something to think about ?
Talent www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
Annel
SAM.
sa-ha,
are now in our area and H.M.S.
36
Dingley
and
CHATHAM NOTES
MEDITERRANEAN TEAM
it was grand knowing you.
Kingfisher
Annet,
We are busy as usual with various trials and keeping up the high
Much water has flown and much ' amtoot ' has been lowered since
We were then graced/disgraced (delete as necessary) by a flying visit
He was taken on a run around the more selected dives and duly
Half the team ably led by Mr. Lawrence have just returned from a
Mr. Foster has just joined the firm next door in lieu of Mr. Lavis and
It's been pretty hard going running Six classes with Foul?. Instructors,
It seems only five minutes since we were last called upon to provide
That is about all for now,
We did manage to get in one reunion at the " Five Bells " and were
Anyhow we hope that our troubles will be over when the next D.I's We are having rather a frustrating time in the mine department at
H.M.Ss.
last going to press. For the first, we apologise—for the latter, jealous ?
removing pistols, primers and blowing down air vessels of torpedos removed from sunken wrecks in Grand Harbour. Earlier on we had a
nucleons of the Trials Team disporting themselves in our domain, led by
establishments carrying the unlightened breatheren and was on the re- ceiving end of more ' drips ' than a broken ' fawcett," one who is known as foze,' whose theme song from outward appearances standard of the M.F.C.D.T., inter-mingled with such interesting jobs as
of Lieutenent Commander Warner, D.S.C., who visited all ships and topped up, for calling our establishment a hut or a shack.
crowned, with ceremony befitting the occasion and his old felt hat duly hear you have been playing snowballs at home whilst we have had to Quote " Shackle another couple of bottles on and I will sort this b . . . but are we down-hearted ? No.
' sweat it out ' in the far-flung outposts—you lucky people. our news for the magazine. How time flies—especially as we are So BUSY
seems to be ' silver threads amongst the gold,' time marches on ! out " unquote (Jacko). will no doubt be flashing up boilers and raising a full head of steam. We
spot of ,business in Cyprus, where the most outstanding diving took place. here. has just left us. class completes. hunting
surprised at the very high standard of dancing witnessed there. Good the moment, surely we haven't reached the bottom of the barrel yet ! . r‘q•
Al
EDITOR.
borne.
F.C.D.O./F.E.
ID;
o
t
i
•
IrlIcrs.
o.rt
+1.••:‘
i}l
39
came out and towed us to harbour least we should
BY TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Cossack
Best wishes to all at home and elsewhere.
The last event to report is an attack on a beachhead made by the We wish to thank the F.C.D.O./F.E. for this interesting item and at
We were inspected by the commodore in February. F.C.D.O•
As stated in our first edition it is not intended to make this magazine
Last month ammendment No. 24 to B.R. 155/43 was issued. This
Lieut.-Cdr. Gash on their promotion.
thought the team had done well and looked smart and fit. He hasn't Army for one of their routine exercises. This was a change, successful, become " guests " of the Communists. the same time convey our congratulations to Lieut.-Cdr. Wardle and fully did and with whom we work very well and happily share the mess. item is being printed for interest only. heard the commodore's view yet ! and great fun. B.D.O. has an excellent team of standard divers out here long periods spent from the schools this is not always easy; so the following volunteering to paddle 12 miles in a canoe to get help. This they success-
a text book. Most divers like to keep abreast of their subject, and with
Divers of the' Fleet please note this important change.
gives the new Therapeutic Decompression Tables. Diving Officers and www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
38
paid a recreational visit to Hong Kong, with the
George Clymer
The death of Larkin was a grave loss to the team. He was one of
After this sad event the team split. F.C.D.O. with Sayer, Hough The Penang party had a couple of pleasant days looking at the We dived from a most palatial vessel provided by the harbour master.
We believe this work in Malaya qualified us for the General Service
August saw us all back in Hong Kong starting conversion courses
A few weeks later there was another fatal shark attack. This time
The unusual presence of sharks in Hong Kong waters was attributed In late September Mr. J. P. L. Thomas, First Lord of the Admiralty,
U.S.S.
