Silver Jubilee Fleet Review Was Designed and Produced by Pitkin Pictorials Ltd and Published by Lieut-Commander W

are taught subjects including harmony, the whole always depends upon the renders Her Majesty and one which, orchestration, the history of music and quality and character of each individual since Queen Victoria, successive sover- conducting. Many musicians, as a result officer, warrant officer, non- eigns have been pleased to accept. of this experience, are able to take commissioned officer and marine, and HRH the Prince of Wales has served rewarding employment in the world of prides itself on the excellent relationships as a naval pilot in 848 Naval Air music when they leave the service. that exist between ranks. Squadron and as such he has been Since the end of World War II Royal embarked in Commando and assault Marines have taken part in almost every ships of the Fleet, landing Royal campaign, including those in Malaya, The Royal Family and the Corps Marines Commandos on exercises in Korea, Cyprus, Borneo and Aden. Cur- When King George VI died, the Corps Canada and elsewhere. He thus has an rently, Royal Marines Commandos and lost a much loved Captain-General, a intimate knowledge of the modern landingcraft crews are involved in North- title he assumed in 1948 before which he techniques of the Marines' amphibious ern Ireland alongside the Army. 41 had been Colonel-in-Chief. The new role. For this modern role the Corps is Commando Royal Marines was for a time Queen's husband had been a professional much indebted to his great uncle, part of the United Nations Peace-Keeping naval officer for many years prior to the Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mount- Force in Cyprus in 1974. As a result of its accession in 1952. It therefore seemed batten of Burma, who as Chief of work the unit was awarded the Wilkinson highly appropriate that His Royal High- Combined Operations in World War II Sword, which is annually presented to the ness the Duke of Edinburgh should did much to ensure that Royal Marines ship or unit adjudged to have made the become the new Captain-General, which were included in the Commandos. Later, most valuable contribution towards he did in 1953. Since then Prince Phillip as First Sea Lord and then as Chief of establishing good and friendly relations has shown tremendous interest in the Defence Staff, Lord Mountbatten guided with the inhabitants of any territory Royal Marines and is by now as well the Corps into its latest amphibious role, within or outside the United Kingdom. 40 versed as any in the Corps of which he is landing by helicopter from Commando Commando Royal Marines has been head. The Royal Marines owe him a great and assault ships. After ceasing active awarded the Sword twice, for community debt for his inspiration and guidance service in the Royal Navy in 1965, Lord work in Sarawak in 1966 and in Belfast in over the last 24 years. Mountbatten was appointed Life Colonel 1972. HM Royal Yacht Britannia always Commandant Royal Marines, a rare The strength of the Royal Marines embarks a Royal Marines band from honour for one who has not actually lies in their adaptability and in the high Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth, when- served in the Corps. professional standards achieved during ever Her Majesty or members of her The Royal Marines look forward to their thorough and demanding training. family are aboard. This is perhaps the many further years of loyal service to The Corps knows that the efficiency of most personal service that the Corps Her Majesty and with the Duke of Edinburgh as their Captain-General. 23 The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, simultaneously. She can refuel up to three seven of these, three of the Ness class and usually known as the RFA, is the branch other ships at a time, one either side at a two each of the Resurgent and Resource of the RN Supply and Transport Service distance of between 80 and 150 feet with classes. These ships can replenish two which provides a logistic support force the third steaming astern. The receiving ships under way simultaneously, one for the Navy in the form of ships that ships come up and take position on the either side, using a technique somewhat carry and provide to the fleet at sea its tanker but in the case of an aircraft similar to the fleet tankers'. In addition, requirements of fuel, food, ammunition carrier or other large ship the tanker will by using helicopters, they can supply and stores of all kinds; in addition it take station. A line is then fired across stores to other ships steaming consider- carries out other support tasks for the and with this the hoses are hauled over, to able distances away by a procedure known armed services. The ships are painted be coupled into the receiving ship's as vertical replenishment. Stores support grey but they are not warships nor are system. As the ships steam along, rolling ships will carry as many as 40,000 they manned by naval personnel. They in the seaway, the distance between them different items for re-supply to the carry their own distinctive blue ensign is continually changing and automatic warships and up to 60 loads an hour can with a vertical anchor in gold in the fly. tension winches pay out or take up the be passed across. The stores organisation Nearly all their officers and petty slack in the hoses as necessary. There are on board these