Vol. 3, No. I I No. 3, Vol.
DECEMBER 1954 1954 DECEMBER
PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH H.M.S. VERNON VERNON H.M.S.
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7 7
- -
EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE
LIGIITHOWNS, RY11N, I.W. I.W. RY11N, LIGIITHOWNS,
Escape Escape
EVERYTHING FOR FOR EVERYTHING
Apparatus Apparatus
Submarine Submarine
CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY FOR OVER A CENTURY CENTURY A OVER FOR ADMIRALTY THE TO CONTRACTORS
SIEBE, GORMAN GORMAN SIEBE,
TELEVISION TELEVISION
EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT
UNDERWATER UNDERWATER
MARCONI - - MARCONI
EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT
TELEPHONES TELEPHONES
TOLWORTH • SURBITON • SURREY SURREY • SURBITON • TOLWORTH
Davis Davis
UNDERWATER LAMPS, etc. etc. LAMPS, UNDERWATER
CUTTING AND WELDING WELDING AND CUTTING
DIVERS LOUDSPEAKING LOUDSPEAKING DIVERS
OF ALL TYPES TYPES ALL OF
Contained " Apparatus Apparatus " Contained
Manufacturers of " Self- " of Manufacturers
Original Designers and and Designers Original
based. based.
on which all types are are types all which on DIVING APPARATUS APPARATUS DIVING
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Contractors to Admiralty, Ministry of Supply, Foreign Governments, i i Dock and Harbour Authorities, Pearling and Sponge Fishing Industries Greenburgh Bros. i. i Ltd. / i i FIRST DIP - 1820 •• I. UNRIVALLED VALUE i i i i i 0. DOESKIN SUITS STILL P.O. i Superior Quality i. DEVELOPING i i i - 1954 £9 I7s. 6d. i i. Perfectly Cut and Tailored - Satisfaction Guaranteed i i Obtainable on Credit at Cash Prices i through our C. E. HEINKE & Co. Ltd. Monthly Allotment Club i LONDON, S.E.1 Blazer Badges — Any Design i i Phone Ber. 4461/5 H.M. Ships Crests i
Manufacturers of Sports Club Emblems, etc. HIGH QUALITY DIVING GEAR Quotations Free interchangeable with all other makes 123 - 127 QUEEN STREET HELMETS DRESSES PORTSMOUTH "0. HOSE 14 William Street (Head Office) and i ii i HEINKE DIVERPHONE SETS 26 Martin Terrace, Devonport i j LONDON COMPRESSORS, Etc. 47 High Street, Gosport 0* 20 Military Road, Chatham i Experimental Designs Developed 9 Castletown, Portland
.1•111. .11.1 •••••-•••••••-••••••••••1
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S.G.C.-D. S.G.C.-D.
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December 1954 1954 December
3 3
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL STAFF STAFF EDITORIAL
Lieut. A. Sagar, R.N.V.R. (C.D.) (C.D.) R.N.V.R. Sagar, A. Lieut.
TREASURER'S NOTES NOTES TREASURER'S
Mr. S. G. Currie-Davis, Comrnd. Bos'n (C.D.) (C.D.) Bos'n Comrnd. Currie-Davis, G. S. Mr.
Editor: Editor:
Treasurer: Treasurer:
I hope that this current issue makes up in some measure, for our our for measure, some in up makes issue current this that hope I
In spite of the fact that staff difficulties have only made it possible possible it made only have difficulties staff that fact the of spite In
I should like to thank all subscribers for their loyal support. support. loyal their for subscribers all thank to like should I
And so to our Financiers, Advertisers, Subscribers, Contributors Contributors Subscribers, Advertisers, Financiers, our to so And
But anyway to our friends above and below below and above friends our to anyway But
Apologies to those who have been eagerly ( !) !) ( eagerly been have who those to Apologies
Diving Magazine Magazine Diving
If you do not receive your copies, please do drop me a line and remem- and line a me drop do please copies, your receive not do you If
divers everywhere; if the magazine is obsolete obsolete is magazine the if everywhere; divers
following pages will help to brighten the festive season and be a re- a be and season festive the brighten to help will pages following
diver is life and movement to the journal. Re- journal. the to movement and life is diver
ber that in most cases, copies are returned, due to failure to inform inform to failure to due returned, are copies cases, most in that ber
not too good showing this year. year. this showing good too not
Just have a go ! Every mis-spelt word from a a from word mis-spelt Every ! go a have Just
gifted efforts, the magazine just doesn't exist, exist, doesn't just magazine the efforts, gifted without your—" I mean you personally !"—your !"—your personally you mean I your—" without
we extend our heartiest wishes for a Very Happy Happy Very a for wishes heartiest our extend we we can't edit and the world groans over the loss. loss. the over groans world the and edit can't we to produce one issue this year, subscriptions have been sent in, almost almost in, sent been have subscriptions year, this issue one produce to
Christmas and Prosperous New Year—wherever Year—wherever New Prosperous and Christmas published. is it as Magazine the of copies further on send course, of
you are, and hope that in some small way the the way small some in that hope and are, you
changes of address. address. of changes
and literary stagnant . . . so are you! you! are so . . . stagnant literary and and Readers, may I wish you all Seasonal Greetings. Greetings. Seasonal all you wish I may Readers, and the moment you read this. We need your genius, genius, your need We this. read you moment the
minder that there's somebody giving four pulls two bells on the the on bells two pulls four giving somebody there's that minder
as usual. These amounts have been " carried forward " and, we shall, shall, we and, " forward carried " been have amounts These usual. as
tributions. BUT please don't despair—send off off despair—send don't please BUT tributions.
to contact all groups for their news and con- and news their for groups all contact to
breastrope. breastrope. hurried into print and there has not been time time been not has there and print into hurried
member the magazine is a direct reflection of of reflection direct a is magazine the member your poems, cartoons and articles to me as from from as me to articles and cartoons poems, your
awaiting this issue. Also to teams : we have been been have we : teams to Also issue. this awaiting Vol. 3. No. 1 1 No. 3. Vol.
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
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By LIEUT. A. SAGAR, R.N.V.R.
5
By LT. CDR. W. FILER
OBSERVATIONS FROM AMERICA
Flying the Atlantic instead of ploughing through it was quite a
Covering approximately 20,000 miles in just over four weeks We were impressed during our visit by the meticulous care our
On inspection the main part of the jetty was found to be com-
The car parking problem in the States, and in Washington in par- Whilst being driven back to our hotel from the naval gun factory
Although most of our travelling was by air, all the short journeys
red hot in the darkness, the intense purple flames darting out, didn't
for miles around. heating, etc., and would all take six passengers in comfort. fortunate enough to visit America to gain first hand impressions. Constellation to keep turning for hours on end seemed to be asking pilot to keep down close to the upper cloud base which resulted in quite formations sticking out above the general level. A flash of lightning try to overcome this problem by having a British baby car for city drive into the city to secure a place to park, and then go and have than to scorch the engine cowling and leading edge of the wing. ticular, is so acute that many people get up early in the morning and hurriedly about the location of the emergency exits and caused much exactly inspire confidence, but fortunately seemed to do no more harm cars, which gives some idea of their standard of living. the country visited. A few of the impressions gained during this tour devices with latest streamlining, hydromatic gear selection, radios, breakfast whilst waiting for the day's work to begin. A few people leaves one little time to study the way of life of the people occupying pletely missing and a 50 foot crater still remains to tell the tale. may, however, be of interest, particularly to those who have not been much. The strong head winds encountered at high altitudes caused our American hosts took when making introductions, and on one occasion new arrival, concluded by introducing a late-comer to thirty other new experience and to expect the four engines of the 70-seater Super whilst waiting for a fairly large gathering to assemble, our excellent crossing of fingers. The, exhaust pipes from the engines glowing liaison officer who was making the introductions for the benefit of each were by car, and even the utilitarian naval vehicles were beautiful one day, the driver told me that 95% of the ratings own their own and without faltering. which licked its way down the length of the fuselage made me think stunned or dead. Scores of fish were collected by the boats. An hour a bumpy trip, as we passed through angry anvil-shaped minor cloud officers with the appropriate interchange of name and rank, accurately
and koieks appeared from nowhere and fish was the menu that night later the Tekong Islanders joined the fish hunt, dozens of native prahus www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
Ranging from 50-250
During the time needed
plosive with a fair sprink-
K.G. many were High Ex- feet in length were sunk in
Samak Jetty. Some over 8
lay under and around Ayer
rough estimate it w a s ling of phosphorous bombs
the mud up to their tails, and anti-personnel, they together with rust. At a
thought that over 2 0 0
marine growth and fused volition due to crystalliza-
bombs lay waiting until bomb if set on fire could all were covered with they moved of their own part of some native. A someone moved them or tion or carelessness on the easily set the whole dump
to prepare the dump, it off. It was decided to countermine. team to live and sleep in damaged phosphorous was necessary for the C.D. the jungle — only Lieut.