Christmas and New Year went in the usual way. The divers won a
Chinese New Year which lasts several days was spent in Tolo Harbour
and A.B. Sharris made a valiant effort to save him which, we are glad, has been recognised by the Royal Humane Society. Sayer has been
Butler and the rest packed up to return to Hong Kong; we were all glad of awarded the Silver Medal and Sharris the Bronze Medal. its most promising members whose stature had been growing day by day. that 93rd Squadron R.A.F. Regiment who had arranged to put us up had received sudden orders to move next day so we were invited to help
them reduce their beer stocks. We left behind us a splendid stack of He assured us that they rarely saw sharks (a relief in our state of health) and Chaplin set off by train for Penang armed against bandits, whilst bottom of the harbour and then moved to Port Swettenham. We found a change from Singapore. empties and took with us a signed picture of Diana Dors. but that we might meet the odd alligator !
Medal (Malaya) but we must admit the only bandits we met were in the
beer bars. for the fleet. We were three down in the team so we borrowed three
handpicked S.W.D's—A.B. Kirkwood, Duckett and Drewitt, all good
exercise but discretion, we thought, was the better part of valour, so we called it off, and busied ourselves for the next few days in the baths and hands. but the sharks didn't appreciate his efforts and stayed away. a sailor whilst bathing over the ship's side. The team was about to do an
tank with conversion and qualifying classes. He had been through Singapore so he knew all about us. F.C.D.O. had to the extremely hot summer. The hottest for 90 years. F.C.D.O. went
shark fishing with a monster hook and some noisome bad meat as bait visited Hong Kong and showed great interest in the team's activities. where we played with the destroyers again. The M.F.V. broke down on the way there and Sayer and Stockton distinguished themselves by the pleasure of meeting him. cake for the best decorated mess. We began 1955 with a medical on 1st
11th U.D. Team on board. They were most impressed with our gear January. Apart from a tendency to go to sleep during the blood pressure and the general set-up. test we were all, surprisingly, fit
T.W.D. T.W.D.
prepared to deal deal to prepared
Barrova, Barrova,
41 41
a fleet oiler which was beached at Harwich with a a with Harwich at beached was which oiler fleet a
Eddy Reef, Reef, Eddy
In closing, may we extend to all readers our sincere good wishes. wishes. good sincere our readers all to extend we may closing, In
Since our last contribution, L/Sea. Webster had been relieved by by relieved been had Webster L/Sea. contribution, last our Since
The civilian divers of the Emergency Salvage Party on the staff of of staff the on Party Salvage Emergency the of divers civilian The
We returned, for the last job of the season, to another old chestnut— old another to season, the of job last the for returned, We
It was notable, also, for the hospitality extended to us by the Army Army the by us to extended hospitality the for also, notable, was It
This job was notable in that we had no labour problem. There There problem. labour no had we that in notable was job This
Again no diving was required on our part, since the Army divers had had divers Army the since part, our on required was diving no Again
Yet another emergency call followed. This time to Marchwood in in Marchwood to time This followed. call emergency another Yet
It seems that the lid of the mud box on the main inlet had been been had inlet main the on box mud the of lid the that seems It
Although no diving was necessary, it proved an interesting job in in job interesting an proved it necessary, was diving no Although
valuable experience and Baker left the Service extremely hopeful of of hopeful extremely Service the left Baker and experience valuable
L/Sea. Hopper, and S.M. Baker by A.B. Douglas. All have gained gained have All Douglas. A.B. by Baker S.M. and Hopper, L/Sea.
beach and finally grounded the wreck in a fairly accessible position. Thus Thus position. accessible fairly a in wreck the grounded finally and beach
gaining a billet in civilian salvage. salvage. civilian in billet a gaining
beach at the top of springs, time pressed too heavily and we were unable unable were we and heavily too pressed time springs, of top the at beach
ended another successful season. season. successful another ended to position the 7-inch wires to ensure that the wreck came up clear of the the of clear up came wreck the that ensure to wires 7-inch the position to
familiar with every rivet of it. However, ship's divers were able to assist assist to able were divers ship's However, it. of rivet every with familiar
stems of the ships. Notwithstanding, we lifted and pressed on for the the for on pressed and lifted we Notwithstanding, ships. the of stems
in the passing of messengers. Unfortunately, since it was necessary to to necessary was it since Unfortunately, messengers. of passing the in
B.D.O. Portsmouth had spent months in cutting the wreck and were were and wreck the cutting in months spent had Portsmouth B.D.O.
