DIVING APPARATUS on Which All Types Are

No. 1

H.M.S. VERNON

Vol. 4 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

COITP

•

CO•NSY A UO I I O mnme e

type

EVERYTHING FOR SAFETY EVERYWHFRI

SIEBE,

CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY FOR OVER A ( I NTUICI

including one-man

DAVIS RD. • CHESSINGTON • SURREY

Marconi Siebe, Gorman Cutting and Welding Equipment Davis Submarine Escape Chambers

Davis Submarine Escape Apparatus

Television Equipment Original Designers and Diver's Loudspeaking Telephones Decompression Chambers Underwater Lamps, etc.

Underwater

Manufacturers of " Self- Davis Submersible Contained " Apparatus `ESSJEE' AQUALUNGS

DIVING APPARATUS on which all types are

OF ALL TYPES based.

•

8c CO. CO. 8c

Phone: Portsmouth 74352 (2 lines) lines) (2 74352 Portsmouth Phone:

Head Offices: Offices: Head

Local Branches: Branches: Local

THAT MEANS' SO MUCH MUCH SO MEANS' THAT

CENTURY ENSURES THAT YOU Ii Ii YOU THAT ENSURES CENTURY

Members of the Intcrport Naval Traders' Association Association Traders' Naval Intcrport the of Members

(OUTFITTERS) LTD. LTD. (OUTFITTERS)

OUR EXPERIENCE OVER NEARLY HALF HALF NEARLY OVER EXPERIENCE OUR

A A

UNIFORM AND CIVILIAN CLOTHING CLOTHING CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM

WITH THE EXTRA TOUCH OF QUALITY QUALITY OF TOUCH EXTRA THE WITH

WILL BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND AND CORRECT ABSOLUTELY BE WILL

CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY ADMIRALTY THE TO CONTRACTORS

Send your requirements to : : to requirements your Send

and TRAFALGAR INSTITUTE INSTITUTE TRAFALGAR and

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Naval and Civilian Tailors and Outfitters Outfitters and Tailors Civilian and Naval

HAY STREET and PORTLAND STREET, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH STREET, PORTLAND and STREET HAY

II EDINBURGH ROAD, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH ROAD, EDINBURGH II

6 6

A. FLEMING FLEMING A. Grams: • Nayserge' Portsmouth Portsmouth Nayserge' • Grams:

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S S

4. • • .1.. • • .1.. • • 4.

0.11.46.1.09 0.11.46.1.09

1955 1955

•••••••• • . • ••••••••

1820 1820

Industries Industries

Co. Ltd. Ltd. Co.

DEVELOPING DEVELOPING

other makes makes other

STILL STILL

COMPRESSORS, Etc. Etc. COMPRESSORS,

FIRST DIP DIP FIRST

Pearling and Sponge Fishing Fishing Sponge and Pearling

DIVERPHONE SETS SETS DIVERPHONE

HOSE HOSE

DRESSES DRESSES

PhimiHk..1 PhimiHk..1

I-IELMETS I-IELMETS

Governments, Dock and Harbour Authorities, Authorities, Harbour and Dock Governments,

1 ONDON, S.E. 1 1 S.E. ONDON, 1

I I

Experimental Designs Developed Developed Designs Experimental

erch.ingeahle with .dl .dl with erch.ingeahle

I 11(1II QUAI II Y DIVING GEAR GEAR DIVING Y II QUAI 11(1II I

int int

Contractors to Admiralty, Ministry of Supply, Foreign Foreign Supply, of Ministry Admiralty, to Contractors

;ICI II I I II ;ICI

HEINKE HEINKE

LONDON LONDON

C. E. HEINKE & & HEINKE E. C.

Manu( .1...... 1111...00.1111111.1....011.....110.11.116.11.1111.11•1111.11•40.11.10...... m.011.....•.• .1...... 1111...00.1111111.1....011.....110.11.116.11.1111.11•1111.11•40.11.10...... m.011.....•.• www.mcdoa.org.uk

CONTENTS R.N. Diving Magazine

PAGE EDITORIAL STAFF Instructor Lieutenant K. C. LEWIS, B.Sc., R.N., Secretary. EDITORIAL $ I • 3 MR. S. J. NEWMAN, Snr. Cd. Gnr. (T.A.S.), R.N., Treasurer. TREASURER'S NOTES 3 Chief Petty Officer J. E. PEACH, Editor THE SUBMARINE RESCUE BELL 4 Vol. 4 March, 1956 No. 1 LAMENT TO A DIP CHICK • • • 11 NOTES FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM • • • 12 EDITORIAL

CHATHAM DIVING SCHOOL NOTES . • • . • • 13 Dear Readers, BREAKING THE WORLD'S DIVING RECORD (1948) ... 15 Since December's magazine was launched, the A MORAL ALPHABET D 17 Editor, Petty Officer Burt Farmer, has been drafted to H.M.S. Kingfisher, one of the R.N's submarine rescue NOTES FROM CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM, POOLE (AMPHIBIOUS) 19 ships. A vote of thanks for his stalwart support of the NOTES FROM 50TH C.D.T. 19 magazine will be echoed by all readers; we also join to wish him good luck in the future. THE ARMCHAIR DIVER 20 As Petty Officer Farmer relieved me on Kingfisher NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM 0 • 0 21 I suppose the magazine staff put their heads together U.D.E. (PORTLAND) CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM 23 and decided I would be a natural choice for the next Editor. I received this news with much trepidation.

"NIAGARA" RECALL 0 I I • 25 Who has ever heard of an Editor with shovel thumbs ? However, I have accepted the work and have started "SAVEGI!ARD" • 0 • SALVAGE SECTION 29 learning the one finger method of typing and hope soon

A-TISHoo, WHAT A VI HAVIM • • 0 31 to progress to two. Nuivs vuum 11.111 , TAI m)()NiA" 32 It is with sad regret that we note the passing away on January 29th, 1956, of a Diving Colleague, Lt.-Cdr. Maclean Foreman, and our deepest Tit !ALS HI, „. 33 syopathy goes to his bereaved family. NGTIN 110 IWN SI HI I II "PliGUCTGleti" DIVING I hope all regular subscribers of news letters and stories will continue AN! „ 35 in their support, and what about some 'New Blood.' Please try and get your material away early in each quarter and so help to get the magazine I INI)I InVATIM-SWIMMVIeS SIWTION :36 out on time. "MAII)STONV" 37 Our next edition is due in June, so until then, cheerio ! EDITOR. AND PICK-UP Duo L" DOWN UNDER 38 1 )1‘.1,1R'S liOOKSIIELE 39 TREASURER'S NOTES THEY DIVE TO WORK ... 42 Dear Readers, NOTES FROM DEVONPORT DIVING SCHOOL ... 44 I am pleased to inform you all that the circulation of our magazine continues to increase from strength to strength finding its way to all THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU 45 corners of the earth. We have received gratifying letters from new

R.N. DIVING BADGE ... I I I 47 readers in South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ceylon and the United States of America.

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C C

\ \

\IE.W

HOSE HOSE

FIG. 4 4 FIG.

\A-t

EXHAUST EXHAUST

's 's

LSI LSI

\,.\— \,.\—

A\ A\

AIR AIR

REDUCER REDUCER

MOTOR MOTOR

\53 v v \53

co co

COCK COCK

QUICK ACTING ACTING QUICK

SUPPLY HOSE •-• •-• HOSE SUPPLY

When waterborne the bell is unhooked and, on the order from the the from order the on and, unhooked is bell the waterborne When

long ratchet spanner on the hand turning gear and help the air motor motor air the help and gear turning hand the on spanner ratchet long

list they may find it necessary to shift some of the lead ballast to assist assist to ballast lead the of some shift to necessary it find may they list to bowse the bell well and firmly onto its seating. If the submarine has a a has submarine the If seating. its onto firmly and well bell the bowse to

a a

Making a Seal. Seal. a Making

they continue hauling down until the air motor stalls. They then ship ship then They stalls. motor air the until down hauling continue they

As the bell approaches the submarine the crew look down through through down look crew the submarine the approaches bell the As

sighting ports into the lower compartment and see that all is clear. If so, so, If clear. is all that see and compartment lower the into ports sighting

which the bell can be hauled back to the surface if necessary. necessary. if surface the to back hauled be can bell the which

and electric leads as the bell goes down. This serves as a preventor by by preventor a as serves This down. goes bell the as leads electric and

attached to the bell and is paid out by hand together with the air pipes pipes air the with together hand by out paid is and bell the to attached surface, the crew start hauling down. A 24" wire backhaul remains remains backhaul wire 24" A down. hauling start crew the surface,

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the the

one one

D.S.O., R.N. R.N. D.S.O.,

TREASURER. TREASURER.

particular particular

magazine and and magazine

the water the lower lower the water the

into into

-,apport .111(1 .111(1 -,apport

41111 lriend:4, ‘114.1Iier service, service, ‘114.1Iier lriend:4, 41111

I all all I

4 4

by by

Kingfisher Kingfisher

Part 2 2 Part

H.M.S. H.M.S.

and 14" bore respectively. The supply leads to to leads supply The respectively. bore 14" and

" at shallow depths. The exhaust hose can be be can hose exhaust The depths. shallow at "

(Continued from Part 1, Vol. 3, No. 4) 4) No. 3, Vol. 1, Part from (Continued

14" 14"

THE SUBMARINE RESCUE BELL BELL RESCUE SUBMARINE THE

While the air motor is running this vent is kept shut to prevent a a prevent to shut kept is vent this running is motor air the While

The editorial staff feel confident that you will all understand the the understand all will you that confident feel staff editorial The

The remainder of my news is less cheerful I am sorry to say. During During say. to sorry am I cheerful less is news my of remainder The

I would like at this point to fl fl to point this at like would I

the motion' of the ship. As the bell is lowered lowered is bell the As ship. the of motion' the

bell is hoisted out by derrick and manned. The downhaul can overcome overcome can downhaul The manned. and derrick by out hoisted is bell

buoy, and the slack hauled up on the reel in the lower compartment, the the compartment, lower the in reel the on up hauled slack the and buoy, compartment is vented until it is flooded. flooded. is it until vented is compartment

a friction clutch between the reel and the air motor or can overhaul the air air the overhaul can or motor air the and reel the between clutch friction a

(fig. 4). 4). (fig.

Hauling Down. Down. Hauling Once a downhaul has been connected, either by diver or messenger messenger or diver by either connected, been has downhaul a Once

compartment. The lower compartment flood pipe has a large cock in to to in cock large a has pipe flood compartment lower The compartment.

known as the quick-acting valve, the use of which will be explained later later explained be will which of use the valve, quick-acting the as known

motor so that if it should be hove too taut it should not be carried away by by away carried be not should it taut too hove be should it if that so motor

The ballast and lower compartment have vents opening into the upper upper the into opening vents have compartment lower and ballast The It is usually 200 lb. 200 usually is It by manifold flooding a also is There bell. the inside up building pressure

partment, being of of being partment,

vent. vent.

Air and Water Services. Services. Water and Air which water can be admitted to ballast tanks or to the lower compartment. compartment. lower the to or tanks ballast to admitted be can water which

connected either to the air motor discharge or to the upper compartment compartment upper the to or discharge motor air the to either connected

Supply and exhaust air hoses from the surface lead into the upper com- upper the into lead surface the from hoses air exhaust and Supply

a manifold whence is is fed into the air motor, the ballast tanks or either either or tanks ballast the motor, air the into fed is is whence manifold a

compartment. The pressure in this system is controlled from the surface surface the from controlled is system this in pressure The compartment.

and must be sufficient to overcome sea pressure at the required depth. depth. required the at pressure sea overcome to sufficient be must and

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER R. J. CLUTTERBUCK, CLUTTERBUCK, J. R. COMMANDER LIEUTENANT

to support this increasingly popular magazine. magazine. popular increasingly this support to

necessity for this unfortunate step, and are sure that you will continue continue will you that sure are and step, unfortunate this for necessity

those subscribers who have paid for future editions will have their account account their have will editions future for paid have who subscribers those

postage, have all been increased with the sad but inevitable result that that result inevitable but sad the with increased been all have postage,

the price of the magazine will have to go up to 1/6 (postage paid). This This paid). (postage 1/6 to up go to have will magazine the of price the adjusted accordingly. accordingly. adjusted increased price will take effect as from our next edition in June. All All June. in edition next our from as effect take will price increased

the last few months, the cost of paper, printing, and last but not least least not but last and printing, paper, of cost the months, few last the

charities with which it is associated. associated. is it which with charities

ex-service or non-service, for their unfailing unfailing their for non-service, or ex-service generous reader who is donating a yearly grant for the the for grant yearly a donating is who reader generous

to to

vessels. vessels.

else. else.

originally the the originally

, ,

Kingfisher, Kingfisher,

to, anywhere to,

King Salvor. Salvor. King

7 7

Kingfisher Kingfisher

and securely over the wreck. This must be be must This wreck. the over securely and

—

the navy's deep diving training ship, has carried the the carried has ship, training diving deep navy's the

carries electrically driven air compressors and storage bottles bottles storage and compressors air driven electrically carries

Reclaim, Reclaim,

The salvage equipment has been removed: and it is not now part part now not is it and removed: been has equipment salvage The

Every move made in the bell is reported to the surface by telephone telephone by surface the to reported is bell the in made move Every

The first load of survivors climb up and an equivalent weight of lead lead of weight equivalent an and up climb survivors of load first The If the air in the submarine is very bad it is possible to drop down a a down drop to possible is it bad very is submarine the in air the If

H.M.S. H.M.S.