4
phosphorous bombs.
There are many and varied jobs which come under the rather
About 1,000 Islanders living in Ayer. Samak on the eastern end Then . . WHOOF . .
The waters around the Island turned chocolate colour and twenty
R.N., were called in to deal with over 50 tons of Japanese bombs
when the Far East Clearance Diving Team under Lieutenant E. Gash, obtuse title of " Clearing Diving," and it was all in the day's work JAPANESE DUMP BLOWN UP OFF SINGAPORE dumped into the sea by surrendering Japanese troops in August, 1945.
jetty at Ayer Samak where the bombs were dumped had an air of
Gash had a mosquito net and there were eight very sore and wiser
The explosion seen from 2 miles away, a 2,000 ft.
column of water, white smoke is seen from the
men in the morning. minutes later the Motor Fishing Vessel manned by the Fleet C.D.
Team nosed their way carefully towards the jetty. As the boats drew
of Tekong left their homes at 6 a.m. on 14th May, 1953, The military closer to land, thousands of fish were seen floating on the surface,
eeriness and auiet. Came 12.30. www.mcdoa.org.uk work, but the American habit of shunting their cars into and out of In Washington we went to see the latest entertainment invention line of cars parked bumper to bumper makes the British baby look called " Cinerama." This is something which ousts Hollywood's broad dog-eared in a very short space of time. American car designers have screens, 3-D, etc., and consists of three enormous screens running down produced so many different models in the history of their industry two sides and across the front of the auditorium with three separate that the main difference between new models is some small gimmick projectors, projecting each on to one side of this gigantic screen. This to catch or appeal to the ladies. Although the American husband fills is coupled with a thing called stereophonic sound. The main feature the purse, he certainly does not hold the purse strings, and American of Cinerama is that the audience is given the sensation of actually being car design, as well as the design of almost everything else, is entirely in the picture and it was admitted by some members of our party that influenced by the peculiar whims of the real buyer. after they had watched a travelogue of America, through the eyes of a pilot of an aircraft, they felt quite air-sick. It took some time for the English members of the party to adjust Generally, things like hamburgers, steaks, omelettes, etc., are themselves to the intense central heating, and I know that for the first cooked on an open hotplate in full view of the customer. Eggs can be week or so I found it necessary to go out of doors from time to time ordered " sunny side up," " over easy " or " over well done." Steaks to make sure that I was breathing. It was the sort of heat that really really were the size of a dinner plate and two inches thick, and could hit you when you entered a building and the temperature seemed to be be ordered well done, " medium " or " rare." A pleasant and delicious as high in the main line railway station as it did in a private house. discovery being that you can still eat the steak even though you have somewhat apprehensively ordered a " raw " one. Tea is definitely not to British taste and is normally made by dunking a tea bag in hot water.. Coffee is available almost everywhere and at any time, and is consumed with about the same regularity as tea in this country. Since, in spite of Town and Country Planners, the Englishman's home is still his castle, he usually has a wall or hedge round it. The Americans obviously don't feel the needs for barriers of this sort and apart from a few places in the town and cities, their gardens and hold- ings possess no visible boundary. It was, in fact, implied that to build a high wall round your house was the sort of thing that gets Senator McCarthy on your tail. It seems strange to English eyes to see bright neon signs outside churches, encouraging people to come in, but their churches are well attended and some of our party were fortunate enough to be there when President Eisenhower attended the local church near to our hotel at Washington. Almost everything was obtainable from a slot machine in the States, numerous brands of chocolate, a variety of ice-creams of different flavours, fruit juices in complicated machines which can supply any mixture of flavours you desire. It was found that by judicious manipulation of the knobs on the more complicated machines we could cause the most frightful things to happen inside. " Coke " machines are everywhere and hot coffee with or without sugar or cream Vk can be obtained from slot machines in bus stations, airports, etc. Cotton towels are not provided in the majority of public washing- places and hand drying is done with hot air machines or paper towels. `0,1 cs.t6 Although we never managed to attend one, we were intrigued by o e- the open-air cinemas. A colossal concrete screen is built in an open space which is dotted with pick-up points for headphones. The customer Don't fool about Knocker drives up alongside the pick-up point, takes the headphones into the car and sits back and enjoys the film. 6 7 www.mcdoa.org.uk
kitchen stove " ! ! " stove kitchen
had a " " a had
,50 yards "astern." "astern." yards ,50
.
Nuff said ! ! said Nuff
9 9
did. did.
BOMB AND MINE DISPOSAL NOTES NOTES DISPOSAL MINE AND BOMB
The excellent liaison with Army Bomb Disposal has been been has Disposal Bomb Army with liaison excellent The
The mine, deeply buried in bounder rock, was rather inaccessible, inaccessible, rather was rock, bounder in buried deeply mine, The
The lowlight was a " flying " expedition (by Fleet Air Arm trans- Arm Air Fleet (by expedition " flying " a was lowlight The
The highlight of 1953 was an incident at Saltdean, Sussex, when when Sussex, Saltdean, at incident an was 1953 of highlight The
Speaking, or should I say "blowing" for ourselves, we have, during during have, we ourselves, for "blowing" say I should or Speaking,
Clearance Diving responsi- Diving Clearance
for the coming year to the local B.D. Troop, (No. 2 Troop) Royal Royal Troop) 2 (No. Troop, B.D. local the to year coming the for
Engineers at Fort Widley, commanded by Captain R. Hough, G.M., G.M., Hough, R. Captain by commanded Widley, Fort at Engineers
strengthened and in this respect we should like to offer our best wishes wishes best our offer to like should we respect this in and strengthened
length of safety fuse certainly certainly fuse safety of length
great deal. Getting back and scrambling up that cliff, after lighting a a lighting after cliff, that up scrambling and back Getting deal. great
course, lost his underpants !). However, this didn't worry them a a them worry didn't this However, !). underpants his lost course,
and the two had to strip off and swim round some rocks. (Bluey, of of (Bluey, rocks. some round swim and off strip to had two the and
ing down 200 feet of sheer cliff, after enjoying a wonderful lunch given given lunch wonderful a enjoying after cliff, sheer of feet 200 down ing
by the local dignitary. " Bluey " Honour carried the " dets "; "; dets " the carried Honour " Bluey " dignitary. local the by
" Bandit," C-D, crafty-like, bounded crafty-like, C-D, Bandit," "
have vague recollections of gaily (and with " reckless abandon ") jump- ") abandon reckless " with (and gaily of recollections vague have port) to Jersey Channel Isle by " The Bandit " and " Bluey " to deal deal to " Bluey " and " Bandit The " by Isle Channel Jersey to port)
with a German mine. The two remember little about the mine, but but mine, the about little remember two The mine. German a with
we were presented with TWO German C.Q's lying within 150 yards yards 150 within lying C.Q's German TWO with presented were we
thing shown in the book. Yes, we have have we Yes, book. the in shown thing
never dull. The variety of missiles, and projectiles has exceeded any- exceeded has projectiles and missiles, of variety The dull. never of each other. other. each of
the last 20 months, found life quite interesting, sometimes arduous, but but arduous, sometimes interesting, quite life found months, 20 last the
Bosun P. J. Messervy as Com- as Messervy J. P. Bosun
(TAS) C. Lawrence has been been has Lawrence C. (TAS) We wish him luck and a good good a and luck him wish We
B. & M.D.O. and now we are are we now and M.D.O. & B.
pleased to hear of the appoint- the of hear to pleased
bag. bag.
mand B. & M.D.O. Scotland. Scotland. M.D.O. & B. mand
mouth Commands. More re- More Commands. mouth ment of Senior Commissioned Commissioned Senior of ment
Honour to the Nore and Ply- and Nore the to Honour
cently Commissioned Gunner Gunner Commissioned cently
similar appointments for Senior Senior for appointments similar
bilities for Command Bomb and and Bomb Command for bilities
Portsmouth. Later followed by by followed Later Portsmouth.
and Commissioned Gunner S. S. Gunner Commissioned and Commissioned Gunner J. Rae Rae J. Gunner Commissioned
appointed Mediterranean Fleet Fleet Mediterranean appointed
Mine Disposal commenced early early commenced Disposal Mine
in 1953, with the appointment of of appointment the with 1953, in
Com'd Bosun S. Currie-Davis at at Currie-Davis S. Bosun Com'd • •
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In conclusion, I would say that everything the Americans did was was did Americans the everything that say would I conclusion, In
On two or three occasions we spent the day aboard American American aboard day the spent we occasions three or two On
Our send off from Hawaii was quite something and really tradi- really and something quite was Hawaii from off send Our
We found that Hawaii was the exact place that we had read about. about. read had we that place exact the was Hawaii that found We
From Fisherman's Walk we had a very good view of the the of view good very a had we Walk Fisherman's From
ultimate object. object. ultimate
Comdr's. Perhaps when you get American scales of pay during your your during pay of scales American get you when Perhaps Comdr's.