two sections and we now, with the assistance of of assistance the with now, we and sections two
the wreck of an L.C.T. in Stokes Bay. We had already lifted and beached beached and lifted already had We Bay. Stokes in L.C.T. an of wreck the
with the third section. section. third the with
following morning, Petty Officer Can's eyes resembled those of the the of those resembled eyes Can's Officer Petty morning, following
congers which allegedly passed his front glass with such regularity at at regularity such with glass front his passed allegedly which congers
Castletown. Castletown.
during the evening. It must be recorded that when we sailed on the the on sailed we when that recorded be must It evening. the during
in the cause of salvage. salvage. of cause the in
appeared to be whole battalions of soldiers only too ready to give their all all their give to ready too only soldiers of battalions whole be to appeared
the weight taken by a 50-ton floating crane, we brought her to the surface surface the to her brought we crane, floating 50-ton a by taken weight the
two 7-inch wires and button on to our 100-ton purchases. With part of of part With purchases. 100-ton our to on button and wires 7-inch two
and soon pumped her out. out. her pumped soon and
ing to find one of their small tugs on the bottom alongside the pier. It It pier. the alongside bottom the on tugs small their of one find to ing
had, presumably, jammed under the pier on the rising tide. tide. rising the on pier the under jammed presumably, had,
already passed the 2i-inch messengers. It remained only for us to pass pass to us for only remained It messengers. 2i-inch the passed already
hauled down a canvas patch over the inlet, our pumps quickly beat the the beat quickly pumps our inlet, the over patch canvas a down hauled
Southampton Water, where the R.E.M.E. Training Unit awoke one morn- one awoke Unit Training R.E.M.E. the where Water, Southampton
that we were able to bring into action three of our largest pumps, including including pumps, largest our of three action into bring to able were we that
inrush, and, within a short time the vessel was ready to be towed away. away. towed be to ready was vessel the time short a within and, inrush, an 8-inch Drysdale steam pump. Having passed a bottom line and and line bottom a passed Having pump. steam Drysdale 8-inch an
R.F.A. R.F.A.
engine room quickly flooded. flooded. quickly room engine
programme was interrupted by an emergency call to the assistance of of assistance the to call emergency an by interrupted was programme
flooded engine room. room. engine flooded
that we could succeed where others had failed. Unfortunately, our our Unfortunately, failed. had others where succeed could we that removed, only to find that the valve was not properly closed, and the the and closed, properly not was valve the that find to only removed,
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having a 50 foot bowsprit. The The bowsprit. foot 50 a having
40 40
Uplifter Uplifter
an Admiralty tug mined and sunk on the Cant Cant the on sunk and mined tug Admiralty an
Resolve, Resolve,
H.M.S. UPLIFTER AT BLYTH BLYTH AT UPLIFTER H.M.S.
crossing the harbour with a varied assortment of garbage hanging hanging garbage of assortment varied a with harbour the crossing
In order to work on these pieces close inshore, it was often necessary necessary often was it inshore, close pieces these on work to order In
It was feared that strops would cheese through the rotting timber, timber, rotting the through cheese would strops that feared was It
This brought to a close a satisfying season but the Christmas leave leave Christmas the but season satisfying a close a to brought This
As a bad weather job during this period we undertook the clearance clearance the undertook we period this during job weather bad a As
On completion of the operation we returned to our old stamping stamping old our to returned we operation the of completion On
Following Summer leave, we embarked upon an operation for' which which for' operation an upon embarked we leave, Summer Following
One enterprising C.D.3 chose as his bedroom our " Pot." Fortun- Pot." " our bedroom his as chose C.D.3 enterprising One
• •
undeterred, we rigged the 6-inch airlift and commenced to clear the mud mud the clear to commenced and airlift 6-inch the rigged we undeterred,
from the after compartments. Diving was severely restricted by tides tides by restricted severely was Diving compartments. after the from
Uplifter Uplifter
and an extremely low water temperature but we pressed on in the hope hope the in on pressed we but temperature water low extremely an and
no doubt many readers will recall the name with mixed feelings, but, but, feelings, mixed with name the recall will readers many doubt no
period soon gave way to the start of the next season which opened with an an with opened which season next the of start the to way gave soon period
outside Sheerness. Many salvage teams have worked on this wreck and and wreck this on worked have teams salvage Many Sheerness. outside
but S.M. Baker achieved success with a well placed strop and we were were we and strop placed well a with success achieved Baker S.M. but
Portland stanchions, however, had long been accustomed to seeing seeing to accustomed been long had however, stanchions, Portland
bombardons. These were large steel structures in the shape of a crosss, crosss, a of shape the in structures steel large were These bombardons.
