www.mcdoa.org.uk N A V AS MAGAzi
totzsin Three from One = 4000 iiiiiiimmommhill111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111101111111111111111111miniiiimnum 11 •_„,,• Siebe Gorman present a now air compressor and cylinder charging decanting set, with an integrated control panel, which can be used for three distinct operations:— To charge large high pressure air storage cylinders to 40001b./sq.in. To decant air from storage cylinders into breathing apparatus or aqualung cylinders. To charge breathing apparatus cylin- ders direct from the compressor. filter and,control panel is mounted In a tubujik.Steel carrying frame and Neptune 4000 weighs-aiiiiroximately 400 lb. It can be Siebe Gorman's new high pressure used independently or incorporated compressor set is designed to provide in a static installation. a versatile unit for charging breathing apparatus or aqualung cylinders with clean, dry air to pressures between ;14,44, 1800 and 4000 p.s.i. Driven by either a `1AN Marineland—see page 9 Ut`, 4 stroke petrol engine or electric 01 ENGLAND -t motor, the air-cooled compressor has For further information, nii, write to 111111111111111141111 1111„i an output of 4.5 cu. ft. of nominal free Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd., """"""1111111111IM11111111111111111111111 iiiiiiiiiimilimill111191111111111111111111111111111111111111111411 „1040 Neptune Works, Davis Road, F 0,40 air per minute. The complete appara- Chessington, Surrey. -.0.4640 tus, consisting of motor, compressor, Telephone: Lower Hook 8171/8
Printed by Coasby & Co. Ltd., St. James's Road, Southsea, Hai is www.mcdoa.org.uk
Vol. 11 No. 1 2/- DIVING SUITS
SWIMMING GEAR & EQUIPMENT
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HOUNSLOW, MIDDX. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
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address. The uniainetio
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V,G, V,G,
No. 1 1 No.
GIBBONS GIBBONS
FORDHAM FORDHAM
SMITH, R.N. R.N. SMITH,
R. R.
=e. =e.
•
J. BRASSINGTON BRASSINGTON J.
P.O. V. V. P.O.
MR. MR.
E. W. J. J. W. E.
LT. LT.
P.O. M. M. P.O.
3 3
Spring 1964 1964 Spring
R.N. R.N.
Editorial Editorial
takes takes
EDITORIAL STAFF STAFF EDITORIAL
R.N. R.N.
.. ..
Cartoonist .. .. Cartoonist
Photographic Adviser Adviser Photographic
Editor Editor
Treasurer Treasurer
in the near future. Mr. Roy Roy Mr. future. near the in
It seems almost a regular theme for Editorials to include a plea for for plea a include to Editorials for theme regular a almost seems It
the introduction of a new new a of introduction the
NCE again we start off with with off start we again NCE
staff. Lt. E. W. J. Smith, Smith, J. W. E. Lt. staff.
R.N. Diving Magazine Magazine Diving R.N.
May I point out that this maga- this that out point I May
It has been said that we have have we that said been has It
make it, it, make
material, and since taking over as Editor I can see why. It is a constant constant a is It why. see can I Editor as over taking since and material,
sending us items of interest, this magazine can only be as good as YOU YOU as good as be only can magazine this interest, of items us sending
return, but we prefer cash. cash. prefer we but return,
struggle to get articles and to get people to write them, so please help by by help please so them, write to people get to and articles get to struggle
pay for publishing, etc., ships are are ships etc., publishing, for pay
cash as soon as possible after receiving your copies, unsold magazines please please magazines unsold copies, your receiving after possible as soon as cash
requested to clear up any out- out- any up clear to requested
standing debits, also to send in in send to also debits, standing
zine is non-profit making so to to so making non-profit is zine
as soon as possible. possible. as soon as
let's have your ideas and sketches sketches and ideas your have let's
had this cover design too long, so so long, too design cover this had
Fordham continues to give us his his us give to continues Fordham
than grateful. grateful. than
assistance for which we are more more are we which for assistance
We hope to retain the valuable valuable the retain to hope We
Eagle Eagle
cartoonist, who is joining H.M.S. H.M.S. joining is who cartoonist,
services of P.O. Brassington, our our Brassington, P.O. of services board a Coastal Minesweeper, Minesweeper, Coastal a board
somewhere in the West country. country. West the in somewhere
taken over Coxswain's duties on- duties Coxswain's over taken
Our last Editor, P.O. Lloyd, has has Lloyd, P.O. Editor, last Our
over as Treasurer and Secretary. Secretary. and Treasurer as over
Sub-Lt. P. R. Park, Park, R. P. Sub-Lt.
will shortly be leaving for the sun- the for leaving be shortly will
O
soaked Far East station, while while station, East Far soaked
Vol. 11 11 Vol.
9 9 7 7
4 4
3 3
17 17
39 39
15 15 51 51
43 43
46 46 42 42
47 47 37 37
35 35
21 21
29 29 36 36
24 24
31 31 39 39 17 17
25 25 35 35 23 23
32 32
12 12 33 33
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
PAGE PAGE
6 6
R . P. S. IsABELLA' IsABELLA' S. P. . R
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Contents Contents
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IN I RODUCE1ON RODUCE1ON I IN I I
1964 'Vi.itNoN' Rt)AI) R R Rt)AI) 'Vi.itNoN' 1964
FAR EAST CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM SIIIVESSITI, AGAIN AGAIN SIIIVESSITI, TEAM DIVING CLEARANCE EAST FAR
Di Di
DIVING INTO DANGER ...... DANGER INTO DIVING
ROYAL NAVAL DIVERS' ASSOCIATION .. .. ASSOCIATION DIVERS' NAVAL ROYAL
Tin Timis Timis Tin
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MARINELAND MARINELAND NEWS FROM FROM NEWS
1 1 SAl SAl
PROMOTIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS ADVANCEMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
()PI HA IION NOR N1 NOR IION HA ()PI
ANNUAL DIVERS DINNER AND DANCE DANCE AND DINNER DIVERS ANNUAL
WHO FOUND THE DING DONG ? ? DONG DING THE FOUND WHO
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR EDITOR THE TO LETTERS SUB-AQUA CLUBS CLUBS SUB-AQUA
EMERGENCY RESUSCITATION RESUSCITATION EMERGENCY
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL LESSONS OF THE 'THRESHER' SEARCH SEARCH 'THRESHER' THE OF LESSONS
www.mcdoa.org.uk for both Keller and Small was much Dear Editor, Letters to the Editor more rapid than would have been In publishing this letter I am acceptable under standard Nan hoping that you will be the medium Dear Editor, is an indicator of the commercial decompression procedures as prac- of my renewing old aquaintances. I am the recipient of your R.N. rather than the scientific attitude tised in this country (U.S.A.) and During my service as a diver, I DIVING MAGAZINE which receives which guided him. One more in- which is essentially uniformally the experienced a way of life which my compliments for its presentations consistency in his story — he did not same throughout the Navies of the doesn't exist anywhere else. As I of diving information in a straight- run out of his gas mixture! The world. think back to those days, suddenly forward tinernbellislied manner. findings after the dive did show a a name comes to mind, and there are small leak, but he still had plenty of According to the autopsy, with so many of them. To name a few, At the present time I am stationed gas. We have known for years that the exception of serious gas embol- Jack Diamond, P.O. Walton, Lofty -on the sub tender Nereus (AS-17) in by using Helium or Hydrogen for ism, Peter Small's condition was Asbury, Lofty Yates, Bill Torny, San Diego and the majority of our the inert gas that the narcotic effect physically sound. In particular, Sham Tuck, Tubby Hirst, hell !, I .diving is relegated to hull repair, can be lessened, but not discounted, there was no evidence of coronary could go on for ever. screw changes, and other semi- and that by keeping the 02 partial occlusions or cardiac diseases. Perhaps some of my old friends routine diving which has little, if any, pressure as high as possible the The committee is in agreement, are subscribers to your magazine and interest to divers in other fields. I decompression time can be shortened. with the conclusion by Dr. Buhlmann may drop me a line. Who knows we spent the recent years in Keyport Why can't he simply admit that he "that Peter Small's circulation was might even arrange to meet, Bletch- Washington in the Northwestern 11.S. is using the same principle in a more seriously impaired through possible ley is pretty central. diving on the torpedo lest Million, relined way be shifting mixtures prolonged anoxia with loss of con- Good Luck and a Happy New and Sellle Or 0111 work bordered on several times? He also claims by sciousness". Therefore, he was not Year to you and all your members. the uuusunL (See article Toiortio some mysterious means to have able to eliminate adequately the Sincerely RI 14Y), discovered that CO, and not N2 is nitrogen from his body and so ALAN JONES, WIIN inieresled in the, port- the 'bugaboo' in narcosis — I developed the symptoms of de- 49 Avon Grove, a hie hell mid chamber used ,.by would like him to witness a shift compression illness — bends dying Bletchley, Bucks. I I.M.S. Reclaim. A hell ofthis type is from a HE/02 mixture at 300 ft. to in consequence. Alex Copeland writes from South iwildlicle and may keep others from N JO, mixture using the same CO2 Of Christopher Whittaker the Australia; "I have been out here for going the route of Hannes Keller. content. It is almost like being hit six years now, serving in the Police In regards to Keller's article pub- with a sledgehammer. report continues in their opinion Whittaker was' over weighted, and Force". He very kindly offers lished in your Magazine Volume10/1 One more small item on Keller. readers any information about the I have a few remarks to make. had to resort to inflating his life vest He is apparently one of the unusual to make the surface from his first country, etc., and says "Just write"; I .'irstly in several instances he ignored individuals with tissues of high his address is; the advice of a U.S.N. safety ob- dive. Not having this flotation aid circulatory values and information on his second dive, having slashed it Box 101, G.P.O. Mount Barker, server on the scene.' Small's case of on his tolerance to bends on any South Australia. bends a couple of days prior to the with his knife, the exertion to regain certain gas mixture would almost the surface is believed to have caused Les Killon is also asking the dive was enough to preclude his certainly not apply to the ordinary diving no matter how slight as anoxia resulting in unconsciousness whereabouts of old shipmates, his diver. This could very well apply to during which time the weight of his address is; Keller says. Two men from the 02 toxicity as well. Naval Electronics Laboratory here equipment carried him to an un- 114, St. Stephens Road, in San Diego were on the scene,, and BOB SHEATS, T.M.C.M., recoverable depth. Editor. Bow LONDON E.3 Keller's recorded testimony. after Master Diver, U.S.N. the "dive is filled with contradictions. He attempts- to .rationalize his mis- In regard to the letter sent in by The officer of the watch coming on The school class had been given an takes by saying his methods were Bob Sheats about Hannes Keller. It deck to do his evening rounds saw a essay to write, title 'Winter'. One O.K.?? This is not meant to be sour may interest people to know in the naval rating lying on the deck; 'He's childs attempt read as follows:— grapes as his dive required a lot of report published by the facts finding drunk' he exclaimed to the quarter- In winter — it is very cold and guts and his work has added to our committee in Los Angeles, it states: master. 'Never Sir' was the reply 'I many people die in winter, many knowledge of diving, but for him to All testimony agrees to the fact just saw his finger move. birds also go to warmer places. say that Small didn't die from bends that Hannes Keller was unconscious * * * * is to not factng facts. Keller's insist- for one hall' hour and Peter Small Wealthy people miss one of the A pat on the back developes ance on keeping his 'secret formula' remained unconscious for 2 hours. greatest thrills in life . . . 'paying the character . . . if administered young until the Navy paid him highly for it The decompression schedule used last installment,' enough and low enough. 4 5 www.mcdoa.org.uk
Recently, in Manly, a surburb of of surburb a Manly, in Recently,
in the Southern Hemisphere. When When Hemisphere. Southern the in
biggest in the world and the largest largest the and world the in biggest
The Manly oceanarium is the third third the is oceanarium Manly The Angeles and two in Florida, U.S.A. U.S.A. Florida, in two and Angeles
South Africa, Japan, and one in Los Los in one and Japan, Africa, South
at Port Elizabeth and Durban in in Durban and Elizabeth Port at
opened to the public. `Marineland', `Marineland', public. the to opened arium in the world, the others being being others the world, the in arium
as it is called, is the seventh ocean- seventh the is called, is it as
Australia's first `Oceanarium' was was `Oceanarium' first Australia's
as the 'Playground of the Pacific', Pacific', the of 'Playground the as knowledge of sea creatures. creatures. sea of knowledge
Sydney, New South Wales known known Wales South New Sydney,
to preserve, present and increase our our increase and present preserve, to
knowledge. It is even more refreshing refreshing more even is It knowledge.
to learn that ex-Royal Naval divers divers Naval ex-Royal that learn to
are playing their part in this attempt attempt this in part their playing are
7 7
tank to feed the fish during one of his five daily daily five his of one during fish the feed to tank
feeding dives. dives. feeding
of the the of
Marineland Marineland
U RING the past few years more more years few past the RING U
general public have become con- become have public general
and more members of the the of members more and
It is refreshing to learn however, however, learn to refreshing is It
Surrounded by dozens of friendly fish Peter (Lofty) Richardson, the diver for Marineland Marineland for diver the Richardson, (Lofty) Peter fish friendly of dozens by Surrounded
Oceanarium, arrives at the bottom bottom the at arrives Oceanarium,
increase our specific and general general and specific our increase
nature as possible, so that we may may we that so possible, as nature
large, in an environment as close to to close as environment an in large,
of a further step forward now being being now forward step further a of
taken to preserve and observe these these observe and preserve to taken
sent them for show to the public at at public the to show for them sent
same underwater creatures and pre- and creatures underwater same
of killing the denizens of the deep deep the of denizens the killing of
for 'sport'. 'sport'. for
discovered for themselves the 'thrills' 'thrills' the themselves for discovered Hass, Keller, Cousteau, etc., of the the of etc., Cousteau, Keller, Hass,
world beneath the sea, and have have and sea, the beneath world
and accounts of the adventures of of adventures the of accounts and
scious, through television, cinema cinema television, through scious,
D 4 4
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
a year. year. a
I 49 49 I
Age next birthday birthday next Age
GA TI m-- m-- TI GA
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Founded 1877 1877 Founded
try to. But my pay's not enough to save save to enough not pay's my But to. try
I I
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Send this Coupon to: to: Coupon this Send
No catch. And if I had died at any any at died had I if And catch. No
I only had to put aside £3 a month by Naval Allot- Naval by month a £3 aside put to had only I
Assurance Scheme rolled into one. one. into rolled Scheme Assurance
the whole £855 immediately. You You immediately. £855 whole the
time my wife would have received received have would wife my time
see, it's a Savings Scheme and Life Life and Scheme Savings a it's see,
That's what I thought when I was your age, until until age, your was I when thought I what That's
collect £855. £855. collect
ment but when I leave the Service next year I can can I year next Service the leave I when but ment
someone showed me the progressive Savings Scheme. Scheme. Savings progressive the me showed someone
ASSOCIATION OF LONDON LONDON OF ASSOCIATION
LIMITED LIMITED
How can I Save? Save? I can How
P RO VI DENT DENT VI RO P
Of course, course, Of
the catch? the
anything. anything.