ships is looked after by officers and a proportion of the ratings six large fleet tankers (Olwen and Tide civilian staff of the Royal Naval Supply are career service personnel who remain classes) and five smaller ships of the and Transport Service. with the RFA throughout their sea-going Rover class. There are five freighting The logistic ships are used to carry careers. The remainder are drawn from tankers, the Leaf class, and a larger ship troops, and their vehicles and equipment the Merchant Navy and all are on MN Dewdale, which collect oil from ; they are military 'car ferries' and have pay and conditions. refineries and transport it to naval fuel bow and stern doors through which tanks RFAs normally form part of naval depots. They also carry fuel to replenish and lorries can be driven on board and task groups and accompany the warships fleet tankers. This allows the latter to off. With their shallow draught these on their normal peacetime deployment remain longer in company with the naval ships can, if necessary, be 'beached' to and whenever emergencies occur. The force of which they form part. enable unloading to take place direct present-day RFA comprises 34 ships, Store carriers transport cargo for the over the beaches. These six ships are half of which are tankers and the re- forces from one place to another. There named after knights of the Round Table mainder stores support ships, store are three of these, Hebe and Bacchus, of King Arthur. carriers, logistic landing ships and a which carry general cargo for all three The main function of the helicopter helicopter training ship. services, and the Empire Gull, which is ship RFA Engadine is to enable naval Tankers are of two main categories: used for carrying Army vehicles. helicopter pilots to become proficient at fleet tankers and freighting tankers. A fleet Stores support ships are in effect sea- deck landing in all winds and weather, by tanker can carry four or five different going warehouses which carry am- night as well as day. This ship is grades of oil required by warships and munition, food, stores and other com- particularly interesting because in ad- naval aircraft, and can issue them modities required by the Navy. There are dition to her RFA crew, the aviation side

24 of things is looked after by RN officers boys aged from 164 years who wish to electrics in RFAs, while the pursers are and men so she is truly a 'mixed' ship— make the sea their career as deck and responsible for catering, accounts, and but very efficient. engineer officers. It also takes in more other administrative work on board. All In addition to Engadine, all the newer mature officers who have served with officers are given courses to enable them ships—over half of the fleet—have other companies. In addition it has radio, to learn their various jobs and develop flight-decks and refuelling equipment electrical and purser officers. With the their skills. for helicopters. Some ships also have advanced electronic equipment fitted in The RFA is a service with high stan- hangars and helicopter-maintenance fa- RFAs, radio officers get a considerably dards. It provides a job of wide variety cilities which are used by Royal Navy more intensive experience than their and it is full of interest. Its proud boast helicopters as required. counterparts in merchant ships. Electrical is that the initials stand for 'Ready for Underway replenishment is an art officers, too, look after the wide range of Anything'. which has steadily developed with im- proved gear and methods. The procedure was given considerable impetus during World War II, when the Royal Navy deployed in force to the Pacific in 1944/45, and later during the Korean War, when warships had to operate at long distances from their main support bases. Transfer of bulk ammunition and other heavy cargo in large quantities con- tinued to develop in the decade following World War II, and in the sixties, after the bringing into service of a number of purpose-designed stores support ships. At the present time development of equipment is going on to improve the safety of loads in transit, especially in rough weather ; for it is no use trans- ferring costly and sophisticated equip- ment if it gets damaged in the process ! In addition to supporting our own warships, the RFA is well used to replenishing, with both fuel and stores, the warships of Commonwealth and Allied navies and they carry the necess- ary gear for this purpose. Although underway replenishment is a routine task to warships and RFAs, it is a job demanding precision and skill. Picture two, or three, ships steaming close together in heavy weather at quite fast speeds. A false move could bring disaster. Then imagine this being done in blackout conditions, while the ships are closed up under simulated attack ! The officers and men of the RFA not only have to be trained like the rest of the Merchant Navy in basic ship handling, operation and maintenance. They must also become skilled in working with warships and helicopters, in evolutions such as underway replenishment and tactical manoeuvring and, when they are in the logistic landing ships, they have to work with the Army too.. So it is a demanding job requiring a high level of skill and proficiency. The keynote is training and, like the Navy, with whom it trains, the RFA puts a good deal of emphasis on this. The RFA has a cadet entry scheme for