In order to bet able to operate divers or the rescue bell it is necessary necessary is it bell rescue the or divers operate to able bet to order In possible in water as deep as 850ft, and in bad weather or strong tides. tides. strong or weather bad in and 850ft, as deep as water in possible

Mooring. Mooring.

moor the ship accurately accurately ship the moor

rescue bell during early trials and can operate it, but she is not equipped equipped not is she but it, operate can and trials early during bell rescue

to carry her own mooring gear and needs the assistance of other other of assistance the needs and gear mooring own her carry to

primarily for use by divers. It is not intended to describe diving technique technique diving describe to intended not is It divers. by use for primarily

in this article as it is no different in in different no is it as article this in

decompression chambers. The former may very likely be required if if required be likely very may former The chambers. decompression

for compressed air, which are also used for the rescue bell. An oxy- An bell. rescue the for used also are which air, compressed for recompression chamber i$ carried on deck together with two submersible submersible two with together deck on carried i$ chamber recompression

Diving Equipment. Equipment. Diving

helium installation has been enclosed in a gas-tight compartment. A A compartment. gas-tight a in enclosed been has installation helium

Kingfisher Kingfisher

survivors from a sunken submarine make individual esapes, but it is is it but esapes, individual make submarine sunken a from survivors

her name was changed when she was converted in Portsmouth Dockyard Dockyard Portsmouth in converted was she when changed was name her

in 1953-4. 1953-4. in

of her duty to undertake lifting operations. This was one of the reasons reasons the of one was This operations. lifting undertake to duty her of

The Rescue Ship. Ship. Rescue The

1,900 ton displacement ocean salvage vessel vessel salvage ocean displacement ton 1,900

The ship used in the Royal Navy is H.M.S. H.M.S. is Navy Royal the in used ship The

on the air motor is adjusted so that it overhauls,at a controlled rate. rate. controlled a overhauls,at it that so adjusted is motor air the on

another trip. trip. another

sengers get out, more lead ballast is taken in and the bell is ready for for ready is bell the and in taken is ballast lead more out, get sengers is hooked on and the bell is hoisted a few feet alongside the ship. Pas- ship. the alongside feet few a hoisted is bell the and on hooked is

and as it comes up the slack of the gear is taken in. The bell arrives on the the on arrives bell The in. taken is gear the of slack the up comes it as and

surface and is hauled alongside by the backhaul. The derrick purchase purchase derrick The backhaul. the by alongside hauled is and surface

the lower compartment to start it off. As the bell floats up air pressure pressure air up floats bell the As off. it start to compartment lower the

the bell can float off. Frequently it is necessary to put a puff of air into into air of puff a put to necessary is it Frequently off. float can bell the

bolts are removed. The lower compartment hatch is shut, the compart- the shut, is hatch compartment lower The removed. are bolts ment is flooded from the sea. The ballast is blown, when theoretically theoretically when blown, is ballast The sea. the from flooded is ment

clipped. The downhaul is rigged and hove taut. • The holding-down holding-down The • taut. hove and rigged is downhaul The clipped.

The ascent is a reverse of the descent. The submarine's hatch is_ shut and and shut is_ hatch submarine's The descent. the of reverse a is ascent The

ballast is lowered into the submarine in exchange. Portable water ballast ballast water Portable exchange. in submarine the into lowered is ballast

Returning to the Surface. Surface. the to Returning

the upper compartment too much. much. too compartment upper the

tanks have been tried instead of this but they tended to restrict 'space in in 'space restrict to tended they but this of instead tried been have tanks

up through the bell to the surface. Also, of course, the bell can take take can bell the course, of Also, surface. the to bell the through up

hose from the bell manifold and supply some fresh while the bad can vent vent can bad the while fresh some supply and manifold bell the from hose

down protosorb and oxygen cylinders to help alleviate conditions for those those for conditions alleviate help to cylinders oxygen and protosorb down who have to await the second trip. trip. second the await to have who

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6 6

could only be worked from inboard and and inboard from worked be only could

bore). bore).

Seraph Seraph

(Fr (Fr

All this venting of air which has been used for blowing builds up a a up builds blowing for used been has which air of venting this All

The hatch leading into the lower compartment is next removed and a a and removed next is compartment lower the into leading hatch The

The fairleacling gear is unrigged and pushed to one side. side. one to pushed and unrigged is gear fairleacling The

If for any reason a seal is not made, air, followed shortly by water, water, by shortly followed air, made, not is seal a reason any for If

When the crew think they have the bell seating all round, the lower lower the round, all seating bell the have they think crew the When

I have not yet seen the one for new construction. construction. new for one the seen yet not have I

Access to the Submarine. Submarine. the to Access

pressure between the submarine and the inside of the bell can be equalized. equalized. be can bell the of inside the and submarine the between pressure

experimentally in H.M.S. H.M.S. in experimentally

from the surface or by knocks, to open a small vent in their hatch. Thus Thus hatch. their in vent small a open to knocks, by or surface the from

vented off to the surface. This may take some minutes owing to the the to owing minutes some take may This surface. the to off vented The hatch can then be opened. It will probably be designed to open from from open to designed be probably will It opened. be then can hatch The inboard or outboard, as is the case in U.S. submarines. The one we used used we one The submarines. U.S. in case the is as outboard, or inboard

limited size of the pipe pipe the of size limited

The submarine's crew can be instructed, either by underwater telephone telephone underwater by either instructed, be can crew submarine's The

considerable pressure in the bell (although nothing like full sea pressure, pressure, sea full like nothing (although bell the in pressure considerable

between eye-plates round the submarine's hatch and the inside of the the of inside the and hatch submarine's the round eye-plates between as a rule) and it is necessary at this stage to pause while this pressure is is pressure this while pause to stage this at necessary is it and rule) a as

the sea valve. When this has been done the ballast must be vented into into vented be must ballast the done been has this When valve. sea the

lower compartment. When these are set up taut the downhaul can be be can downhaul the taut up set are these When compartment. lower

through the ballast vent. It would then be necessary to shut the vent, vent, the shut to necessary be then would It vent. ballast the through

ballast tanks. If there should be too much, as there certainly would be be would certainly there as much, too be should there If tanks. ballast

the upper compartment and the process of transferring the water from the the from water the transferring of process the and compartment upper the

man is sent down to rig two or more bottle screw holding-down bolts bolts holding-down screw bottle more or two rig to down sent is man

compartment is vented into the upper compartment. compartment. upper the into vented is compartment

and the lower compartment flood, and blow some water ballast out through through out ballast water some blow and flood, compartment lower the and

Once a seal is made the water in the lower compartment is blown into the the into blown is compartment lower the in water the made is seal a Once

lower compartment can be continued. When it has all gone the lower lower the gone all has it When continued. be can compartment lower

Securing the Bell in position. position. in Bell the Securing if a seal was not made first time, this would be shown when water came came water when shown be would this time, first made not was seal a if

slacked away. away. slacked

would at once be shut. The crew would then ease the bell a few inches inches few a bell the ease then would crew The shut. be once at would

would continue to flow through the ballast vent. The quick-acting valve valve quick-acting The vent. ballast the through flow to continue would off its seating, sight all clear and haul down for another attempt. The The attempt. another for down haul and clear all sight seating, its off

fouling the seating or the gasket was damaged. damaged. was gasket the or seating the fouling

only reason why a seal could not be made would be because something was was something because be would made be not could seal a why reason only

'upper compartment pressure' i.e., nearly atmospheric. Provided there there Provided atmospheric. nearly i.e., pressure' compartment 'upper

with an unmistakeable thud. thud. unmistakeable an with

instantly released and sea pressure seals the bell firmly onto its seating seating its onto firmly bell the seals pressure sea and released instantly

is no leak under the gasket, the pressure in the lower compartment is is compartment lower the in pressure the gasket, the under leak no is

containing water at sea pressure, into the ballast tanks which only contain contain only which tanks ballast the into pressure, sea at water containing

quick-acting valve which immediately vents the lower compartment, compartment, lower the vents immediately which valve quick-acting

compartment and ballast tank floods are opened, keeping the sea valve valve sea the keeping opened, are floods tank ballast and compartment

shut. They also open the ballast tank vent. They then throw open the the open throw then They vent. tank ballast the open also They shut.

canting the bell the required amount. It may also In' necessary to flood flood to necessary In' also may It amount. required the bell the canting some of the water ballast. ballast. water the of some

chain chain

I f " " f I

The standard gear gear standard The

When an anchor is is anchor an When

between the chain chain the between

deeper water more more water deeper

wire must be included included be must wire

as great as 285ft. In In 285ft. as great as and the spud, this this spud, the and

will serve in depths depths in serve will been hanging in stops stops in hanging been

the ship (fig. 6). 6). (fig. ship the

over the side breaks breaks side the over The wire which has has which wire The

ing is then clear of of clear then is ing

the chain is nearly all all nearly is chain the

be ignored. When When ignored. be ped from forward. forward. from ped

away and the moor- the and away

verring some cable cable some verring in deep water has to to has water deep in

gone the spud is drop- is spud the gone

out before letting go go letting before out

dropped, it takes the the takes it dropped, the bin. The old sea- old The bin. the

chain straight out of of out straight chain manlike practice of of practice manlike

ANCHOR ANCHOR

675'0F CHAIN CHAIN 675'0F

FIG.6 FIG.6

FIG.5 FIG.5

FIG.7 FIG.7

OR MORE OF WIRE WIRE OF MORE OR

. .

SPUD DROPPED FIRST FIRST DROPPED SPUD

four 42 cwt anchors are used, each connected to 675ft 675ft to connected each used, are anchors cwt 42 four

150

AFTER ANCHOR AND FORWARD FORWARD AND ANCHOR AFTER

IN ROUGH WEATHER THIS GEAR CANNOT CANNOT GEAR THIS WEATHER ROUGH IN

BE RIGGED UNTIL SHIP SLOWS DOWN DOWN SLOWS SHIP UNTIL RIGGED BE

SEA BED BED SEA

SWIVEL SWIVEL

Kingfisher Kingfisher

SPUD SPUD

In In

If the ship is to be firmly held at least four anchors must be accurately accurately be must anchors four least at held firmly be to is ship the If

Ur" Ur"

two each side of the foremast (fig. 5). 5). (fig. foremast the of side each two

of 1i" or 1-15" chain. The established amount should be 720ft of of 720ft be should amount established The chain. 1-15" or 1i" of

end is lead to the anchor hanging ready to slip from its stowage at the the at stowage its from slip to ready hanging anchor the to lead is end

open-topped bins under the quarterdeck, with both ends up. The top top The up. ends both with quarterdeck, the under bins open-topped the necessary strain. This means that the same gear can be used over over used be can gear same the that means This strain. necessary the

had to be accepted instead of 15 fathom lengths owing to shortage of of shortage to owing lengths fathom 15 of instead accepted be to had

a wide range of depths, unnecessary extra length being acceptable. acceptable. being length extra unnecessary depths, of range wide a

but this rather peculiar figure arose because some 12i fathom lengths lengths fathom 12i some because arose figure peculiar rather this but

side and onto one of the mooring buoys, called spuds, stowed in chutes, chutes, in stowed spuds, called buoys, mooring the of one onto and side

stern. The bottom end is shackled to a 3i" wire which leads out over the the over out leads which wire 3i" a to shackled is end bottom The stern.

each and as long a length as possible of the lightest chain that will stand stand will that chain lightest the of possible as length a long as and each

supply. This also accounts for the two sizes. The chain is stowed in in stowed is chain The sizes. two the for accounts also This supply.

only sustain a pull in one direction. Therefore one anchor is used for for used is anchor one Therefore direction. one in pull a sustain only

however, sea room can be expected to be ample and each mooring need need mooring each and ample be to expected be can room sea however,

use heavy gear and more than one anchor, because they are laid in con- in laid are they because anchor, one than more and gear heavy use

fined space and have to withstand a pull in any direction. 'In this case, case, this 'In direction. any in pull a withstand to have and space fined

dropping position. In effect, moorings must be laid. Most moorings moorings Most laid. be must moorings effect, In position. dropping

handling and one or more of the cables would almost certainly foul the the foul certainly almost would cables the of more or one and handling end of its cable buoyed and leave the ship free to proceed to the next next the to proceed to free ship the leave and buoyed cable its of end

position in turn. The drag of the gear would prevent accurate ship ship accurate prevent would gear the of drag The turn. in position

wreck. It is therefore necessary to be able to drop each anOuit with the the with anOuit each drop to able be to necessary therefore is It wreck.

placed around the wreck. It would not be possible to drop these sucl sucl these drop to possible be not would It wreck. the around placed cessively from 'the ship and pay out the cable while manoeuvring to each each to manoeuvring while cable the out pay and ship 'the from cessively

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• •

••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••

4101MMIN 4101MMIN

•

••••••••••• •••••••••••

• •

ENGLAND ENGLAND

in the United Kingdom. Kingdom. United the in

market Drager breathing equipment equipment breathing Drager market

of Lubeck, Germany, under which they will , , will they which under Germany, Lubeck, of