broken ribs, it provided a home for the finest Portland prawns, lobsters lobsters prawns, Portland finest the for home a provided it ribs, broken
attack on the wreck wreck the on attack
in the afternoon, however, no great credence was placed upon his reports. reports. his upon placed was credence great no however, afternoon, the in
to beach the ship. Diving then became relatively simple in depths from from depths in simple relatively became then Diving ship. the beach to
the bottom for some fifty years and, though reduced to the keel and and keel the to reduced though and, years fifty some for bottom the
of the larger pieces of Portland for disposal. disposal. for Portland of pieces larger the of
been moored in Weymouth Bay to await the great day, they quickly came came quickly they day, great the await to Bay Weymouth in moored been of the Female Form Divine, we achieved good results and carried off many many off carried and results good achieved we Divine, Form Female the of
from the horns so our latest capture probably evoked no surprise. surprise. no evoked probably capture latest our so horns the from
audience from the neighbouring holiday camp. In spite of the distraction distraction the of spite In camp. holiday neighbouring the from audience
fearsone being reported by Petty Officer Carr. Since he invariably dived dived invariably he Since Carr. Officer Petty by reported being fearsone
of an old wooden hulk in Castletown. Former a collier, it had been on on been had it collier, a Former Castletown. in hulk wooden old an of twelve feet to zero and was often watched by a large and appreciative appreciative and large a by watched often was and zero to feet twelve
resistance to the swell, but not, unfortunately, off Arromanches. Having Having Arromanches. off unfortunately, not, but swell, the to resistance
designed to float just under the surface and break the force of the seas on on seas the of force the break and surface the under just float to designed to an inglorious end in the shallows round the bay. bay. the round shallows the in end inglorious an to
200 feet long and resulted in in resulted and long feet 200
of wires, we hung it along the port side of the ship. The keel was some some was keel The ship. the of side port the along it hung we wires, of
and conger eels. Many of the latter were seen, the biggest and most most and biggest the seen, were latter the of Many eels. conger and
the mulberry harbour. They proved eminently successful in offering offering in successful eminently proved They harbour. mulberry the
able to bring the whole keel to the surface, where, with an ingenious lead lead ingenious an with where, surface, the to keel whole the bring to able
proud. Valuable experience was gained and, in spite of the inevitable inevitable the of spite in and, gained was experience Valuable proud.
ground in Weymouth Bay to continue the clearance of wreckage of of wreckage of clearance the continue to Bay Weymouth in ground
only one stop—from " Call to Hands " to " Out Pipes." Pipes." Out " to " Hands to Call " stop—from one only
the Home Station C.D. Team joined us. No details of the job can be be can job the of details No us. joined Team C.D. Station Home the
ately he was a light sleeper and was able to surface each morning with with morning each surface to able was and sleeper light a was he ately
given but a degree of success was obtained for which we can be justly justly be can we which for obtained was success of degree a but given accommodation problem, I think that the C.D's enjoyed their spell with us. us. with spell their enjoyed C.D's the that think I problem, accommodation NANOOK.