FACING PAGE: HMS Ark Royal being serviced by two RFA ships : on the star- board side (left of the picture) by a Tide class fleet tanker; on the port side by RFA Lyness, a Ness class store support ship. THIS PAGE (top): RFA Regent, a fleet replenishment ship. (centre): RFA Green Rover, a small fieet tanker. (bottom): RFA Sir Bedivere, a landing ship logistic. She is attended by the Dog class tug, Spaniel, towing a fuel lighter. A hovercraft is standing by Bedivere's open bow doors. 25 The Hydrographic Service

One of the oldest and smallest depart- regarded as unnavigable, and led to the 113 chart folios to the Fleet. He was a ments of the Ministry of Defence (Navy) capture of Quebec in 1759. Captain Cook tireless organiser and, despite the re- is that of the Hydrographer of the Navy. then carried out detailed surveys off duction of the Fleet after the Napoleonic Established on 12 August 1795, the Newfoundland before his more famous wars, he got approval to man special Hydrographic Department is responsible voyages to the Pacific. warships with surveying officers. By for producing and updating the nautical No Government money, however, was 1820, there were 12 Surveying Ships charts and navigational publications not spent in publishing the results of these with surveying specialists in command. only for the Royal Navy, but also for all surveys. Charts of varying accuracy were When Hurd died in office in 1824, he had other Government departments, as well sold by private booksellers who catered laid the firm foundations for the present as for the Merchant Navy, fishermen, chiefly for merchant ships. Captains of pre-eminence of the department in the yachtsmen, and all those who are men-of-war had to buy what they could international hydrographic field. concerned with the exploitation of the afford, and many were forced to use very For the next 90 years the Navy's sea bed. inadequate versions, which usually made surveying ships—then, as now, with hulls The present Hydrographer of the up in artistry what they lacked in painted white and with buff-painted Navy—Rear-Admiral D. W. Haslam, accuracy, with illustrations of cherubs, funnels and unarmed—literally surveyed OBE, FRICS—is the 21st holder of the whales and animals. the world. Wherever British trade could office and he is head of a branch with Complaints from HM Fleet about the be developed, naval survey ships went to almost 1,000 civilian and naval staff at need for a hydrographic department had find the safest routes. Few other countries Taunton, and only slightly fewer in the begun in 1740 at least, and it is probable had the ability or knowledge, and every- 13 HM Surveying Ships. The 3,500 that George III had planned to appoint where British surveying ships and their individual charts, which make up a Captain Cook as the first Hydrographer of crews were welcomed. The result was that homogeneous world-wide series, and the the Navy had he returned from his fatal many coastal charts—in China, Japan, navigational publications which the Pacific voyage. In the early Napoleonic Australasia, the Americas, Africa, the department produces are available Wars, losses of British warships by ship- Pacific and the Caribbean—to this day throughout the world. wreck because of inadequate charts were have traces of their incredible efforts. To understand how this sizeable greater than those inflicted by the enemy, Throughout this pax Britannica era, business has grown, one must go back a and Alexander Dalrymple was eventually however, the draught of ships remained long way. Ever since man first went to appointed as the first Hydrographer of the fairly constant; the method of sounding sea, mariners have kept careful records Navy. He was then aged 59 and already remained the traditional one of using a in order to profit from their experiences hydrographer to the East India Company lead weight on a marked line. With so and to be able to return safely. Early in 1795. The only civilian to hold the much of the ocean to be explored, waters charts of British waters were privately post, he set out to sort the mass of regarded as only slightly deeper than the produced copies of charts made by the unpublished data, with a salary for deepest vessel expected to use the area Dutchman Waghenair, but in the late himself and his staff of only £650 a year. were not fully investigated. The time and 17th century various maritime bodies, Although Dalrymple succeeded in effort needed to lower a hand lead-line in such as Trinity House, persuaded Charles cataloguing and co-ordinating a pro- deep water were considerable but, II to appoint Captain Greenville Collins digious amount of data, he refused to use although each cast of the lead only gave to conduct a systematic survey of the captured French data until this was the depth of the few inches of the sea coastline. After 10 years, his results were published by the French Hydrographic bed actually struck by the lead, the published in Great Britain's Coasting Office. A Charting Committee, set up in experience of the surveyors enabled them Pilot, which was very accurate indeed 1808 to advise on the selection of charts to locate a much larger number of hidden considering the equipment and time needed by the Navy, recommended the pinnacles than the law of averages would available. In 1751, the Admiralty issue of folios of selected charts to each suggest. appointed a civilian surveyor, Murdoch warship, and