In addition, they have concluded concluded have they addition, In

an agreement with Messrs. Dragerwerk Dragerwerk Messrs. with agreement an

include personal breathing equipment. equipment. breathing personal include

have now extended their activities to to activities their extended now have

aircraft cabin atmosphere control, control, atmosphere cabin aircraft

NORMALAIR NORMALAIR

Already well-known in the field of of field the in well-known Already

YEOVIL YEOVIL

NORMALAIR LTD LTD NORMALAIR

Equipment Equipment

Personal Personal Breathing Breathing www.mcdoa.org.uk extra length being hung in long flakes outboard of all on spunyarn stops Experience in Reclaim and Kingfisher both on the submarine Seraph (fig. 7). (especially fitted for experiment) and on the dummy hatch have shown A mooring board is used and the position of each anchor is plotted in that we can operate this gear in tides up to 41 knots, lists up to 37-r advance relative to the wreck. Something has to be used as a datum for and depths as far down as 240ft. There seems no reason why it should plotting ranges and bearings. Under some conditions asdics may be not be just as easy at deeper depths and we hope to try it out soon. used on the wreck itself but more often a dan buoy or a boat moored over It takes Kingfisher between two and three hours to moor if all goes the wreck is used, radar and visual ranges being taken from the ship. well, although there are hazards in this business which may easily cause It does not matter, of course, whether the datum is vertically over delay. On the other hand with more practice and better boats we may the wreck, provided its relative position is known or can be estimated. be able to improve upon this time. It if is necessary to attach the down- Many United States rescue ships use ranges taken from the boat and haul by diver, so much depends on the depth, the tide, and the exact passed to the ship by `walkee talkee.' This appears to have the advantage positioning of the rescue ship, that no worth-while estimate of the time over other visual methods in that the angle subtended by the relatively required can be given. It is reasonable to allow about one hour for long ship's mast can be measured as opposed to the short base length of a each bell run, again provided all goes well. range-finder. As yet I have been able to find no instrument in our naval stores which is robust enough, quick enough to read, and covers the By kind permission RN Scientific Journal. required range of angles, so we have not yet tried out this method. The ship is manoeuvred into each dropping position in turn and finally LAMENT TO A DIP CHICK 9" manila hawsers are run out to each spud by boat. It is possible to lay the last-but-one mooring with its manila already connected, paying out as He entered the water with a splash the ship goes ahead, and then to use a bower anchor instead of the fourth Right amongst the floating gash, mooring. This has the advantage of getting the ship into a head and stern Relief valve venting as it should moor near the wreck without using boats and is therefore useful in bad He would have by-passed if he could. weather. The boats are necessarily heavy in order to be strong enough to As it was his valve stuck fast run out generally at least 200 fathoms of large rope. In fact the 28 ft Goodness knows when opened last. general service launches supplied have had to be strengthened and fitted To the depths he then descended with more powerful engines to enable them to carry out this task. Hand- Obviously not properly tended. ling boats in rough weather may be a critical factor in these operations. Eventually, with lifeline taut There are many and various methods of laying and securing to these Came up all standing as he ought, moorings and in America I found that most commanding officers had their His drums to bursting point were straining own ideas as to the best way. His lungs and chest likewise complaining. If boat work were impracticable, it might still be possible, provided Now Diver Dan upon the deck the ship was in a head and stern moor, for other vessels to come near Has seen his comrade's violent check, enough to take lines aboard and then steam out and anchor themselves With little fuss and less ado on either beam. A certain amount of skill and luck is required in ship- He eased the line from round his shoe. handling in rough weather and if all ships have been clever and lucky enough, an adequate moor might be achieved in almost any conditions. Our diver's fate we now relate Heavy seas are not quite such a menace to bell handling as might be St. Peter met him at the gate expected as the bell does not rise and fall in the water like a boat. Having A gory mess our friend presented only 1,000 lbs. reserve of buoyancy to its nine tons weight, the seas go Revolting to the best intended. over it like a half tide rock. It is therefore difficult to state conditions Christian principles remembered under which no rescue could be attempted. Heavy seas might prevent Diver's corpse was soon dismembered, diving but if the downhaul came up by messenger buoy a bell run might And pickled away in heavenly juice still be possible. Controlling the bell while it is still hanging over the To guard against its further use. deck on the derrick may well be the worst part. St. Peter being well versed in things Limiting Factors. Issued Aqualung with wings, H.M.S. Kingfisher's full speed barely exceeds 10 knots so it may take some Our friend was sent to nether regions time before she can arrive at the scene of an accident; however, she may Draft note marked Cloud Clearance Regions. be towed by a destroyer to speed this up. By B. FILER, 10 11 www.mcdoa.org.uk

SAM. SAM.

ROCK. ROCK.

J. J.

experiments with with experiments

and P.O. Killon to to Killon P.O. and

The Times of Malta, Malta, of Times The

re re

Kingfisher Kingfisher

13 13

CHATHAM DIVING SCHOOL NOTES NOTES SCHOOL DIVING CHATHAM

All the best to Divers everwhere from Chats. Chats. from everwhere Divers to best the All

We are just removing the carpet after the visit of HIGH DIVING and and DIVING HIGH of visit the after carpet the removing just are We

This is all for the moment, moment, the for all is This

The new 75 ft M.F.V. will be coming along in February—suppose it it February—suppose in along coming be will M.F.V. ft 75 new The

We are getting in some interesting work on Upnor Pier, which should should which Pier, Upnor on work interesting some in getting are We

Petty Officers Jackson, Foreman, Helps, and Flanagan, can now be be now can Flanagan, and Helps, Foreman, Jackson, Officers Petty

P.O. O'Conner has been drafted to to drafted been has O'Conner P.O.

C.P.O. Brooke-Foster has gone to the Clyde Diving Unit, who de- who Unit, Diving Clyde the to gone has Brooke-Foster C.P.O.

We have had three additions to the family: P.O. Bull, Melville and and Melville Bull, P.O. family: the to additions three had have We

Cheerio, and all the best from Farsons. Farsons. from best the all and Cheerio,

Another of our interesting jobs was to render aid to a French sub- French a to aid render to was jobs interesting our of Another The article in a previous issue of this magazine magazine this of issue previous a in article The

them back. back. them

in doing so found only a couple of missing files—must remember to put put to remember files—must missing of couple a only found so doing in

ordei before shifting billets. billets. shifting before ordei

will be here long enough to have been throughly cleaned up and in working working in and up cleaned throughly been have to enough long here be will

have been warned. warned. been have

area and hears loud bangs followed by a liberal supply of mud—You mud—You of supply liberal a by followed bangs loud hears and area

last a few months; blowing it up in fact. So if anyone is in the Chatham Chatham the in is anyone if So fact. in up it blowing months; few a last I am sure that we all join in wishing him good luck in the great cold cold great the in luck good him wishing in join all we that sure am I

addressed as Deeps having successfully completed the Diver l's course. course. l's Diver the completed successfully having Deeps as addressed

outside world and—should we say it—'Happy Returns.' Returns.' it—'Happy say we and—should world outside

the Clyde. Clyde. the

training for two years. I can see that they will now swim to any job in in job any to swim now will they that see can I years. two for training

Civy Street. We presented Killon with a mug at the `Jolly Sailor' and and Sailor' `Jolly the at mug a with Killon presented We Street. Civy

School in the absence of the Officer-in-Charge, who was busy on the coast coast the on busy was who Officer-in-Charge, the of absence the in School

away. away.

serve our pity, as he was very C.D. minded, having been doing their their doing been having minded, C.D. very was he as pity, our serve

at the time, and Patch's sole contribution to the efficiency of the School School the of efficiency the to contribution sole Patch's and time, the at

seems to be a liking for Fag Ends, and also keeping unwelcome visitors visitors unwelcome keeping also and Ends, Fag for liking a be to seems a Diver 3 goat (yes a Goat) called Patch. Patch managed to join the the join to managed Patch Patch. called Goat) a (yes goat 3 Diver a

We do apologise for missing the last edition, and can only put the lack of of lack the put only can and edition, last the missing for apologise do We

are, however, getting used to our new diet; you can get used to anything, anything, to used get can you diet; new our to used getting however, are,

so here goes. goes. here so

news from the East down to the fact that we are all so thin and half half and thin so all are we that fact the to down East the from news

starved after a certain A.G.M. that we couldn't put pen to paper. We We paper. to pen put couldn't we that A.G.M. certain a after starved

there is one little red man on a little diving boat in the Hie'lands who who Hie'lands the in boat diving little a on man red little one is there

would be ideal for the job. job. the for ideal be would

make smashing bait. The laws of libel forbid us from naming them, but but them, naming from us forbid libel of laws The bait. smashing make

marine who decided to do it the hard way and go overland. However, However, overland. go and way hard the it do to decided who marine

we heaved her off only slightly the worse for wear. wear. for worse the slightly only off her heaved we

should be carried out, having in mind a few persons who we think would would think we who persons few a mind in having out, carried be should

sharks was noted with great interest and we all agree that experiments experiments that agree all we and interest great with noted was sharks she inflicted little damage on herself and, according to to according and, herself on damage little inflicted she

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

12 12

SHIP OF THE DESERT RIGGED FOR DIVING DIVING FOR RIGGED DESERT THE OF SHIP

CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM TEAM DIVING CLEARANCE

If required for acoustic mines treat daily with bi-carb bi-carb with daily treat mines acoustic for required If

Diving out here at this time with the temperature down to 70° and and 70° to down temperature the with time this at here out Diving

On our return to Malta, Mr. Lawrence and two members of the team team the of members two and Lawrence Mr. Malta, to return our On

At Bizerte we had a return run with the French team whose hospi- whose team French the with run return a had we Bizerte At

At Marsala full advantage was taken of the opportunities to visit the the visit to opportunities the of taken was advantage full Marsala At

We, the team, have recently returned from cavorting with our French French our with cavorting from returned recently have team, the We,

Since our last letter we have been graced (????) with the presence of of presence the with (????) graced been have we letter last our Since

NOTES FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET FLEET MEDITERRANEAN THE FROM NOTES

the visibility closing to 100 ft is 'rough brother, mighty rough.' rough.' mighty brother, 'rough is ft 100 to closing visibility the

humpless camels wandering around the desert. desert. the around wandering camels humpless

tality with wine and women was overwhelming. overwhelming. was women and wine with tality

in the approved fashion (BANG) ; and 'tis said that there are a lot of of lot a are there that said 'tis and ; (BANG) fashion approved the in

were shanghaied to Benghazi and Tobruk to deal with a mine, a British British a mine, a with deal to Tobruk and Benghazi to shanghaied were

1,000 lb bomb, and a certain number of shells. They were disposed of of disposed were They shells. of number certain a and bomb, lb 1,000

duggery, seems to be the main industry of this charming little island. island. little charming this of industry main the be to seems duggery,

local winery, which, together with other nefarious and nocturnal skull- nocturnal and nefarious other with together which, winery, local

and Italian counterparts at Marsala and Bizerte. Bizerte. and Marsala at counterparts Italian and

is often mistaken by the locals for a sirocco. sirocco. a for locals the by mistaken often is

C.P.O. Allen in the hut next door. The amount of chalk dust flying about about flying dust chalk of amount The door. next hut the in Allen C.P.O. Greetings from this ruptured isle. isle. ruptured this from Greetings

R.N. R.N.

RECORD (1948) (1948) RECORD

10 10

by by

. bottles, checking cannisters, air pipe, etc., etc., pipe, air cannisters, checking bottles, .

. H .

Part 6—Oxy-Helium Diving Diving 6—Oxy-Helium Part

above an air supply was connected to the Oxy-Helium Oxy-Helium the to connected was supply air an above

(b) (b)

depth would never exceed 33ft.. The main modifications modifications main The 33ft.. exceed never would depth

2 2

(Note—This article continues from Part 5 in Vol. 3, No. 4) 4) No. 3, Vol. in 5 Part from continues article (Note—This

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER H. WARDLE, WARDLE, H. COMMANDER LIEUTENANT

On reaching the S.D.C. he would get on to the S.D.C. ladder in in ladder S.D.C. the to on get would he S.D.C. the reaching On

The Submergible Decompression Chamber would be lowered to to lowered be would Chamber Decompression Submergible The

The S.D.C. would be hoisted up in stages to conform to the diver's diver's the to conform to stages in up hoisted be would S.D.C. The

The diver would remain on air until he reached the S.D.C.; he he S.D.C.; the reached he until air on remain would diver The

The diver would be pulled up from the bottom. bottom. the from up pulled be would diver The

The diver would enter the S.D.C. at 60 ft, and go on to Oxygen Oxygen to on go and ft, 60 at S.D.C. the enter would diver The

Friday, 14th August saw the end of the Air Dives and we were all all were we and Dives Air the of end the saw August 14th Friday,

During this period our infallible Leading Sick Birth Attendant Attendant Birth Sick Leading infallible our period this During

(d) (d)

(b) (b)

To meet meet To

(e) (e)

(f) (f)

(a) (a)

Commander Shelford, Surgeon Lieutenant Barnes and myself had had myself and Barnes Lieutenant Surgeon Shelford, Commander

ready for Monday morning. morning. Monday for ready

diving job in the ship he could not turn his hand to. to. hand his turn not could he ship the in job diving

flat out humping around 0 around humping out flat

Oxy-Helium. Soulsby was not officially a Deep Diver but there was not a a not was there but Diver Deep a officially not was Soulsby Oxy-Helium.