done on a fabulous scale with little or no expense spared to achieve the the achieve to spared expense no or little with scale fabulous a on done
rank of Temporary Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander Confirmed Confirmed Commander Lieutenant or Lieutenant Temporary of rank
Chief Petty Officer. This seems to be a Government wangle whereby whereby wangle Government a be to seems This Officer. Petty Chief these people leave the service on C.P.O.'s pension and not on the Lt. Lt. the on not and pension C.P.O.'s on service the leave people these
that the Commanding Officers of these smaller ships held the curious curious the held ships smaller these of Officers Commanding the that
active service life this is not of any great significance. significance. great any of not is this life service active these ships was very good by any standards and a surprising thing was was thing surprising a and standards any by good very was ships these
ships. We were very impressed by the standard of their entertaining entertaining their of standard the by impressed very were We ships.
and the quite extraordinary cleanliness of the ship. The handling of of handling The ship. the of cleanliness extraordinary quite the and in quite a hurry to get into the aircraft and hide our red faces. faces. red our hide and aircraft the into get to hurry a quite in
came to see us off at the airport, and the wives proceeded to decorate decorate to proceeded wives the and airport, the at off us see to came distantly at about half radius from the main trunk to the outer fringe fringe outer the to trunk main the from radius half about at distantly
us with garlands (leis) accompanied by a traditional embrace and with with and embrace traditional a by accompanied (leis) garlands with us
tional. All the officers of the Unit we were visiting and their wives wives their and visiting were we Unit the of officers the All tional.
This enormous tree has a main trunk of fitting proportion to its overall overall its to proportion fitting of trunk main a has tree enormous This
Royal blood. One of the most outstanding memories of Hawaii is of of is Hawaii of memories outstanding most the of One blood. Royal
size and then five other trunks of similar dimensions spaced equi- spaced dimensions similar of trunks other five then and size much camera clicking. Although this was secretly appreciated, we were were we appreciated, secretly was this Although clicking. camera much
rely on one or two free evenings to explore. In this way we covered covered we way this In explore. to evenings free two or one on rely
the banyan tree standing in the grounds of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Hotel. Hawaiian Royal the of grounds the in standing tree banyan the of its huge umbrella like branches. These additional trunks have grown grown have trunks additional These branches. like umbrella huge its of
moku, a former Olympic swimming champion and a Prince of Hawaiian Hawaiian of Prince a and champion swimming Olympic former a moku,
members of the Outriggers Canoe Club which is run by Duke Kahana- Duke by run is which Club Canoe Outriggers the of members
the famous Waikiki beach area at Honolulu and even became honorary honorary became even and Honolulu at area beach Waikiki famous the
water was anything from 50 to 100 feet, and an hour's immersion immersion hour's an and feet, 100 to 50 from anything was water
merely made you anxious for more. As in all the places we visited we we visited we places the all in As more. for anxious you made merely either con fernces, discussions or demonstrations, and usually had to to had usually and demonstrations, or discussions fernces, con either
out of the branches and back into the ground. ground. the into back and branches the of out saw very little of the local life in the daytime as we were involved with with involved were we as daytime the in life local the of little very saw
The climate was perfect and underwater swimming spiced with a little little a with spiced swimming underwater and perfect was climate The
underwater photography and fishing was sheer joy. Visibility under- Visibility joy. sheer was fishing and photography underwater
Most of them still alive and displayed in tanks so that the customer can can customer the that so tanks in displayed and alive still them of Most
food paradise. Crabs, abalonies, prawns and longusters (lobsters (lobsters longusters and prawns abalonies, Crabs, paradise. food
select the one he wants and have it cooked. These shell fish are quite quite are fish shell These cooked. it have and wants he one the select
fitted with antennae instead of pincers) are on sale in every other shop. shop. other every in sale on are pincers) of instead antennae with fitted the biggest I have seen and much larger than the " Devonport monsters monsters Devonport " the than larger much and seen have I biggest the
of Barnpool." Barnpool." of
the aid of a " nickel a time " telescope. Fisherman's Walk is a sea sea a is Walk Fisherman's telescope. " time a nickel " a of aid the notorious Alcatraz Island, and were able to identify the guards, with with guards, the identify to able were and Island, Alcatraz notorious www.mcdoa.org.uk R.E., and also to our friends at Army B.D. School, Broadbridge Heath (Lieut. Colonel G. Slade, R.E.). Most Clearance Divers look upon " B.B. " as their ancestral home. Stop press ! Congratulations to Major " Ray" Ballard on his promotion. Finally a word about our " lads." We wish A.Bs Bill Sadler and Will Wilcox the best of luck in the Far East team. Congratulations to you both on passing for Leading Seaman. Petty Officer B. Dillistone will shortly be on hig way to Canada; we wish him luck in his new venture. We haven't seen much of P.O. " Bungy " Edwards or P.O. " Soapy " Watson at Devonport and Chatham, but are sure that they are keeping our flag flying in those " foreign parts." And so all the very best to " Mine Maskers " and " Bomb Busters " from our present team, Leading Seaman " Taff " Jones; Leading Sto. " Terry " O'Neil and the incorrigible arch fiend A.B. Jim Rushton.— Oh ! and count me in on this too—S.G.C.D.
THE STRANGER WORE A NOSECLIP He rode down the Erith Jetty, a quiet confident figure mounted on a Post Office push-bike. He carried no kit this character, but from his hips hung two well oiled nose clips. He leapt into the boat, landing gracefully on feet encased in dusty but well cut " pusser's " sea boots. A wave of his right hand enclosed in a small black glove; we: moved. The new hand from the C.D. Branch had joined. A warm welcome awaited him. On the gangway, clad in unwashed blue jeans and ragged hat, stood Mac, the foreman of the " Annet Strip," and cradled in Mac's arms was a cox's gun, rust showing under the bleak Thames sky. The bowman with a quick flick of his wrist secured and faded. Running a practised eye over the set-up, the loaded " U.B.A.'s " and the piles of empty " proto " tins, the character climbed aboard. The foreman took a last lingering pull, nonchalantly tossed away the Dettol bottle, and spoke : " New huh ! Can you use a thousand foot jackstay?" The character casually spat out a mouthful of " proto ", said, " Yep," and strolled for'd to the madhouse. Here he was met by te boys !!!??? a truly unlikely and unlikeable bunch. The boys were mostly clad in well-worn loan clothing overalls over greyish woollen garments. Once again the character's eyes flickered, checking the escape routes; there were none. Here though a hard unpleasant character sauntered in carrying a " gash " bucket full of pot-mess. In one movement the boys grabbed a dirty plate apiece and an equally dirty spoon, and got them- selves outside it. Patting a well filled stomach, the character drew himself to his feet. " Fellas," he said, " Glad to be here." At this a pack of cards appeared. "Any takers ?" he said. The boys moved in jingling their ball weights. Peace had come to. the "Annet Strip." The C.D.1 had joined. The answer to a fisherman's prayer, . . . Enchanting GL,YNIS JOHNS plays the dual role of a mermaid and a prim sports mistress in Betty Box's new Technicolor 10 comedy, "MAD ABOUT MEN." Hate she is seen as Miranda — an amorous www.mcdoa.org.ukmermaid who bewitches every young man within eye-catching distance of her seductive charms. Still by IAN MAYES
S.G.C-D S.G.C-D
13 13
ADMIRALTY EXPERIMENTAL DIVING UNIT UNIT DIVING EXPERIMENTAL ADMIRALTY
Much has happened since the last issue of the Diving Magazine. Magazine. Diving the of issue last the since happened has Much
Finally, an inshore minesweeper based nearby very kindly came to to came kindly very nearby based minesweeper inshore an Finally,
Lieut. Cradock-Watson relieved Surg.-Lieut. Hollis, who is now en- now is who Hollis, Surg.-Lieut. relieved Cradock-Watson Lieut.
Lab. we have been joined by Mr. Taylor and Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker Walker Mr. Walker. Mr. and Taylor Mr. by joined been have we Lab.