Homarus vulgaris.
by Cousteau, having done a (living
43
and being professionally concerned with shell-
A FISHY STORY
The Silent World
Vernon,
Lobsters are caught commercially in some places by fishermen who
Cousteau describes underwater caves where the lobsters hang like
After reading
We have had one recent change in the team, " Muscles " Mardling Many of the ex-Lochinvars will remember the " pond." Curious to
Thats enough contributing for this time, so will five bells by wishing
My station is on the west coast—a rocky underwater terrain, ideally
suited for lobsters. With the aqua-lung I was not limited to the low water holes under rocks at the water's edge. They often make good catches. spring tide mark, nor the spring tides.
go round the rocks at low water springs with a hook and poke about in
in every crevice.
flies' on the. 'ceiling; wrecks where they peer out of every port and nestle
fish research, I thought that I would be in a fair way to keeping our table course at H.M.S.
supplied with the evasive crustacean
blance to the tallies of a few grey-bearded C.D's. Peculiar and puzzling Breeding bed for haggis ? Extinct saurian's respiratory organs ? Bag-
pipe plantation ? Medieval gash dump ? The latter explanation was
relate, many strange and gruesome objects were found in it when we to say the least.
all opps all over the place, Wet Dips. accepted as the hieroglyphics detected upon some of them bore are sem- swopped for A.B. J.. Harrison (Another bloated type). the organizers have got round to serving after the shows, they don't seem to
realize that we would prefer a noggin or several of Scotland's main export.
started to survey it. Varied were the guesses hazarded as to theit nature.
•
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
-after
7
of gloves .whilst_underwater-
:
42
fe4 the, need
.
5oth C.D.T. H.M.S. " DIVER
diver,. he could not afford to dally too long on the ladder or'he
After reading the last magazine (and leaping hurriedly to the side)
This then is the first screed from us and,' if 'the writer has hiS way,
Since being up here we have been engaged in desperate duties
Being a small ship team we have functioned to the satisfaction of all
We have just been' through what was reputedly one of the most
Canteen messing has worked wonders for the waist lines of the divers
Just lately we have been in great demandlor displays, in aid of the
There is a rival circus up here with a little Red Man doing the tam-
you know -Pompey.
;
and its urgent pleas for material, we, the blue fingered characters of the north, found that with constant kicking from Sir Boss, we, simply had to probably the last.
predominating trait has been well handed down ; not that we mind, we dripping danger every inch, of the rugged way. When we first formed,
contribute. Disposal Team, who have all had a vampire for an ancestor; whose
Sir Boss, in an informal little chat like, one of Sir Winston's wartime thtee at least are being looked askance at when they relax a little, though
concerned, until the advent upon our horizon of the Barnb and Mine
time for relaxation has been scarce of late with a Captain of Lochinvar's
speeches, told us that it would be nothing.but " Blood, Sweat and Tears."
had too much any way.
formed by this in great demand little ship; which at the moment is the
was the fact that it was expensive on life lines. - When calling a diver to inspection on our hands, as well as the normal duties that had to be per-
smartest in the command. the lifelines off into three foot lengths and stacking them like faggots of Strface it necessitated a spate hand going on to the top bridge and snapping severe winters in local Memory, the only:complaint we had as regards this the holidayreserts or in dry dock; but of course on their return from each wood' as they came out of the water, frozen solid and brittle with ice. Pompey .incidently,- who
As for
toddirig, but we don't see much of them as they are always gadding about Boy Scouts and other crazy associations that run swimming galas—in before—We believe them of course as we were on the edge of it all the tinie.
ladder as well. There were even those amongst us, who came from' swiftly became one with it; our galley oven is not big enough to take the mid-wintet too, hardy race these Scots. " You must see this' smooth outing, the sea was always rougher than any other man had sailed it
more of this sort of thing there will be complaints from the artists' union,
all
nearly as attractive but the numbers were there anyway. If we do much
slick performance, by seasoned artists." We are working up a front row chorus that will stand comparison with that of the Follies Bergere,: not
asking us to go on strike,. Unfortunately tea and sticky buns are as far as
London Evening News) News) Evening London
21st April, 1955. 1955. April, 21st
45 45
Portuguese Bend; California. California. Bend; Portuguese
(By kind permission of of permission kind (By
FISHY STORIES STORIES FISHY
London Evening News, News, Evening London
Diving Magazine). Magazine). Diving
(by (by
Published in the the in Published
The ray which donated the cornea unfortunately died. STOP. STOP. died. unfortunately cornea the donated which ray The
A professional diver assisted the surgeon 22 feet below the surface. surface. the below feet 22 surgeon the assisted diver professional A
Dr. George Blasdel replaced the cornea of one of the eyes of the fish fish the of eyes the of one of cornea the replaced Blasdel George Dr.