Soulsby with Petty Officer Hopewell had been mixing and analysing the the analysing and mixing been had Hopewell Officer Petty with Soulsby Panel. It was decided, therefore, to exercise the team to 300 ft. on Air Air on ft. 300 to team the exercise to therefore, decided, was It Panel.

carrying out the full Oxy-Helium Drill. This proved invaluable, and and invaluable, proved This Drill. Oxy-Helium full the out carrying

modified procedure to our normal drill. Being pulled up instead of of instead up pulled Being drill. normal our to procedure modified

when all had dived most of the divers preferred air diving with the the with diving air preferred divers the of most dived had all when

the normal way, keeping his helmet on so that the Helium escaping from from escaping Helium the that so on helmet his keeping way, normal the

spindling up was the main attraction. attraction. main the was up spindling from the Novus Set to complete his decompression. decompression. his complete to Set Novus the from

his outlet valve would dilute the air in the S.D.C. S.D.C. the in air the dilute would valve outlet his

would then stop until changed over to Oxy-Helium. Oxy-Helium. to over changed until stop then would

the diver's first reasonable stop (i.e. of about 5 minutes' duration). duration). minutes' 5 about of (i.e. stop reasonable first diver's the

to the drill were as follows:— follows:— as were drill the to

observing we have only 20,000 cub. ft of Helium for the Trials. (4) The The (4) Trials. the for Helium of ft cub. 20,000 only have we observing would carry out the normal diving practice of doing as much as we could could we as much as doing of practice diving normal the out carry would

stops. stops.

equivalent 0 equivalent

from the surface. (3) We could economise as much as possible on Helium Helium on possible as much as economise could We (3) surface. the from

the Oxy-Helium factor. (2) Where modifications were necessary we we necessary were modifications Where (2) factor. Oxy-Helium the

on Air procedure only modifying the drill where it was necessary due to to due necessary was it where drill the modifying only procedure Air on

discussed the procedure to be carried out down to the last detail. As a a As detail. last the to down out carried be to procedure the discussed

perfect with all the team knowing exactly what to do. do. to what exactly knowing team the all with perfect

of this drill was: (1) That we would follow normal British Deep Diving Diving Deep British normal follow would we That (1) was: drill this of

result of this I had produced a Oxy-Helium Drill. The overall principle principle overall The Drill. Oxy-Helium a produced had I this of result

therefore, that if we were to be successful the Oxy-Helium Drill must be be must Drill Oxy-Helium the successful be to were we if that therefore,

correct to say the efficiency' of the ship as a whole. It was quite clear, clear, quite was It whole. a as ship the of efficiency' the say to correct

BREAKING THE WORLD'S DIVING DIVING WORLD'S THE BREAKING

extent on the man actually diving. Indeed, it would probably be more more be probably would it Indeed, diving. actually man the on extent

All who have qualified in deep diving know that the success of every dive dive every of success the that know diving deep in qualified have who All

depends on the efficiency of the whole diving team and only to a small small a to only and team diving whole the of efficiency the on depends

It It 1 1

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

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14 14

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I was now faced with a difficult problem. With our short supply of A MORAL ALPHABET D Oxy-Helium it was clear that all the team could not dive on Helium. (With apologies to Hilaire Belloc) The undermentioned team were a mixture in age and experience, with no The Deepest Diver that dared to be, attempt being made to pick out the best. The only deliberate eliminations Will have to do the best for D. were Chief Petty Officer Clements who I wanted on the Oxy-Helium The Early world observed with awe Panel, Shipwright Harfield to keep the rather complicated Diving Record, The Brazen Pot-like top he wore; and myself as Officer in charge. His look was gay, his voice was strong Oxy-Helium Diving Team. His air-pipe neither short nor long; Mr. W. Barrington, Gunner (T), R.N.; P.O. Hopewell; P.O. Soper; This pipe, or elongated hose P.O. Bollard; P.O. Bryant; A.B. Caruthers. Was not so large as some suppose His lungs, as suits most mammals best Reserves and Stand By Divers. . Delighted in fresh air and rest; P.O. Yates; S.P.O. Jackson. He therefore should have wished to spend Morning 16th August saw Reclaim on top line. • To facilitate later Long peaceful nights without a bend concentration on the team it was decided to dive the reserves first. Both But being mad the brute did choose carried out an efficient dive to 250 ft on a 20/80% Oxy-Helium mixture. To root amongst primeaeval ooze Neither felt cold. I should mention here that the Electrically Heated A creature effervescing thus, suit had become unservicable so we were using normal woollies. You see at once could hardly fuss, When bubbling madly as he shot During the next two days the 'Team' dived to 300 ft on a 15/85% From mud to surface bent a lot 02. He. mixture. All went without a hitch. When we thought of our His fossil therefore comes to light troubles at this depth in H.M.S. Deepwater only the previous year the Schweppervescent: Serve him right. simplicity with which we had put six divers down to 300 ft sent a great MORAL :— wave of confidence throughout the ship. If you were born to walk the ground remain there, do not fool around. Typical Divers' comments were:— Not as cold as I thought it would be.' 'Head much clearer than when on Air.' 'Helium better than Air.' Quite Comfortable.' 'Lovely. Quite warm enough.' 'Hard to believe I was at 300 feet.' Thursday, 19th August saw the start of the 360 ft series. Mr. Barrington led the way and with 358 ft broke the 16-year old British Deep Diving Record of 344 ft. The end of the day saw two more successful dives to 360 ft and some comment on the cramped conditions in the S.D.C. during the long decompression. As the period in the S.D.C. would be longer for the proposed 400ft dives it was decided that on the next day to 'Surface Decompress' the diver and his attendant, and transfer them to the comfort of the main 'Recompression Chamber,' after 10 minutes at 30 ft in the S.D.C. The other three members of the team dived the next day without incident. The transfers were carried out with great efficiency and was a very popular move from the divers' view point. The diver's comment on this series was 'The dive is little different from my first 20 fathom dip.' So our first week's Oxy-Helium Diving ended with the reigning British Champ an Able Seaman Diver 3rd Class with 364 ft to his credit. (Part 7—The Final Dive, will be included in the next issue.) "NO VISIBILITY-SEND ME DOWN A LIGHT" 17 16 vvi www.mcdoa.org.uk

•11 IV Yti H.P.

Bronchley

his last Command, it just

and our gallant allies in

Brenchley,

Inglesham

you will be seeing our ugly faces at frequent

POOLE (AMPHIBIOUS)

good leadership, as by that time it was only possible to

Deepwater

NOTES FROM THE Soth C.D.T.

Brenchley's

NOTES FROM CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM

It is with regret that we hear of the passing away of Lt. Cdr. Maclean Working in close co-operation with the 51st C.D.T. has brought a

We congratulate `Harry' on picking up his hook (what no cooking)?

We arrived at Dundee on the Friday and were due to leave on the

We shall look forward to seeing you whenever you pass this way; The team is looking forward to Spring and the chance of getting

The yarn of the month: Two swimmers surfaced and said they found Our membership is now : Lt. Parker ; P.O. Lennon ; Ldg. Sea. Andrews,

400 people were shut out after the baths had been filled to capacity. We

object of the visit was to boost the Tay Division R.N.V.R. recruiting

Brr! It 'aint 'alf chilly up 'ere, but a pleasant break occured a fortnight doesn't seem possible. We extend our deepest sympathy to Jane and the W.R.N.S. had the highest recruiting 'figures.' We gave thiee displays in draw the conceited conclusion we were a hit. We formed a good liaison we set sail for Dundee—somebody said it would be a piece of cake ! The enthusiasm. We dived the division's `Toothy' who hopes to become their the Dundee Public Baths as a joint 50th and 51st effort; at the last show Foreman. Working, as we are, in

drive; this was achieved, but it was somewhat significant that the didn't probe his dental capabilities. ago when in company with take a dim view of anything outside Dundee. and wish' him luck in his future jobs. In Harrison's place we welcome with the Dundee Sub-Aqua Club and were most impressed with their children in their sad loss. A.B. Whitmore and apologise to him for the soda-lime flavour of our soup. little warmth into this otherwise dour and bitterly cold area of operations,

Monday but for divers reasons and the fact that 'the bar' was impassable than twenty feet deep, which cramps our style a bit, especially since the we did not arrive back in Port Edgar until Thursday tot time and then

only by The Amphibious School has completed its first full year at Poole and we are outside more frequently; the water near the home base is nowhere more shallow water diving instructor; he appears to be excellent material, we

bottom is about as flat and uninteresting as it can be. difficulty in breathing; ice was found to be forming in their- breathing getting used to trekking back and forth across the wide open spaces which Baldock, Dunbar, and Farley ; A.B's Ayre, Smith, and Tyzack.

if you live in tubes !

separate the various parts of the school.

intervals. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

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Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Abbotsinch, Eglinton, Anthorn, Kete, Brawdy, Gibraltar, Valletta and Slierna, Malta, Helensburgh, Grimsby, Harwich, www.mcdoa.org.uk any dirty jobs they take from us should be considered as purely coinci- Horsea Island improves day by day; real roadways, level and smooth dental. macadam surfaces—Mr. Dodd has been driving the boys hard, Rome We have reversed our telescope for the purpose of looking into the wasn't built so quickly; soon we hope to have a high class galley close future; Diver gets annual inspection next month, the Skipper swears he to the diving position. used to possess a sword and medals and has given us three weeks to find Lt.-Cdr. Warner is now on his slow boat to China. We hate to them. think how long the turn-over will take. How long does it take to learn Did you hear that crack on the radio the other day ? 'He's very to count in Chinese ? inventive, he's invented an upside down lighthouse for submarines' ; we There is an awful buzz that we may have to increase the price of the might even use it if we venture out of the Forth again, it would be easier magazine to 1/6. There is a way you can help: Sell the extra copy; to time the flashes as we troll over. Write an article; The larger the Mag., the greater the interest and value Until next time, cheerio, good diving and roll on summer, we did get • and so the higher the sales. It's as easy as that. Those odd units like one last year. 'B.F.' Jupiter, Lochinvar, B. and D. Team, Singapore. Don't stay dumb, give us the gen, we will write the article. THE ARMCHAIR DIVER Sad news, the unit's barber has been detailed for Kingfisher. He joins her on the 9th April. Vernon's divers owe him a great debt for Cold work for you active chaps. Now that the thaw has set in let's see snipping for nothing, contributions to the Divers' Wireless fund. So what's happened in the Diving World. goodbye Tea zy Weazy—keep the weapons sharp and we Will let our hair We must of course remember the passing of Lt.-Cdr. MacLean- grow. Foreman and convey our deep sympathies to his family. Doctor Fulford is now doing his diving aquaint course—he joins The funeral, with full Naval Honours, took place from Haslar Hospital Kingfisher next month. We are sorry that his first ship must of necessity on Friday, 10th February. The bearers were diving officers—all personal be a Chatham ship but no doubt he will remember his Pompey training. friends of Mac. The cortege and field guns crews carriage were from the Diving Personnel. Bill Gates is off to the Med. to relieve Nobby Hall in Forth, and Blackie will probably relieve Jones in Adamant. Mac's diving career was briefly Lochinvar ; M.F.V. 1609; 51st Flotilla; H.M.S. Brenchley; A.S.R.M., Poole. Our heavyweight champ, L.-Sea. Fisk, met his match this week in the boxing meeting R.N. v Slough. He went down so often that the At a recent film premiere in Paris, Captain Cousteau of the French referee had to count him out with combined dive stops. Navy showed his film 'The Silent World.' The Divers I see were using underwater scooters. We expect to see Lt.-Cdr. Brooks and his team to Got to stop, the tea boat has arrived. Send me any snippets of suddenly appear mounted on their scooters (borrowed from their French news you may come across, I can't go out and search for news, somebody confederates) or with the machine tucked under their arm with a spurious might pinch the chair. H.D.S.N.G.W. British label. The Sub-Aqua clubs are a permanent and mounting responsibility; we are visiting them and they are visiting us. Their queries are numerous NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST CLEARANCE and most involved. Problems like Filters, Testing, Charging are always DIVING TEAM cropping up. It is with regret and surprise that, upon doing a few mathematical There is a future on any southern beach for the person who sets up equations, we discover it is almost a year since we last contributed to his pump or compressor saying FILL UP HERE 1/- PER BOTTLE. the Diving Magazine, and so with thinking cap on and pen and paper at Further lectures are being given by the Diving Officers to the nume- the ready here goes:— rous youth organisations in the country; Portsmouth Cathedral club and the Y.M.C.A. at Nottingham are the next on our list of visits. The activities of the team during the last twelve months have been numerous.and colourful in more ways than one, and have included visits Holidays in the South of France and some of the Mediterranean to the outposts ,of this large and interesting station. Early in June most Islands are advertised entirely with the underwater adventurer in mind, of the team, together with equipment, embarked on H.M.S. Oppossum for 'All in' fees are moderate and include use of apparatus and instruction. passage to Singapore. Upon our arrival I was pleased to discover that With the new rates of service pay it is expected that divers will be flocking Mr. Mappley had arrived from the U.K. a couple of days before us. Thus to these camps for their August leave. At least you won't return in plaster with Lt.-Cdr. Crawford in Cossack there were for the first time THREE as does the ski-ing diver. It has been suggested that he takes his standard C.D. Officers on the station at the same time. I will leave the social boots off when he slaloms. life of this trio to your imagination. 20 21

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F.C.D.O./F.E. F.C.D.O./F.E.

There is obviously some difference difference some obviously is There

23 23

if they get a dry dip, they scrub out the store afterwards afterwards store the out scrub they dip, dry a get they if

FILM AND FICTION ! ! FICTION AND FILM

regatta. F.C.D.O. pulled for the officers' crew which finished finished which crew officers' the for pulled F.C.D.O. regatta.

Osprey; Osprey;

for testing leaky suits, using shallow water diving candidates from from candidates diving water shallow using suits, leaky testing for

. .

Recently we have completed a concrete diving platform with steps steps with platform diving concrete a completed have we Recently

We are expecting, almost any day now, the arrival of two canoes canoes two of arrival the now, day any almost expecting, are We

With best wishes to all the diving fraternity. fraternity. diving the all to wishes best With

Christmas arrived with its accompanying festivities and once again again once and festivities accompanying its with arrived Christmas

C.P.O. Hopewell arrived early in November to relieve P.O. Butler and and Butler P.O. relieve to November in early arrived Hopewell C.P.O.

August saw our return to our home base, and old hunting grounds, grounds, hunting old and base, home our to return our saw August

U.D.E. .(Portland) CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM TEAM DIVING CLEARANCE .(Portland) U.D.E.