A few changes have occurred in the staff, Lieut. Border eventually eventually Border Lieut. staff, the in occurred have changes few A
took over Deputy S. of D.'s chair from Lieut-Comdr. Filer. Surg.- Filer. Lieut-Comdr. from chair D.'s of S. Deputy over took
deavouring to make a name for himself in the outside world. In the the In world. outside the in himself for name a make to deavouring
the rescue and the bomb was soon on its way to open water where it it where water open to way its on soon was bomb the and rescue the
fidence with every jerk and swing. Once having got the idea of the the of idea the got having Once swing. and jerk every with fidence
was demolished. demolished. was
laws of motion. However, during a brief moment, when "Pusser " by by " "Pusser when moment, brief a during However, motion. of laws brakes and handwheels than positioning the bomb. "Pusser " perched perched " "Pusser bomb. the positioning than handwheels and brakes
to unhook. unhook. to
After a few minutes it also became obvious that our mechanical genius genius mechanical our that obvious became also it minutes few a After mistake let the bomb touch the deck, " Bill " had the presence of mind mind of presence the had " Bill " deck, the touch bomb the let mistake
was more intent on exploring the various combinations of gears, pawls, pawls, gears, of combinations various the exploring on intent more was spider-like on the gantry was really enjoying himself, and gaining con- gaining and himself, enjoying really was gantry the on spider-like thing he proceeded to give a remarkable practical display of Newton's Newton's of display practical remarkable a give to proceeded he thing
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12 12
say fortunately ?) positioned on a gantry gantry a on positioned ?) fortunately say
I I
BOMB IN A BUCKET BUCKET A IN BOMB
was eventually stropped and at the order " hoist hoist " order the at and stropped eventually was
" Will " found found " Will "
It became more than suspiciously apparent that " Pusser " was was " Pusser " that apparent suspiciously than more became It
The objectile objectile The
Pusser (" I can drive anything ") volunteered as crane driver and and driver crane as volunteered ") anything drive can I (" Pusser
In answer to an an to answer In
living or dead (mostly dead) is deliberate and intentional. intentional. and deliberate is dead) (mostly dead or living
the crane, and it was small consolation to hear a cheerful " Sorry, Sorry, " cheerful a hear to consolation small was it and crane, the
wrong knob " with the objectile flying up and down like a " yo-yo." yo-yo." " a like down and up flying objectile the with " knob wrong
into the bucket again. A plea of " Take it easy this time " produced produced " time this easy it Take " of plea A again. bucket the into
turn to starboard, traversed across to port and finally lowered itself itself lowered finally and port to across traversed starboard, to turn
applying the old principle of " trial and error " in his efforts to master master to efforts his in " error and trial " of principle old the applying
slipped from centre. centre. from slipped
remainder of the task seemed an easy one. A small hand operated operated hand small A one. easy an seemed task the of remainder s'owly " it shot up in the air for a height of 15 feet, did a 90 degree degree 90 a did feet, 15 of height a for air the in up shot it " s'owly
soon created an impression of confident efficiency by cleverly lowering lowering cleverly by efficiency confident of impression an created soon
blackest mud you ever ever you mud blackest
fact a very ordinary ordinary very a fact
feet in diameter, was in in was diameter, in feet bucket full of the slim- the of full bucket
an encore, with the bomb swinging precariously on the strop which had had which strop the on precariously swinging bomb the with encore, an
the crane hook straight on to the Bandit's " bone." bone." " Bandit's the to on straight hook crane the
down " in the bucket, soon fervently wished that the objectile wo.i'd wo.i'd objectile the that wished fervently soon bucket, the in " down iest, sludgiest, smelliest, smelliest, sludgiest, iest,
nose down in a dredger's dredger's a in down nose
crane was fortunately (did (did fortunately was crane
vating half a ton of the " filthy stuff," access was gained to the fuses, fuses, the to gained was access stuff," filthy " the of ton a half vating directly over the bucket and the job of stropping and lifting the the lifting and stropping of job the and bucket the over directly
go off and clear the air a bit ! Once the teeth had been drawn the the drawn been had teeth the Once ! bit a air the clear and off go
which were then dealt with much to the amusement of Bill and Will Will and Bill of amusement the to much with dealt then were which
objectile seemed comparatively simple. simple. comparatively seemed objectile
German 250 Kg buried buried Kg 250 German
ported as a 50 ton bomb bomb ton 50 a as ported who were holding on to the " Bandit's " ankles whilst the latter, " head head " latter, the whilst ankles " Bandit's " the to on holding were who
to be armed with a Nos. 17 and 50 fuse and in spite of its sordid miser- sordid its of spite in and fuse 50 and 17 Nos. a with armed be to
saw. The missile, from henceforth known as the "objectile" was found found was "objectile" the as known henceforth from missile, The saw.
had previously been re- been previously had
100 yards long by 50 50 by long yards 100
able environment, obviously had to be treated with respect. After exca- After respect. with treated be to had obviously environment, able
deck of a dredger. What What dredger. a of deck
This is only a story—any similarity between characters and persons persons and characters between similarity story—any a only is This
themselves on the fore- the on themselves
Bandit," "Pusser," "Bill" "Bill" "Pusser," Bandit,"
and and
aggravated call, " The The " call, aggravated agitated, agonised, and and agonised, agitated, 15
Funny? Well read it out aloud.
THE PEE LITTLE THRIGS
(A FAIRY STORY BY COLONEL STUPNAG)
HEARD IN THE DIVING SCHOOL
Editor's note—Not
In the happy days when there was no haircity of scam, and when No fooner was the house sinished, than who should dock on the
More divers are required to volunteer for the Far East?! Let's follow Turly Cail, the purst little thrig, shall we? He hadn't
Well, one year the acorn throp crailed, and old paidy lig had one
Owing to Shallow Water Dives attaining such a tremendously The man was jighearted Bo, tho', and billingly wave him the
A certain Diving Officer :— " Meeze, Mr. Plan," said the pittle lig, " Will you give me that " Pittle lig, pittle lig," he sa'd in a faked venner toyce, " May I And with that he chuffed up his peeks, blew the smith to house-
" Thoa, thoa, a nowsand times thoa, not by the chairs on my
" Then I'll bluff and I'll duff, and I'll hoe your blouse pown," ped What a pignominious end to a peet little swig!
port nicks were a chopple apiece, there lived an old ladyputher mig (in front nore—than a werrible tulf. high standard, D.3's and C.D.3's will have to look to their laurels. teck of 'a hime younging her feedsters. There was a swirth of dill too,
the pee little thrigs set out on their wepparate says. gone ferry var when he enmannered a nice looking count, carrying a pigs' old pan is mistwat of a summary. reens, sat down to a dine finner of roast sow and piggerkraut. sother words a wow) and her see thruns. Whatever happened to the she reluctantly bold her toys thy'd have to feek their own serchuns. So,
amid towing flears and sevvy hobs, each give his nuther a big mug, and haw to build me a straws?" (numb serve, believe me). the so werrible tulf.
as garble wern't putting much stancy fuff in their peepage. As a result, hinny pin hin," ped the little sig. come in and hee your sitty proam?" gundle, with which the pittle lig cott himself a pretty builtage. strundle of baw, which was yery. yellow. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
Vernon
14
is carrying out deep diving trials at Gibraltar; it
Reclaim
Progress is being made with C.A.B.A., we have what we think a
The new building is an improvement over the old but unfortu-
One of the main events this year was the move of A.E.D.U. into
B.I.B.S. and S.E.B.A. have passed out of our hands and are now Acceptance trials of the new M.R.S. have been completed with The Observation Chamber failed the test at N.C.R.E. and had to
The article by B.F. (last issue) has stirred us into action on the
H.M.S.
The Superintendent of Diving recently had a tour of Europe, visit- Various other projects are under way, but little can be said about
form. Mr. Fisher has joined the capable staff in the Workshop.
piggery were beginning to worry us, many more extensions and the
for cylinders.
piggery would have become an annexe to A.E.D.U. Your pork would nately we have less space and there is no room for our museum. We very little adverse criticism, minor modifications are being introduced
that we will be able to obtain a room at a later date for use solely as left at the request of the Government for a two year holiday in uni- in production. have had to share our offices with diving models. There is a possibility
and the next step will be a trial order. We are now pressing on with perhaps the answer we arrive at will not be in accord with the stan- the conversion of M.R.S. for standard diving. good, if somewhat unusual harness, unfortnately we are being held up then have probably come from pigs that had died of " bends." a museum. be returned to the makers for strengthening; it is hoped that it will be back at N.C.R.E. for test about the end of November. a new building; this was only just in time, extensions to the
is no new-corner to A.E.D.U.: he was previously on the strength but question of underclothes for divers. Some trials were carried out last is hoped that as a result of these trials the practical working depth on dinavia. A lot of interesting information was obtained, btit on the dards laid down by B.F., but I am sure it will be of value to divers in general. We are also investigating gloves and we think we are nearing winter and further trials will be carried out during the coming months, are also trials of the bulk oxy-helium storage system which was in- ing centres connected with diving in France, Italy, Germany and Scan-
oxy-helium will be increased: also the time on the bottom. These trials stalled during her last refit.