when Dalrymple disagreed, The requirement to lay submarine Mackenzie, to make charts of the west he was asked by the Admiralty to retire telephone cables across the oceans led to coasts of Britain and Ireland to add to his and died three weeks later—it was said the development of deep-sea sounding earlier works in the Orkneys. Captain of a broken heart. machines; HMS Challenger's four-year Cook's first hydrographic survey enabled Captain Hurd, who had been on the circumnavigation of the world from 1873 the British forces to navigate parts of the Charting Committee, was then appointed to 1877, under the guidance of the Royal St Lawrence river which the French and, within a year, had issued the first Society, paved the way for much further 26 co-operative civilian scientific work. By surveying motor launches. This massive accurately. Sonar—or horizontal sound the outbreak of World War I, the intro- and timely replacement of the surveying transmission—is now available to search duction of submarines had led to new fleet was partly due to the impending between the lines followed by each needs for better delineation of the sea- introduction of the powerful deep-diving surveying ship as it methodically covers bed topography, but it was not until the nuclear submarines and partly tc the its area—like a man mowing a lawn in late 1930s that the surveying scene was anticipated increase in draught of the parallel lines. dramatically changed by the introduction world's mercantile fleet. This painstaking work—carried out for of the echo-sounding machine. This So long as ships remained of roughly more than 5,000 hours per year by each equipment displays on a paper trace a the same draught and kept to their ship—may appear boring or dull, but the continuous profile of the sea bed beneath traditional routes, the risk of stranding knowledge that every new danger found the track of a ship. Sound transmitted on uncharted dangers was acceptably may save some ship from stranding from the ship's keel is reflected from the small. However, by the 1950s the maxi- motivates both the specialist surveyors sea bed and received back in the ship. mum draughts of ships had increased and general service ratings serving in HM As the approximate speed of sound in from about 13 metres to over 26 metres ; Surveying Ships. water is known, by measuring the time whilst today concrete oil- and gas-pro- The same sense of dedication to taken for the double journey the depth duction platforms have to be towed to accuracy is felt ashore, where the 1,000 can be calculated. their off-shore sites with draughts of staff are devoted to transforming the The position of the ship as it progressed over 95 metres. It is quite unacceptable mass of data received into a homo- along its track could still be fixed ac- to to these through waters which have geneous format of most value to the curately only by means of sextant angles never been comprehensively surveyed, various users. Apart from the work of between marks at accurately positioned but less than a quarter of the world's HM Surveying Ships, some 2,500 foreign points ashore or between beacons fixed in continental shelf has been surveyed by new charts and new editions are received shallow water. Such work was thus modern echo-sounders. The hydrographic annually. Every document is indexed and confined to good weather and to daylight services of the world have to ensure the examined for significant alterations. hours, but the increased accuracy of depth safety of such platforms and of the 50C Details of urgent changes are signalled was sufficient to keep pace with the or so vessels of over 100,000 dwt which immediately to ships at sea through the gradual increase of draught of both now carry bulk cargoes of petroleum and Admiralty's Radio Navigational Warning merchant and naval ships, which in 1953 other products, close to most coasts of series—now linked to an international was still little more than it had been in the world. HM Surveying Ships can no system. Important changes of less ur- 1853. longer meet this responsibility alone, but gency are included in the Admiralty The development of radar and elec- 47 maritime countries now belong to the series of Notices to Mariners which are tronic distance-measuring equipment International Hydrographic Organisation, issued weekly. Every correction on the during World War II led to the second a co-ordinating body established in 1922 stock of some 1,500,000 copies of charts major improvement in marine navigation to encourage the interchange of navi- is made by hand, so that every chart, and hydrographic activities. Radar first gational and surveying data between when sold, is corrected to the day of became available for navigational use nations. Not all the 47 countries can issue. Orders are received from all over about 25 years ago, but it was not until carry out their own hydrographic surveys the world and every attempt is made to 1957 that the Two Range Decca equip- or print their own charts. There are still dispatch each order within 24 hours of ment was fitted to five British survey many former Commonwealth countries receipt. Such is the dedication of the ships. This consisted of a master station who, rely upon the Hydrographic Depart- whole staff—from the youngest sailor in carried in the ship which controlled two ` ment to undertake their hydrographic the furthest deployed survey ship to the slave' stations