Wearing a face mask and oxygen equipment, a surgeon spent 23 23 spent surgeon a equipment, oxygen and mask face a Wearing
The operation was performed on Charlie, a 50 pound bait ray, which which ray, bait pound 50 a Charlie, on performed was operation The
AND HERE IS THE FISHY STORY TO END ALL ALL END TO STORY FISHY THE IS HERE AND
FLASH FLASH
Later Charlie was swimming happily around the tank. tank. the around happily swimming was Charlie Later
with a healthy cornea from another bat ray. ray. bat another from cornea healthy a with
had damaged its eyes in an aquarium tank. tank. aquarium an in eyes its damaged had minutes under water here operating on the eye of a nearly blind pet fish. fish. pet blind nearly a of eye the on operating here water under minutes
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was was
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BAIRD, BAIRD,
decided decided
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lifted my my lifted
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This was it. it. was This
R. H. H. R.
swam down the the down swam
had started. started. had
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BY BY
and didn't budge. budge. didn't and
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season season
each hand. hand. each
tried to reach over with my my with over reach to tried
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decided to use some brute force force brute some use to decided
had no hooks or other implements implements other or hooks no had
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ascended in triumph. He weighed weighed He triumph. in ascended
found not very helpful when trying trying when helpful very not found
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44 44
could squirt some noxious but not toxic liquid liquid toxic not but noxious some squirt could
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hopefully waggled my fingers at the edge of the darkness. What What darkness. the of edge the at fingers my waggled hopefully
We did have some in a 6 ft. deep experimental tank which which tank experimental deep ft. 6 a in some have did We
We have neither of us seen a lobster since ! ! since lobster a seen us of neither have We
Never renowned for my patience patience my for renowned Never
In April, diving from a pier in the Menai Straits, our usual practice practice usual our Straits, Menai the in pier a from diving April, In
As a corollary of all this I looked forward to many large suppers; to to suppers; large many to forward looked I this all of corollary a As
The end of the first summer after the delivery of the aqua-lung was was aqua-lung the of delivery the after summer first the of end The
I I
dived once or twice a month to keep in trim, but the lobster season was was season lobster the but trim, in keep to month a twice or once dived
It seemed to me that if if that me to seemed It
to observe and practice handling underwater. These lobsters were by no no by were lobsters These underwater. handling practice and observe to
behind them in their holes, they wouldn't like it, would come out and be be and out come would it, like wouldn't they holes, their in them behind
formalin or acetic acid. The conclusion drawn from this is that it is of no no of is it that is this from drawn conclusion The acid. acetic or formalin
easily caught. It didn't work, they only nestled deeper into an aura of of aura an into deeper nestled only they work, didn't It caught. easily
means tame though in captivity, and would face up to one, making it it making one, to up face would and captivity, in though tame means
to exert brute force, and the lobster backed further into his hole at my my at hole his into further backed lobster the and force, brute exert to
advantage trying this to catch lobsters in their natural habitant; but there there but habitant; natural their in lobsters catch to this trying advantage
the edge of the tyre and four people on the surface heaved. The tyre was was tyre The heaved. surface the on people four and tyre the of edge the
difficult to get hold of them. I thought of trying some chemical warfare. warfare. chemical some trying of thought I them. of hold get to difficult
Finally the claw came away in the gaff. It looked a lot snaller on the the on snaller lot a looked It gaff. the in away came claw the Finally
other hand to grab, but the tide slowly but relentlessly carried me side- me carried relentlessly but slowly tide the but grab, to hand other again one has to find any lobster first ! ! first lobster any find to has one again
told them to slack off whilst I released the anchor. As As anchor. the released I whilst off slack to them told