Sounds too good to be true. Where's Where's true. be to good too Sounds
in a Hi nnimentnunino aninInline ning nulling lisping nininanstippincininingpsnineninoninis nininanstippincininingpsnineninoninis lisping nulling ning aninInline nnimentnunino Hi a in
246 BISHOPSGATE, LONDON, E.C.2. E.C.2. LONDON, BISHOPSGATE, 246
°For members of the W.R.N.S. the pension is f. f. is pension the W.R.N.S. the of members °For
you set about all this? this? all about set you
, ,
do
work at 65. 65. at work
Savings Scheme. Scheme. Savings
years' service, I shall have the option of taking the the taking of option the have shall I service, years'
pension of £172* a year when I retire from civilian civilian from retire I when year a £172* of pension
Well, when I had finished my 9 years, and had paid paid had and years, 9 my finished had I when Well,
help set me up in Civvy Street, but now, after 22 22 after now, but Street, Civvy in up me set help
we all want. want. all we
£855, or if I don't need the cash immediately, a a immediately, cash the need don't I if or £855,
thing happened to me—well, its the kind of security security of kind the its me—well, to happened thing
to when I retire, and the wife provided for if any- if for provided wife the and retire, I when to
premiums for 7 years, I could have drawn £234 to to £234 drawn have could I years, 7 for premiums already, and with the extra pension to look forward forward look to pension extra the with and already,
That's easy. Ask the Provident Life for details of the Progressive Progressive the of details for Life Provident the Ask easy. That's
I'm going for the pension. I'm all lined up for a job job a for up lined all I'm pension. the for going I'm
Which will you take? take? you will Which
Supposing you hadn't signed on for 22 years' service? service? years' 22 for on signed hadn't you Supposing
How How
Name Name Rating/Rank Rating/Rank
Please forward details of the Progressive Savings Scheme. Scheme. Savings Progressive the of details forward Please
Address Address nin!ntimpi ii! !moil !moil ii! nin!ntimpi www.mcdoa.org.uk fully stocked it will contain about will remember Norman (Norm) The two divers are also regularly seen fish too much. The catch is then 2,000 fish of more than 150 different Bicklcy from Manchester, especially `exercising' the turtles and occas- transported to the oceanarium by species. those who were in the 4th Submarine ionally scrubbing their backs to large tanks either in a boat or on a lorry for introduction tq the pool at The project was developed with the Division here in Sydney some time remove the sea growth! night. The new arrivals are intro- aim of showing to the public the ago. During their time in the tank, duced at night so that they may have species of fish that live around the These two have been selected from Lofty and Norm have to keep a some time to settle down whilst the Australian coastline and to afford many applicants for the job of watchful eye on the sharks in the pool is relatively quite and before the facilities for observation of the under- feeding the fish in the tank five to pool. There are a number of Whaler day's activity begins. water creatures and their habits by seven times a day with some 401bs. sharks of various types as well as research workers and students. Try- of food consisting of chopped fish, Grey Nurse, Wibblegong or carpet Both Lofty and Norm love their ing at the same time to expand the squid, crayfish, shrimps, mussels and shark and the peculiar species of job and the sight of them swimming rather meagre knowledge that we conjevoi. They are responsible for common shark called the Port in the tank with schools of fish sur- have of life under the sea. seeing that each species of fish gets Jackson Shark which was first seen rounding them at feeding times is The tank itself is 55 feet in the type of food most suited to it. in, and inhabits, Port Jackson which ample proof that the fish know that diameter and about 18 feet deep and This includes the hand feeding of in broad terms is Sydney Harbour they have this weird creature of holds 250,000 gallons of sea water. sharks and turtles, all done under- itself. Homo Sapiens as their friend and water. In addition they make sure The water is drawn from the sea, The population of the oceanarium protector. This- makes them about that the inhabitants of the tank are filtered and continuously circulated is continually being added to as some 10,000 times better off than their through the tank. The temperature healthy and this includes 'walking' species do not adapt themselves to relatives outside. remains at approximately the same newly arrived and introduced sharks pool life as do some of the slower EDITORS NOTE: level as that of the surrounding sea round the pool until they are accus- moving fish. This means that the water. The fish can be observed and tomed to the confines of the tank and divers are called on to catch speci- Lofty and Norm would welcome are able to get a sufficient flow of studied from two enclosed corridors mens in the seas off New South any news from friends around the water through their gills to live. round the tank as well as from the Wales coast line, which abounds with world. If in Sydney go along and see surface. There are approximately 70 fish, despite the actions of the them at Manly on the North side of large viewing ports in the corridors fishermen. Specimens of all shapes, Sydney Harbour. Letters can be set about 5 feet and 12 feet below the sizes and species are caught by address to c/o Marineland Pty. Ltd., surface. The corridors are air netting, trapping, rod and line in fact P.O. Box 136 Manly, N.S.W., conditioned for comfort and to any method that does not harm the Australia. prevent condensation which would impair the vision through the ports. COVER—Peter (Lofty) Richardson 'exercising' a giant turtle at Marineland, Manly, New South Wales. Occasionally he has the job of scrubbing its back too ! The Director and administrator of Marineland is Doctor J. Thomson, D„Sc. whose job is to see to the smooth everyday running of the Deepwater Torpedo Recovery oceanarium and to care for the method of recovery of torpedo's used to receive the frequency im- inhabitants. He is also responsible has been devised by a couple of pulses put out by the `pinger'. The for carrying out the research that this A enterprising fishermen in con- range of this equipment is surpris- facility provides. To assist him in junction with some U.S. Navy ingly good and it isn't unusual to his task of caring for the many equipment and ideas. (See sketch on receive the sound at a distance of species of fish, which include various technique used.) 500 yards. types of shark, kingfish, turtle, sting ray and dozens of coral and reef fish First of all, the unit must be A specially equipped search boat and other exotic specimens, he has equipped with a battery powered pinpoints and buoys the location, two ex-Royal Naval personnel who `pinger' device which is about 12 after which a 3 or 4 point moor is I'm sure will be remembered by inches in length by 4 inches diameter. laid for the recovery vessel. After many. I know of some past members This unit puts out a super-sonic the vessel is positioned, four small of the Med. Team, and of Guzz, One of the jobs is 'Walking' newly arrived impulse at a rate of about 20 per Kedge anchors are laid out for the Londonderry and some Reclaimites sharks round the oceanarium. Here ha is minute and continues for a period of camera cage control. Wire from `walking' a newly arrived and beautifully who will remember Peter (Lofty) marked Wobbegong (or Carpet Shark) round three weeks or more. An Ordnance these is run through blocks on the Richardson. Many submariners too the tank. Receiver Transducer Apparatus is camera cage, and you can see by the 8 www.mcdoa.org.uk 9
www.mcdoa.org.uk drawing how the T.V. camera travels Up till a short while ago 150 units rip...... 11.0....ol...50••••••••.14.6.1••••odi.....‘”SOPS06.0.011.1.11Su644•404.0.011.1.1••••16...1110.4.11.1.$1.1.06.....a.stid.w.i..$0.17 in any desired direction by taking in had been recovered at varying depths. one wire and slackening on the one In shallow water we had great success opposite. with a S.C.U.B.A. diver carrying a hand-held transducer with the 'ping' Four hydrophones are placed on sound relayed back down to him the corners of the cage and with GREENBURGH BROS. LTD. through a standard diving telephone selector switches in use the strongest via a small transceiver carried under impulse indicates which direction the Tailors and Outfitters his wet suit hood. lost unit is in. When the unit is 123/126 Queen Street, Portsmouth sighted it is a comparatively simple By prearranged signal he could operation to rig an aluminium angle also talk back to topside, when 47 High Street, Gosport extension with a wire loop to lasso necessary, to enable a recovery line to be sent down to him, using the Telephone 26331 and heave the unit close to the surface where divers can descend to fasten cable as a work line. also at DEVONPORT, CHATHAM, PORTLAND, MALTA the regular recovery gear. and SCOTLAND
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All types of Sports Kits and accessories by well known manufacturers in stock I stood up for you Knobby, 0 tall was she poised and cool, with Chief said you were not fit to live skin like flawless silk, SPECIAL TERMS TO CLUBS AND TEAMS with pigs; I said you were. Eyes not born to rue but rule a throat as white as milk, * BLAZER BADGES embroidered to any design In crowded bus her eyes shone warm, Running after women never hurts her eyebrows rose a trifle; ENQUIRIES IN V ITED anybody . . . it's catching them that And then her perfect lips did form ... does the damage. `A've yer had yer flippin eye full',
10 www.mcdoa.org.uk
(Vernon (Vernon
had to to had
services. services.
Undaunted Undaunted
(Attendant), (Attendant),
Undaunted Undaunted
just after 1400, and and 1400, after just
Diving Officer. Officer. Diving
(D. A. BARTLETT), BARTLETT), A. (D.
Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy Navy Royal Sub-Lieutenant,
Class), who volunteered his his volunteered who Class),
Leading Seaman Cook Cook Seaman Leading
P.O.M.(E) Golds, Golds, P.O.M.(E)
Able Seaman Charlton, Charlton, Seaman Able
L.T.O. Temperley, Temperley, L.T.O.
Ordinary Seaman Heatley Heatley Seaman Ordinary
A./Leading Seaman Green, Green, Seaman A./Leading
A task carried out with plenty of of plenty with out carried task A
Diving operations had to cease cease to had operations Diving
The divers returned on board board on returned divers The
The divers returned to to returned divers The
In Alderney Harbour the rise and and rise the Harbour Alderney In
Undaunted's' Diving Team : : Team Diving Undaunted's'
proceed to sea. sea. to proceed
commended. commended.
spirit, for which the divers are to be be to are divers the which for spirit,
soon after, as as after, soon
Passed by means of bottom lines and and lines bottom of means by Passed
secured inboard. inboard. secured
then assist the sailors on deck to place place to deck on sailors the assist then sewn in P.V.C. over the split. It was was It split. the over P.V.C. in sewn
a pad piece, consisting of a shock mat mat shock a of consisting piece, pad a Nordenfelt Nordenfelt
enabled two divers to plug up the the up plug to divers two enabled
after split with wooden wedges, and and wedges, wooden with split after
1450 the clearing beneath the keel keel the beneath clearing the 1450
on the other holes. Eventually at at Eventually holes. other the on
after split, so work was concentrated concentrated was work so split, after
It still wasn't possible to plug the the plug to possible wasn't still It
started to make temporary repairs. repairs. temporary make to started
was not found. found. not was
due to the swinging of the ship this this ship the of swinging the to due
which had been lost overboard, but but overboard, lost been had which
to search for the motor boats rudder rudder boats motor the for search to not much rest, and two were required required were two and rest, much not
until 1400. 1400. until
to change and get warm again, but but again, warm get and change to
decided to abandon diving operation operation diving abandon to decided with the ship heaving about it was was it about heaving ship the with
clearance of 2 feet under the keel and and keel the under feet 2 of clearance
dropped to 15 feet giving us a a us giving feet 15 to dropped
the ebb, and by noon the depth had had depth the noon by and ebb, the
feet. We happened to get there on on there get to happened We feet.
fall of the tide is approximately 30 30 approximately is tide the of fall
13 13
Visibility Visibility
Nordenfelt, Nordenfelt,
to recharge sets. The next next The sets. recharge to
A further hole was found in the the in found was hole further A
The diver's started to find the the find to started diver's The
The divers made ready; their first first their ready; made divers The
hole, before things got a bit danger- bit a got things before hole,
ous, ous,
He then dived outboard again and and again outboard dived then He
managed to get two wedges in the the in wedges two get to managed
pressure entering through the hole hole the through entering pressure
was too great for him to stop it up. up. it stop to him for great too was
It was thought that if we could block block could we if that thought was It
diver inside No. 2 hold first, but the the but first, hold 2 No. inside diver
combat the water. We tried to put a a put to tried We water. the combat
down by this time) a chance to to chance a time) this by down
Undaunted Undaunted
this one up, it would give the pumps pumps the give would it up, one this
(the majority of which had broken broken had which of majority (the
tank which led directly to No. 2 hold. hold. 2 No. to directly led which tank
oil. The next was the one suspected suspected one the was next The oil.
flooding, it was aft, in the feed water water feed the in aft, was it flooding,
fuel tank which was belching out fuel fuel out belching was which tank fuel
to have been the main cause of of cause main the been have to
two carried on with the inspection. inspection. the with on carried two
possible. Three holes were found found were holes Three possible. ments were taken. The first two two first The taken. were ments
divers came out and had to return to to return to had and out came divers
during the first dive, and measure- and dive, first the during
split, by stretching his arms as far as as far as arms his stretching by split,
diver trying to indicate the length of a a of length the indicate to trying diver
came up was that of an amazed amazed an of that was up came
damage, and the first report that that report first the and damage,
underneath was quite good, and the the and good, quite was underneath
30 feet. feet. 30
depth of water for the first dive was was dive first the for water of depth
very cold and a thick film of oil oil of film thick a and cold very
running and the occasional violent violent occasional the and running
stuck to the surface. surface. the to stuck
because of the heavy swell that was was that swell heavy the of because
movement of the ship. The water was was water The ship. the of movement
decided to dive from the the from dive to decided
board. This job completed, two two completed, job This board. ditions were not very good, it was was it good, very not were ditions
concentrating on the port side. Con- side. port the on concentrating
quantity of ammunition was still on on still was ammunition of quantity
We were also told that a considerable considerable a that told also were We divers went over to locate the damage damage the locate to over went divers
boxes which contained ammunition. ammunition. contained which boxes
flooded to counteract a list to port. port. to list a counteract to flooded
job was to clear No. 2 hold of floating floating of hold 2 No. clear to was job
starboard ballast tanks had been been had tanks ballast starboard had had
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
2' X 6' 6' X 2'
Nordenfelt. Nordenfelt.
(Vertical splits) splits) (Vertical
Nordenfelt Nordenfelt
FEED FEED
TANK TANK
FUEL OIL OIL FUEL
W W
arrived in the early hours of the the of hours early the in arrived
(Hole) (Hole)
- IO -
2' X 3" 3" X 2'
rrr rrr
No. 2 2 No. HOLD HOLD
As soon as we had anchored, the the anchored, had we as soon As
We We
(flooded) (flooded)
4" 4"
boarding her we found No. 2 hold hold 2 No. found we her boarding
parties required to assist. Our first first Our assist. to required parties
that she didn't seem too bad. But on on But bad. too seem didn't she that completely flooded, and that the the that and flooded, completely
impression on going alongside, was was alongside, going on impression
lighting, radio sets, and the various various the and sets, radio lighting,
boat, which seemed to be loaded with with loaded be to seemed which boat, Damage Control equipment, pumps, pumps, equipment, Control Damage
diving team embarked in the motor motor the in embarked team diving
had managed to limp alongside the the alongside limp to managed had
everything save the Captain's sink; sink; Captain's the save everything
pretty severely. severely. pretty
and thought that she had been holed holed been had she that thought and
freed herself from her captors and and captors her from herself freed
morning, and proceeded into harbour harbour into proceeded and morning,
Naval Armament Ship Ship Armament Naval
jetty. She reported heavy flooding flooding heavy reported She jetty.
at 0700, by this time time this by 0700, at
it was not to be, the vessel was the the was vessel the be, to not was it
(Split) (Split)
18" X X 18"
HOLD HOLD
No. I I No.