ashore at suitably selected tasks. The need for this work to continue newest draughtsman at Taunton—that the positions and the system enabled the was acknowledged in October 1976 when proud boast may be earned now, as it ship's position to be accurately and part of the cost of HM Surveying Fleet in could in the last century, that every continuously plotted when up to 120 the year 1977/78 was met from UK over- mariner 'can put his trust in God and the miles from the land and regardless of seas aid funds, whilst its importance to Admiralty chart.' visibility or daylight hours. the national energy programme was The foundations of the present survey- recognised by a contribution from the ing fleet had been laid shortly after Department of Energy. World War II, when four frigate hulls Work in support of trade must also were converted and commissioned as HM continue. Of the 14,000 wrecks lying in Survey Ships Dampier, Dalrymple, Owen UK coastal waters, the exact position of and Cook. HMS Vidal—the first HM ship some 11,000 is uncertain and the least specifically designed and built as a depth of more than 12,500 is unknown. surveying ship—was commissioned in In 1976, over 100 new wrecks were 1954, when four Survey Ships and five found, including one rising more than 90 surveying motor launches were employed feet from the sea bed close to the route in UK waters and three survey ships were taken earlier in the year by the first employed overseas. The first of a new concrete production platform to leave class of inshore survey craft, HMS Echo, the Clyde. Since the large VLCCs are was commissioned in 1958, and her two known to operate with less than the sister ships—HMS Egeria and HMS height of a tall man between their keels Enterprise—in 1959; all three are still and the charted sea bed, every bump and giving excellent service together, as the hollow, rock and wreck, down to a depth Inshore Survey Squadron, based in of 90 feet must be located and heighted Chatham. The four ships of the Dampier class and the four pre-war converted minesweepers were all nearing the end of their useful life by the 1960s. Three purpose-built FACING PAGE: HMS Fox passing a partly ocean survey ships were laid down in completed offshore oil installation in the Frigg 1964, when orders were also placed for Field in the North Sea. The coastal survey ship was on her way to survey an oil rig tow-out four coastal survey vessels and for the route. RIGHT: Lowering a conversion of two inshore minesweepers temperature/depth/salinity probe from HMS to replace the last of the two wartime Hecate. 27 The Women's Royal Naval Service

This year, as well as the Queen's Silver Dame Vera Laughton Mathews, who had and ratings opened in Washington with Jubilee, the Women's Services celebrate their served as a WRNS officer in the 1917- the British Admiralty Delegation, and in Diamond Anniversary. 19 period, was chosen as Director, and Gibraltar. Tragedy overtook the first The Women's Royal Naval Service was took up her duties in April 1939. WRNS draft to Gibraltar as a small formed in 1917 to replace men required Until the outbreak of war, recruiting merchant vessel, SS Aguila, carrying 12 for active service. Under the directorship was for WRNS officers and ratings who cypher officers and 10 chief Wren W/T of Dame Katharine Furse and in the two could live in their own homes and were operators and a nursing sister of the years before it was disbanded, it grew required to attend a prescribed number QARNNS, was torpedoed and the entire to approximately 7,000, the women in of weekly drills at the home ports of draft lost. Replacement volunteers were the service having proved, to the Chatham, Portsmouth and Devonport, immediately forthcoming and sailed for satisfaction of the Navy, their ability not and also Rosyth. On 3 September 1939, Gibraltar the following month. Many only to carry out domestic and clerical there were some 1,000 such Wrens other members of the service lost their duties, but such work as boats' crew and employed as communicators, writers, lives at sea, and as the result of enemy wireless telegraphist. motor transport drivers, cooks and action in the United Kingdom. In 1919 the service was completely stewards. There were also a small Early 1942 saw the first of many disbanded, although many of the women number of officers-in-charge and drafts to Alexandria and subsequently who had served kept in touch through the prospective cypher officers. WRNS units throughout the Middle Association of Wrens, and from time to Permission was then obtained, for East and Far Eastern areas. In 1943 and time raised the question of the formation which the Director had pressed, to recruit 1944 the series of great conferences of Women's Services' Reserves. A officers and ratings to serve in widely between the heads of Allied nations voluntary training course for women scattered areas throughout the United took place, at which WRNS officers officers was held in 1937, when a pro- Kingdom. The demand for mobile WRNS served with distinction. Cypher officers posal was considered that there should be officers and ratings was immediate and had the enviable privilege, together a united women's service to serve the continuous. 