more than half buried in the sand and didn't move. Surfacing again I I again Surfacing move. didn't and sand the in buried half than more
hunt was up now and someone produced an achor. I hooked this under under this hooked I achor. an produced someone and now up was hunt
every attempt to get him out. I surfaced again and at last somebody somebody last at and again surfaced I out. him get to attempt every
produced a gaff. I got a grip on a giant claw and twisted and heaved heaved and twisted and claw giant a on grip a got I gaff. a produced
There were lobsters for the picking now that the the that now picking the for lobsters were There
6} pounds. A colleague made a dive and surfaced in five minutes with with minutes five in surfaced and dive a made colleague A pounds. 6}
lobster swam out very casually, and and casually, very out swam lobster
handed a piece of bent wire, which which wire, bent of piece a handed
drift into an awkward position or the lobster would retreat as as retreat would lobster the or position awkward an into drift ways and away, whilst the lobster retreated into his deep dark recess. recess. dark deep his into retreated lobster the whilst away, and ways
another 2} pound lobster, a claw held firmly in in firmly held claw a lobster, pound 2} another
hand to grab. grab. to hand repeated this manoeuvre two or three times and each time I would would I time each and times three or two manoeuvre this repeated
and pulled, but the lobster had a better grip than than grip better a had lobster the but pulled, and
surface, but still big enough to impress my attendant on the pier. The The pier. the on attendant my impress to enough big still but surface,
and b . . . ignorance. I surfaced and asked for an implement. implement. an for asked and surfaced I ignorance. . . . b and
taken up with some serious work on escallop research. During the winter winter the During research. escallop on work serious some with up taken
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being able to say casually to any friends " Drop in for some lobster this this lobster some for in Drop " friends any to casually say to able being
had been used as a fender on the pier. pier. the on fender a as used been had
evening." A rich harvest incidental to my work. work. my to incidental harvest rich A evening."
once found half-a-crown—I saw waving gently two enormous antennae. antennae. enormous two gently waving saw half-a-crown—I found once
They led into the dark recesses of a half-buried large aroplane tyre that that tyre aroplane large half-buried a of recesses dark the into led They
over—they are alleged to go into deeper water during the cold weather, weather, cold the during water deeper into go to alleged are over—they
ground, with a rich fauna and a certain amount of treasure trove—I trove—I treasure of amount certain a and fauna rich a with ground,
seemed a gigantic lobster slowly emerged. emerged. slowly lobster gigantic a seemed
so so and are not caught. caught. not are and
R.N. Diving
Off. No.
Rating
Private Address
are you willing to serve abroad
Portsmouth.
Vernon,
THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU
H.M.S.
Many of you I am sure will be pleased to hear the good news that the
Many enquiries have been made recently from divers away from their
This record, when received from you, will be filed, and when your
depot regarding the Employment Bureau, and wishing to know if we can
Magazine,
help in any way by giving names of firms `requiring divers in civilian life.
on record please forward the following information to Employment Bureau has been revived. If you wish to have your name
Records held show that many divers upon receiving information from this
turn comes, " Who knows." Please remember the bureau does not assure you of employment. It merely puts you in contact, the rest is up to you.
Bureau have found good employment in civilian life.
Time as diver
Time expires
Full Name www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
P www.mcdoa.org.uk
METAL INDUSTRIES I (SALVAGE) LTD. i i Marine Salvage, Towage and
i Underwater Contractors i i
i l i
1. i
Th_s. Company's Fleet includes the following i i i " SALVEDA" 781 tons 1200 I.H.P. i i " METINDA III " 593 tons 1275 I.H.P. i " WHIRLPOOL" and " LYNESS " i Coastal Salvage Vessels
GWEEBARRA - Oil Recovery Vessel .). i i All classes of Ocean and Coastal Towage i undertaken on Day or Contract Terms. i Harbour Clearances and all branches of i Diving and Underwater Work carried out i
FASLAN E PORT i SHANDON • DUMBARTONSHIRE .I."
Telephone (Day and Night): GARELOCHEAD 351 (3 lines i i i London Agents: W. P. 101350N & CO. LTD
i I i
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