Most of July was spent carrying out further shark trials, trying to to trying trials, shark further out carrying spent was July of Most

H.M.S. H.M.S.

useful

virtually a continuation of our own doorstep, and find this extremely extremely this find and doorstep, own our of continuation a virtually

type but then I suppose it's just a matter of taste.) taste.) of matter a just it's suppose I then but type

anyway, so at least contribute to raising our already (ahem !) high high !) (ahem already our raising to contribute least at so anyway, length `P' boots. (We favour them much more than the newer longer longer newer the than more much them favour (We boots. `P' length

there are now very few places round these parts which have not felt the the felt not have which parts these round places few very now are there

School S.B.W. It is hoped that the introduction of these craft will add add will craft these of introduction the that hoped is It S.B.W. School

for tool boxes and guardrail*anchions. (Anyone know a -market for old old for -market a know (Anyone guardrail*anchions. and boxes tool for

on temporary loan from our friendly neighbours, The R.M. Amphibious Amphibious R.M. The neighbours, friendly our from loan temporary on month at Falmouth, life has been unusually placid and this current issue issue current this and placid unusually been has life Falmouth, at month

spice and variety' to our daily round. Meanwhile we just plod on and and on plod just we Meanwhile round. daily our to variety' and spice

standard. standard.

stamp of our tattered (but treasured) last two pairs of 'old type' short short type' 'old of pairs two last treasured) (but tattered our of stamp

messtraps ?) ?) messtraps Since last appearing, in these pages we have been engaged mainly on trial trial on mainly engaged been have we pages these in appearing, last Since

will probably find us still daily chugging across Portland harbour to our our to harbour Portland across chugging daily still us find probably will

work, local port commitments and exercises. Apart from a rather hectic hectic rather a from Apart exercises. and commitments port local work,

stamping ground in Weyinciuth Bay, or searching Jetties and quaysides quaysides and Jetties searching or Bay, Weyinciuth in ground stamping

executed operation. operation. executed

recovering an Auster aircraft which crashed in Tolo harbour, a well well a harbour, Tolo in crashed which aircraft Auster an recovering

the divers won the cake for the best decorated mess. The New Year was was Year New The mess. decorated best the for cake the won divers the

Our opposite numbers, the B.D.O.'s team, did well the other day in in day other the well did team, B.D.O.'s the numbers, opposite Our

greeted in the traditional way and once again life returned to normal. normal. to returned life again once and way traditional the in greeted

has now settled down to the way of life out here. here. out life of way the to down settled now has

has been out on an exercise the night before. before. night the exercise an on out been has

Hong Kong. September and October passed with little of interest except except interest of little with passed October and September Kong. Hong

the Annual Cross Harbour Swim from Kowloon to Hong Kong, and and Kong, Hong to Kowloon from Swim Harbour Cross Annual the

Tamar's Tamar's

first. The C.D. team did well in coming a close second especially as they they as especially second close a coming in well did team C.D. The first.

between a tiger shark's and a nurse shark's skin. skin. shark's nurse a and shark's tiger a between

Diving Knife Patt. No. 110. Although the knife was brought down with with down brought was knife the Although 110. No. Patt. Knife Diving

the full force of the forearm in no case did it penetrate the shark's skin. skin. shark's the penetrate it did case no in forearm the of force full the . . So much for for much So

made to stab the shark through the so called 'soft' underbelly, using a a using underbelly, 'soft' called so the through shark the stab to made

Whilst the shark was wriggling and snapping on the deck, attempts were were attempts deck, the on snapping and wriggling was shark the Whilst

find out a little more about their habits. It may be interesting to note note to interesting be may It habits. their about more little a out find here that on one occasion a Eft tiger shark was hooked and landed. landed. and hooked was shark tiger Eft a occasion one on that here

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Sadler and A.B. Egan, sailed sailed Egan, A.B. and Sadler

for the East coast of Johore. Johore. of coast East the for

CHRISTMAS DAY 1955 1955 DAY CHRISTMAS

3508 3508

L S Wilcox, A/B Merrill, A/B Horner, Horner, A/B Merrill, A/B Wilcox, S L

22 22

TAMAR, TAMAR,

right, right,

and sailed with the fleet which consisted consisted which fleet the with sailed and

A/B Stuart, A/B N. Carr Carr N. A/B Stuart, A/B

Left to to Left

Enigma Enigma

we proceeded to Pulau Tiomim which is an island of the the of island an is which Tiomim Pulau to proceeded we

THE DIVERS' MESS, H.M.S. H.M.S. MESS, DIVERS' THE

Enigma Enigma

Our shark trials were most enlightening, and an enjoyable diving diving enjoyable an and enlightening, most were trials shark Our

A/B Davies, A'B Hendricks, L/S Saddler, A B Carr, A/B Egan, A/B Stockton, Stockton, A/B Egan, A/B Carr, B A Saddler, L/S Hendricks, A'B Davies, A/B

The main object of this trip was to enable us to take part in a Fleet Fleet a in part take to us enable to was trip this of object main The

Seated, C.P.O. Hopewell; Hopewell; C.P.O. Seated,

Lt.-Cdr. Jock' Erskine, a well placed marker by the army, and some good good some and army, the by marker placed well a Erskine, Jock' Lt.-Cdr. day with all the guns and ammunition in our possession. possession. our in ammunition and guns the all with day

diving by the team, we were on our way back to Singapore the following following the Singapore to back way our on were we team, the by diving

the bren guns, rifles, etc. With the excellent knowledge of the M.L./C.O. M.L./C.O. the of knowledge excellent the With etc. rifles, guns, bren the

against bandits; when one of their craft capsized. Our job was to recover recover to was job Our capsized. craft their of one when bandits; against

The Gurkha Regiment had been carrying out one of the many operations operations many the of one out carrying been had Regiment Gurkha The

duly rendered safe. But oh, the story we heard on his return. At the the At return. his on heard we story the oh, But safe. rendered duly in the Royal Malayan Navy M.L. No. No. M.L. Navy Malayan Royal the in

been washed ashore on the north-east coast of Malaya. He arrived on the the on arrived He Malaya. of coast north-east the on ashore washed been

to be included in the next edition of this magazine. Came the end of of end the Came magazine. this of edition next the in included be to

same time the F.C.D.O., together with L./S. with together F.C.D.O., the time same

June and Mr. Mappley was called to render safe a Japanese mine that had had that mine Japanese a safe render to called was Mappley Mr. and June spot by means of rail, air, jeep and jungle foot-dogging. The mine was was mine The foot-dogging. jungle and jeep air, rail, of means by spot

programme followed. The story of our experiences during this series and and series this during experiences our of story The followed. programme

also a further trial conducted at a later date will be covered by an article article an by covered be will date later a at conducted trial further a also

east coast of Malaya. Malaya. of coast east

H.M.T. H.M.T.

day following the exercise, which was successfully carried out during the the during out carried successfully was which exercise, the following day night of the 10th of June, we were detached from the fleet and still in in still and fleet the from detached were we June, of 10th the of night

of ships and submarines from the R.N., R.A.N. and the R.N.Z.N. The The R.N.Z.N. the and R.A.N. R.N., the from submarines and ships of

Exercise and then to carry out shark trials. After only a few days ashore, ashore, days few a only After trials. shark out carry to then and Exercise we embarked on H.M.T. H.M.T. on embarked we www.mcdoa.org.uk Our so called liaison with 'X' craft merchants is still on the same " NIAGARA" RECALL old footing, and as usual consists mainly of a one-way traffic in 'proto' and 'gas' bottles in a Westerly direction along the South breakwater The rattle of teacups in the arm ; rumour has it that the 02 is being used to liven up barrels of stale odorous pantry heralds the beer and home-brewed !scrumpy,' Talking about stale beer, may we dawn of another day and the take this opportunity of wishing C.E.R.A. 'Yorkie' Barker the very best stewards, tousled, unkempt, of luck in his next job, which we understand is a spell of `Gens.' busy themselves with the tannin compound that will Last but not least we should like to mention our chums in Maidstone resurrect life to all hands. who by the time you read this will have completed their bottom survey of milk tins and paint pots, and possibly will be afloat on the Spring The salvage vessel Fore- Cruise. most 17, weatherbound at. the We shall wave them goodbyes Reotahi anchorage, swings in With tears in our eyes the tide rip, and a long belch Oh ! do come back to me of oily smoke pollutes the early Our dear old R.C.C. morning from her rakish funnel. nuff said ! The light off One Tree Regards to all, and here's an open invitation to all in the fraternity to Point blinks its fitful message look us up any time you are in Portland. Our store is on the South into the murk. Breakwater Arm and our telephone number is Portland Dockyard, `Main engines at 6.30, Extension 2205, and so cheerio from Mr. Currie-Davis, P.O. 'Daddy' please, Chief.' Christmas, L/Sea. 'Boom' Cannon, A.B. 'Shiner' Wright, A.B. 'Merry' Christmas and A.B. 'Ginger' Bichard. The skipper, early astir, cocks a wary eye at the dawn gloom of the New Zealand

1.11.416.1.11 autumn, and, satisfied that the r11.1.16.111.0.1016.1.••••••••••40.11•1114.....m..4%..ds..•••••••••••••111.1104••••410.••••••1•411.11.46.1101111.11•115.11.1 weather is improving, seeks A record of which we are proud- 75 years' service to the Royal Navy confirmation in the early weather report. The crackle of atmospherics blends with the staccato announcements. For PERSONAL and INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION 'Good ! Let's go !' In the wheelhouse the steady drone of the gyroscope links with the occasional 'tick' as the ship frets in the tideway, and the stand-by helms- Phone Established man, hat arake, cigarette glowing, awaits orders. 6908 1880 'Weigh-forward.' Arthur, the mate, supervises the cable snaking inboard, jets of steam from drain cocks obscuring him at times. The cable clatters down the locker, creating an all too familiar bedlam within the confines of the awaking forecastle. BAUN & CO In silence, the telegraphs are ordered to 'Stand by' and down in the Naval and Civilian .Tailors and Outfitters engine room the chief complies. As the anchor comes home, the mate signals the bridge the decreasing 172 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH number of shackles and, looking overside, notes with satisfaction that all (Members, Interport Naval Traders' Association Ltd.) is clear. The Voice of the Silent Service— 'Aweigh.' "I cannot thank your firm and staff enough for the services they have rendered me. Once again I thank you and say you are not only Tailors, but a friend to Sailors in need, indeed."—T.H. 'Half-speed ahead. Hard a starboard.' Credit Terms available at Cash Prices Price List on request The strident cacophony of the steering engine destroys the last I semblance of peace on deck, and the asdic officer groans in unison from his nearby bunk.

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through through

, ,

27 27

'Right, on lid.' The dome is raised, and once again spanners clank clank spanners again once and raised, is dome The lid.' on 'Right,

'Last stop.' Just above the wreck, Frank awaits his partner. partner. his awaits Frank wreck, the above Just stop.' 'Last

'Ready to leave.' — Frank adjusts his mask and settles in his seat, as, as, seat, his in settles and mask his adjusts Frank — leave.' to 'Ready

'Hello surface. Can you hear me ?"Hearing you loud and clear, clear, and loud you ?"Hearing me hear you Can surface. 'Hello

The boat is hoisted inboard, swaying into her crutches. Busy Busy crutches. her into swaying inboard, hoisted is boat The

For about half-an-hour the air is strident with commands and replies replies and commands with strident is air the half-an-hour about For

The reek of petrol assails the nostrils as the boat is fuelled. Watching Watching fuelled. is boat the as nostrils the assails petrol of reek The

'Stop engines. Out boat.' The ship's momentum eases and she she and eases momentum ship's The boat.' Out engines. 'Stop

'There's the buoys.' The captain lowers his glasses as the ship ship the as glasses his lowers captain The buoys.' the 'There's

• •

check and Dick confirms all communications. communications. all confirms Dick and check

dreds of feet below, links up with a cheery wisecrack, control and bridge bridge and control wisecrack, cheery a with up links below, feet of dreds

closing the air and light from lungs and vision. Frank, immersed hun- immersed Frank, vision. and lungs from light and air the closing

Peace reigns below. On deck, Chads appears, incongruous in waders. waders. in incongruous appears, Chads deck, On below. reigns Peace

as required. Oxygen, main ballast and fan motor are tested. tested. are motor fan and ballast main Oxygen, required. as

and, with difficulty, slips into the steel limbs. Tools;waggle: free to use use to free Tools;waggle: limbs. steel the into slips difficulty, with and,

Adjusting harness, canister and 'phones, he climbs into the Iron Man, Man, Iron the into climbs he 'phones, and canister harness, Adjusting

of the New Zealand waterfront. waterfront. Zealand New the of

deck, swings overside, and plunges into the greeny blue murk. murk. blue greeny the into plunges and overside, swings deck,

schools of curious fish, to the ghostly fastness holding the erstwhile pride pride erstwhile the holding fastness ghostly the to fish, curious of schools

over.' All ready ?"0K"Up Charlie.' The chamber rises from the the from rises chamber The Charlie.' ?"0K"Up ready All over.' smoothly, with pauses to lash' cables together, he descends, he together, cables lash' to pauses with smoothly,

distorted fuse, communication is made as Frank plugs in. in. plugs Frank as made is communication fuse, distorted

position. Spanners fly as the diver is screwed down. With a crackle of of crackle a With down. screwed is diver the as fly Spanners position.