1941 and 1942 were years of with the WRNS coder ratings, of being three services, but in 1938 the Board of great expansion, both in number of the first women to serve afloat in large Admiralty decided that there was a need personnel and diversity of duties. Highly troop-carrying ships. In 1944, the peak for women to assist the Navy, as a skilled categories concerned with the separate corps, organised on a civilian maintenance of aircraft, weapons and basis. small craft were introduced to serve the THIS PAGE: A Wren air mechanic towing a In April 1939, it was announced that the needs of the growing Fleet Air Arm and Wessex helicopter at RNAS Culdrose in King had given permission for the Combined Operations, all a very far cry Cornwall. Some Wren air mechanics qualify as tractor drivers. formation of a corps to be known as the from the duties conventionally Women's Royal Naval Service, to replace undertaken by women. FACING PAGE (top): Wren radar plotters at In January 1941, the first WRNS a shore-establishment. WRNS officers and naval officers and men on certain duties ratings are playing an increasingly im- in time of war. A total force of about 1, overseas draft, consisting of 20 chief Wren portant part in the wide field of com- 500 was envisaged, to be employed on wireless telegraphist operators and one munications. (bottom): HRH The Princess the duties conventionally applicable to second officer, sailed for Singapore. In the Anne, Chief Commandant WRNS at RNAS women. Mrs Laughton Mathews, later same year service for WRNS officers Yeovilton during a visit in 1976. 28 expansion was reached with a total force of which must be at 'A' level, and who have WRNS new-entry training, carried 74,620, with 90 rating categories and 50 the qualities expected of a potential out at HMS Dauntless since 1946, will officer branches. officer. Direct entry is available to those transfer to the West Country in 1980 At the end of the war, the WRNS who have a university degree or suitable and the training of all new-entry naval rapidly reduced in number, but the Navy civilian qualifications and experience. and WRNS ratings will then be carried could not return at once to a peacetime All candidates attend the Admiralty out in the same place, namely at HMS basis and WRNS officers and ratings Interview Board at Gosport. The age Raleigh in Torpoint. were still needed. Many volunteered for limits for promotion are between 20 and This year, for the first time, members of periods of extended service, and small 29 years. the WRNS will become subject to the Naval numbers continued to be recruited on Candidates who are accepted for the Discipline Act, thereby accepting short-term engagements. Dame Jocelyn Officers' Training Course go to the commitment with equal opportunity. Woollcombe, who succeeded Dame Vera Britannia Royal Naval College at Dart- Although celebrating its 60th an- Laughton Mathews as Director at the end mouth for a 13½ weeks' course. On niversary the Women's Royal Naval of 1946, guided the transition of the satisfactory completion they are promoted Service is proud of its young and modern WRNS from a wartime basis, through the to probationary third officer and enter a image and it was with great delight that demobilisation period, to a permanent seven-year short-service commission, the news of the appointment in 1974 of status. which has an optional break-point at five Princess Anne as Chief Commandant was On 1 February 1949 the Women's years. Officers may apply to transfer to received. The post had remained vacant Royal Naval Service—first created to permanent commissions. since the tragic death of Princess Marina meet the Navy's need in wartime— All officers are trained in both admin- in 1968. became an integral and permanent part istrative and specialist duties in order to The service has come a long way since of the Naval Service. The permanent widen the scope of their employment. its formation but remembers with pride establishment of the WRNS today is The specialisations open to WRNS the standards, traditions, and the spirit of some 270 officers and 2,700 ratings. officers are in the secretarial, personnel those early Wrens which have made the Applicants, who must be between 17 selection, communications, catering, Women's Royal Naval Service what it is and 28 years of age, attend a selection photographic interpretation, today, an increasingly integrated part of board, which includes an aptitude test and instructional and technical fields. the Royal Navy. medical examination, and an interview WRNS officers and ratings serve in with a WRNS careers officer to discuss most naval and Royal Marine establish- the various categories available and those ments in the United Kingdom, and serve for which they are most suitable. If abroad in Malta, Gibraltar, Naples, selected, they attend a four weeks' basic Portugal, Hong Kong, Oslo and Belgium. training course, at present at HMS Individual officers are in appointments in Dauntless, the WRNS New Entry Train- Paris and the United States of America, ing Establishment near Reading. This whilst individual ratings are serving in includes a two-week probationary period Holland, New Zealand, New Delhi, during which the recruit may terminate Canada and Peking. her service. However, all being well, she Although the services are exempt from enrols on a nine-year notice engagement the Sex Discrimination Act, many steps which requires her to serve a minimum of towards closer integration within the three years from her 18th birthday or the Royal Navy are taking place. For completion of her specialist