13' X 2' 2' X 13'
(Many Splits) Splits) (Many
Cofferdam Cofferdam
\ SPARE / A I I A / SPARE \
Operation Nordenfelt Nordenfelt Operation
Many thought of salvage money as as money salvage of thought Many
Entering harbour on the night of of night the on harbour Entering
do positive work, on a vessel that that vessel a on work, positive do
they would be receiving per ton. But But ton. per receiving be would they had already calculated how much much how calculated already had
we steamed through the night, many many night, the through steamed we
N.A.V. NORDENFELT, showing position of damage found by Undaunted's diving diving Undaunted's by found damage of position showing NORDENFELT, N.A.V.
aground in Alderney Harbour. Harbour. Alderney in aground
We were off to sea again answering a a answering again sea to off were We
keep a night vigil as duty Destroyer, Destroyer, duty as vigil night a keep
signal to help a ship that had gone gone had that ship a help to signal hoping that it would be completed completed be would it that hoping
in name only. It lasted four minutes. minutes. four lasted It only. name in
come to anchor and made ready to to ready made and anchor to come
exercising at Portland, we had just just had we Portland, at exercising
13th January, after a long day day long a after January, 13th
14th 1964. 1964. 14th
to Undaunted's team on on January January on on team Undaunted's to
TT is not very often that a ships' ships' a that often very not is TT
severe damage. But the chance came came chance the But damage. severe
'diving team get the opportunity to to opportunity the get team 'diving has gone aground and sustained sustained and aground gone has www.mcdoa.org.uk r Diving in the Royal Australian Navy COMER SMITH & CO. HE reason you have not heard C.D.3's all going to Ship's Diving Tfrom this neck of the woods for teams. So, if you meet any of our HANTS so long is that we have been so ships, please don't expect a C.D.3 to 219 WEST STREET, FAREHA1VI, swamped with 'bumf' that most be a C.D.* — he's not — he's a man Telephone No. 2211 and 2212/2213 people have had to keep DIVING the other branches can't grab and MAGAZINE article at the bottom of that's all. INSURANCE BROKERS our things to do list. All this 'bumf' Proposed Rating Structure :— is now producing effects, both good This scheme was not as successful and bad, so the following will as was hoped. The Change over (now describe what we've done, what we completed) was not very smoothly hope to do and how we do it. executed, we ran out of working We specialise in ALL forms of Insurance for the Present C.D. Structure:— hands, and it looked as if teams and ROYAL .NAVY About four years ago it was found units would have nothing but L./ that the small C.D. Branch was losing Seamen and above. Also, how many members. This was because more recruits know what they want ? people were paying off and being Luckily, we may have been saved Business conducted only with LEADING LIFE OFFICES advanced than were being trained as by the R.A.N.s decision to ration- C.D.3's, the system of recruiting and alise •all rating training. It was felt Charging no extra for training being similar to the R.N. that some ratings learn too much The volunteers were around, but the (e.g., R.P's will now not have to do WAR RISK other branches could not (or would much seamanship) and that too much not) release them for Clearance time was spent ashore on course. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS Diving. The proposals could well have been So a new system of training was produced to pull us out of our AVIATION (other than Air Crew) introduced. Ratings were selected by dilemma. The new system will still a C.D. Officer at Recruit School and allow us to select people at Recruit and commenced C.D. course before going School but they will only do a four to sea for Ordinary Seaman Training. week course to see if they are suitable WORLD-WIDE COVER This course merely turned them into (we found that 95% of the people who Compressed Air (R.N. equivalent — failed C.D.3 course failed during the NOTE—Personnel in SUBMARINE SERVICE and NAVAL Free) Divers who had been intro- first four weeks). DIVERS can normally be placed without extra charge duced to C.D. equipment, and who, Thus the new system goes like in the opinion of the Instructor, this:— stood a good chance of becoming a Ord. C. D. — 4 weeks course. useful C.D. A.B. C.D. — 22 weeks course. SEND YOUR INSURANCE PROBLEMS AND This was called a C.D.3 course and L.S. C.D. -- no course — Fleet ratings already qualified to R.N. Board in — QUERIES TO US AND WE WILL GIVE YOU standards were up-graded one step, (a) Power of Command THE BEST ADVICE OBTAINABLE C.D.1's becoming Instructor Clear- (b) Clearance Diving. ance Divers. Thus the training P.O. C.D. — 16 weeks course. REMEMBER, IT COSTS ONLY A STAMP TO ladder became :— C.P.O. C.D. — no course — C.D.3 course-10 weeks SEEK OUR ADVICE YET IT CAN SAVE YOU A Fleet Board as for L.S. C.D. C. D.2 course-18 weeks It is felt that the total time on CONSIDERABLE SUM OVER THE YEARS C.D.1 course-11 weeks course, while less than the R.N. is I.C.D. course-10 weeks sufficient, as it cuts out duplication With this scheme, C.D'2's were and we don't have sufficient equip- the most junior ratings to be em- ment to teach all that is taught in the ployed in teams and units, with R.N. It is hoped that this will over- ICI www.mcdoa.org.uk 15
V.G. V.G.
Yours aye, 'LIMPETS'. 'LIMPETS'. aye, Yours
Tartar' Tartar'
For the whole of October we were were we October of whole the For
I'll lay aside my cares, cares, my aside lay I'll
you've had your share of Hell.' Hell.' of share your had you've
up those golden stairs, stairs, golden those up
we've had our share of hell. hell. of share our had we've and they will loudly hail, hail, loudly will they and
which I'm bound to tell, tell, to bound I'm which
is true me 'mate, 'mate, me true is you that there ain't, ain't, there that you
Finally, all the best to all the C.D.1 C.D.1 the all to best the all Finally,
P.S. — More will follow — by a a by — follow will More — P.S.
an experience to see the state on an an on state the see to experience an
there by Hurricane 'Flora'. We spent spent We 'Flora'. Hurricane by there
mediately employed in rendering aid aid rendering in employed mediately
a week at Tobago and it was quite quite was it and Tobago at week a
to Tobago after the havoc caused caused havoc the after Tobago to
hurricane guardship, and were im- were and guardship, hurricane
British territory. territory. British
`Take your rest in heaven Deeps Deeps heaven in rest your `Take
taking swipes at each other, or other other or other, each at swipes taking
Tis then the saints will welcome me me welcome will saints the then Tis But when the final pipe is sounded, sounded, is pipe final the when But
ious forms of undesirable Cubans Cubans undesirable of forms ious
time on patrol in the Southern Southern the in patrol on time
Bahamas, in an effort to prevent var- prevent to effort an in Bahamas, And take me last nights leave right right leave nights last me take And
such ungentlemanly pastimes, on on pastimes, ungentlemanly such
When we die we go to heaven 'cos 'cos heaven to go we die we When
But we divers have our consolations consolations our have divers we But
A meaner place this side of hell I bet bet I hell of side this place meaner A
Of Horsea Island I can tell and this this and tell can I Island Horsea Of
more gifted author I hope. hope. I author gifted more
millions of pounds appear to be be to appear pounds of millions
/C.D.O. class, 1/59, I wouldn't mind mind wouldn't I 1/59, class, /C.D.O.
Also, recent proposals involving involving proposals recent Also,
Divers are the cream of the crop. crop. the of cream the are Divers
favourably considered. considered. favourably
other Navy, the qualified Clearance Clearance qualified the Navy, other still being on it. it. on being still
Lament Lament
17 17
from from
Divers' Divers'
Tales Tales
appearance on the the on appearance
ARTAR'S ARTAR'S
unexpected. We left U.K. at the the at U.K. left We unexpected.
West Indies station was slightly slightly was station Indies West
left alone the pots, pots, the alone left
a million shots, shots, million a is Hell. Hell. is and shifted many a dome, dome, a many shifted and
running through my mind, mind, my through running
fingers to the bone. bone. the to fingers
swell, swell,
So now I'll put on paper what's what's paper on put I'll now So
which I have left behind, behind, left have I which
'M sitting thinking of the days days the of thinking sitting 'M
On reading back through this 1 1 this through back reading On
to the West Indies and here we stay stay we here and Indies West the to
out here we haye spent quite a lot of of lot a quite spent haye we here out Indies as our final destination early early destination final our as Indies
for our year away. Since we've been been we've Since away. year our for
in 1964. However, half-way through through half-way However, 1964. in
this exercise our programme was was programme our exercise this beginning of August to take part in a a in part take to August of beginning
N.A.T.O. exercise and then to go on on go to then and exercise N.A.T.O.
changed and we came straight out out straight came we and changed
to the Mediterranean with the West West the with Mediterranean the to
I've changed screws cleared screws, screws, cleared screws changed I've
T
I've caught my whack of lobsters, and and lobsters, of whack my caught I've
But let me tell you Jack a divers life life divers a Jack you tell me let But
I've swum a million jackstays, lifted lifted jackstays, million a swum I've
Many a sailor thinks a divers life is is life divers a thinks sailor a Many
I've found things lost things, working working things, lost things found I've
I
begin to feel depressed again. How- again. depressed feel to begin
may seem, the weather and diving diving and weather the seem, may
conditions are generally good, the the good, generally are conditions
imagined in U.K. and, as in every every in as and, U.K. in imagined
sharks are not as hungry as generally generally as hungry as not are sharks
ever things are not as bad as they they as bad as not are things ever
Commander Mine Countermeasures. Countermeasures. Mine Commander
Get all jobs away from the Sydney Sydney the from away jobs all Get A much sought after draft. draft. after sought much A area and enjoy themselves immensely. immensely. themselves enjoy and area
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
and and
Watson. Watson.
(Diving) (Diving)
Rushcutter Rushcutter
Rushcutter Rushcutter
Maintain Maintain
tools, etc. etc. tools,
generally. generally.
Run the Naval Store. Store. Naval the Run Maintain all stores, e.g. sub- e.g. stores, all Maintain
smash stores, compressed air air compressed stores, smash
Live in 110 feet M.F.V. converted converted M.F.V. feet 110 in Live
Mobile Clearance Diving Team Team Diving Clearance Mobile
Try anything from local diving diving local from anything Try
Under Research and Development Development and Research Under
Consists of I.C.D. and a C.D.2 in in C.D.2 a and I.C.D. of Consists
Consists of Surgeon Lt.-Cdr. Gray, Gray, Lt.-Cdr. Surgeon of Consists
(c) (c)
(b) (b)
(a) (a)
Do general harbour work — work harbour general Do
The next four organisations are also also are organisations four next The
role. Situated with the 16th M.S. M.S. 16th the with Situated role.
Squadron, and controlled by the the by controlled and Squadron,
for Diving and satisfactory in that that in satisfactory and Diving for
results. results.
of their trails have shown promising promising shown have trails their of
warding work and good fun. Some Some fun. good and work warding
(M.C.D.T.) :— :— (M.C.D.T.)
produced from the R.A.N's Experi- R.A.N's the from produced
mental Laboratory. Interesting re- Interesting Laboratory. mental
Unit. (U.R.D.U.):— (U.R.D.U.):— Unit.
appliances and equipment to items items to equipment and appliances
required to sign for stores, the the stores, for sign to required
ward. ward.
Assistant Training Officer steps for- steps Officer Training Assistant I.C.D. at the Army's School of of School Army's the at I.C.D.
Military Engineering some 30 miles miles 30 some Engineering Military
from Sydney. When someone is is someone When Sydney. from posal instruction is given by the the by given is instruction posal
Dreadfully lacking in equipment, but but equipment, in lacking Dreadfully
is steadily improving. Bomb Dis- Bomb improving. steadily is
two huts at H.M.A.S. H.M.A.S. at huts two
Bomb and Mine Disposals:— Disposals:— Mine and Bomb
been in being for three months. It It months. three for being in been
to diving practice. practice. diving to
one S.B.A. and three rooms, and has has and rooms, three and S.B.A. one
shows great promise as a real aid aid real a as promise great shows
School of Under Medicine:— Medicine:— Under of School
up. This party also:— also:— party This up.
Port Diving Party:— Party:— Diving Port
surveying moorings, recovery of of recovery moorings, surveying docking ships, laying, recovering and and recovering laying, ships, docking
stores and anything else that crops crops that else anything and stores
Diver) class continuously. continuously. class Diver)
work under the same person. person. same the under work
situated in H.M.A.S. H.M.A.S. in situated
and one 'Diver' (i.e. Compressed Air Air Compressed (i.e. 'Diver' one and
16 16
similar similar
55 feet feet 55
66 feet feet 66
Vernon Vernon
Watson — Watson
Rushcutter, Rushcutter,
Seal — — Seal
Otter — — Otter
Walrus — — Walrus
One Zodiac. Zodiac. One
Diving Boat Boat Diving
One R.C.C. (Saunders Roe). Roe). (Saunders R.C.C. One
Diving Boat — one workboat workboat one — Boat Diving
Use of three wharves. wharves. three of Use
boat). boat).
to 75 feet M.F.V. M.F.V. feet 75 to
Diving Boat Boat Diving
Diving Boat Boat Diving
5 miles distant). distant). miles 5
trawler. trawler.
No accommodation. (Person- accommodation. No trawler. trawler.
nel live at H.M.A.S. H.M.A.S. at live nel
(i.e., 50 feet general purpose purpose general feet 50 (i.e.,
No permanent classrooms. classrooms. permanent No
Three Offices. Offices. Three
With this we try to train up to four four to up train to try we this With
(h) (h)
(j) (j)
(g) (g) (i) (i)
(e) (e)
(d) (d) (f) (f)
(c) (c)
Situated at H.M.A.S. H.M.A.S. at Situated
(b) (b)
(a) (a)
At the moment we have 36 36 have we moment the At
So much for the 'what we've done' done' we've 'what the for much So
C.D. classes (generally two to three) three) to two (generally classes C.D.
ing facilities:— facilities:— ing Sydney Harbour, and has the follow- the has and Harbour, Sydney
With these we run the following:— following:— the run we these With
School:— School:— but not quite to 1,200 feet. feet. 1,200 to quite not but Situation:— Situation:—
C.P.2's and above and 37 C.D.3's C.D.3's 37 and above and C.P.2's
Suits, to push our limit a bit further, further, bit a limit our push to Suits,
know that we now have under trial trial under have now we that know
receive Cousteau Constant Volume Volume Constant Cousteau receive
S.S.B.A. (HOOKAH) will be pleased to to pleased be will (HOOKAH) S.S.B.A.
a new motor, vastly superior in in superior vastly motor, new a
every respect. Also, we are about to to about are we Also, respect. every
ruggedness. Those who know our our know who Those ruggedness.
beauty of this latter equipment is the the is equipment latter this of beauty
lack of maintenance required and its its and required maintenance of lack
with the addition of C.A.B.A. and and C.A.B.A. of addition the with
less, U.B.A. is what we like and use, use, and like we what is U.B.A. less,
S.S.B.A. of local manufacture. The The manufacture. local of S.S.B.A.
difficult than telephoning. Neverthe- telephoning. than difficult
and communication a little more more little a communication and
being the line of supply is a little little a is supply of line the being
longer than Portsmouth to to Portsmouth than longer
gear as the R.N., the only problem problem only the R.N., the as gear
Generally speaking we use the same same the use we speaking Generally
present scheme. scheme. present
section. Now for 'how we do it'. it'. do we 'how for Now section.