a solution to this knotty problem. whole this trip showed we, have no reason to be seriously dissatisfied with our own progress. them at present. www.mcdoa.org.uk
LATEST NEWS FROM TOBERMORY Yatton, proceeded under very difficult conditions, to extract Knowles Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks and after a long struggle, cleared the boulder, but was unable to drag A thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon ; the diver out by his feet. It was necessary to use the air lift to excavate Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, the heavy mass of clay over the diver, a very dangerous procedure, then Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels by loosening his bootlaces Yatton managed to drag the man clear of his All scatter'd in the bottom of the sea. boots and the sticky clay. Clarence's Dream " Richard III" Ex-Petty Officer Gribbon, now warehouse and transport manager The much disputed treasure ship San Juan Baptista again felt the at Lewis's, while on holiday volunteered to help, and on his very first inquisitive fingers of another diving expedition when the Duke of dive contracted a bend in his shoulder. The poor manager had to under- Argyll enlisted a team under Rear-Admiral McLaughlin, C.B., D.S.O., go recompression at 10 p.m. one night when he was put down with the R.N. (Retd.), and Commander L. K. P. Crabb, 0.B.E., G.M., R.N. aid of oil lamps and remained down for three long hours. Today we are pleased to see Commander Crabb back in the Diving Thanks are due to Siebe Gorman & Co. for their loan of diving School and an interview with him gleaned the following up-to-date equipment, and to Broome and Wade for their loan of compressors. report on Tobermory Bay. Readers will be able to link up this account Rolex also allowed five watches to be usefully employed underwater. with the recent article by Lt.-Comdr. Crawford. Commander Crabb's main summary of the operation is that vital Two 167 cubic foot capacity diesel compressors with a 10ft. by progress has been made, the major difficulties solved, and after the 4ft. air receiver were used to supply the air lift. These were positioned grabs have done their part he is anxious to get down and find the real, in the s.s. Ardchattan where a crane moved the air lift according to the long-hidden secrets of the San Juan. diver's instructions. All silt and findings came via the air lift to large By LIEUT. A. SAGAR sifting grids and then into a 400 ton hopper alongside. Work commenced on 17th August, 1954, the recovery vessel secured to five moorings in the position recommended by Lt.-Comdr. Crawford's last exploration. 'Lance probes were used powered by Dennis trailer pump and soon evidence was found to show that here lay the elusive San Juan. Now the real task began as the eight inch diameter air lift tore into the 20 feet of silt over the wreck. Before long the eager watchers made discovery of countless portions of ship's timber which when dry looked black and worm eaten, but on inspection proved to be as hard as granite ; human, partly fossilised bones also came to light and knife and sword remains, and a very important find was the neck of a knife sheath. To prove that it wasn't an entirely " dry ship " two crude glass wine flagon bottoms turned up, and last of all a quantity of lead sheeting used in those days for Damage Control, or it may have been part of the cargo. This was excellent progress, but a major snag soon reared its very ugly head; it became apparent that when the harbour wall and jetties were constructed a vast amount of rock had accumulated over the sea bed and while approximately twenty feet of silt lay over the wreck, the first twelve feet contained a definite layer of rocks which damaged and blocked up the airlift. It was obvious work must cease and a new method found to rid the area of stones often up to two feet across. This difficulty has in fact stopped work until next spring, and meanwhile a ship is required for charter to remove by grabs the offending rock layer. Excitement occurred, however, when Diver Sidney Knowles (" Baron ") while working in a deep hole, felt a nudge from behind him and was suddenly pushed flat on to his face, trapped by a huge rock; to complicate the danger, hard clay fell into the hole and com- pletely buried him ninety- feet below the surface. His friend, Terry Commander L. K. P. Crabb, O.B.E., G.M., R.N. 16 17 www.mcdoa.org.uk , )
The Great Escape, The
19
His is the sort of writing for which the
Epics
By JAMES BENSON
by Paul Brickhill (Collins: 16s.) is the life story
DIVER'S BOOKSHELF
by David Masters,
I begin this column with an
It is impossible in the matter of a few lines to depict the " guts,"
But for the others among you let me stress that the key-note of
Reach for the Sky,
This time I want to write principally about two books. One con-
ful, inwardly as well as outwardly ; was the sort of awkward customer
indulged in trick landings completely against orders; recognised no printed in the April-June issue itself inaccurate and I unre- of Salvage one artificial leg and the ferrule-end of an umbrella, and flew solo and up the Bader brand of courage. For Bader had lost both legs in an who refused to use a pair of sticks, operated the pedals of a car with
the " joie-de-vivre " and the " bloody-mindedness" that went to make apology. In the review of most of us can only pretend to it—if at all—to a very limited extent. that makes me give pride of place in this column to a book that has sea. For courage is something we can all comprehend, even though reviewing this book are that I am probably wasting the time of nearly servedly withdraw my remark Dam Busters, Escape or Die. text." Inquiries have since which I based this statement was the remarkable degree to which this quality is found in Douglas Bader air crash from which he should have died and yet he was always cheer- one definite inaccuracy in the this story has not penetrated in book or serial form. comparison by almost any standards with the leading biographies and absolutely nothing to do with diving and no connection even with the proved that the information on is the " popular " book, which, in the several months since it has been this whole story is—quite plainly and simply—one man's courage. It is to many of you through his earlier successes : description " popular " can never be anything but a supreme compli- you will find in Brickhill's superb technique a book that will bear and apologise to Mr. Masters for adventure stories of the last—or any other—war. My only qualms in cerns the Navy, the other the R.A.F. One is quite recent, the other ment. Whether your favourite author is Dostoevsky or Peter Cheyney, of Douglas Bader, the legless and legendary Battle of Britain Ace. This all of you, for there cannot be many homes or mess-decks into which on the market, has achieved a fantastic sale. Its author will be known was published in early 1954. One is very much a " popular " book, the
of 1953, I wrote : " I know of other is a serious-minded biography.
any damage it may have done to his professional reputation. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
18
with with
Doctor In In Doctor
(all Michael Michael (all
is now out in in out now is
historically historically
The Captain's Table Table Captain's The
21 21
by Jane and Barney Crile (Collins: (Collins: Crile Barney and Jane by
by Captain Philippe Tailliez (Kimber : : (Kimber Tailliez Philippe Captain by
One Of Our Submarines Submarines Our Of One
and and
by Eugenie Clark (Heinemann : 12s. 6d.) ; ; 6d.) 12s. : (Heinemann Clark Eugenie by
To Hidden Depths Depths Hidden To
Lady With A Spear Spear A With Lady
Lastly, but still my first choice as THE war-story of the Second Second the of war-story THE as choice first my still but Lastly,
And if things really are getting you down—and even if they're they're if even down—and you getting are really things if And Treasure Diving Holidays Holidays Diving Treasure
I have three diving books to which I want to give a brief mention. mention. brief a give to want I which to books diving three have I
Rear-Admiral Chalmers has done an excellent job job excellent an done has Chalmers Rear-Admiral
The above books are obtainable from Gieves Bookshop, The Hard, Portsmouth. Portsmouth. Hard, The Bookshop, Gieves from obtainable are books above The
The House, Doctor At Sea Sea At Doctor House, The
you fill in a few idle dog-watches. I hope you enjoy them. them. enjoy you hope I dog-watches. idle few a in fill you World War, Edward Young's Young's Edward War, World
not—why not have a good laugh ? The surest recipe on the market at at market the on recipe surest The ? laugh good a have not not—why
a Penguin edition for 2s. 6d. Some or all of the above should help help should above the of all or Some 6d. 2s. for edition Penguin a
Joseph : 10s. 6d.) 6d.) 10s. : Joseph
the moment is contained in three books by Richard Gordon : : Gordon Richard by books three in contained is moment the
highest professional calibre. Tailliez is a close associate of and ranks ranks and of associate close a is Tailliez calibre. professional highest
with Cousteau, both as diver and writer. No further recommendation recommendation further No writer. and diver as both Cousteau, with
should be needed. Eugenie Clark's book includes a wealth of under- of wealth a includes book Clark's Eugenie needed. be should
Act before a good many eyes. eyes. many good a before Act
the•Criles will doubtless dangle the restrictions of the Naval Discipline Discipline Naval the of restrictions the dangle doubtless will the•Criles
petently—and at times beautifully—written, it deals with diving of the the of diving with deals it beautifully—written, times at petently—and
water scientific investigation, while the carefree diving life permitted to to permitted life diving carefree the while investigation, scientific water
18s.) I prefer the first of these because, as well as being most com- most being as well as because, these of first the prefer I 18s.)
few of them being apocryphal. But please do not take these points as as points these take not do please But apocryphal. being them of few
present security and well-being of his country. country. his of well-being and security present
Almost inevitably they are largely, if not entirely, concerned with self- with concerned entirely, not if largely, are they inevitably Almost
contained operations in warm waters. In order of my personal prefer- personal my of order In waters. warm in operations contained
and and
considered in terms of the contribution made by this great man to the the to man great this by made contribution the of terms in considered
ence they are are they ence
its title suggests, it is principally concerned with the Western Western the with concerned principally is it suggests, title its
be able to create such an epic story while keeping Sir Max's submarine submarine Max's Sir keeping while story epic an such create to able be
16s.) ; ; 16s.)