Frank, the diver, briefed and ready, checks his canister and cylinder and and cylinder and canister his checks ready, and briefed diver, the Frank, dangling ready for comnnection. 'On lid.' `Up Charlie.' The chamber chamber The Charlie.' `Up lid.' 'On comnnection. for ready dangling

lid is hoisted gently, with submarine light attached, and clangs into into clangs and attached, light submarine with gently, hoisted is lid

merged diver's orders. Inaccuracy means—fatality on this operation. operation. this on means—fatality Inaccuracy orders. diver's merged slips into the chamber, chamois leather to hand and throat 'phones 'phones throat and hand to leather chamois chamber, the into slips

one, he being the sole arbiter of the accurate interpretation of the sub- the of interpretation accurate the of arbiter sole the being he one,

while Dick runs out the attendants' phone leads. Frankie, the electrician electrician the Frankie, leads. phone attendants' the out runs Dick while

and 'ping' man, checks over the amplifiers. The job of attendant is a vital vital a is attendant of job The amplifiers. the over checks man, 'ping' and

her watery tomb. tomb. watery her

'tch tch' of the echo-sounder reveals the outline of the prostrate ship, in in ship, prostrate the of outline the reveals echo-sounder the of tch' 'tch

salvage hands haul the chamber and Iron Man to their appointed places, places, appointed their to Man Iron and chamber the haul hands salvage

until the salvage ship lies snug over the wreck. In the control room, the the room, control the In wreck. the over snug lies ship salvage the until

Rapid orders from the bridges and Willie, tiller in hand, hurtles off with with off hurtles hand, in tiller Willie, and bridges the from orders Rapid

buoys. buoys.

the snakelike hawsers trailing astern, to make fast to the appropriate appropriate the to fast make to astern, trailing hawsers snakelike the

her as she becomes waterborne. With a stutter, the engine roars into life. life. into roars engine the stutter, a With waterborne. becomes she as her

the roll, the mate hoists out the boat, the mooring party scrambling intq intq scrambling party mooring the boat, the out hoists mate the roll, the

the launchman, who hooks on with the ease of long practice. practice. long of ease the with on hooks who launchman, the

the watchful winchmen and the purchase wire snakes down to Willie, Willie, to down snakes wire purchase the and winchmen watchful the

rides easily to the swell. The giant derrick swings over obediently under under obediently over swings derrick giant The swell. the to easily rides

in the seaway. seaway. the in

closes smoothly on the wide circle of yellow topped conical buoys, bobbing bobbing buoys, conical topped yellow of circle wide the on smoothly closes

with his steel mate, the observation chamber. chamber. observation the mate, steel his with

in idleness. Soon he will be feeling nearby 200 lbs of pressure all round him, him, round all pressure of lbs 200 nearby feeling be will he Soon idleness. in and continues to gape owlishly at the world in general, steel arms crossed crossed arms steel general, in world the at owlishly gape to continues and

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t,; t,;

lies. lies.

Niagara Niagara

26 26

finer returns to his room, pipe aglow. aglow. pipe room, his to returns finer

Soda lime rustles into canisters and the clang of spanners betokens betokens spanners of clang the and canisters into rustles lime Soda

`Looks fair enough, I think, Frank.' Frank.' think, I enough, fair `Looks

'Chamber and Iron Man ?' — 'Yes.' 'Yes.' — ?' Man Iron and 'Chamber

The recompression chamber door clangs open as Charlie, the diver's diver's the Charlie, as open clangs door chamber recompression The

Salvage hands, under the mate, prepare the hawsers while the the while hawsers the prepare mate, the under hands, Salvage The divers, long versed in their duties and craft, repair on deck. deck. on repair craft, and duties their in versed long divers, The

'Hiya.' 'Hiya.' 'Whatcher; Chads.' Chads.' 'Whatcher;

The clatter of crockery being washed up emerges from the pantry, pantry, the from emerges up washed being crockery of clatter The The salvage of salvage The

The ship curtsies to the long swell outside and forges along steadily, steadily, along forges and outside swell long the to curtsies ship The 'Howyar, Dick' Dick' 'Howyar,

Breakfast over, a haze of tobacco smoke fills the messroom and saloon saloon and messroom the fills smoke tobacco of haze a over, Breakfast Helmsmen and firemen alike notch in their belts — it's not breakfast breakfast not it's — belts their in notch alike firemen and Helmsmen

Products of hen and hog spatter and crackle in the pans and their their and pans the in crackle and spatter hog and hen of Products

'Whatcher, Frank.' Frank.' 'Whatcher, Half-naked betowelled men splash noisily in buckets or jostle for a a for jostle or buckets in noisily splash men betowelled Half-naked

'What's the prospects, Skip ?' ?' Skip prospects, the 'What's

Gathering speed and threading tortuous channels '17' pushes a a pushes '17' channels tortuous threading and speed Gathering

'Steer 130 degrees.' degrees.' 130 'Steer

The wheel spins under the guidance of Arty, and the little vessel vessel little the and Arty, of guidance the under spins wheel The

The two cooks, busy in their galley aft, whistle tunelessly as they they as tunelessly whistle aft, galley their in busy cooks, two The

The Sugar Loaf and Smugglers Bay drop astern to port. port. to astern drop Bay Smugglers and Loaf Sugar The

'What 1 Eggs and bacon again !' !' again bacon and Eggs 1 'What

donkeyman, Harry, sunlight aglint on spectacles, sounds the tanks with with tanks the sounds spectacles, on aglint sunlight Harry, donkeyman,

the changing of oxygen cylinders for the job. The Iron Man hisses a a hisses Man Iron The job. the for cylinders oxygen of changing the

maybe, a few more bars of gold will be snatched from the deep. deep. the from snatched be will gold of bars more few a maybe,

a flourish, logging their contents with stubby pencil. All is well and today, today, and well is All pencil. stubby with contents their logging flourish, a greaser, oilcan in hand, does the rounds on piston slides and cocks. The The cocks. and slides piston on rounds the does hand, in oilcan greaser,

little and gives a metallic hiccough to acknowledge his cylinders are full, full, are cylinders his acknowledge to hiccough metallic a gives and little winchman, assists with the tools for the day's diving. diving. day's the for tools the with assists winchman,

mingling with the din of winches on deck. Wire hawsers veer and haul, a a haul, and veer hawsers Wire deck. on winches of din the with mingling

trap for the unwary. unwary. the for trap

forearms and matted locks. locks. matted and forearms

Islands where, hundreds of feet below, the stricken stricken the below, feet of hundreds where, Islands wash in the tiny washplace, and the watery sunrise glows on tattooed tattooed on glows sunrise watery the and washplace, tiny the in wash

and dispels as all proceed to their duties. duties. their to proceed all as dispels and furrow to her rendezvous in between Bream Head and the Moko Hinau Hinau Moko the and Head Bream between in rendezvous her to furrow leaving a smoky signature skyward. skyward. signature smoky a leaving

time yet and the smells are tantalizing. tantalizing. are smells the and yet time

aroma vanishes into early morning air through vents and fiddley. fiddley. and vents through air morning early into vanishes aroma

noses seaward, rippling of bow wave under forefoot and milky azure at at azure milky and forefoot under wave bow of rippling seaward, noses

prepare breakfast. breakfast. prepare stern. stern. www.mcdoa.org.uk

`OK.' Over the man. Up Charlie.' With a nip of the limbs as the cradle is cleared, Chads becomes airborne in one third of a ton of steel. `Lower Charlie.' With a splash he enters the water, and floats ! 'Flood- ing ballast.' A gurgle of entering sea water is heard as the ballast tank floods up — then, all is silent. `No leaks.' Good. 'Nice change.' Ready to leave.' From sunlit blueness to green, green to semi-darkness, the Iron Man descends, sur- rounded by fish, gogle-eyed at the strange intruder. Kingfish rasp at the ballast tank, very chummily. 'Last stop' — from the surface. Iliya Chads.' Through the eerie gloom, Frank appears, chamber rotund and red eyed, and beneath both human denizens of the deep, the dim lines of Niagara appear. 'Lower both together.' Obedient to commands, Iron Man and chamber approach the wreck. Two passenger decks, ripped apart by explosives, gape and protrude with penetrating fingers. The chasm of fatal mine explosion appears. The bullion room lies beneath us, its contents still, and ever, coveted by man. 'Three feet to port.' Frank's command is heard and obeyed on deck, the resultant movement being transmitted through the suspending hawsers to sub- merged divers both. 'Heave aft on the traverse.' Cheek by jowl, chamber and Iron Man are aligned to lower, and slowly enter the bullion room. `On light.' The stygian gloom is alleviated — a little, by the light. An eel glides into further gloom. To both divers a picture is etched sharply on the mind — tortured steel atwist, gaping rivet holes, debris, oily mud — and — bullion boxes inaccessible to previous salvors. Scrabbling in the watery murk, Chads is watched with interest by Frank, his eyes wary, too, on the slack cable. With iron limbs pinned by slurry of wreckage, the search continues, until the peak of salvors' dreams, GOLD, is wrested from the deep. 'Lower the grab.' Meanwhile, on deck, the favourable cry 'Teasup,' mingles with the clatter of the winches. Robbie, the sailors' peggy' circulates with tea and biscuits. In due course, Frank and Chads will emerge, sunshine scintillating on cascading water — sometimes successful and sometimes not. `Dick's turn now.' The weather holding, the little ship, small world Ask for of endeavour, will chafe at her buoys as the sun sets. The Moko Hinau Island light renews its winking warning to the mariner. And far into the night, the wail of Jock with his bagpipes and Mike his accordian will blend with, far to the west, the songs of New Zealand. SENIOR SERVICE C. W. CHADWICK, Deep Diving Officer.

every time SALVAGE SECTION-H.M.S. SAFEGUARD SENIOR FEBRUARY, 1956 SERVICE Since the last issue of the magazine, there has been one important change WELL MADE • WELL PACKED in the staff; Senior Commissioned Boatswain, Mr. Barrington, M.B.E. 41:4 r (Q.D.D.), R.N., being relieved by Senior Commissioned Boatswains Mr, Gordon (Q.D.D.), R.N, 2$ r29

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IN IN

ME ME

31 31

SNOW. SNOW.

ARTHER DAY DAY ARTHER

By By

AND WILD HORSES WOULDN'T DRAG DRAG WOULDN'T HORSES WILD AND

A-TISHOO, WHAT A FLIPPING SWIM ! ! SWIM FLIPPING A WHAT A-TISHOO,

It was Brrrr-eath-taking just to watch. All the rubber-suited rubber-suited the All watch. to just Brrrr-eath-taking was It

Like thousands of winter anglers they had risen early. But they they But early. risen had they anglers winter of thousands Like

A bitter nor'easter sent clouds scudding across a steel-blue sky, and and sky, steel-blue a across scudding clouds sent nor'easter bitter A

pullovers, 'long Johns' (you may know them as combs') or flannel pyjamas pyjamas flannel or combs') as them know may (you Johns' 'long pullovers,

three- or four-fold layers of heavy woollen `undies'—socks, long-sleeved long-sleeved `undies'—socks, woollen heavy of layers four-fold or three-

breathing-tube headgear, to plunge into the 38° sea. sea. 38° the into plunge to headgear, breathing-tube

believe it' muttered another; `They must be mad!' gasped yet another. another. yet gasped mad!' be must `They another; muttered it' believe

eyes on, as rubber-suited and helmeted members of•the Leeds Underwater Underwater Leeds of•the members helmeted and rubber-suited as on, eyes

flippered their way across the beach wearing only swim trunks, goggles and and goggles trunks, swim only wearing beach the across way their flippered

Then words failed these Hull anglers when the `skin divers' of the club frog- club the of divers' `skin the when anglers Hull these failed words Then swimmers remained in the water for half an hour. By exercises in in exercises By hour. an half for water the in remained swimmers

clava helmets, hoods and sea boots. boots. sea and hoods helmets, clava

Swimming Club suddenly broke surface. `Steth' cried one; `I don't don't `I one; cried `Steth' surface. broke suddenly Club Swimming

were not prepared for a school of the strangest `fish' they had ever set set ever had they `fish' strangest the of school a for prepared not were

cliffs. A party of Hull sea anglers plied their rods for inshore cod, cod, inshore for rods their plied anglers sea Hull of party A cliffs.

wild white horses stampeded in a foam of froth and spray over the beach beach the over spray and froth of foam a in stampeded horses white wild

of the North Landing cove at Flamborough, to rear up high against the the against high up rear to Flamborough, at cove Landing North the of There were 12 shopping days to Christmas. There had been over-night over-night been had There Christmas. to days shopping 12 were There

weather-proofed in cocoons of thick woollies, fleecy-lined jackets, Bala- jackets, fleecy-lined woollies, thick of cocoons in weather-proofed

frost. The weather forecast was was forecast weather The frost. I I

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ALLY. ALLY.

he must have taken a leaf leaf a taken have must he

and Kingfisher—excluding Kingfisher—excluding and

Vernon, Vernon,

Reclaim Reclaim

30 30

THE EXPERTS EXPERTS THE

All the best from the land of the Haggis. Haggis. the of land the from best the All

We have had our usual S.W. Classes, but the cold weather seems to to seems weather cold the but Classes, S.W. usual our had have We

An interesting job almost came our way recently, when a Norwegian Norwegian a when recently, way our came almost job interesting An

We welcome Mr. Gordon, who is once again back in the land of his his of land the in back again once is who Gordon, Mr. welcome We

We were sorry to see Mr. Barrington fiddle himself into a comfortable comfortable a into himself fiddle Barrington Mr. see to sorry were We

Salvage Course starting mid-February; the tank heating unit is working working is unit heating tank the mid-February; starting Course Salvage

well, and we will endeavour to keep the temperature in the vicinity of —10° —10° of vicinity the in temperature the keep to endeavour will we and well,

vessels, I strongly recommend a trip to Lossiemouth to inspect their their inspect to Lossiemouth to trip a recommend strongly I vessels,

* For the uninitiated—The Forth Bridge. Bridge. Forth uninitiated—The the For * compete against civilian firms—quite rightly so—and the chances of of chances the so—and rightly firms—quite civilian against compete

dampen their enthusiasm for getting under water. The same as down down as same The water. under getting for enthusiasm their dampen

M.F.V. M.F.V.

Christmas cards. The staff had one trip to the R.N.A. Station Lossie- Station R.N.A. the to trip one had staff The cards. Christmas

mouth to exercise their S.W. Divers, and to survey the U/W fittings, etc., etc., fittings, U/W the survey to and Divers, S.W. their exercise to mouth

doesn't appear on the target in kilt, sporran and claymore. claymore. and sporran kilt, in target the on appear doesn't any work in that direction are remote. We are looking forward to the the to forward looking are We remote. are direction that in work any

Mac. Barrington. We wish him all the best of luck, and hope he will will he hope and luck, of best the all him wish We Barrington. Mac.