training, example, responsibility for the recruiting, whichever is the later. Thereafter she has selection and appointment of officers, the option of leaving the service having hitherto controlled by the Director given 18 months' notice or, in due course, WRNS, has now been passed to the same of extending her engagement to complete naval authorities as for the men. Director 14 years' and, subsequently, 22 years' WRNS has assumed an additional task as service in order to qualify for a pension. the Assistant Director General Naval All members of the WRNS may take their Personal Services and has been advising discharge as a result of marriage. on the Navy's future housing policy. The However, many decide to stay in for a recruiting and drafting of WRNS ratings time, particularly if their husbands are in have also been taken on by the men but, the Navy. conversely, many naval ratings, mainly in On satisfactory completion of the the secretarial branch, find that their ` basic training a Wren goes on to her drafty' is now a first officer WRNS. As specialist training at a naval school RN and WRNS personnel often now before taking up a job in a complement attend the same basic and higher training billet. WRNS ratings help to maintain courses they become increasingly and repair naval aircraft, drive service interchangeable and job opportunity for vehicles, plan and plot naval, air and sea the WRNS has widened. exercises, prepare meteorological The WRNS Officers' Training Course, information and evaluate the accuracy of which had been at the Royal Naval weapon practice. They cook, issue stores, College, Greenwich, since 1939, moved assist the dental surgeons, operate to the Britannia Royal Naval College, telephone switchboards, help staff Dartmouth, in September 1976 and the communications centres and do much of second course of officer cadets has just the Navy's clerical and accounting work. passed out as probationary third officers. There are three ways of becoming a Their course is now designed to give WRNS officer. Selection is from ratings greater weight to the role and organis- already serving, provided they have a ation of the Royal Navy, the study of minimum of five passes at '0' level in British and international affairs and the the GCE (or equivalent) with English development of powers of leadership. Language as one subject. Cadet entry is The aim is to help prepare WRNS open to those aged ½½½½ who have officers for greater variety of obtained at least five passes in GCE, employment and closer integration including English Language, two of within the Royal Navy. 29 The Royal Naval Reserve

The Royal Naval Reserve has a proud Royal Navy in the event of war. When As a part of the move towards closer tradition dating from 1859. It was then Word War II broke out the Admiralty integration with the Royal Navy, the that a Reserve Force was first established had a large body of volunteers to call on modern Naval Reserve, which is an by Act of Parliament for men of the and at one time there were over 40,000 amalgamation of the former RNR and Mercantile Marine. Twelve years later, officers in the Naval Service holding RNVR, underwent a fundamental re- the RN Artillery Volunteers, consisting of RNVR commissions. view in 1974/75. As a result the RNR yachtsmen, members of rowing clubs and Reservists served during World War II, came under the command and control of men with nautical connections, were in all types of ships from aircraft carriers the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home raised. They were expected to make to coastal craft and in naval shore estab- Command, and on 1 January 1976 the themselves proficient in gunnery—but sea lishments throughout the world. Officers Women's Royal Naval Reserve was fully training was not compulsory. commanded destroyers, frigates and sub- integrated with the Royal Naval After 20 years, the Artillery Volunteers marines, and most of the commanding Reserve. The RNR today is trained for were disbanded because it was felt that officers of Coastal Forces were RNVR many roles. There are 440 professional their training was not concerned enough officers, while Reserve ratings served as merchant navy officers who hold RNR with the sea to make it of real value. seamen, electricians, engineers, signal- commissions, and who would provide Then in 1903, the gap was filled by the men, and wireless operators. Once again essential knowledge of naval operations birth of the Royal Naval Volunteer they fought with distinction, winning Reserve (RNVR). further honours and decorations for At the outbreak of World War I, the service with the Royal Navy and the ABOVE: Barbara and Dennis, two of the 5, Admiralty, thanks to the training pro- Fleet Air Arm. 000 people in the United Kingdom who vided in the RNVR, was able to call on a In recognition of the way officers of the may be said to be leading double lives. keen well-trained body of volunteers Reserve had answered every call made on She is a trainee legal executive; he is an who served with great distinction them, King George VI, in 1951, approved agricultural mechanic. Both are also throughout the Navy. By the end of the the abolition of the wavy stripes on their reservists serving with the Sussex division war this force totalled 70,000 officers uniform. Up to that time the gold braid on of the RNR. Barbara plays an important and ratings, and between them they won their cuffs was sewn on