tribute to " the world's greatest submariner " that his biographer should should biographer his that " submariner greatest world's the " to tribute
Approaches period of Admiral Horton's career, is it not a magnificent magnificent a not it is career, Horton's Admiral of period Approaches
from Scotland to Singapore. I should like to have read more about about more read have to like should I Singapore. to Scotland from
the Service. I should have liked more anecdotes, even at the risk of a a of risk the at even anecdotes, more liked have should I Service. the
activities in their rightful secondary position—rightful, that is, when when is, that position—rightful, secondary rightful their in activities
criticism of any substance. For this is a magnificent book. And if, as as if, And book. magnificent a is this For substance. any of criticism
submarines, particularly in World War One, because I am convinced convinced am I because One, War World in particularly submarines,
that the whole Max Horton philosophy stemmed from this branch of of branch this from stemmed philosophy Horton Max whole the that
that the book lacks the Horton personality. I only had the good fortune fortune good the had only I personality. Horton the lacks book the that
in contact with the aura that surrounded his name in submarine flotillas flotillas submarine in name his surrounded that aura the with contact in
what must have been a very difficult subject. But I cannot help feeling feeling help cannot I But subject. difficult very a been have must what
mined methods succeeded. succeeded. methods mined
night to the role of chief U-Boat destroyer. Those who had known him him known had who Those destroyer. U-Boat chief of role the to night
War to his own ruthless standards of efficiency, only to switch over- switch to only efficiency, of standards ruthless own his to War
well in submarines were not in the slightest surprised when his deter- his when surprised slightest the in not were submarines in well and great honour to meet Sir Max once, but I came for some short time time short some for came I but once, Max Sir meet to honour great and
the 1914 war's submarine commanders, he had first of all organised organised all of first had he commanders, submarine war's 1914 the
our own Submarine Service in the early years of the Second World World Second the of years early the in Service Submarine own our that more than any other person he had won it.. One of the greatest of of greatest the of One it.. won had he person other any than more that
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
life; life;
,, ,,
c;
,
his his
7 7
-
, ,
ittco.was'› ittco.was'›
ARe ARe
FR,OtittNZ Isa Isa FR,OtittNZ
L unk-rev L
way of living living of way
e,iN-T e,iN-T
his his
RE SU Tkfst_S Tkfst_S SU RE
I
Max Horton and The West- The and Horton Max
20 20
° SOU' \RW SOU' °
5
) )
`.
0
by Rear-Admiral W. S. Chalmers (Hodder & & (Hodder Chalmers S. W. Rear-Admiral by
t.-1KES 1/ t.-1KES
- -
414A1
,
‘r
Here is a book on an infinitely wider canvas than the Bader life- Bader the than canvas wider infinitely an on book a is Here
My second book is also a biography : : biography a also is book second My
Here, then, is a book that will bring lumps to the hardest throats. throats. hardest the to lumps bring will that book a is then, Here,
story. Max Horton changed the course of the war—many would say say would war—many the of course the changed Horton Max story.
it is no slight on subsequent Admirals Submarines to say that his name name his that say to Submarines Admirals subsequent on slight no is it
" boats " to take up the appointment of C. in C., Western Approaches. Approaches. Western C., in C. of appointment the up take to " boats "
was still being spoken of with reverence years after he had moved from from moved had he after years reverence with of spoken being still was
Stoughton : 16s.) This is the story of the man who, for my money, has has money, my for who, man the of story the is This 16s.) : Stoughton
—almost worshipped—by the Submarine Service in the recent war, and and war, recent the in Service Submarine the worshipped—by —almost had no equal as a fighting admiral since Nelson. Max Horton was loved loved was Horton Max Nelson. since admiral fighting a as equal no had
It slows up towards the end and you will be glad that it does, for the the for does, it that glad be will you and end the towards up slows It
ern Approaches Approaches ern
fort often verging upon physical agony. Night after night he would would he night after Night agony. physical upon verging often fort
tension is killing. killing. is tension
plaster. And after that, what did danger matter? matter? danger did what that, after And plaster.
have to bind the raw flesh on his overworked stumps with sticking- with stumps overworked his on flesh raw the bind to have
to contend with that much more slippery antagonist, supreme discom- supreme antagonist, slippery more much that with contend to
enemy of " danger " to combat. His predicament meant that he had had he that meant predicament His combat. to " danger " of enemy
no legs. And bear in mind that he had more than the straightforward straightforward the than more had he that mind in bear And legs. no
limitations, disciplinary or physical, upon upon physical, or disciplinary limitations, and turned out to be a fighting fighter-pilot of the first order. All with with All order. first the of fighter-pilot fighting a be to out turned and
• •
23 23
At long last the chamber breaks surface surface breaks chamber the last long At
Meanwhile, on deck, the chamber and and chamber the deck, on Meanwhile,
Exultant and with a final survey to see see to survey final a with and Exultant
released. released.
a " Plop " as the interior positive pressure is is pressure positive interior the as " Plop " a
The lid is speedily unbolted and removed with with removed and unbolted speedily is lid The
inboard by willing hands and housed on deck. deck. on housed and hands willing by inboard
and with a cluck of well-oiled blocks is trained trained is blocks well-oiled of cluck a with and
lamp leads are hove in and coiled down with with down coiled and in hove are leads lamp
diving chamber windows as the frail shell is is shell frail the as windows chamber diving
hoisted to the surface, a tenth of a mile above. above. mile a of tenth a surface, the to hoisted seamanlike precision. precision. seamanlike
shotrope hawsers, telephone and submarine submarine and telephone hawsers, shotrope
sways a little to the upward heave of the winch winch the of heave upward the to little a sways
that the wire antennae are slack enough to en- to enough slack are antennae wire the that
command " Up Chamber — Up Shot." The The Shot." Up — Chamber Up " command
sure rigidity of the charge, the diver passes the the passes diver the charge, the of rigidity sure
yellow painted " shot " — over a ton of iron, iron, of ton a over — " shot " painted yellow
and the phosphorescence streams past the the past streams phosphorescence the and
1). 1).
1
Later, the diver will descend again to inspect, report, and lay lay and report, inspect, to again descend will diver the Later,
When reported ready, the eager salvage team, with mighty eight eight mighty with team, salvage eager the ready, reported When
One more explosive paragraph is accomplished in the chapter of of chapter the in accomplished is paragraph explosive more One
Down on the wreck, tortured rivets fly, a long section of hull hull of section long a fly, rivets tortured wreck, the on Down
The diver, passing out used oxygen cylinders, canisters and tele- and canisters cylinders, oxygen used out passing diver, The
The tenuous snake of primed explosive in its protective coat, with with coat, protective its in explosive primed of snake tenuous The
" Just right " — " Or is it?" — " Yes " — " Steady " — " Lower Lower " — " Steady " — " Yes " — it?" is Or " — " right Just "
"All set "—Passed from the bridge indicates that the order has has order the that indicates bridge the from "—Passed set "All
powerful steam winches the anticipation of either a grabload of cargo, cargo, of grabload a either of anticipation the winches steam powerful or, as often happens, a heap of debris. debris. of heap a happens, often as or,
further charges, until the prize is within grasp. grasp. within is prize the until charges, further
to the valuable cargo, work day and night until the holds are clear— are holds the until night and day work cargo, valuable the to
ton grabs, tough steel fingers tearing the plating clear to gain access access gain to clear plating the tearing fingers steel tough grabs, ton every descent of the grab too slow, every seizure and triumph of the the of triumph and seizure every slow, too grab the of descent every
the demolition and the prising open of the hull of the wreck. wreck. the of hull the of open prising the and demolition the
plate cuts cleanly, petalling inboard; mud and debris cloud the area, area, the cloud debris and mud inboard; petalling cleanly, cuts plate
bomb. A clout and resonant metallic clang on the ship's hull indicates indicates hull ship's the on clang metallic resonant and clout A bomb. the charge has fired. fired. has charge the
and start to settle slowly. slowly. settle to start and
phone harness, climbs from his steel shell into the sunlight and fresh fresh and sunlight the into shell steel his from climbs harness, phone
air. At the order from the bridge, down goes the plunger to fire the the fire to plunger the goes down bridge, the from order the At air.
fore descending. " Lower a little more " — " Stop " — " Bomb in in Bomb " — " Stop " — " more little a Lower " descending. fore
improvised hook at the top, falls into line on the ship's plating and and plating ship's the on line into falls top, the at hook improvised
snugs in, being carefully weighted under the diver's supervision be- supervision diver's the under weighted carefully being in, snugs
position." position."