General :— :— General come the short comings of the the of comings short the come www.mcdoa.org.uk island so recently hit by a severe The first came about early September hurricane. when the ship was coming to anchor, and in the process managed to poke From Tobago we visited Trinidad, a 3 inch slit in the ships side, below THE KING SIZE CIGARETTE Carriacou, St. Kitts and Barbados. the waterline, with her anchor. The We returned to Bermuda for 14 days damage was temporarily repaired maintenance and, once again, we are with a cement box from the inside, OF I - TERNATIONAL on the Bahamas Patrol. however, this was an ideal excuse for the divers to get out the Cox's Gun Apart from normal routine type and do a proper job. Everything was diving jobs and Craw fish chasing taken smoothly and steadily, hand- SUCCESS round the coral reefs, we have had books consulted, patch measured and one or two more interesting tasks plate prepared, and down we went which are worthy of brief mention. and I took the honour of firing the
AVAILABLE IN: AMSTERDAM • ATHENS BRUSSELS • CAIRO CAPE TOWN • COLOMBO COPENHAGEN • FRANKFURT GENEVA • HONG KONG KHARTOUM • LISBON LONDON • MONTREAL MUNICH • NAIROBI • NEW YORK OSLO • PARIS • SALISBURY L.I'vo SINGAPORE • STOCKHOLM SYDNEY • WELLINGTON AND IN MORE THAN 800 OTHER LEADING FILTER KINGS CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHNT THE WORLD
STATE EXPRESS-THE BEST CIGARETTES IN THE WORLDwww.mcdoa.org.uk 19
(D.P. R. LERM1TTE). LERM1TTE). R. (D.P.
I personally have have personally I
The present Free Divers will auto- will Divers Free present The
For those interested in facts and and facts in interested those For
Out here, in the West Indies, Indies, West the in here, Out
matically become Ship's Diver, while while Diver, Ship's become matically
Diver Officers. Officers. Diver
Officers will be known as Ship's Ship's as known be will Officers
new diving rate namely Ship's Divers. Divers. Ship's namely rate diving new
this means the introduction of the the of introduction the means this
Divers (S.W.D.) and the Free Divers Divers Free the and (S.W.D.) Divers
M.(E) McCullock (S.W.D's.) (S.W.D's.) McCullock M.(E)
(F.D.) have had to be amalgamated; amalgamated; be to had have (F.D.)
Falklner. M.(E) Dear, (F.D.'s) and and (F.D.'s) Dear, M.(E) Falklner.
Hodgins (C.D.*), P.O. Roberts, L.S. L.S. Roberts, P.O. (C.D.*), Hodgins
Herman, R.M. (S.W.D.O.), A.B. A.B. (S.W.D.O.), R.M. Herman,
C.O.A. Cornell, A.B. Tucker and and Tucker A.B. Cornell, C.O.A.
this part of the world where con- where world the of part this of Lt.-Cdr. Lermitte (C.D.O.), Lt. Lt. (C.D.O.), Lermitte Lt.-Cdr. of
those of us who have only dived in in dived only have who us of those
head for the nearest 'boozer'. No, No, 'boozer'. nearest the for head
ditions are really excellent. excellent. really are ditions
fellow rogues, the ship's team consists consists team ship's the rogues, fellow
figures and keeping tabs on their their on tabs keeping and figures
the U.K. up till now to come out to to out come to now till up U.K. the
tendency is to scrub round diving and and diving round scrub to is tendency
to say, if the visibility and temper- and visibility the if say, to seriously it is quite a revelation for for revelation a quite is it seriously
divers apply the 70/70 rule — that is is that — rule 70/70 the apply divers
arture fall below these figures the the figures these below fall arture
100 lbs. — none of us have the the have us of none — lbs. 100
slightest desire to meet 'Big Brother'. Brother'. 'Big meet to desire slightest
it with. His big brothers grow up to to up grow brothers big His with. it
little jaws at anything I cared to prod prod to cared I anything at jaws little
9 feet long and must weight 80 to to 80 weight must and long feet 9
ground and snapped its viscious viscious its snapped and ground
only about 15 inches long and was was and long inches 15 about only
alarmed to see how it stood its its stood it how see to alarmed
teased and tickled up a baby moray moray baby a up tickled and teased
little more active in their movements, movements, their in active more little They are as curious as the lobster, a a lobster, the as curious as are They
ticularly when poking around coral coral around poking when ticularly
we have been fortunate in not meeting meeting not in fortunate been have we not as tasty to eat. One terror of the the of terror One eat. to tasty as not
crevises, is the Moray eel, and here here and eel, Moray the is crevises,
any 'big-uns'. 'big-uns'. any deep to be constantly aware of, par- of, aware constantly be to deep
where the coral meets the seabed. seabed. the meets coral the where
21 21
The obstruction obstruction The
Introduction of New Diving Rate Rate Diving New of Introduction
Navy with the emphasis on the the on emphasis the with Navy
how being used in the Royal Royal the in used being how
UE to modern diving equipment equipment diving modern to UE
No article from tropical climes is is climes tropical from article No
Finally, whilst at Bermuda in in Bermuda at whilst Finally,
pressed air breathing sets, the need need the sets, breathing air pressed
has arisen for a structional change in in change structional a for arisen has
D
the diving training programmes used used programmes training diving the
in the R.N. The Shallow Water Water Shallow The R.N. the in
their English Lobbie oppos, hang hang oppos, Lobbie English their
change-over from oxygen to com- to oxygen from change-over
out in the deep crevices and shelves shelves and crevices deep the in out
leer on their faces, seem to keep their their keep to seem faces, their on leer
water tale to surpass all others ever ever others all surpass to tale water distance. Our own prey amongst the the amongst prey own Our distance.
ment no one has seen a shark whilst whilst shark a seen has one no ment
really complete without an under- an without complete really
told, but we are going to disappoint disappoint to going are we but told,
with suspicion. To our disappoint- our To suspicion. with
and only a few barracuda have been been have barracuda few a only and
coral reefs are crawfish which, like like which, crawfish are reefs coral
under water (most sharks out here here out sharks (most water under are met on land, milking tourists) tourists) milking land, on met are
building (only 70 yards away) would would away) yards 70 (only building
spotted and these, despite the evil evil the despite these, and spotted
you and warn you to view such tales tales such view to you warn and you
but in all probability the terminal terminal the probability all in but
big blow would have done just as well well as just done have would blow big
now be roofless. roofless. be now
three 14 oz. charges in each. One One each. in charges oz. 14 three
was destroyed after three blows of of blows three after destroyed was responsibility for any damage to to damage any for responsibility pipe sewage old an be to out turned
by Bermuda Airways accepting full full accepting Airways Bermuda by
at an angle out of the sea bed and it it and bed sea the of out angle an at
property or personnel in the vicinity vicinity the in personnel or property of the airport. airport. the of
some 18 inch in diameter sticking up up sticking diameter in inch 18 some
building. Work began once we were were we once began Work building.
in possession of a chit of paper signed signed paper of chit a of possession in
November we were called upon to do do to upon called were we November was hindering Bermuda Airways in in Airways Bermuda hindering was
parking their seaplane at its landing landing its at seaplane their parking
ied. ied.
stage close to the civil air terminal terminal air civil the to close stage
for inspection and the defect remed- defect the and inspection for
a small underwater demolitions job. job. demolitions underwater small a An obstruction some 30 feet off shore shore off feet 30 some obstruction An Ir Ir
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
The next job brought us back to to back us brought job next The
raft to come hard up on the ships ships the on up hard come to raft
bottom and effecting a good seal. seal. good a effecting and bottom
bilges, sea water pressure causing the the causing pressure water sea bilges,
the water in the trunk away into the the into away trunk the in water the
raft of 2 inch thick planks of a size size a of planks thick inch 2 of raft
The engineers were thus able to drain drain to able thus were engineers The
4 feet x 3 feet, Secured to it on on it to Secured feet, 3 x feet 4
side of the raft, and the whole con- whole the and raft, the of side
manoevered by divers so that the the that so divers by manoevered
diameter than the outlet hole. Two Two hole. outlet the than diameter traption was then keel-hauled and and keel-hauled then was traption
The valve box was then opened up up opened then was box valve The
canvas hose surrounded the outlet outlet the surrounded hose canvas
one side was an oakum stuffed stuffed oakum an was side one
hole and the raft acted as a blank. blank. a as acted raft the and hole
phase was to make a stout wooden wooden stout a make to was phase lines were passed under the ship and and ship the under passed were lines
secured to the two wire guys on one one on guys wire two the to secured
canvas hose laid in a circle of greater greater of circle a in laid hose canvas
further light on the matter. The next next The matter. the on light further
carried out but failed to throw any any throw to failed but out carried
Valve. Inspection by divers was was divers by Inspection Valve.
engineers found they were unable to to unable were they found engineers
close the Main Circulation Outlet Outlet Circulation Main the close
work under the ship again. The The again. ship the under work
respecting Naval Diver squirm with with squirm Diver Naval respecting
task just completed in the two days days two the in completed just task
ironed out reasonably well and the the and well reasonably out ironed
disgust, however, the matter was was matter the however, disgust,
available to us. us. to available
uation is enough to make any self self any make to enough is uation
use of our gear and in the process was was process the in and gear our of use
of our goodwill. This sort of sit- of sort This goodwill. our of
earning about £70 per day on account account on day per £70 about earning
underwater world arrived over with with over arrived world underwater
expected to have a free hand in the the in hand free a have to expected little equipment and no diving boat, boat, diving no and equipment little
to do the job. This stalwart of the the of stalwart This job. the do to
diver and divers mate from Trinidad Trinidad from mate divers and diver
concerned had contracted their own own their contracted had concerned
prived of one of its most vital com- vital most its of one of prived
modities. However, it had civilian civilian had it However, modities.
complications in that the oil company. company. oil the that in complications
that the island would not be de- be not would island the that
that this job should be completed so so completed be should job this that
pipeline through which the tanker tanker the which through pipeline
storage tanks. It was most important important most was It tanks. storage
discharges its oil to the shore shore the to oil its discharges
60 feet length of flexible underwater underwater flexible of length feet 60
used by the monthly tanker that calls calls that tanker monthly the by used
at the island. Also, turning end for a a for end turning Also, island. the at
o o
Z
Our next out of the ordinary job job ordinary the of out next Our
There appears to be no written written no be to appears There
A firm thrust, a sharp crack, the the crack, sharp a thrust, firm A
time involved replacing two large large two replacing involved time
was at Tabago, where half the team team the half where Tabago, at was proud only between 1/ inch to 11 11 to inch 1/ between only proud
to British Guiana to collect tents for for tents collect to Guiana British to might be the higher cordite temp- cordite higher the be might
two days whilst the ship went down down went ship the whilst days two
inch. One possible cause for this this for cause possible One inch.
the Tobagan homeless. The job this this job The homeless. Tobagan the
diving equipment went ashore for for ashore went equipment diving this part of the world. world. the of part this
arature of the bolt ammunition in in ammunition bolt the of arature
armed with the ships whaler full of of full whaler ships the with armed
up a slight inward curve to fit the the fit to curve inward slight a up
thick, and the plate having to take take to having plate the and thick,
shackles in the two buoy moorings moorings buoy two the in shackles
2i inch for the fired bolt was not so, so, not was bolt fired the for inch 2i
all the bolts that we fired stood stood fired we that bolts the all
thick, the rubber insertion / inch inch / insertion rubber the thick,
holes in the patch plate. We used a a used We plate. patch the in holes
ships side. The expected stand of of stand expected The side. ships
satisfactory, the plate being 3/16 inch inch 3/16 being plate the satisfactory,
guidance on the spacing of the bolt bolt the of spacing the on guidance
hints might not be amiss:— amiss:— be not might hints
spacing of 3 inch which seems to be be to seems which inch 3 of spacing
confronted by a similar task a few few a task similar a by confronted
completed. For those that may be be may that those For completed.
without further incident, nuts tight- nuts incident, further without
ened up, and the job satisfactorily satisfactorily job the and up, ened
next bolt was fired. However, all was was all However, fired. was bolt next
bolt charge available, it was with with was it available, charge bolt
well and the remaining 20 bolts fired fired bolts 20 remaining the and well
some fear and trepidation that the the that trepidation and fear some
as we were already using the weakest weakest the using already were we as
be pushed through from inside the the inside from through pushed be
ship. The plate was hung on this and, and, this on hung was plate The ship. Roberts was left down there doing doing there down left was Roberts
provision for a conventional bolt to to bolt conventional a for provision
returned to the surface and made made and surface the to returned
the classics 'Dutchman's act' whilst I I whilst act' 'Dutchman's classics the
removed from the ship's side — lo lo — side ship's the from removed
straight through the plating! P.O. P.O. plating! the through straight
and behold a neat round hole hole round neat a behold and
first bolt fired and when the gun was was gun the when and fired bolt first
had to be fired so that they were clear clear were they that so fired be to had
of it. it. of
occurred on a frame and the bolts bolts the and frame a on occurred
had to be carefully taken as the split split the as taken carefully be to had first 'locating' bolt. Measurements Measurements bolt. 'locating' first www.mcdoa.org.uk
the Shallow Water Diver will do a Equipment) to a depth of 120 feet. two-week conversion at one of the They will have a thorough knowledge various diving schools. Shallow of ship's bottom searches, diving Water Divers changing over to the regulations, lifesaving, Diving mec- new rate, check in accordance with hanics physiology and illnesses, they A.F.O. 64/64. will also have an elementary know- The training for the new rate will ledge of ship's underwater fittings, consist of a four-week course at any Sonar dome and propeller changing. of the main diving schools. On The Ship's Divers badge will be completion of the course, Ship's the same motif of divers helmet, as Divers will be qualified to use on the F.D. and S.W.D. badge but S.A.B.A. (Swimmers Air Breathing without the letters under it. Apparatus) to a depth of 60 feet and Applications should be made in S.D.D.E. (Surface Demand Diving accordance with A.F.O. 68/64. Sub-Aqua Clubs URING the past ten years ranean much fun can be had in the U underwater exploration as a various known fishing grounds, and science and a sport has become many Clubs travel great distances to exceedingly popular in Great Britain. dive in these waters. Proof of this can be seen in the in- The third character is the 'col- creasing number of Sub-Aqua Clubs lector', he is the fellow who always BRICKWOODS shooting up in our towns and cities. knows the current resale price of These Clubs are not restricted to our brass and copper and can always be coast towns for there are many well relied upon to have an anchor of GOLF FOOTBALL SQUASH HOCKEY FENCING supported Clubs far inland. There some shape or size lying around. are in fact an increasing number of Service Clubs, the main Naval These three and their counterparts, Tel. PORTSMOUTH 20611 FISHING organizatign being the 'Naval Air (combined of course with the indi- CRICKET Command Sub-Aqua Club' run viduals and all rounders), are the from H.M.S. Ariel and having a basis of any Sub-Aqua Club. I have Sportsmen shop at purposely left till last the devoted BOXING number of branches, ashore and INDOOR afloat. men and women who do the organ- GAMES THE SOUTHERN I have found that you can usually ising of these Clubs, they may -be place these Sub-Aqua divers in three explorers, hunters or collectors but BOWLING fundamentaly they have progressive SPORTS ,r categories. One is the explorer, this WEIGHT is the fellow who dons his camera at diving at heart and without them TRAINING these Clubs would not exist. CAMPING weekends and when not clicking SHOP away underwater, is to be found A word now on what a new mem- amongst the marine biology books in ber may expect on joining a Sub- ATHLETICS Personal attention the local reference library. He is the Aqua Club. 48 ELM GROVE FIRE ARMS from ardent and dedicated sort, a great Firstly a nominal fee will be asset to any club. Peter Anderson SOUTHSEA charged and a list of rules given JUDO The second is the spear fisher or which must be obeyed. A fairly high Ken Edwards HANTS TENNIS hunter,' these are the really keen standard of fitness is required for the sportsmen and women of the Clubs. series of tests you will have to under- BADMINTON RUGBY UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT Although the fishing areas around go prior to using the Clubs equip- our coast do not compare with ment; for example to become a com- places like the Red Sea or Mediter- petant Snorkle diver there are four 22 www.mcdoa.org.uk 23
and the bathyscape crew crew bathyscape the and
There are two reasons why this this why reasons two are There
Laboratory tests on model sub- model on tests Laboratory
The bathyscape Trieste then came came then Trieste bathyscape The
might be so. First the streamlined streamlined the First so. be might
craft could have reached a speed of of speed a reached have could craft
Nevertheless, it has not yet been been yet not has it Nevertheless,
found. found.