South, we have had lots of that white stuff that looks good only on on only good looks that stuff white that of lots had have we South,

of their M.F.V. If anyone needs a guide on how to fit out one of these these of one out fit to how on guide a needs anyone If M.F.V. their of

visit his old school at Pitt Street to keep his weight down. down. weight his keep to Street Pitt at school old his visit

ship went ashore in the Pentland area. It 'is not Admiralty policy to to policy Admiralty not 'is It area. Pentland the in ashore went ship

Barrington will wear out 3 trousers to 1 jacket in the chair, and numerous numerous and chair, the in jacket 1 to trousers 3 out wear will Barrington

ancestors, and we will all be very disappointed if, in the near future, he he future, near the in if, disappointed very be all will we and ancestors,

pencils sorting out Q.D.D's to go to to go to Q.D.D's out sorting pencils

from the spider of Robert the Bruce whilst resident in Scotland. We We Scotland. in resident whilst Bruce the Robert of spider the from

chair in the diving section at H.M.S. H.M.S. at section diving the in chair

also hear that on his journey South he attempted to sabotage the `Last `Last the sabotage to attempted he South journey his on that hear also link with civilisation'*—after all we'd done for him too. No doubt Mac. Mac. doubt No too. him for done we'd all civilisation'*—after with link www.mcdoa.org.uk

—they had first worked up a warm body temperature, which they then exhibition with a 'Mermaid' thrown in. The show was actually broadcast trapped in their airproof and waterproof rubber suits worn over their on the 1st February, 1955. I am told it went over quite well. The welter of woollies, before dashing into the sea. Their 'undies' were per- fectly dry after their immersion. spring term ended without further incident. Summer term arrived and with it the sun; a most unusual occurrence Why must these aquatic Spartans go down again to the sea when it's at its wint'ry wildest ? in this geographical location I am told. Navy Days arrived and the `Caledonia Tadpoles' once again helped out with the diving display, which The leaders of the party, Admiralty official Geoff Cliff and commercial also included Safeguard's divers and divers from the Bar Boats and other photographer Alan Dredge, explained: 'It's good training. It helps to ships in the area. Came the end of summer term and the baths were tone and toughen us up.' closed for leave. Eddie Chadwick, T.V. engineer, at 43 the oldest of the swimmers, During the early part of the winter term, underwater training was at wore an automatic self-inflating life-jacket over his rubber suit. 'But I a standstill, while the swimming baths were redecorated, but we are now didn't have to squeeze the trigger that blows it up,' he said afterwards. fully active once again. Bill Robertson tried out a double-skinned rubber submarine escape Petty Officer C. H. D. Jackson relieved me at this period and once suit, but found difficulty submerging because air retained in the suit gave again I have returned to the old stamping ground at Chatham Diving him too much buoyancy. School. Cheerio ! NEWSE. COLD FEETNOTE: I took swim trunks and woolly undies along, too, but decided to let the others have the fun—while I watched in heavy overcoat over warm TRIALS REPORT. jacket, polo-necked jersey, cavalry twill trousers and with feet in fleecy- lined boots. I CAUGHT A CHILL ! Let X and Y each represent a type of diver and W the column of wet each gets under or around.- This condensed version of an article which appeared in their columns and the photograph, are reproduced by courtesy of the YORKSHIRE EVENING POST. According to Y the column of wet he gets under (WY) =3Wx.... I. On the other hand that which he gets outside of is known and is expressed as WY=5 feet of dense dark •liquid in 10 glass vessels of 0.568 litres capacity ie. WY=5 litre feet (approx.) 2. NOTES FROM H.M.S. CALEDONIA Diver X asserts however that diver Y would become unconscious This 'Empire' was introduced to the 'Diving World' for the purpose of through 'Narks' if he went out in a damp mist, a statement which receives giving early underwater incentive to Boy Artificers. When I took over support from the fact that Y falls flat when leaving the bar to face the from Petty Officer Carr in May, 1954 the equipment consisted of 12 sets elements for a short period. This phenomenon should be investigated of `Salvus' ; by June we received our first consignment of swim gear-6 as it may lead to a serious limitation of maximum safe Air Depth. sets of pattern 5562A. X went on to add that whereas the depth to which he could dive Our merits with the swimming technique got off to an early start outside any known liquid, including lighter fuel, would be at least Wx with 'Navy Days' on June 9th and 10th, when the apprentices joined up 9W"....3. Yet this could not be ascertained exactly and anyway depended with the divers from H.M.S. Safeguard. In July came Caledonia's on who was paying. An interruption in the trial then occurred whilst swimming gala, and the boys gave an impressive display of pattern 0.05 litre feet were added to Wx. Apart from changing the estimated swimming. The programme was also supported by Mr. Barrington, value of formula 3 above to Wx----.18(WY)2 this had no other noticeable Q.D.D. and his divers from Safeguard. Chief Petty Officer Gates kindly effect on X and only transferred 0.0925 lbs of copper nickel from the did the commentating for the 'Caledonia Tadpoles.' experimenter to the till. After summer leave, classes of boys were given a two-week course The known magnitude of Wx however saved the trial from degene- of diving consisting of one week `Salvus' and one week `Swim'; also during rating into the wild guessing initiated by X who was obviously unac- this term we were given the treat of witnessing a fascinating exhibition customed to the inherent dangers of increasing the value of Wx above of spring-board diving by Peter Heatley, the Scottish spring-board 4.544 litre feet In a vain effort to prove that Wx =WY. champion. Conclusions :— During the spring term, January, 1955 we were visited by some B.B.C., T.V. officials with Peter Heatley and his manager, to discuss a I. That 'Narks' can be experienced at any depth. T.V. broadcast to be called 'It's all in the Balance.' It was publicity for 2. That 5 litre feet is the maximum safe depth for any. diver to get outside. Peter, and he required the P.T. staff and myself to give a swimming 3. That the depth to which a diver can get inside •is inversely propizt- ioned to that outside. 32 33 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

5..id...110.0.11.16.1%..ft. 0.1.6..W.IraNtiotOMON.10.1.06.1.10.4.14.0....11.0.0...... 1/.1.0.1...... d.....11 With H.M.S. PROTECTOR in the news having assisted the THERON i through the ice, it is with great pleasure we welcome the Ships Diving Team I To save your Laundry Bills ! ; to our list of contributors. EDITOR. A UNIFORM SHIRT ; NOTES FROM DOWN SOUTH : 1 in 100% Porous Nylon 1 H.M.S. PROTECTOR'S DIVING TEAM Double Cuffs Coat Style i / i ; ; ; I I I I i

; i ; I

Double Fronted 67/6 Single Fronted 57/6 Cmd. Gnr. Calway (T.A.S.), R.N. A. Martin, M.E.I. J. Green, L/S P.O. M. Tappin Also obtainable with Collar Attached in white, cream, blue or grey at the same prices B. Waddingham, A/B Kindly state Collar Size when ordering Introducing the diving team as the Antarctic Expeditionists, we first Stiff White Plastic Collars are available for wear with your advertise the fact we require at least 150 dip-chicks including our Gallant Nylon Shirt at 3/11 D.1's manned with scythes, to start a Kelp clearing campaign, in aid of our future Antarctic Explorers. Kelp being large seaweed (for the benefit of long stay at home dip-chicks). This kelp is thicker than any jungle in most places down south. Its length is found to be over 50 feet, and amongst it we have come across hard spherical portions as large as a alder&Co pusser's round fender. As usual my diving team has been 100%, J. Baker &Co Ltd having had no failures in all our operations ; first dip was carried out in Montevideo to test out all new equipment. On completion, we could 81-82 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH then boast of being the only department 100% (keeping up the good name). and Branches' The Ship then proceeded to the Falklands, which is our home more 12 Tavistock Road, Stoke 22 Railway Street 14/15 Castletown or less till we see you in June (we hope). Once again into the limelight DEVON PORT CHATHAM PORTLAND we stepped, and recovered a large anchor for the Governor of Falklands; on doing this, I was the first to experience the difficulty of plodding 34 36 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk through the kelp, having to hack my way through. On trying to gas in the lungs must be the same as that out-side the body, and as the surface, I found I could not reach surface, or even go back to the bottom, throat is connected to the lungs, the pressure in the inner ear should be so I was hauled up. A pretty picture I must say, trussed up like a Whale the same'as that acting on the drum. If this is not so the flexible mem- Island chicken plus one cwt. of seaweed all over me (well stuffed). brane forming the drum is forced in, with consequent pain (`EARS') and in After a short but enjoyable calling at Husvik in South Georgia, some cases rupture of the drum. noted for its whaling industry run by Norwegians, we had the usual cry, People suffering from heavy colds and catarrh are well advised not to `our inlets are blocked,' so away we went the following morning, to dive, as these complaints cause blockage of the tube which is extremely experience the Antarctic weather. At the time of diving there was a snow-storm raging; we braved the difficulties in self-contained, but to hard to clear. our surprise we found it hard to breathe. The sets being 100% we put Reverse ears occur when the pressure inside the ear is greater than it down to the extreme cold weather; eventually we overcame our diffi- that outside the drum, and the drum is then forced outwards. This culties, and once more kept up our good name. occurs when the outer ear is blocked either by cotton wool plug, or perhaps From Husvik we proceeded further South, finding the ice pack a close fitting hood, locking air at atmospheric pressure inside it. There approximately 64° 40" South (not Depth). We then returned to our base. should be either a channel in the ear pads of the hood, or sufficient slack During the short spell here we dived several times to clear Kelp from in the hood, to allow gas to pass between from the mouth to the ear drum. inlets, including night operations, so we are fully experienced in night One final word of warning ;—if you experience 'EARS' while under- diving. water swimming, and are unable to clear them, you should surface. May I, on behalf of our Diving Officer Mr. Calway and team, suggest NEVER FORCE THE EARS, as this may result in permanent injury, and that all ships, with divers borne, that are proceeding south on an ex- consequential damage to your hearing. G.A.F. pedition similar to ours carry a small jap compressor, as boats and men are very scarce to aid us in our diving operations; may I quote too, plenty of nylon underwear, which has been a blessing. H.M.S. MAIDSTONE NOTES Having run out of thinking 02 I will surface .now, and on behalf of my team we wish all dip-chicks A Happy New Year and Good diving. Since our last contribution to the magazine which concerned the accident TAPS AND HIS 3 SEALS. to H.M. S/M Sidon, life in the diving world has been somewhat subdued. Petty Officer Riley has just completed qualifying our fourth Shallow Water Diving Class; the classes to date have worked out to an average UNDERWATER-SWIMMER'S SECTION of 75% making the -grade; each class finishes up with a night swim In previous articles the danger of compression illness and Nitrogen underneath Maidstone, on a life-line and not beyond the keel. Narcosis have been dealt with. Now I am going to discuss the effect of The response for volunteers has resulted in more than we can cope pressure on the ears. with, and now each candidate is chosen from a roster depending on It is not generally realised that the majority of ear trouble occurs in departmental commitments. the first 33 ft. The change of pressure between the surface and 33 ft is 'doubled, that is from 15 to 30 lbs.:I" absolute, and although the pressure Several of the successful candidates have opted for C.D. and it is increases 15 lbs.c!" with every subsequent depth increase of 33 ft, the to be hoped their ground work here will stand them in good stead during relative change is greatest at this depth. one of the most difficult of courses. The ear is like a cylinder with a parchment covering over one end. The highlight during this year was assisting the civil authorities If this cylinder be lowered into water the pressure would act on the during the very bad floods at Upwey Dorset, when the team here salvaged parchment, forcing it in until the parchment split. Now, if a hole be three live pigs(!) and personal property of those whose homes were flooded made in the other end of the cylinder there would be no movement of the out. parchment because the pressure would be equal on both sides; the con- Petty Officer Burgess has been through the wet and dry escape ditions of the ear are exactly the same. The middle ear is the cylinder chaniber in an 'X' Craft which is quite something for him when one and the drum is the parchment stretched across one end. At the other realises the cramped space one has to get into. end is a tube which leads to the throat, and this acts like a hole allowing the pressure to equalise. It will be seen that should this tube be blocked A very close liaison is kept with the 'X' Craft, with the odd run it would be impossible to equalise the pressure and thus it is essential that ashore to strengthen the ties. Senior Officer 'X' Craft, Lt.-Cdr. Todd on you clear your ears before diving. This can be done by swallowing hard, occasions, has called on us to train up several of his team for S.W.D. which yawning, or blowing hard with nose and mouth closed. When diving, the we have done our utmost to fullfil. 36 37 www.mcdoa.org.uk Anthony

The Jungle is Neutral)

Met by Moonlight),

JAMES BENSON

edited

Stanley Moss ( of Ill

DIVER'S BOOKSHELF

members will remember having seen this method demon-

:—Many

During early training 'Dropping and Picking-Up' drill is carried out

At first, wear and tear on the biceps of the left arm is very much in As training progresses the entire operation is speeded up and it is not

NOTE

The most amusing of the stories tells of Peter Fleming's encounter

The White Rabbit),

at slow speed, with long intervals between each 'drop and pick-up'. evidence, but it is not long before the art of catching the loop under the

long before the divers can be dropped or picked-up at maximum speed, at five minute intervals. strated on the television during the latter part of last year. by Patrick Howarth (Routledge left arm pit is mastered. I have come across recently is & Kegan Paul, 16s.). This is an

SPECIAL OPERATIONS One of the most enjoyable books anthology of extracts from works

the Special Operations Executive, dealing with the various awe- with espionage and the organisation of resistance forces in occupied isation. A peculiar characteristic already published by members of and capable writers of our generation, produce perhaps the most romantic inspiring activities of that organ- of the book is that its origin (of of a related benevolent fund. Accordingly, its nineteen component countries. These subjects, in the hands of some of the most experienced lies in the need to bolster the finances of the Special Forces Club and with an ammunition train. If you've ever driven a train—I have for a Quayle (the Stratford actor), Spencer Chapman (of stories have been given free, and, of course, they deal exclusively matter of minutes—you'll find it killingly and reminiscently funny. Ordinary mortals will find it plain hilarious. Julian Amery's contribution deals with his liaison duties with Albanian guerillas. Among its other cum-pure-travelwriting I know. And, while it is invidious to have to than fiction. Other contributors include Peter Churchill, Bruce Marshall recounting of all war stories. choose individual stories for particular mention out of such a galaxy, I virtues this piece contains some of the most fascinating social-study- must confess to finding the adventure-content of Xan Fielding's capture by and escape from the Gestapo the complete proof that truth is stranger

book which I heartily recommend.

and J. H. 'Elephant Bill' Williams. As you will have gathered, this is a www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

LEWIS.

intend to renew our

our visit to Gibraltar

1956, and subsequent

R.A.N.