the Bomb." Bomb." the been executed. executed. been
www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
peering through through peering
22 22
LOWER THE BOMB BOMB THE LOWER
By LIEUT. CHADWICK, R.N. (Retd.) (Retd.) R.N. CHADWICK, LIEUT. By
Immediately there is a surge of power to the winches and the the and winches the to power of surge a is there Immediately
" Ten feet ahead "—" Six feet to starboard "—the diver's order is is order diver's "—the starboard to feet Six "—" ahead feet Ten "
The diver's breathing canister' is getting hot and the oxygen sup- oxygen the and hot getting is canister' breathing diver's The
The bomb stops in mid-water abreast the chamber, picking up the the up picking chamber, the abreast mid-water in stops bomb The
Peering into the submarine gloom, the diver sees the bomb coming coming bomb the sees diver the gloom, submarine the into Peering
" Hold the Bomb." Bomb." the Hold "
The bomb, totally unlike any concept of the late Luftwaffe weapon weapon Luftwaffe late the of concept any unlike totally bomb, The
Suspended within feet of the wreck, the diver, diver, the wreck, the of feet within Suspended
The wreck, sunk by a U-boat during the War, has within her her within has War, the during U-boat a by sunk wreck, The
"Lower the Bomb." Five hundred and eighty feet below the sur- the below feet eighty and hundred Five Bomb." the "Lower
The intrepidity of the modern diver and salvage man, coupled with with coupled man, salvage and diver modern the of intrepidity The
position the bomb. bomb. the position
transmitted to the Captain and all is life on deck. deck. on life is all and Captain the to transmitted
and transferring to the diver suspended below a ratio of movement to to movement of ratio a below suspended diver the to transferring and
*hip-like hawsers crack round the drums in response, shifting ship, ship, shifting response, in drums the round crack hawsers *hip-like
ply is not surging through the bye-pass with the exhilarating rush of of rush exhilarating the with bye-pass the through surging not is ply
the dive successfully. successfully. dive the
one hour ago, so speed and concentration are demanded to complete complete to demanded are concentration and speed so ago, hour one
slow heave of fhe ship shared by_the diver. diver. by_the shared ship fhe of heave slow
the invaders of their domain, and then—vanish ! ! then—vanish and domain, their of invaders the
jacent to number one hold, where an explosive charge is being placed to to placed being is charge explosive an where hold, one number to jacent
little, of the murk. In attendance, and lazily at first, and then to all all to then and first, at lazily and attendance, In murk. the of little,
closer. The high power light, suspended above the diver, can dispel but but dispel can diver, the above suspended light, power high The closer. rained on Britain during World War II, consists of a long snake of of snake long a of consists II, War World during Britain on rained
bomb is lowered in response to the diver's order. order. diver's the to response in lowered is bomb
appearances animatedly, sundry fish, large and small, appear to inspect inspect to appear small, and large fish, sundry animatedly, appearances
first one scuttle, then another, of his many windowed observation shell, shell, observation windowed many his of another, then scuttle, one first
submarine polar blasting gelatine fitted with primers and detonator, detonator, and primers with fitted gelatine blasting polar submarine
and heavily ballasted. Slung on two long wires from a heavy sinker the the sinker heavy a from wires long two on Slung ballasted. heavily and
cut down the ship's side. side. ship's the down cut
can see an illuminated area of a few square feet of the ship's side ad- side ship's the of feet square few a of area illuminated an see can
precious cargoes a proposition attractive to the seafarer. seafarer. the to attractive proposition a cargoes precious
the latest navigational and sonic aids, make deep sea recovery of of recovery sea deep make aids, sonic and navigational latest the
prey. prey.
the oceans, late playgrounds of the submarine in pursuit of their lawful lawful their of pursuit in submarine the of playgrounds late oceans, the
clamouring. Cargoes worth incalculable millions lie entombed beneath beneath entombed lie millions incalculable worth Cargoes clamouring.
face of the sea the diver passes the order over the telephone to his alert alert his to telephone the over order the passes diver the sea the of face
holds valuable non-perishable cargo for which the World markets are are markets World the which for cargo non-perishable valuable holds
surrounding the wreck. The hawsers fret in their fairleads and whip whip and fairleads their in fret hawsers The wreck. the surrounding the wavetops. wavetops. the
attendant in the salvage ship, slowly heaving to the Western ocean ocean Western the to heaving slowly ship, salvage the in attendant swell and snug, while the weather holds, within her six moorings moorings six her within holds, weather the while snug, and swell do not leave booster for pumping
Consequently operation " Flyfrog "
25
e.g.
en bloc.
C.-in-C. visits Med. Team
MEDITERRANEAN TEAM
Greetings from the rapturous Isle of Malta, in the sunny Mediter-
Taking passage in various H.M. Ships, it was unanimously decided In various exercises the Fleet, plus H.S.C.D.T. youths were given We flew to Gib. in no lesser plane than the noble Earl's personal
ranean (at the time of writing, oilskins and seaboots are the rig of the
plane (him being acting C.D.3), where we rendezvoused with unen- day). Since our last communication (a long time ago), we have done lots, and achieved??? had moved their headquarters to Gib. Street and had shares in the that this was a most outmoded way of transport and that the next time
we moved we would fly Banque d'Espanole. Lessons to be learned from flying: check number came into being. lightened brethren of the H.S.C.D.T. who by the time we had arrived of parcels off plane as well as on, the full benefit of the scheme and after stopping night leave to steamers tyres of aeroplane. ular as a D.1 down a C.D. workshop.
and shallow water labourers on various occasions, C.D.'s were as pop- www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk
along with her
"In Town Tonight."
Annet
we are always greeted with the
24
was based in Surrey Commercial Docks,
for the annual shake-up some time in Feb-
Flatholm
H.M.S. "ANNET "
when she sailed for the Mersey. During operations
Vernon
Flatholm
Flatholm
At the moment our diving activities have ceased, as we have just
On 25th March, we sailed to Grimsby to take part in operation Having finished the Thames, we started operating in the Medway
During the first three months of the year
And so, with all the vagaries of wind and weather, tide, dragging
ruary. Greetings to all at home and overseas. Year and to visit
ing. I think this is an easier method of fishing than some of the but it was eaten with great relish on the fore mess deck that same even- the swimming bath. It is hoped to finish the Medway early in the New boosted by the opening of a new box of C.D.'s and the arrival of P.O. come into Chatham Dockyard for a refit, so we are limited to diving in ment a large plaice with its head firmly embedded in the small recess in August, and we were able to bid a fond farewell to our " chummy under the sinker. It was still alive and took a lot of prising to get it out, the cwt. sinker used as a shot one evening, we found to our astonish- spearing methods described by our underwater exploring friends. been led to believe. At the end of May our morale was considerably night in rough weather. On the whole it made a pleasant change from lower reaches of the Thames but we didn't find it as muddy as we had Spicer. perience was gained in diving on sunken aircraft and in diving at Hawk " jet fighter, to enable the authorities to discover the cause of the loss. The job was successfully completed and much valuable ex- ship the looking at bottoms. From May till July we were again operating in the So now when we meet off Gunerson Point, a rather unusual incident occurred. On hauling up Bridge and London Bridge. On 28th January, a display' was given for On the following Saturday, two members of the team were lucky with the coldest day for forty years we rather " hit the headlines." " Lucky Strike." This consisted of the search and recovery of a " Sea the Press, just below Lambeth Bridge. As this happened to coincide " Knightsbridge " march. enough to be invited to speak on the programme
" chummy " ship planned with care and forethought by a small world of superb seamen
diver's laconic order, " Lower the Bomb." and diving was carried out in the docks and in the river between Putney moorings and ever imminent collision dangers, the work goes on,
and divers, intent upon their task of deep salvage made possible by the
1880 1880
Established Established
FOREMOST EVER SINCE SINCE EVER FOREMOST
27 27
PRICE LIST ON REQUEST REQUEST ON LIST PRICE
Naval Tailors and Outfitters Outfitters and Tailors Naval
(Members, Inter-Port Naval Traders' Association Ltd.) Ltd.) Association Traders' Naval Inter-Port (Members,
NAVAL ALLOTMENTS ARRANGED ARRANGED ALLOTMENTS NAVAL
BAUN & CO CO & BAUN
6908 6908
Phone Phone
172 & 182 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH STREET, QUEEN 182 & 172
FIRST IN THE FIELD FIELD THE IN FIRST
Two members of the Staff wondered what the effect would be of of be would effect the what wondered Staff the of members Two
During the past four months, experiments have been carried out out carried been have experiments months, four past the During
,F.,•••••••••••••••••141.1.•••••...... •••••.• •••••.•••••••••••••,..m...... ••••••..•••••..c...... ••••••.• •••••.•••••••••••••,..m...... ••••••..•••••..c...... ••••••.• ,F.,•••••••••••••••••141.1.•••••...... •••••.•
increased pressure upon a bar of Rowntree's Aero Chocolate. They had had They Chocolate. Aero Rowntree's of bar a upon pressure increased
taken to 300 feet pressure equivalent to 135 lbs. to the sq. inch). There There inch). sq. the to lbs. 135 to equivalent pressure feet 300 to taken
visualised, that under pressure, the honeycomb texture of Aero choco- Aero of texture honeycomb the pressure, under that visualised,
purposes. purposes. late would collapse. However, a bar of this chocolate was recently recently was chocolate this of bar a However, collapse. would late
was no effect whatsoever upon the bar of Aero chocolate. Its texture texture Its chocolate. Aero of bar the upon whatsoever effect no was the changes in voice, stops being made at every 50 feet. The result result The feet. 50 every at made being stops voice, in changes the
Rashbass, R.N.V.R. will shortly be producing a paper on his findings. findings. his on paper a producing be shortly will R.N.V.R. Rashbass,
During a recent dive to 300 feet, a tape recording was made to illustrate illustrate to made was recording tape a feet, 300 to dive recent a During
in the Compression Chamber at the R.N. Physiological Laboratory with with Laboratory Physiological R.N. the at Chamber Compression the in
and consistency remained the same ! ! same the remained consistency and
of the recording is very good, and is being kept for demonstration demonstration for kept being is and good, very is recording the of
ROYAL NAVAL PHYSIOLOGICAL LABORATORY LABORATORY PHYSIOLOGICAL NAVAL ROYAL a view to elucidating the causes of Nitrogen Narcosis. Surgeon Lieut. Lieut. Surgeon Narcosis. Nitrogen of causes the elucidating to view a
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SAM. SAM.