marines suggest that although the the although that suggest marines should have remained in one piece, piece, one in remained have should
some of the gear from inside, it it inside, from gear the of some
hull may have burst, thus releasing releasing thus burst, have may hull
the area and the matter was clinched clinched was matter the and area the
points on the sea-bed. A quarter of a a of quarter A sea-bed. the on points
million photographs were taken of of taken were photographs million when pieces of wreckage were indent- were wreckage of pieces when
of markers which had been dropped dropped been had which markers of
from a surface vessel at precise precise at vessel surface a from
accurately with the aid of a pattern pattern a of aid the with accurately
ified as coming from the nuclear nuclear the from coming as ified submarine, some from inside and and inside from some submarine,
some from the conning tower. tower. conning the from some
was able to 'fix' the position of this this of position the 'fix' to able was
over an area which was said to look look to said was which area an over
places for the resting place of the the of place resting the for places
hull, during which time she passed passed she time which during hull,
like a junk yard. It was almost almost was It yard. junk a like certainly debris from the ill-fated ill-fated the from debris certainly
Thresher; Thresher;
hours she surveyed the most likely likely most the surveyed she hours
into the picture. Diving for two two for Diving picture. the into
25 25
and and
Thresher, Thresher,
Thresher's Thresher's
Thresher Thresher
was the most most the was
seems, sadly, to be one one be to sadly, seems,
Thresher Thresher
Lessons of the 'Thresher' Search Search 'Thresher' the of Lessons
Thresher Thresher
The fir's't move was to assemble as as assemble to was move fir's't The
lHE loss in April last year of the the of year last April in loss lHE
The underwater topography was was topography underwater The
With typical thoroughness, the the thoroughness, typical With
I United States nuclear Submarine Submarine nuclear States United I
kind used only aboard aboard only used kind one other craft. craft. other one
was able to dredge up '0' rings of a a of rings '0' up dredge to able was
vessel which carried the magnometer magnometer the carried which vessel
made positive indentification of the the of indentification positive made
indication was found and the surface surface the and found was indication
mass of metal could be distinguished distinguished be could metal of mass
its own magnetic field. Such an an Such field. magnetic own its
from surrounding rocks by means of of means by rocks surrounding from by adapting a magnometer for deep deep for magnometer a adapting by
means of precision depth soundings. soundings. depth precision of means very difficult. A way out was found found was out way A difficult. very
water purposes, so that any large large any that so purposes, water
provided a focal point for a ten mile mile ten a for point focal a provided
`bump' which could be be could which `bump'
Naval Research, who was in control control in was who Research, Naval
found to be extremely rugged, which which rugged, extremely be to found
Equipment Research Society by Dr. Dr. by Society Research Equipment
many Naval and Oceanographic Oceanographic and Naval many
The sea bottom was surveyed by by surveyed was bottom sea The
foundland and east of Cape Cod. Cod. Cape of east and foundland
approximate position when last heard heard last when position approximate
square search area south of New- of south area search square
A. T. Maxwell of the U.S. Office of of Office U.S. the of Maxwell T. A. from by the surface vessels. This This vessels. surface the by from
of the technical aspects of the search. search. the of aspects technical the of
ships as possible around around possible as ships
recent meeting of the Undersea Undersea the of meeting recent
the subject of a lecture given at a a at given lecture a of subject the
The various steps in the process were were process the in steps various The Americans set about finding out. out. finding about set Americans
these were paramount questions. questions. paramount were these
was she and what happened to her ? ? her to happened what and she was
appearance was alarming. Where Where alarming. was appearance her sudden and unexpected dis- unexpected and sudden her
fore an important factor in U.S. U.S. in factor important an fore
strategic thinking. For this reason reason this For thinking. strategic
modern of those hunter craft, de- craft, hunter those of modern
and destroy them, and she was there- was she and them, destroy and
tradegy. tradegy.
signed to seek out enemy submarines submarines enemy out seek to signed
profits at the expense of human human of expense the at profits
of the happenings from which science science which from happenings the of
/1/ /1/
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
V.G. V.G.
City of Waterford Waterford of City
Dong ? ? Dong
M. (E) Hessleton, S.W.D. S.W.D. Hessleton, (E) M.
P.O. E. L. Crook, F.D. F.D. Crook, L. E. P.O. A.B. Hill, S.W.D. S.W.D. Hill, A.B.
S.-Lieut. Litchfield, S.W.D.O. S.W.D.O. Litchfield, S.-Lieut.
S.-Lieut. Percival, S.W.D.O. S.W.D.O. Percival, S.-Lieut.
Ding Ding
Cdr. D. W. Brown, S.W.D.O. S.W.D.O. Brown, W. D. Cdr.
Ship's Team :— :— Team Ship's
The Editor of this Magazine will will Magazine this of Editor The
If you are not looking for fame fame for looking not are you If
FOOTNOTE :—Board of Trade Regu- Trade of :—Board FOOTNOTE
had to find a replacement before before replacement a find to had
sailing. sailing.
without a bell; it is required for fog fog for required is it bell; a without
signals, etc. The The etc. signals,
lations do not allow a ship to proceed proceed to ship a allow not do lations
unrewarded, and the bell remained remained bell the and unrewarded,
mud bound. bound. mud
unfortunately their hard work went went work hard their unfortunately
wish to join. join. to wish
nearest branch to anyone who may may who anyone to branch nearest
respect. respect.
furnish details and the address of the the of address the and details furnish
have a great deal to offer in this this in offer to deal great a have
gain friends who share a mutual mutual a share who friends gain
these are the Clubs to join, for they they for join, to Clubs the are these
and glory and all you require is to to is require you all and glory and
interest in underwater activities, activities, underwater in interest
which will be held in Corsica. Corsica. in held be will which
placing in the 1965 championships, championships, 1965 the in placing
they are making plans for a better better a for plans making are they
were competing against the cream of of cream the against competing were
the World's spear fishermen, this this fishermen, spear World's the was only a trial run for them, and and them, for run trial a only was
was not a bad effort. In fact, Brazil Brazil fact, In effort. bad a not was
was of British waters, and that they they that and waters, British of was
of 13 teams, but when you consider consider you when but teams, 13 of
that their only previous experience experience previous only their that
tunately they only came eleventh out out eleventh came only they tunately
Championship in Brazil. Unfor- Brazil. in Championship
year the B.S.A.C. entered a team of of team a entered B.S.A.C. the year five for the World Spear-fishing Spear-fishing World the for five
petition even this is possible, for last last for possible, is this even petition
bitions are as high as world com- world as high as are bitions
being snorkle fishing; if your am- your if fishing; snorkle being
for competitive sport, this usually usually this sport, competitive for
ends. There are also opportunities opportunities also are There ends.
24 24
berthed berthed
were asked to to asked were
Cavendish Cavendish
City of Waterford Waterford of City
Who Found the the Found Who
U RING a recent courtesy visit visit courtesy recent a RING U
to Cork, the Diving Team of of Team Diving the Cork, to
H.M.S. H.M.S.
The search lasted about 3/ hours, hours, 3/ about lasted search The
The Captain, Commander D. W. W. D. Commander Captain, The
Many excursions are planned to to planned are excursions Many
Group D is the open water test test water open the is D Group
In groups B and C — fins, face- fins, — C and B groups In
Brown mustered his warriors and and warriors his mustered Brown
to about 4 to 5 feet of mud, so after a a after so mud, of feet 5 to 4 about to
murky depths. Visability was nil due due nil was Visability depths. murky
taking first dip he plunged into the the into plunged he dip first taking
futile attempt in fins, boots were the the were boots fins, in attempt futile recover a Ship's bell lost over the side side the over lost bell Ship's a recover
dress of the day. day. the of dress
was put at £15, weight approximately approximately weight £15, at put was
25 lbs. lbs. 25
from the the from
at Albert Quay. The value of the bell bell the of value The Quay. Albert at
D
Pub back room will probably be be probably will room back Pub
boasts a club house, there will be be will there house, club a boasts existence a member's own home or a a or home own member's a existence
used. used.
of interest, if a club house is not in in not is house club a if interest, of
throughout the year, mainly at week- week- at mainly year, the throughout
fishing areas and places of interest interest of places and areas fishing
rated Snorkle Diver. On various various On Diver. Snorkle rated
lectures, film shows and other items items other and shows film lectures,
ination. The pupil may then be be then may pupil The ination.
and includes swimming 500 yards, yards, 500 swimming includes and
injured diver drill and an oral exam- oral an and drill diver injured recovery of drowning person. person. drowning of recovery
diving 20 feet, more rescue of of rescue more feet, 20 diving evenings of the week, if the Club Club the if week, the of evenings
masks and snorkle-tube play a part, part, a play snorkle-tube and masks
to recover six objects from the deep deep the from objects six recover to so does artificial respiration and and respiration artificial does so
minute with hands above head, then then head, above hands with minute
end of the training pool. pool. training the of end
belt, after, five minutes floating on on floating minutes five after, belt,
50 yards wearing a 10 pound weight weight pound 10 a wearing yards 50 your back, treading water for one one for water treading back, your
tests, A, B, C & D group. 'A' consist consist 'A' group. D & C B, A, tests,
of swimming (no fins) 100 yards, yards, 100 fins) (no swimming of swimming 50 yards on back and then then and back on yards 50 swimming
will arise again and and again arise will
Thresher Thresher
Reproduced by kind permission of of permission kind by Reproduced
The result is, therefore, that that therefore, is, result The
of turning it to the needs of man. man. of needs the to it turning of
and therefore, ultimately the means means the ultimately therefore, and
Triton. Triton.
complete understanding of the oceans oceans the of understanding complete
rapidly bring to science a more more a science to bring rapidly
before new tools and techniques are are techniques and tools new before
developed which must inevitably and and inevitably must which developed
millions of dollars have been poured poured been have dollars of millions will now go into the necessary necessary the into go now will
sort of backing, it will not be long long be not will it backing, of sort
into the search and further huge sums sums huge further and search the into oceangraphic research. With this this With research. oceangraphic
truly learned. learned. truly
and the lessons have been well and and well been have lessons the and
there might be, after all, lurking lurking all, after be, might there
enemy submarines which must be be must which submarines enemy detected. The Americans know it, it, know Americans The detected.