PICKING-UP DRILL OFF CLARKE ISLAND, SYDNEY

It is hoped to start up another class before

Yours Aye,

The 'Drop' entails a half roll half jump from the craft on to the

The craft used for this operation is a Landing Craft .Vehicle Personal,

"DROP AND PICK-UP DRILL" DOWN UNDER

from the end of January to the end of March, docking at Portsmouth in early May where we

acquaintance with the School. dinghy into the water, landing on the back. For the actual picking up of the divers from the water at speed, a cane loop covered with foam rubber the craft. powered by a 6-cylinder Grey Marine Diesel, which has a top speed of canvas and fitted with towing and holding pendants is secured alongside The Royal Australian Navy has adapted the 'Drop and Pick-Up' method used for beach reconnaissance, and our first class of trainee clearance divers recently completed training of this nature. rubber dinghy, landing face downwards, and then a further roll from the

is used.

10-12 knots approximately. An aircraft rubber dinghy encased in www.mcdoa.org.uk

In similar vein is NINTH TIME LUCKY by Elios Toschi (William Three brief mentions: FREE DIVING by Dimitri Rebikoff (Sidgwick Kimber: 16s.). And, while its writing—in translation at least—cannot & Jackson: 25s.) ; JUMP FOR IT by Jerald Bowman (Evans: 12s. 6d.) compare with much of the content of Special Operations, this is another and K-MEN by C. D. Bekker (William Kimber: 16s.). Free Diving is war book I can recommend. Toschi was one of the first of Italian naval sub-titled "a book that tells you how to do it." As such its interest to officers to experiment with human torpedoes. During an attempt of his professionals- must- be consequently restricted. However, I'm sure that own to penetrate the harbour at Alexandria the submarine carrying his most of us haven't stopped being able to learn about our own jobs; and torpedo was forced to the surface, and its personnel taken into captivity, this book throws in some warm-water Mediterranean nostalgia into the by a British destroyer's depth-charge attack. This part of the book is really bargain. Jump for It recounts a number of stories of parachute escapes only prologue. The story proper begins with his imprisonment, first in from wrecked aircraft, principally, though not entirely, of 1939-1945 Egypt and later in various camps in India. After eight frustrated vintage. I imagine the thought of parachuting must be complete attempts at escaping he finally gets clear from a camp at the foot of the anathema to all underwater, practitioners. In this event the book could Himalayas and lives among local shepherds while trying to reach Cashmir be a Spiiie-chiller. A small word of warning, however: the author has or Afghanistan. Eventually, disguised as a Pathan, he succeeds in not completely succeeded in avoiding the impression of a long list of travelling across the breadth of India and in reaching Portuguese territory. not-very-different incidents. K-Men is the story of German frogmen and The book contains a number of somewhat acid references to British service midget submarines. It is pleasant, for once, to read of one of our enemies personnel, some of which may well be true and many of which are certainly following rather than preceding us in the adoption of technical innovations. funny. Not only did the Gernians start late in this field, they also made the Those of you who are Richard Gordon fans will probably already have mistake of dissipating their energies'between a large number of ideas and read his recent effort. DOCTOR AT LARGE (Michael Joseph; 10s. 6d.) designs. Their frogmen were infinitely more efficient than their midget continues the adventures, amorous rather than medical, of Dr. Simon submarine crews and the accounts of the work of the former provide a Sparrow. It is easy and tempting to feel that number three in the series number of interesting comparisons with our own methods. is less efficiently titivating than numbers one and two. Whether it is or not, it is still a highly enlivening evening's reading, for its short length and - I ani writing this with the Penguin Stock List in front of me. Not its irresistible anecdotes preclude its lasting for a Saturday while. the least attractive quality of these excellent publications is the fact that theitlists bring back books that are not new. Old favourites of mine at present listed include,: CLOCHEMERLE by Gabriel Chevallier, the story of a,. French town's decision to erect a public convenience next to the pai-iSli church; a recent issue of ten books by C. S. Foster; SIX CURTAINS AMERICAN UNDERWATER MAGAZINES FOR STROGANOVE by Caryll Brahms and S. J. Simon, a skit about the One year subscriptions—Skin Diver 28/6 ; Waterbug 28/6 ; ballet which you are bound to enjoy equally whether you are a serious Water World 28/6. Specimens 3/— each. balletomane or whether you always turn the T.V. set off; DEATH IN VENICE by Thomas Mann, because I feel sure that one of the great AMERICAN UNDERWATER BOOKS v,irtues .of .the Penguin organisation is that it brings us the classics of every generation and because, classic though it is, I find this an excellent Guide to Skin Diving and Spearfishing 15/6 `thriller' of its own kind; and finally, for specimens of the real detective Shallow Water Diving and Spearfishing 30/— thriller, an excellent collection of the works of my personal favourite, Underwater (Barada) 6/6 ; Underwater Photography 22/6 Georges Simenon. Underwater Photography and Television (Cross) 44/— Underwater Sport 29/— I hope some or all of the above keep some or all of you amused or iiitrigued, but please don't give Chiefie my name and number if he catches Descriptive list free you reading one of the juicier passages during 'Hands to Quarters, Clean Guns.' All American magazines available, list on request

PETER F. HOBSON A RECOMMENDED MAGAZINE FOR ALL DIVERS 79 SOUTHBROOK ROAD, COUNTESS WEAR NEPTUNE.—The official journal of The British Sub-Aqua Club. EXETER, DEVON Published by The British Sub-Aqua Club, 79 Great Titchfield Street, London, W.1, Monthly: Price 2/- or 26/- for twelve copies postage paid, 41

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MAGAZINES OF THE ROYAL NAVY This is but one of the incidents that the Mediterranean Fleet's CHATS.—Magazine of the Chatham Port Division, published every two Clearance Diving Team have to cope with. Led by Lieutenant P. A. months. Price 9d. White, R.N., they are direct descendants of the old Port Parties, whose job it was to remove underwater obstacles from war-scarred harbours, GUZZ GAZETTE .—Magazine of the Devonport Division, published monthly. Price 1/-. and conduct underwater surveys. - ten-man team are ST. VINCENT MAGAZINE .—Magazine Based at Manoel Island, the activities of the of H.M.S. St. Vincent, published usually marked by the presence of a pinnace flying the red Diving flag. three times a year. Price 2s. 6d. Among their tasks are experiments in underwater swimming methods. SHOTLEY MAGAZINE.—Magazine of H.M.S. Ganges, published three times a year. Price 2s. 6d. The second officer of the Team, Commissioned Gunner TAS (CD), C. L. Lawrence, has been seen around the harbours by many people, H.M.S. FISGARD MAGAZINE.—Magazine for Artificer Apprentices, clearing wartime missles. published three times a year. Price 2s. The team are in constant demand, rendering harmless everything LIVE WIRE.—Magazine of the Naval Electrical Branch, published three from 1,000 Kg. aircraft bombs to much smaller projectiles. In a month, times a year. Price ls. they have been called upon to deal with no less than 376 assorted pro- COMMUNICATOR.—Magazine of the Communication Branch, published jectiles from harbours and around Malta's coastline. three times a year by H.M.S. Mercury. Price ls. 6d. Naturally enough, as can be expected from their amassed experience, BLUE BAND.—Magazine of the Royal Marine School of Music and the men of the F.C.D.T. are often flown to various parts of the Medi- Royal Marine Band Service, published three times a year. Price ls. terranean to perform their duties, and there are many extremely interesting NA VOSP.—Magazine for all R.N. Patients and Staff, published three stories that must be left untold of their work. times a year by R.N. Hospital, Haslar. Price 6d. In their course of action they have done everything from groping THE THUNDERER.—Magazine of the R.N. Engineering College, pub- around in the murky waters off Fort St. Elmo for a 1,000 Kg. German lished April, July and December. Price 2s. bomb to recovering a senior Royal Navy officer's spectacles from off Custom House Steps. GLOBE AND LA UREL.—Magazine of the Royal Marines, published monthly by R.M. Barracks, Eastney. Price Is. The Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving team, all of whom are volunteers in the world of diving, have operated in the icy waters of NAVY NEWS.—The official Newspaper of the Portsmouth Command, Portsmouth's black mud harbour near H.M.S. Vernon, and are unanimous Home Air Command, and Royal Naval Association. Published in their approval of the water temperature off Malta. monthly by R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth. Price 3d. The team's equipment ranges from the skin-diver's twin compressed Also recommended are :— air cylinders, flippers and lead-weighted belt, to the 'Clammy Death' NA VAL ORDNANCE INSPECTION JOURNAL. shallow-water diving dresS, via sponge rubber 'mid-season' outfits worn STAND EASY.— Magazine of H.M.S. Ocean, published three times a when working in chilly waters for some time. year. One of the most experienced men in the team and one who heads H.M.S. MODESTE.—Magazine. 1954-1955. what must surely be the only all-diving family in Malta is Chief Petty Officer 'Stan' Stanley, a qualified deep diver, who has been for 15 years in the diving profession. His wife often dives with him during 'off-duty THEY DIVE TO WORK hours, and his small son is fitted with a diving rig. The officer working in semi-darkenss under the foggy waters of Kalkara As a final word of advice, the team, who carry out their work with Creek looked down in alarm as a distant metallic sound travelled through trigger-quick minds that belie their slow movements under the sea, be it the patchy blackness. He was upside down and working in the rusty clearing ropes from around ships' screws, coping with unexploded missiles ruins of the Submarine Pandora, rendering the boat's torpedoes harmless. on the sea bed' or merely fishing for lost valuables, had this to say: They were still dangerous, even after 14 years under the Grand Harbour. "Don't monkey around with home-made breathing gear. Either The noise become a soft crunching, and as he looked a torpedo came buy a recognized rig, or leave the aqua-lung business alone. Much rumbling from an upper rock shelf towards him. He couldn't move technical and medical thought has gone into making a reputable breathing away quick enough. The missile came on, stopping a scant few inches set." away from his inverted flipper-footed body. A sigh of relief mingled This is sound advice, from those who know. with the bubbles from his back-pack compressed air set, and he went on This item has been condensed from an article appearing in The working, removing the firing pistols from the remaining torpedoes. (Times of Malta and has been reproduced by kind permission of the Editor,' 42 43 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk All the appropriate fittings are here, though I don't suppose we shall NOTES FROM DEVONPORT DIVING SCHOOL run to the luxury of steam heating as in H.M.S. Safeguard, neither do we need it. Still, all being well, we hope local divers and those from visiting ships will be able to keep in practice with Oxy-Arc cutting and Under- water Welding as well as the usual exercises. Those divers not banished to the far West during the past eight months may not know that the three hulks forming the old Defiance have now been sold privately and are at present being stripped of all their valuable copper, brass, wooden and glass superstructure, and are in turn being towed away and scrapped. Amazing how many greenhouses are being built in and around Plymouth these days ! Many people will view the passing of these old ships with mixed feelings. It does seem odd to be able to look clear across to Impregnable from Wilcove jetty. It's a case of scraping the bottom of the barrel for this edition, I hope we shall do better next time. G.W.

THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU

Many enquiries have been made recently from divers away from their depot regarding the Employment Bureau, and wishing to know if we can help in any way by giving names of firms, requiring divers in civilian life. Many of you I am sure will .be pleased to hear the good news that the Employment Bureau has been revived. If you wish to have your name on record please forward the following information to R.N. Diving Magazine, H.M.S. Vernon, Portsmouth.

AN EMPIRE BUILT ON CONCRETE Full Name Rating Off. No Some five years ago it was proposed to build a 'Diving Tank' for the Time as diver are you willing to serve abroad Diving School Devonport, as it was then, isolated as we were from the main body of H.M.S. Defiance Private Address The tank was required to replace our own-made effort of a few years Time expires previous, and was intended to be bigger and better than anything before in any of the Diving Schools.

At that time we foresaw neither the closing down of H.M.S. Defiance This record, when received from you, will be filed, and when your hulks, nor the building of the 100 foot tank at H.M.S. Dolphin. Had the turn comes, "Who knows." Please remember the bureau does not assure former been known, it is doubtful if our efforts would ever have been you of employment. It merely puts you in contact, the rest is up to you. successful. However, the pipe dream of days long ago suddenly started Records held show that many divers upon receiving information from this to materialise last year, with a large concrete base, being, laid. As you see by the photograph, the tank is practically completed. Bureau have found good employment in civilian life. 44

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Head Office: This blazer badge is available to all R.N. divers and ex-divers. I 3/3A HALF MOON STREET, THE HARD The badges are made by Messrs. Greenburgh Bros. Ltd. of Portsmouth, and are available for purchase either from the R.N. Diving PORTSMOUTH Magazine or direct from the makers at a cost of 42/6. Telephone 7 0 2 0 1 /2 The aim of the Association (sponsored by the R.N. Diving Magazine) 1 Branches at: is to help all serving divers and ex-R.N. divers to obtain employment (see DEVONPORT 25 WILLIAM STREET page 45—Divers' Employment Bureau). It also aims to help in any way CHATHAM 37/41 HIGH STREET the dependants of serving divers should a fatal accident occur. MALTA 27/28 PINTO WHARF, VALLETTA The colour scheme of the badge is : Gold lettering in Red scrolls GLASGOW 220/220A BROOMIELAW outlined with Gold Braid; Yellow helmet with Gold and Silver Braid, finished Black and White; the whole outlined with Gold Braid on a Black

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