the 51st and and 51st the
and P.O. Killon is off to to off is Killon P.O. and
We are happy to welcome to to welcome to happy are We
Flatholm, Annet, Annet, Flatholm,
Superb Superb
26 26
CHATHAM CHATHAM
bon voyage. voyage. bon
C.D. TEAM PORTLAND PORTLAND TEAM C.D.
We wish them them wish We
Team is now Mr. Donaghue, Whitmore, Christmas, Barrett, Barrett, Christmas, Whitmore, Donaghue, Mr. now is Team
A.B. Vining has left the team, and I would like to take this chance chance this take to like would I and team, the left has Vining A.B.
We helped John Mills to make his film " Above Us The Waves " " Waves The Us Above " film his make to Mills John helped We
Before closing, we simply must let you hear our very latest :— :— latest very our hear you let must simply we closing, Before C.P.O. Pearman has left us for for us left has Pearman C.P.O.
Answer : " To get rid of the air in your clothes ! ! !" !" ! ! clothes your in air the of rid get To " : Answer
We have managed to extend our diving area recently, and are now now are and recently, area diving our extend to managed have We " Why is it necessary to clear your counter-lung?" counter-lung?" your clear to necessary it is Why "
We are pleased to report that all is well in the East—at least, as as least, East—at the in well is all that report to pleased are We
For the future, there are interesting cruises, all potential reliefs reliefs potential all cruises, interesting are there future, the For
We are flitting from our outdated Nissen huts, and taking over a a over taking and huts, Nissen outdated our from flitting are We
The elder brethren had their usual position at the bar in the mess, mess, the in bar the at position usual their had brethren elder The
breather. breather.
A.B. Barrett has an addition. Congrats. Don't know yet steam or or steam yet know Don't Congrats. addition. an has Barrett A.B.
- -
rolling. We played host to the 51st a short while back. Led by Cobbie Cobbie by Led back. while short a 51st the to host played We rolling.
Reclaim. Reclaim.
froin 100ft. high down to 33ft. in anything from submarines to heli- to submarines from anything in 33ft. to down high 100ft. froin
Housden and P.O. McKinley. McKinley. P.O. and Housden
tit on behalf of myself and the team to wish him luck outside. outside. luck him wish to team the and myself of behalf on three were last seen going whiskygreen whilst watching a ship stage stage ship a watching whilst whiskygreen going seen last were three
had their own tour, without guides. Two finished up in the stables; stables; the in up finished Two guides. without tour, own their had
yes, Sir, they found real horses—competition, no doubt. The other other The doubt. no horses—competition, real found they Sir, yes,
regular. doses. They came during the Chatham Navy Days and we we and Days Navy Chatham the during came They doses. regular. diving in the basins and the locks—I expect that we must leave just just leave must we that expect locks—I the and basins the in diving
and Robb'e, they proceeded to drag the local team from pub to pub. pub. to pub from team local the drag to proceeded they Robb'e, and
and our tour of the studios was quite entertaining. Naturally the divers divers the Naturally entertaining. quite was studios the of tour our and
a little room for the Dockyard Movements Officer to play his little little his play to Officer Movements Dockyard the for room little a copters. copters.
(especially natives) please note. Also full scale training programme of of programme training scale full Also note. please natives) (especially
the fold P.O.s Watson and O'Connor. O'Connor. and Watson P.O.s fold the
games. games.
the C.D.T. (A) all together. Personally, we prefer our poison in small small in poison our prefer we Personally, together. all (A) C.D.T. the even managed to enveigle them into joining the displays and had 'em 'em had and displays the joining into them enveigle to managed even
well as it can be, after being visited by by visited being after be, can it as well
Steam " where no doubt the unworthy characters will be graced by by graced be will characters unworthy the doubt no where " Steam
the shallow water divers for conversion (into the faith) is about to to about is faith) the (into conversion for divers water shallow the
commence. commence.
brother was, one evening, stricken and lost control of his lower gar- lower his of control lost and stricken evening, one was, brother
having such as we in the immediate proximity. proximity. immediate the in we as such having stone fortress on the banks of the creek, nigh on to the " House of of House " the to on nigh creek, the of banks the on fortress stone
excluding all regular mess members. And it must be told that one elder elder one that told be must it And members. mess regular all excluding ments. ments.
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SPECIAL BOAT WING AND No. I S.B.S. (AMPHIBIOUS SCHOOL) ROYAL MARINES II METAL INDUSTRIES Round about 1948 it was decided that the Amphibious School, (SALVAGE) LTD. Royal Marines would move to an old war-time camp at Poole, in Dorset. At long last we are pleased to announce that the money had been voted for the move and we will be installed there by 1st Decem- Marine Salvage, Towage and ber. Moving with us will be the same ex-Vernon's in the form of the C.D.T.(A) and it is interesting to note that the Ministry of Agriculture, Underwater Contractors appreciating the Corkheads' affinity for oysters have placed large parts of Poole Harbour out of bounds. 1 The usual run of demonstrations have taken place recently at the i Special Boat Wing, Naval Sub. Lieutenants being the prime recipients. j We were pleased to welcome two GURKHA Captains who saw a demonstration specially given for the Naval Staff College. Being non- swimmers it is much to our Gurkha friends' credit that they did manage to swim with fins—one of them even did one or two lengths of the Swimming Bath underwater using a U.B.A.—thus presumably being the first Gurkha ever to dive. Talking of demonstrations, like our friends at Vernon, we also took part in the Trafalgar Day B.B.C. broadcast. Squeezing an underwater approach, a shore attack on a radar tower and an underwater withdrawal into five minutes was rather difficult, but we are glad to say that this was in fact AUTHENTIC- The Company's Fleet includes the following ALLY commentated on by Mr. David Lloyd James—in fact the whole show went off with quite a bang!! SALVEDA " 781 tons 1200 I.H.P. One of our officers has recently acquired an aqua-lung and we " METINDA III 593 tons 1275 I.H.P. are now getting the " forever blowing bubbles " effect with it—surface swimmers when approaching the bubbles exclaim " Phew, scrumps ! ! " WHIRLPOOL " and LYNESS When the move to Poole has been completed it is hoped to start a Coastal Salvage Vessels small Aqua-lung club—the Dorset coastline being very suitable for such work. GWEEBARRA - Oil Recovery Vessel With No. 1 S.B.S., members of the S.B.W. have been taking part in exercises in Norway and the North of Scotland. In contrast All classes of Ocean and Coastal Towage to the Norwegian exercise the Scotland one was anything but easy and undertaken on Day or Contract Terms. their theme at the moment is " Hardships you . . ! You don't know what hardships are ! " Harbour Clearances and all branches of Diving and Underwater Work carried out FASLANE PORT
SHANDON • DUMBARTONSHIRE
Telephone (Day and Night): GARELOCHEAD 351 (3 lines)
London Agents: W. P. JOBSON & CO. LTD.
1•••••••••••••• •••••••••••• ...1.••••••••• •••••-• •-••••••••
28 www.mcdoa.org.uk