problems encountered in the search search the in encountered problems
again; if not in the same context, context, same the in not if again;
precisely the same spot on the surface surface the on spot same the precisely
for the the for
or bottom is sadly lacking. The The lacking. sadly is bottom or
Again, navigational equipment which which equipment navigational Again,
will allow a mariner to return to to return to mariner a allow will
27 27
although the latter will be be will latter the although
The fact is that the search has has search the that is fact The
How then has science benefitted benefitted science has then How
The search has now been halted halted been now has search The
proved that there is no really reliable reliable really no is there that proved
sunken object in really deep waters. waters. deep really in object sunken equipment for pin-pointing a large large a pin-pointing for equipment
from the loss of the vessel and the the and vessel the of loss the from
deaths of 129 men ? ? men 129 of deaths
work are being developed. developed. being are work
navigational aids for the underwater underwater the for aids navigational
refitted and streamlined to give her her give to streamlined and refitted
greater speed. At the same time, time, same the At speed. greater
in the spring when new equipment equipment new when spring the in
for the winter, but will begin again again begin will but winter, the for
from the surface vessels. vessels. surface the from faster and more manoeuvrable than than manoeuvrable more and faster
Trieste, Trieste,
will be used. This will include a new new a include will This used. be will
deep diving vessel which will be be will which vessel diving deep
bottom at something over 8,000 8,000 over something at bottom
of the crew of the Trieste and the the and Trieste the of crew the of
150 knots by the time she hit the the hit she time the by knots 150
could easily have escaped the notice notice the escaped have easily could in relation to the search area and and area search the to relation in
eye of the automatic cameras lowered lowered cameras automatic the of eye feet: second she is a very small object object small very a is she second feet:
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
Bernard Bulletin. Bulletin. Bernard
26 26
Reproduced by permission of M.G.M. and and M.G.M. of permission by Reproduced Connie Francis, starring in M.G.M's 'Follow the Boys'. Boys'. the 'Follow M.G.M's in starring Francis, Connie www.mcdoa.org.uk Emergency Resuscitation by Surg. Cmdr. J. M. HANSON, L.M.S.F.A. -F:VERYONE connected with (1) Wipe round inside of casualty's r Iunderwater activities should be mouth very quickly with finger, CONROY LEWIS LTD familiar with the principals and to remove any debris. practice of emergency resuscitation (2) Working from the side with the SURVEYS CRAFT which includes all forms of artificial patient on his back, place one respiration and extreme cardiac mas- hand flat on the head pressing AVAILABLE sage. it backwards, and the other CUTTING under the chin, pushing the jaw FITTED WITH As far as artificial respiration is BLASTING concerned the scope of this article upwards, and forwards. This RADAR, allows only the positive pressure of will produce what is known as WELDING Expired Air to be discussed. How- the 'Sword Swallowers' posit- ECHO SOUNDING ever, it must be remembered that in ion. CONSTRUCTION cases of severe injury to the face, par- (3) The operator then takes a deep COMPRESSORS ticularly burns, one of the manual breath places his mouth over DEMOLITION ETC. methods, i.e. Holger Neilson or the patients mouth and at the Silvester, must be used. same time pinches his nostrils, MAINTENANCE 24 HR. SERVICE and blows into his lungs. It has now been generally accepted Movement of the chest will that expired air resuscitation is the UNDERWATER TELEVISION SERVICE confirm that air is reaching the method of choice because it has lungs. If not, the position of almost all the qualities of the ideal the head is adjusted as neces- method which aims :— sary and the manoeuvre re- (a) To give the maximum venti- peated. DIVING CONTRACTORS lation of the lungs possible (4) The operator then raises his under the circumstances. head clear of the patient's face, (b) To be easily and effectively turns his head to watch the applied in awkward positions chest falling, meanwhile re- WORK CARRIED OUT IN or situations such as being in a filling his own lungs and the small boat, compartment or procedure is repeated. A ANY PART OF THE WORLD still in the water. regular rhythm is thereby .in- (c) Not to demand abnormal phy- stituted and should be con- TELEPHONES sical effort on behalf of the tinued until natural breathing operator and can be applied by is restored, or life pronounced OFFICE WORKS EMERGENCY children. to be extinct. When natural 28106 56578 Bursledon 780 (d) Not to require any gadgets or breathing has been restored, apparatus. turn the patient on his side in case he vomits. CABLES The only cloud on the horizon is that of terminology. The method has If mouth to nose is preferred or ROYLEWSALV indeed warranted due to convulsion 0 a variety of names ranging from the SOUTHAMPTON dramatic 'Kiss of Life' to the rather or spasm closing the mouth, 'exactly mundane 'Mouth to Mouth'. How- the same procedure is adopted, but ever, the International Convention of the operator's mouth is now sealed 15, 16 & 17 ST. MARY'S STREET Life-Saving Techniques of 1960 ag- over the patients nose instead of his reed to use the term Expired Air mouth. SOUTHAMPTON Resuscitation which covers the mouth There are some obvious questions to mouth and mouth to nose methods. which require answers:— Now to technique and sequence of (1) Can the patient's lungs be over the operation:— inflated ? Virtually no, but care www.mcdoa.org.uk 28 29
www.mcdoa.org.uk obviously must be taken with action is to commence inflating while children and infants. simultaneously positioning the head (2) What is the danger of infect- and lower jaw to ensure an adequate ion ? Virtually none. Nothing airway and the secret here is extreme is inhaled from the patient, and extension of the head. there is no more risk of in- External Cardiac Massage fection than there is in a passionate kiss ! After about a dozen or so breaths, if it becomes apparent that there is no (3) Should anything be done about change in the patient's condition, water in the lungs ? As very such as colour change of the face or little water escapes from the lips, it must then be ascertained small air passages and air sacs, whether in fact the heart is beating. and endeavour to drain the Feel for the pulse in the neck, i.e. patient does not warrant the the carotid pressure point. If this is delay it might cause in begin- absent External Cardiac Massage ning inflation. must be started. The idea is to com- (4) What happens if the patient press the heart between the breast starts to vomit ? This rarely bone and the spinal column. occurs and is very unlikely to Working from the side of the happen when a patient is patient, place the flat of the hand on deeply unconscious. However, the lower half of the breast bone and if it does occur the head should cover it with the second at an angle. be turned to one side.. After- Then apply about eight sharp presses wards the face should be after each inflation. wiped clean, free airway estab- lished, and inflation re-com- If there are two people present menced. then one can carry out the massage after 'the inflation by the other. (5) Should oxygen be administered There are, of course, dangers in if available ? Only if there is a using this manoeuvre and the oper- trained operator present, and ator must use a commonsense pres- the oxygen is pure — mixtures sure in relation to the physique of must not be used. The admin- the casualty. istration should be stopped as The diver is wearing an Under- Dunlop have for many years produced Finally there is an excellent Admir- water Swimmer's Dress made soon as normal breathing has been established. alty Film on Emergency Resusitation from rubber-proofed crimped various types of underwater equipment which every diver should have seen knitted nylon, and is using It must always be clearly under- or make a point of seeing at the SABA (Swimmer's Air Breath- earliest opportunity, and Surgeon ing Apparatus). for the Admiralty, playing a leading part stood that the vital need is to inflate the lungs, and delay, fiddling about, Captain Mile's book, 'Underwater The suit is manufactured by in the design and development of even for a few seconds may, prove Medicine', is strongly recommended Dunlop General Rubber Goods fatal. Therefore, the immediate for those wishing to probe further. Division of Manchester, and the breathing equipment by apparatus for different specialized Dunlop Aviation Division of Coventry. branches of underwater operations. News from H.M.S. 'Messina' ITTLE is heard from divers H.M.S. Messina is an L.S.T. l 4operating in and around the far (Landing Ship Tanks), one of three distant Persian Gulf, so here, to working in the Middle East with their DUNLOP bring everybody abreast of the times, support groups. Her divers carry are a few words from one of the out the routine tasks of foul screws, teams out there. blocked inlets, etc., and are contin- CFH/AV/24 30 www.mcdoa.org.uk 31 www.mcdoa.org.uk uously called upon to inspect the get away from the ship and enjoy ships bottom which has in her time the fabulous diving to be had out Annual Divers Dinner and Dance taken quite a pounding on the here, one place in particular is off various beaches. an Island called Sir, Abu Nuair. The ANY letters are received in this of H.M.S. Vernon, Captain D. M. H. One recent job, which lasted three sea-bed around the island is a mass Moffice asking the whereabouts Stobie, D.S.C. Lt.-Cdr. McLanachan days, was the search for a strong- of colour, the coral formation and of old team and ship-mates. (Mr. Mac. retired) was then hauled to back of the bow doors. We were at fish there leave one speechless. Any- We try to help as much as possible his feet and the joke he told will be Bahrein at the time and it was way who wants to speak to fish. but surely the best medium (for those repeated for many a year to come. eventually found by using a pro- Our Team is :— living in U.K.) is the Divers Dinner After the dinner (all wine having gressive grid search. The Captain held at Kimbells, Southsea each year, been consumed) members wasted no Lt.-Cdr. Parker, C.D.O. usually early December. gave us his thanks and his parting Lieut. Wykeham, S.W.D.O. time in filling the bar. The thirst of words were, 'I'm sure they knew L./Sea. Pickering, F.D. Last year's Dinner was a typical divers has always been something to where it was all the time'. A.B. Willson, C.D. example of the union between the be reckoned with, and the number- Another interesting job carried A.B. Kester, S.W.D. old and the contempory divers. The less barmen were kept busy till they out by us was on H.M.S. Redoubt. A.B. Sheldon, S.W.D. photograph depicts several char- closed the bar at midnight. A certain She had damaged her rudder during acters who have kept in touch J. E. H. (who wishes to remain When this article goes to print we throughout the years, these and many anonymous) decided that the talk was a beach landing and called upon our will be donning our 'dry suits', for team to change it, this was success- others were household names in the getting boring, so with glass in hand after eight months in the Sunny Gulf 1930 and 40's, and our thanks go out (empty) promptly fell asleep. fully accomplished. On her next with sea water temperatures reaching beaching she knocked the other to them for their support throughout In conclusion, many thanks to Lt. the 90's we are leaving and going to the years. At the 1963 Dinner, J. J. Parry for his organisation and rudder off so we had a further Gibraltar for a while, where we are nights work fitting a new one. speeches were kept to a minimum. the forebearance of the Kimbells told the water temperature is 45 Lt.-Cdr. Checksfield made the open- Corner House, which made the When time permits we manage to degrees. Parting thought, Brrrrr ! ing address, followed by the Captain success of this dinner possible.
Promotions and Advancements To Chief Petty Officer: J. Semple, C.D.1 To Acting Petty Officer: A. Rose G. W. Martin To C.D. *: D. U. Williams Act. L./Sea. Peters, C. A. R. D. W. Audoire A.B. Docherty, A. P. L. Fisher A.B. Cooper, D. To C.D.1: A.B. Harpley, C. A./P.O. Rose, A. Stwd. Young, R. A./P.O. Sharpe, L. Act. L./Sea. Pastides, M. A./P.O. Adam, R. M. A.B. Mantanle, T. L./Sea. Smith, D. L. A.B. Crawford, B. L./Sea. Lockwood, D. R.O.2. Brown, D. R.O.2. Leishman, H. R. To C.D. 2: A.B. Malham, K. J. P.O. Roberts, J. P. A.B. Altoft, R. A./P.O. Shennan, K. A.B. Stephens, J. R. L./Sea. Fegan, J. F. A.B. Thatcher, T. Act. L./Sea. Thomas, W. A.B. Revels, J. B. 32 33 www.mcdoa.org.uk the
R.N.
at a 'cracking'
Vernon
NAVAL NEWS SUMMARY.
Let me explain; the original 82
Lt.Cdr. David Burstall,
Drilling was held up in the mid-
markers should turn them around for the return journey. Alas no markers,
this time, along the front to where the pace; down towards Clarence Pier
they trotted, spreading out a little by
starters left
to take up drilling and the drillers
`This was an extremely interesting wish to qualify as divers.' before encountered. It was most the Americans from Zapata was of Fleet Clearance Diving Officer, re- properly finished, and working with
the British, Dutch from Shell and great value. All the divers now want ported on his return to Singapore:
satisfactory that the job could be plosive round damaged sections of 28 inch piping.
job with a variety of problems never
clear of the water disappeared from the divers had to place plastic ex- sight. To assist in salvage operations of the 'well head' supporting guys and
equipment standing about 40 feet December because of gales, and
during one night, reported 50 m.p.h. winds and 20 feet waves parted some
feet of cable. the water on hydraulically operated
Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. She had jacks, remained floating moored by eight 10 ton anchors each with 1,500
a displacement of some 3,000 tons shore rig which is supported clear of and, unlike the conventional off-
working under contract for the longing to the Zapeata Off-shore Company of Houston, Texas, and
35
be-
Successful Again
Road Race
Sidewinder,
at 1530 on Thurs-
Vernon
1964 'Vernon' Road Race
Far East Clearance Diving Team
Vernon
EMBERS of the Far East Fleet
well wonder what South East Clearance Diving Team might
HIS years
record, it started at the Heliport
must surely be the longest on
The equipment was part of an oil
Because of the depth of water in
in H.M.S. day 20th February 1964 and finished on 5th March 1964 at 1554, also a
drilling rig called which included 7,000 feet of oil Thursday. Working in relays they dived 'round the clock' to save the equipment drilling pipe.
for 12 hours before their next dive. which they had to dive, the divers were able to work only 40 minutes at a time and were then forced to rest T work underwater there, off the coast.
Six of the team have just returned to more than 100 tons of oil well Singapore Naval Base after a months'
but their most unusual job has been equipment off the Brunel Coast, the recently successful salvage of tend to the salvaging of ships and the seven miles out to sea from Seria.
demolition of underwater hazards, Singapore. Their services also ex-
now lost count of the number of Police to search for bodies in rivers Japanese unexploded bombs and
turned up walking in a near-by street to the relief of relatives — they have shells rendered safe in and around
for non-Naval authorities. They are Asia would do without them! There frequently called in by Singapore M not engaged on 'extra-mural' work and reservoirs — their last body
is hardly a week in which they are www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
• • •
.‘ • ”Illi
V-k '
,.
.