in waves with the part in communications on shore; Dennis thousands of honours, including several curl a distinctive square shape. This goes to sea in the Division's minesweeper. Victoria Crosses. feature caused the RNVR to to be known FACING PAGE (top): The RNR's own fleet— the 10th Mine Countermeasures Squadron In 1936, the RN Supplementary Reserve as 'The Wavy Navy'. Now the only which frequently takes part in NATO was formed of yachtsmen and 'other distinguishing mark between the reservist exercises in the Mediterranean and the gentlemen of nautical experience' who and his brother officer in the Royal Navy seas of Northern Europe. (below): A had no peace-time commitments but who is a small golden `R' in the curl of the top Bofors' gun crew aboard a RNR mine volunteered to be commissioned in the stripe on each sleeve. countermeasures ship. 30 and warfare to the merchant fleet in an emergency. In addition there are 4,950 volunteer reservists, whose jobs may have no connection with the sea, but from them are formed the complete crews of mine- sweepers and minehunters from ordinary seaman to captain (incidentally the only navy in the world so to do). The volun- teers provide the major part of naval expertise in Naval Control of Shipping and also supplement the regular officer and ratings required to man shore naval headquarters in war. RNR officers and ratings are to be found in the Operations Branch, including Communications, De- gaussing (that is rendering safe ships from the threat of magnetic mines), Intelligence, the Instructor Branch and in the Engineering and Supply Branches. 180 doctors and 40 dentists in civilian practice hold reserve commissions as well as 50 medical branch ratings. There are 35 RNR chaplains of all faiths. The RNR Postal Branch of 40 officers and 400 ratings would provide postal and courier services in war. To add to the list there are RNR officers trained in secretarial duties, languages and public relations. There are 11 Sea Training Centres, 11 Communication Training Centres and 6 Headquarters Units throughout the United Kingdom and a further Head- quarters Unit in Gibraltar. Each centre has one or two training nights each week when reservists are given instruction according to their specialisation. On several occasions during the year there are training weekends to give an oppor- tunity for more prolonged training. Most reservists also carry out 14 days' con- tinuous training either at sea or in RN establishments ashore. 140 Officers and 700 Ratings in the Women's Royal Naval Reserve have the same training and do the same jobs as their male counterparts, with the exception that there are no WRNR serving at sea. In addition to an annual bounty of between £20 and £50 (depending on the amount of time given up to the Reserve), officers and ratings are paid at the same rates as the RN equivalents whenever they are under training. Ships operated by the 10th Mine Countermeasures Squadron are present in the review lines today. The RNR postal branch have set up Fleet Mail Offices at HMS Vernon and the Naval Base Main Gate to provide the fleet with mail during the review. They have also produced and have on sale the official RN commemorative philatelic covers.

The Official Souvenir Programme of The Silver Jubilee Fleet Review was designed and produced by Pitkin Pictorials Ltd and published by Lieut-Commander W. E. Pearce, MVO, RN, for the Commander-in- Chief Fleet. Crown Copyright 1977. Profits from the sale of this Programme will be donated to The Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal and various Naval Charities. 31 Insignia of Officers and Ratings in the Royal Navy

32 HMS VICTORY PORTSMOUTH

HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Ports- mouth Royal Naval Museum, are ad- jacent to each other inside the Naval Base at Portsmouth, within easy walking distance from the Main Gate of the Base. Because of her age and historic significance, the ship is unique as the world's most out- standing example of ship restoration. This work was initiated in 1922 by the Society for Nautical Research who were instrumental in restoring the vessel to the appearance she bore at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Museum is complementary to the ship for it contains in the Victory Collection those relics of Nelson and Trafalgar which cannot be conveniently displayed on board. It has a huge panoramic display of the battle—a gift to the nation by the late W. L. Wyllie, RA, many personal relics of Nelson, his family and his associates, and a wonderful collection of ships' models and figureheads as well as exhibits relating to the French Revolutionary Wars. The Nelson-McCarthy Collection, the generous gift of Mrs J. G. McCarthy, CBE, is housed in a Georgian building adjacent to the Victory Collection. This consists of prints, paintings, ceramics, medallions, letters and miniatures, all commemorative of Nelson and his times. Nearly half a million people visit the ship annually. In July and August, a period of queuing may be necessary. The ship is open every day of the year with the exception of Christmas Day and the infrequent occasions when the ship is used for official purposes. The Museum is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Admission to HMS Victory, as the Flagship of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, is free.

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