•'N q•
34
for
NAAFI stamps can be cashed anywhere in
ell
,,
4•
cash ISE
Telephone: Harwich 2347
Tailored by Craftsman
Members of the Interport Naval Traders' Association
Helston, Portland, Portsmouth, Dunfermline, Malta
FORMAL OR LEISURE WEAR
FANCY GOODS OF ALL KINDS
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Also all accessories, including the best known makes of
SHIRTS, SHOES, SOCKS, TIES, Etc., and
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CENTRAL HALL, MAIN ROAD, HARWICH, ESSEX
the world. You can cash them quarterly—or save them up till you are ready
V
"You exchange them for www.mcdoa.org.uk they had somehow been placed in the Divers can take heart in the fact that wrong positions. So on went our we would have taken first place in the Body in Reservoir enthusiastic runners no doubt losing team event but it was quite rightly S.D.D.E., S.A. B.A. headlamps, cor- a little of their enthusiasm by this N the night of 22nd November decided that the race had to be re- dage and search gear. time, along towards Eastney. Back run at a later date; this turned out to O1963 a man dragged the body of in Vernon a crowd had gathered out- be 5th March. Much the same hap- an 18-year old girl from the boot Petty Officer Charlwood takes up side the Gym. to applaud this weary pened on the re-run except that the of his car and threw it over a viaduct the story from here . . . We departed band of warriors, but the minutes runners were turned at the correct into the Ladybower Dam, Bamford, from Vernon at about 1630 after ticked by and still no warriors, place and that the Deepwater Divers near Sheffield. taking P.O. Gunnell and myself from finally a whisper was heard that the were placed second. As the original The Reservoir was at one time a Y the rugby field, which incidently runners had taken the wrong turning team could not be spared for the shaped valley, in which two villages resulted in one of our rare defeats. (or not turned at all) so the crowd re-run (due to training commitments) were situated : Derwent & Ashapton. Apart from a couple of hold-ups we dispersed. It appears that they were great credit must be given to the four As the water requirements of nearby had a fairly clear run up to Oxford turned around, but not until they runners who did so well at short cities and their industries grew so it where we stopped for food and had added a considerable distance to notice by coming in second. was decided to Dam one end of the liquid refreshments. On to our the three and a half mile course. valley and flood it. The villages were destination finally arriving at the rehoused and their villages demol- small village about 12 p.m. Deepwater 'Pirates' Rugby Club ished, with the exception of the We did not know how to find the church tower, the spire of which 1HE Pirates as many of you will against H.M.S. Collingwood 1st XV. County Police so we knocked up the remained standing clear of the water, local Police Sergeant. He was not have heard if not felt, are now a The Pirates put a grand show of hard when the valley was flooded. well established side. At the tackling but the Collingwood three- very pleased at being dragged out of beginning of this year the reins were quarters dominated the play with This was a novelty to sightseers, bed, but put on a brave smile (and handed over to P.O. Charlie their speed and brilliant passing. The but nearby villages were soon com- some clothes), and soon got in touch Charlwood, although P.O. Taff final score was 35-0, Collingwood plaining of the tolling of the bell on with H.Q. who promised to send Roberts kept a close eye on things. went on to win the competition out- windy days and nights. It was down a car to direct us. After a ten- right both their teams reaching the decided that the spire along with the minute wait a battered old Ford The new Committee is:— Popular drew up alongside us, which President: Lieut. C. L. Lawrence finals. bell must be demolished. The local Of the friendly matches much could authorities requested assistance from was greeted by Lt. Kempsall with the Secretaries: words 'Are you the Z Cars'. P.O. V. Gibbons be said, but it is enough to know that the Royal Navy. A team of divers P.O. A. Charlwood a good time was had by all, and we've led by Lt.-Cdr. W. Y. McLanachan The policeman then led the Land- Coach: Mr. K. L. Edwards even been invited back. demolished the spire to below water rover (full of curled up divers) to the Committee: At this point I must, on behalf of level. County H.Q. On arrival we were P.O. L. Maynard the Club, thank two men who have So once again Naval divers visit given a meal and tucked up in bed A.B. Dolan helped us so much in this our first Ladybower, this time with the sinister by the duty sergeant. L.S. Stephens season, they are Ken Edwards our task of finding and recovering the In the morning having a large Coach and Yeoman Bill Scrivens. body of a young girl. Police divers By some means or other we were Also we say goodbye to Taff Roberts breakfast we met the Police Inspector entered for the Command Rugby had attempted a search, but due to in charge of the case. After Lt. who founded the club, wishing the depth of water, which was 120 Knock-out Competition, the first him all the best in Civvy Street, O'r Kernpsall had discussed the job with match played was against H.M.S. feet in places and lack of equipment, him we drove up to the Ladybower brodyr y dyfroedd dwfn a'r plant y their search was unsuccessful. Bellerophon. This match turned out dyfnderau dyfrllid. Keep in touch Dam. P.O. Gunnell and myself made to be a 'hum-dinger', neither side Taff. H.M.S. Vernon received a call at the journey in the back of the in- giving an inch. The result was a We are already making plans for approximately 1400 hours on 28th spector's car, trying to look as inno- very fair draw 3-3, both sides the next season and club members November 1963. It was decided to cent as possible to the public we conceding tries, neither converting. are requested to send their 3/- on send Lt. K. D. Kempsall, G.M., Petty passed. On reaching the reservoir The replay was much the same and receipt of fixture list. The stocks of Officers Lott, Gunnell, Charlwood the inspector showed us the spot proved just as tough but due to a shirts, shorts has been depleted, and Futcher to the scene in the Land- where they thought the body had been perfect interception by the Pirates these will have to be replaced. rover, Able Seaman Gardener fol- thrown in, this point was approxi- wing who went over to score, (which One last word, new members are lowed shortly after with the main mately in the middle of the viaduct. duly converted), the game ended in always welcome, you don't have to equipment in a 3 ton lorry, the equip- This first morning was spent getting our favour 5-3. be able to play we'll teach you — ment comprised of a compresser, our gear ready and laying jackstays The second round was drawn Good old Ken. V. G. gemini and ' engine, two sets of parallel with the viaduct. In the www.mcdoa.org.uk 36 37 www.mcdoa.org.uk The Passing of the 'Copper Helmets' afternoon we dived on the jackstays Next morning which was Sunday, in S.A.B.A. Because of the depth Lt.-Cdr. Rea and his team arrived to By "J.W." (120 feet) we were limited to the time relieve us, but it was decided that we 1964 sees the passing of the 'Tin introduced techniques which added we could stay on the bottom as we were to carry out the rest of our Hat' — 'Steamer' — 'Standard much to the safety and efficiency of did not have the endurance to do dives that morning. After a couple Diver', the end of an era but, with the diver. stops in S.A.B.A. That afternoon we of dives, P.O. Lott straightened out the traditions and loyalties being In 1939-1945 came the influence only had time for four divers to the jackstays which were getting out continued by the self contained and descend and search, we also found of line, he lifted them and relaid them mine and underwater sabotage charge, light weight diver, or commonly with these came the need to that the long jackstays tended to get straight. P.O. Gunnell went down called "Corkhead". snagged up, so before packing up for on the re-laid jackstays and within provide the diver with self-contained the night it was decided to lay 50 three minutes he gave the signal five For almost 200 years the Standard streamlined equipment, ensuring mo- feet jackstays, 6 feet apart running bells which meant he had found the Diver has carried out sterling service bility which was so essential. out from the viaduct and starting body. He was assisted up with the in the Fleet. In fact it was in the year The stories of the 'Frogmen' just out from shore. The following body and it was placed in the boat 1782, in which H.M.S. Royal George activities are now legend but from morning we obtained a large punt, and taken to the shore. was sunk at Spithead, that saw the then on the 'writing was on the wall' which gave us more room to move Our work complete, we collected birth of diving in the Royal Navy. for the Standard Diver, and this was with the S.D.D.E. we had no gear together and with the help of Like so many other techniques it underlined when the responsibilities success. P.O. Lott was the only Lt.-Cdr. Rea's team loaded the lorry. was the Sappers (Royal Engineers) for 'Salvage were retained by the diver who had to do stops, much to After we had changed, had dinner who showed us the way. From then civil side of the Admiralty. his disgust. Our compressor broke and a drink with the Police (whose on the normal divers have made a Although for several years yet we down during the day so the Police co-operation had been remarkable), remarkable contribution to the Fleet shall have in the Fleet a few Q.D.D's arranged for a fire service compressor we started on the journey home. and diving throughout the world. and D.1's to all intense and purpose to recharge our bottles. CHAS. Not only did the Royal Navy hold the Standard Diver became extinct the World's Deep Diving Record on the first day of this year. So it is for many years but, in close co- with regret that we say farewell to an operation with such great men as Sir era extending over a period of 180 Robert H. Davis and Professor John years and hope that the 'new look' Haldane, not to mention our own will at least emulate this period of Captain G. C. C. Damant, C.B.E., have performance. J.W. Salvage of the Phillipine Naval Ship R.P.S. 'Isabella' EARL Harbour, Hawaii . . . The story actually begins last The perseverance and skills of September, when Isabella was hit by the men who sail the Pacific Typhoon Gloria and grounded on a Service Force Salvage Ships are reef near the village of Currimaoi almost legendary, and nothing could Luzon Republic of the Philippines. sustain this legend more than the Isabella was left high and dry, 300 recent salvage of the Philippine feet from shore and 300 feet from Naval ship R.P.S. Isabella, formerly floating water depth. Even at high U.S.S. L.S.M.-465. tide the water barely wet her bottom. For 14 days, including Christmas The Philippine Navy was unable and New Year's, U.S.S. Conserver to get Isabella afloat, so they re- battled 20 to 30 knot winds and quested the United States aid them in numerous mechanical failures before, a joint effort. The U.S. Navy re- with assistance from U.S.S. Cocoptz sponded, and the Commander Naval and R.P.S. Ifugo, the grounded Forces, Philippines, was designated Philippine ship was freed. in charge. He sent his Salvage 39 www.mcdoa.org.uk 38
www.mcdoa.org.uk Officer, Lieutenant W. H. Smith, to That night, repair gangs worked the scene. Commander Service late to re-reave the beach gear. Squadron Three was requested to Christmas Day, Conserver tried provide a salvage ship and the U.S.S. again but just when she was exerting Conserver was assigned. maximum pull of close on 300 tons, On December 14th 1963, Lt.-Cdr. and just as Isabella appeared to D. T. Lamb, Skipper of the Conserver shudder the tow wire's shackle pin and Lt. Smith, formerly Executive parted. That night their crew worked Officer of the salvage ship U.S.S. to rig a new tow wire. Safeguard, arrived for a preliminary Early the next morning, the tired inspection. They found the hull of crew completed rigging the tow wire Isabella sound except for a half inch and commenced another pull. Three hole which was easily plugged. minutes after reaching maximum, Philippine Naval personnel had and with luck running true to form a already raised Isabella from the coral link in the tow wire's chain bridle with hydraulic jacks, and she rested snapped, causing damage to tow upon telephone poles which were to wire. Much of Conserver's difficulty be used as makeshift rollers. The was caused by 20 to 30 knot winds rudders, propellers and tail shafts blowing directly abeam, these winds had been removed and the rudder continued throughout most of the post trunks plugged. Philippine salvage operation. Navy divers had also begun blasting Three more attempts were made, a channel through the coral for one being defeated by the main tow Isabella. wire parting, another by the damage Lt.-Cdr. Lamb and Lt. Smith with- to Conserver's pawl assembly of her drew to Subic Bay, returning five main winch. On the third of these days later aboard Conserver. attemps one of Conservers beach gear anchors slipped causing, further The job ahead was formidable. damage to her winch. Isabella represented a total displace- As the sun rose on December 30th, ment of 540 tons which was hard the situation looked bleak. The tow- aground and had to be dragged into ing machine dog was in-operative deep water. Photo by Courtesy of A.T.V. and the critical tow wire had to be Conserver began sending her divers patched up and re-clamped. There to continue blasting a • channel was no rest for Conserver, the men through the reef. Meanwhile, she worked to ready the ship for another non-hygroscopic laid three sets of beach gear to try the next day, undaunted by the Isabella and two sets to herself. series of mechanical failures. (Beach gear is a four-part pulling rig On New Years Eve, Lt.-Cdr. C. A. consisting of a large anchor and a Nelson in command of U.S.S. heavy system of wires and sheaves Cocopa arrived from Subic Bay and SODA-LIME that multiply the ship's pulling power, plans were made for co-ordinated each set is capable:of about 50 tons Chosen by leading hospitals in Britain and pull the next day, R.P.S. Ifugao was pull). throughout the world for its unparalleled effic- repositioned. Early New Years iency in anaesthetic and metabolic apparatus. Explosive charges, to be detonated morning, Cocopa passed her tow when Conserver reached maximum wire to Isabella and laid one set of pull were placed near the Isabella's beach gear, then the Ships began hull to help jolt her free, after 1/ their pull. Seven sets of beach gear Anchor & Hope Lane, Charlton, S.E.7 hours pulling one of the beach gear strained, and Cocopa's engines, turn- SOFNOL LIMITED sheaves carried away, operations ing full power, roared. Fifty-two
TA5/56.156 were suspended. minutes later Isabella lurched back- 41 www.mcdoa.org.uk MIKE PEMBERTON.
However, our own
In July, five qualified S.W.D's
July 29th saw our departure for all
The Work-up at Portland, (where
One can imagine how some
Eastney. We were sorry to lose him points East of Suez and warmer
unwilling (I hope), deportee to manner, as prescribed in B.R. 1834. portly figure of 12, but then we bumped our numbers up to the
S.C.1 Cpl. Sheehan, who became an suffered the misfortune to lose our observing sunset in the correct and wish him well. 1715 until 0600, the Divers down under water and two upper deck
We worked in relays all night from ladders lashed together as a stage. Pusser manned the 'hot line' and the of ceremonial floodlighting rigged This was done at night, with the aid
tices and no re-scrub on Awkward. reasonably uneventfully from the a 162 window again during this time. diving angle, with the normal prac-
of time. else ?) in June and July, passed
Although it was necessary to change gear arrived just one day before we Pusser's ears must have turned a sailed for Portland — in the nick
own hull. tunity to aquaint ourselves with our bright red, as with the approach of with the consequential loss of oppor-
the bulk of our equipment arriving,
`Shot-Rope'. our Work-up, there was no sign of one of the team is in town and will
willingly guide you to the local
Libyan waters. In closing I might
for visitors from passing ships, or
should a ship be at Tripoli usually chicks' are well represented in add that we are always wide open Coleman, so altogether the 'Dip
operating under the control of Ron
43
as pronounced in
The Trials of Eskimo Nell
EING now twelve months in
the world with the exploits of
Commission, it is time to aquaint
Much to our disgust, the first job
We Commissioned in the frozen
thing was not found until the second
day, by which time interest had worn the rumour that we could not even It was unfortunate that the d - - - - could actually breathe down there. find the bottom. Naturally we did not join in the last we were presented with a golden a bit thin — not even a ship's cat to perpetrating this outrage, as at long Ships Company, the fact that we applaud. However, we did disprove being at 'Pompey' in late April, opportunity to prove to the assembled
using borrowed equipment, to find one bathythermograph inadvertently fingered 'person' responsible for general condemnation of the nimble carried out on 'Nellie' was by a S.W.D.0, one S.C.1, five S.W.D's Thus our' story does not start as called in to replace our 162 windows. Mombasa). early as it should, our first dive sent for a swim without a lifeline. month of February 1963, at Cowes, team from the School, who were
with a Team consisting of one and only one S.A.B.A.
the vernacular of both Aden and
our happy band of Bubble Bos'ns in
B Eskimo. (Skeemo,
there is a similar Esso terminal
gear in about 240 to 300 feet of water, guided by Ray Johns. Just along the coast at Marsa El Brega
For a diving platform we have a working platform with oxy-helium
working platform. In close vicinity we have `Glomar 5, an offshore
catamaran made up of two surplus steel pipe lengths, with a wooden www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
was a
Conserver
Isabella)
He ended his message
Company
U.S. NAVY NEWS RELEASE.
Isabella.
The team does however carry out Our equipment consist of Stand-
On January 2nd, as
Lost anchors are not infrequent and Horsea Island early morning swim). pression for speeding up the process foot x 40 foot barge which we have fitted out with 40 foot sheerlegs. equipped with a Decompression have 45 feet mooring launches a 90 also have underwater cutting and the terminal both sea and shoresides. welding gear. We hope, soon to be tainance, and it is a fair swim from of hose changing. For support we item which takes a deal of main- Oil of course we have the occasional foul make up our work catalogue. chamber to allow us surface decom- the ships and although normally all the marine maintenance work of odic protection readings seem to heavy duty wires used for securing buoy to end of the wire (shades of The mooring buoys are fitted with supported by a float these are another ard, Airline-lungs and Aqua-lungs, we screw. General scavenging for lost items, routine inspection and cath-
had only blisters on their hands and
the normally festive season. Year. WELL DONE !" the horizon. They had known no seem to happen at the wrong time. Christmas or New Year's holiday and most auspicious way to begin theNew message citing their professional dry their labours, watched longingly as the three ships disappeared over headed towards Subic Bay for a much circles under their eyes to show for needed rest. Radm Kefauver sent a competance and outstanding per- formance in refloating the high and
saying, "It (refloating
42
in
an
Con-
jumped
Conserver
Isabella
Conserver's
for
jumped 10 feet.
with
Isabella
escorting, began the
Isabella
Ifugao,
sailors, exhausted from
Diving
Cocopa
stayed behind to recover her
panies, Continental Oil (Jet in
ASIS Oil Co. is an operating
company for three major com-
Our main task consists of main- As R.P.S. The team here, all ex-R.N., are
beach gear and salvage equipment. maintain two existing sea berths, in an open roadstead. These berths
U.K.), Marathon Oil and Aramco, W. R. Grace, Esso Libya and Mobil proximately halfway between Tripoli Libyan Mediterranean coastline, ap- Conserver we also have small affiliations with overworked starboard bear gear gave leaped to life, water surging from the minutes later knot winds. Then taining an offshore loading terminal with a third nearing completion and ward two feet, then tow and diameter steel pipe which terminates The ships continued to strain, all the time being buffetted by 20 to 30 is in about 70 feet of water and way. Lt.-Cdr. Lamb quickly ordered all engines full ahead. Oil. Don Wright, Pat Hammill and my- Bursts are thankfully rare, but always action of her twin screws, and 16 a steady movement toward the water. a forth 'on the stocks'. Each berth at Ras Es Sider which is on the approximately 2,200 yards offshore, form of two 16 inch flexible rubber trip back to Subic Bay, a weary O are fed from shore by a 36 inch another 6 feet, shuddered, and began server and Benghazi. at a header and thence emerges in the duces to a 12 inch rubber hoses. self Mike Pemberton, between us we
submarine hoses, which again re- www.mcdoa.org.uk waters. Aden being our first port Karachi. The Amphion had a split of call 'on station', where we promp- in an oil fuel saddle tank. Repair tly started work on a slipway at the was affected with underwater cement R.A.F. Small Craft Base, taking over and was effective enough to last Why YOU should allot from a team from Sheba. Apparently throughout Midlink 6. At least, I the slip, constructed of concrete have received no complaints. to BERNARDS blocks weighing 19 cwt. each, has Midlink 6 by the way, was another been laid with the help of a native A Single Account with Bernards will provide for all your purchases. Portland type Work-up almost, and diver, who relied on a pair of lungs was marked by a night Awkward. Bernards provide the facilities of a large Departmental Store with and a duration of about one minute An interesting point here being that the additional advantage of a truly personal service provided through flat. Our task, which was to straighten Ashanti, Nubian and Eskimo were and close up the blocks (dressed by conveniently situated branches and widely travelling representatives. alongside each other at an alongside the right and tallest on the flanks), berth, with Amphion tacked on out- Through Bernards you may obtain all your proved to be beyond our capabilities Uniform and Civilian Clothing requirements board. It was decided that we should and after two days very strenuous search aft on the three frigates and and practically every other need of the Ser- work we were compelled to admit viceman and his family, including Footwear, Nubian's team forward, whilst defeat. We were able to offer one Ashanti took the centre section and Sports Wear and Equipment, Fancy Goods, piece of valuable advice however, the Sub'. This arrangement worked Toys and Games, Cameras and Cycles, 'Blow the blessed thing up and start Radios, Record Players, Tape Recorders and again'. quite well, it was speedy and had the Electrical Appliances, Furniture, Nursery added advantage of diving boats not Furniture and Baby Carriages, Cutlery, The next work of any magnitude having to be dragged the length of Watches and Jewellery, Rings, Lingerie, and and interest which came our way, was the ship. a Gift Service for Chocolates, Biscuits and in September, when H.M. Submarine On to January 1964, with nothing Flowers. Alliance fouled an oil pipeline with much out of the ordinary to fill the Bernards are prepared to open a Credit Ac- her best bower in Aden harbour. gap, just routine jobs such as scrub- count and settlement may be made through This was a job right up our alley and ing the screw and finding the odd an Admiralty Allotment or Bankers Order. was successfully completed with the article lost overboard. aid of a tug and floating crane. Purchases may be made at any Bernard But at the end of January two Branch or through Head Office. Great sighs of relief all round when the pipeline was found to be un- interesting jobs came our way in Full particulars of the Bernard Service are damaged and likewise an underwater rapid succession. The first was to available on request at Head Office, or the telephone cable which had also examine and re-secure the wire local branch. joined the melee. At one stage purchase on a slipway at Bahrain, REMEMBER—YOU REALLY DO though, I believe Alliance got quite to enable an ocean going Tug to be BUY BETTER AT BERNARDS worried, when in our efforts to dis- put back in the water. We dis- lodge the anchor the Sub's No. 1 had covered one thing that day — the visions of parting company with the Gulf is not always as hot as it is jetty. cracked up to be, in fact the air C. H. BERNARD & SONS LTD. temperature was down to 44° F. September was also marked by the (those who prefer C° can work it out 6 - 9 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH, HANTS addition to our Team of one Mid- for themselves), and I am sure the Telephone 23535 shipman and an onslaught by the water was at least 10° colder. Thank combined Teams of Nell and Nubian goodness our E.O. did not mind Branches at Chatham, Portland, Deal, Grimsby, Londonderry, Harwich, on the latters bottom. In four hours being shaken in the middle of a make- Helensburgh, Dunfermline, Gibraltar, Valletta and Sliema, Malta and at we scraped and scrubbed her clean Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Brawdy, Culdrose, Yeovilton, Corsham, Lympstone and-mend to provide us with hot from stem to stern. Much to our showers. and H.M.S. Dolphin chagrin, it has been found since that Officers' Shops at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton the difference this made to her speed The second job was on, or rather under a 30,000 odd ton tanker, ANGLIA HOUSE, HARWICH, ESSEX Telephone 2281 was negligible compared with the Head Office: more simple expedient of just clean- which had broken adrift from Sitra ing her screw. oiling jetty at high water springs. •She decided to go 'walk about' right Submarines again. This time at at the critical moment between dis- 44 www.mcdoa.org.uk 45 www.mcdoa.org.uk perfect condition. The gun barrel is face for three days and have an charging ballast and taking on cargo. we are, would normally be called made of bronze and weighs nearly 2 underwater range of 80 miles. As she was then in the lighest con- upon to perform in home waters — tons. It is hoped that the National dition possible, she was almost high the C.D's hog all the best jobs. Maritine Museum at Greenwich will The Navy Days at Portsmouth for and dry before grounding. Our job be able to give some more historical this year will be held in the Dock- was to examine her hull for damage Finally, for those readers of this information. Journal who may have the idea that yard on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of August. and report on the nature of the * * * * bottom. There was no apparent certain old shipmates are swinging A comprehensive diving display damage and the bottom was sand, so the lead, here are the names of our Reynolds International Inc., of will be given twice daily showing on the strength of our report at- Team:— America will shortly be launching an some of the equipment and tech- tempts were made to get her off by Lt. (S.D.) (G.) F. W. Drake. Aluminium Submarine capable of niques used in the present day diving brute force and three Tugs, albeit diving to 15,000 feet. The Submarine of the Royal Navy. Mid. J. L. Prichard. * * unsuccessfully. We sailed for Mom- E.R.A. R. P. Rycraft. called Aluminaut has a thickness of * basa in a hurry very soon after, O.A. K. Johns. 6 inches aluminium, overall length In Switzerland recently the Sub- leaving her still anchored by the keel; Sgt. (P.T.I.) R. J. Anderson 50 feet and a diameter of 8 feet. Her marine Auguste Piccard was lauuched, however she was gone when we A./P.O. A. L. Holden. equipment will include T.V. Sonar, this was at Lake Leman. The Sub- returned to Sitra and I can only L.S.A. E. M. Came. Mechanical devises for picking things marine is designed to take tourists to assume that the proposed use of H.P. A. B. P. Aikman. off the ocean bed. The Aluminaut the bottom of Lake Leman (309 m.) hoses must have been effective. Mne. D. J. Taylor. will be capable of staying below sur- at £1 a time. So much for the highlights of this, Mne. G. B. Edwards. our first year. It has been fun and Mne. J. Hames. there has been more variety in the Mne. F. G. Pelling. Diving into Danger . . . work than we, humble S.W.D's that Happy mud-runs folks. F.W.D. To the World Under the Waves by STANTON JAMES News Bulletin MAGINE that you know where Your head clears. But you must The Title of the Home Air Com- Commander Jacques - Yves Ithe wreck of a bullion ship lies, and wait a long while below the surface mand Sub-Aqua Club has now been Cousteau has two programmes for that you are diving with an aqua- for your blood to get rid of the gas changed to 'The Naval Air Com- this year, one is the deep-dive sub- lung into the calm sea. dissolved in it by the pressure. mand Sub-Aqua Club'. marine, which is designed to operate You swim down, and down, and Now the wealth that lies beneath * * * * at more than 12,000 feet, and the down, until the water gets suddenly the sea is so enormous that it is worth any effect, any danger. Even leaving 1965 will see the opening of a other venture planned is at a depth colder and the light fades to dusky out the really deep seas, there is an Marineland in Britain. This will be of 160 feet just off the coast of blue. Your depth gauge shows 200 Villefranche where he intends to feet. Another 50 feet, and you can empire a quarter the size of the land at Southsea, Hants. world—as big, say, as Africa or the * * * * install his undersea house, this is see the dark bulk of the wreck. fully furnished and equipped and has But now, with wealth almost in Americas. With as much prospect The first International Water Sport been compared with a comfortable for mineral wealth, and its own kind Show is being held at the Alexandra your hand, your head spins, your city flat. eyes cloud over, your limbs won't of farming. Palace and Lake, London, from 13th * * * obey your will. It is as if you were This great unexplored world is to 20th June. called the Continental Shelf. It is a * * * * drunk. And no matter how much During a search of the sea-bed in gold lies there, you can't reach it. broad terrace of land which sur- Leading Seaman R. J. Pigg, C.D.2, Marsaxlokk, Malta, members of the rounds most continents, an average PJ/966697 wishes it to be officially Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Div- Desperately you turn for the of 42 miles wide, sloping gently down known that his name has been ing Team saw three feet of the surface. Groggily, drunkenly, you from the shore to a depth of 300 or changed to R. J. Page. barrel of an old cannon sticking out swim up. 400 feet. It is shallow enough for * * * * of the sand at a depth of 70 feet. RICHES. light to penetrate. And where there The U.S. Navy Diving Manual has The position was noted and the is light there is life. cannon subsequently recovered. I know what this feels like. It has been completely reissued, dated July happened to me . . . in a search for KILLERS. 1963 and is available from U.S. The barrel is about 11 feet long. riches a million times more valuable Before it can be explored scientists Government Printing Office, Wash- It appears to have been cast at than-any treasure ship. must find what goes wrong with dives ington D.C. (Price $3.25). Palermo in 1740 and is in near 47 46 www.mcdoa.org.uk for permission to
Even when automatic
Daily Express
A 10-minute dive to 450 feet used New experiments have cut this
Scientists want to know how plants This paves the way for men to work They want to know about colossal
Diving unprotected from the pres-
We wish to express out thanks to That is a rich enough new world.
Note left for milkman . . . Have
to need three hours spent slowly `Bends' — the painful, sometimes fatal, result of bubbles of gas can wait in comfdrt while the pressure forming in their blood. regularly at great depths — first is lowered slowly. getting the pressure down to normal —and even then half the divers got underwater landslides, and seabed time by three-quarters of an hour, LARGER. grow there, how the young fish and nobody gets Bends. dwelling on the sea bed find their food, so that there can be more food exploring, then harvesting. for the worlds nets. rocks. In this undersea empire there machinery is installed, divers will be must be mineral ores and oil. To get essential. needed for maintainance. them, diving to great depths will be
depth limit of between 500 and 1,000 reproduce this article. the deep oceans. But it is only a tiny part of the oceans. continental shelf and the top level of sure of water will probably have a there is an even larger world wait- feet. This is enough to explore the And beyond it, where the shelf slopes away into the darkness of the abyss, ing . . . the
just had baby, please leave another.
49
is rocking at anchor off
Well, you were breathing com-
First, the air gets so thick that your
Off the island of Teneriffe, six The Navy divers used a mixture of
Try a dive the Navy way. H.M.S.
Their 10-minute exploration over,
like the one I've described. go wrong with air as you approach 300 feet. probably becomes poisonous too. the same team is working in pressure pressed air, a mixture of 20% oxygen out to keep you alive. Then the Royal Navy divers have spent 10 lungs can't pump enough of it in and oxygen becomes intoxicating and being found. produces fits. And the nitrogen Any one of these can be a killer. But now a way past these dangers and into the new world under the sea is and 80% nitrogen. And three things their methods to 800 feet. minutes at a depth of 450 feet; now chambers at Portsmouth to test
13% oxygen and 87% helium — a pressure. Because there was less Reclaim oxygen than in air, poisonous oxygen
light gas easy to breathe under concentrations were not reached.
breathing through aqua-lungs at- decompression chamber is being Teneriffe, and the huge submersible inder with pressure-tight hatches top While the chamber descends they raise the gas pressure in it. When it the outside. Inside are two divers, lowered into the water—a steel cyl- and bottom and cylinders of gas on tached by hoses to the gas cylinders.
through the open bottom hatch to
pression chamber where the divers stops at 450 feet they swim out the full 30 feet of their hoses.
BENDS. they return to the pressure chamber. The chamber is hoisted aboard the
ship and sealed on to a larger decom- www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
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POWER OF COMM MVO For all R.N. Divers and Ex-R.N. SUBSCRIBERS .. . If you wish Divers including Commonwealth to become a regular receiver of this Navies, the R.N. Divers Association Magazine, do not delay, send cheque 1-)30-i-1LE. KEY Blazor badge now available in or postal order (6/- will cover one superior gold and silver braid at a year) to:— price of 30/-. The Treasurer, We can also offer you the very SC.F1LLOP KEY popular divers tie, motif is of alter- R.N. Diving Magazine, nate underwater swimmer and divers H.M.S. Vernon, Portsmouth. SOLE LESS helmet embroidered in yellow silk, choice of blue or maroon (Terylene), A few back numbers can be ob- I-LANNE-1— price 12/6. tained at reduced rates. AN HORS www.mcdoa.org.uk 51 www.mcdoa.org.uk Duncan spotted Jock, dressed in Interesting fact — in the last 4,000 the kilt, on Glasgow railway station years of history, there have been 268 SPARTAN and asked him where he was going. years entirely free from war. `Edinboro' he replied, It's my WANTED URGENT . . . AND THE WET SUIT honeymoon'. Ex-Native wishes to exchange book `And where's the lucky bride ?' of telephone numbers for road map The SPARTAN suit illustrated in this `Am no taking her,' said Jock of Hong Kong, alternatively would picture has been subjected to 370 dives `She's been there before'. change drafts. at an average depth of 120 ft. and to a maximum of 250 ft. during the past Summer by Reg Vallintine, Diving In- structor of the Neptune Diving Club, Giglio, Italy. SPARTAN suits arc available in nine different grades of neoprene and a com- prehensive range of designs. Prices for hand tailored suits range from £10 to £20 and delivery is in ten days. SPAR- TAN suits can be supplied in stock sizes for cutomers requiring immediate &liv- ery., Suits are also available in kit form for home assembly, alternatively sheet neoprene and accessories can be supplied. SPARTAN suits now feature a new de- NEW Felca sign nylon zip for life-long wear, new sleeve design, and new four-way high Seascoper Watch stretch nylon fabric for lined suits. An entirely new watch with Stainless De Sanctis Depth Gauges and Decom- Steel Case, Black Bezel, Automatic full pression Meters are now available from sweep second hand, date change and stock. fully luminous dial. Tested to 660 ft. Professional liquid depth gauge £6.12.0 With Nylon Strap £20. 5.6 Decompression Meter £14.17.6 With Stainless Steel Bracelet £20.15.6
Poseidon Valve A two-stage, single hose valve manufactured in Sweden. Features a swivel assembly mouthpiece, eliminating drag on the lips. This valve is extremely compact, and features exceptional ease of breathing at all demhs. Can be dismantled for cleaning without the use of any tools. Down Stream Full-Safe Valve in second stage. Contents Gauge Takeoff and Airline- Lung Attachment. £15.15.0 A. TILLBROOK & CO. LTD. `Course I've anuver suit! me 3's.' HARTINGTON ROAD, LONDON, N.I7 Tel. Tottenham 4444/5 52 www.mcdoa.org.uk