www.candoo.com/ulsternorrie/rnator

Ahoy Shipmate RNA Torbay Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

In this issue Editorial Editorial...... 1 By Shipmate Norrie Millen Report on Chairman & filler ...... 2 Hi! Shipmates, Terry Membery’s Journal Part I ...... 3-5 HMS Protector ...... 6-9 I don’t know about you, but I am fed up with the way our Crimea Field hospitals & C9 ovid 19 . 10-12 government are handling this Covid-19 situation. Other Bish’s Bit – The White Friar Part II .... 13-14 countries shut their borders right away, nothing in, nothing out Lt Col Weston RM Obit ...... 15-16 and recorded very low or zero death rates. Our borders are still wide open and the rules for us change by the minute are total

confusing and really obscure. Now it’s going to mid-June before MURPHY'S OTHER 15 LAWS they do anything about it! 1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear Have you been watching the various debates and interviews of them speak. senior cabinet ministers on various channels? Have you 2. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well. noticed they never actually answer a direct question, just a lot 3. He who laughs last thinks slowest. of verbal diarrhoea which actually says and means nothing? 4. A day without sunshine is like, well, night. 5. Change is inevitable, except from a They appear to me to treat the general public as if we are all vending machine. dense, their continual pontificating on the issues instead of 6. Those who live by the sword get shot by taking action leaves me very angry and indeed frustrated as I those who don't. am sure it does to you all. 7. Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool. I firmly believe that if our PM and government had taken 8. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50- immediate action there would be many thousands still alive 50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong. today. They have knowingly committed a form of genocide, by 9. It is said that if you line up all the cars in allowing this terrible pandemic to go literally unchecked. They the world end-to-end, someone from Quebec have diretly and indirectly caused so much heartache and would be stupid enough to try to pass all of misery to the families who have lost loved ones. If one causes them. death, one is charged with murder or manslaughter. Therefore 10. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it. in my opinion they (PM & his senior ministers) should be also 11. The things that come to those who wait charged with manslaughter. may be the things left by those who got there first. What about the two ministers who broke the lock down rules 12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a and yet are deemed by PM to have done no wrong? I guess one day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a rule for them and another for us minions. boat all day drinking beer. 13. Flashlight: A case for holding dead But as I always say: we are still here to complain about it. They batteries. say a matelot (and ex matelots) are not happy unless they are 14. God gave you toes as a device for finding ‘dripping’ furniture in the dark. 15. When you go into court, you are putting I hope, pray and trust that you all stay on the right side of the yourself in the hands of twelve people who grass and have no need for your wooden overcoats just yet. The weren't smart enough to get out of jury navy didn’t kill us and neither will this if we follow the rules duty. The way I see it anyway! Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

Chairman’s Corner blood test. This led him to be admitted, first to By Shipmate John Soanes Torbay, then transferred to a private room at Newton Abbot Hospital. He is not allowed Hi! Shipmates, The editor writing visitors even from his wife and family. His this column. Holding John’s rd chemotherapy treatment has been halted, and page open from May 23 for his the bladder removal postponed, as it was felt Chairman’s Corner and no the operation might be fatal for him. answer to my emails to give him a nudge, nor any response from To date he has received four pints of blood, growing increasingly concerned. has had stents placed in his kidneys as they are not functioning correctly and everything he Luckily I managed to get Ann to answer the drinks and eats is measured, and likewise phone yesterday. Ann does not do email and everything that comes out is also weighed and did not know how to recover my phone measured. messages hence me not hearing back. He has been transferred back to Torbay Ann related the horrendous tale of John’s (twice I think) but currently back in Newton ongoing and very serious medical problems. Abbot, hoping to be discharged middle of Around 10 days ago, he went to Torbay for a coming week. So not good news. I have passed the Branches regards and good Did the US Navy ever consider a wishes to John via Ann, he is allowed the odd nuclear-powered battleship to phone call and I am sure you will all remember replace the Iowas? him in your prayers. Norrie. From the Internet 

The last planned battleships, the Montana class, were cancelled at the end of WWII Kentucky's bow. So the USS Wisconsin is before construction began. They were not actually two ships in one.] planned to be nuclear vessels. This was mostly But there would be other classes of ships that a result of nuclear vessels being several years were nuclear powered. Guided missile cruisers in the future long after battleships were for example. But despite the fact that they considered obsolete. It wasn’t played a part in conflicts up until until Admiral Rickover’s Desert Storm the halcyon days push for nuclear of the battleship were over that after WWII. surface ships were considered for The closest the US Navy nuclear propulsion. got to a nuclear The Enterprise CVN battleship idea was USS 65 didn’t happen until Long Beach CGN-9. the sixties. She was a beast. 720 feet The remaining Iowa class long and over 16,000 tons in her battleships were mothballed and prime. She carried at one point close to occasionally brought back into service up until 200 missiles. USS Long Beach was one of a kind. Originally conceived to carry nuclear the early nineties. [Interesting side note: there missiles, including Polaris Ballistic Missiles. were two incomplete Iowa class ships under She eventually became a heavily Anti-Air construction that were cancelled after the war. Warfare focused command and control type After a collision with a , the USS flagship Wisconsin was fitted with the incomplete USS

Get Well Soon John – All Branch shipmates are thinking about you. We are all praying for you

RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -2

Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

Journal of Terry Membery Life in the RN from 1967 -1993. – Part One Submitted by Shipmate Terry Membery

The question most asked is why Ganges at Football and Rugby, captaining the aforementioned. I didn't did one join the ? find it hard to adjust to life at Shotley and Rewind to boyhood. so I have no horror stories of Laundry Hill. My father was in the Parachute division in the Army and I was The sport was a welcome distraction from destined for an Army career the mundane chores of cleaning, school work, Engineering and only one problem I Sewing. We had to was scared of embroider our names in heights so that red on our No. 8’s was out (even to which took an age. I this day you will had a year at HMS not get me up a Ganges, looking back ladder). I enjoyed my time there days we're quite With the tragic death full and in the evening we of my father when I was played table tennis and 12 my Uncle influenced my snooker. boyhood life. He was in the RN. I can remember going to The year flew by and on 11th June Plymouth with my Auntie to meet him on 1968, I left HMS Ganges and joined his return from the sea. One such trip I HMS Raleigh the next day 12th June. can remember vividly and once we got on HMS Raleigh - 12/6/68- 29/12 68 the ship they had monkeys and a big Although I wasn't aware I would stay at sword that they brought back from their HMS Raleigh till December awaiting a voyage (I don't think we would get away draft to a ship. Whilst in HMS Raleigh I with it now ) was employed at Jupiter Point sailing and HMS Ganges -20/6/67 -11/6/68. seamanship school. I wasn't aware then At the tender age of 16½, I journeyed to but I would return to Jupiter Point as the Plymouth and signed up to enlist. The Engineering Officer in charge. I liked the journey up to Shotley was an emotional relaxed atmosphere at Jupiter Point the one leaving my home family and friends. I job entailed training the Raleigh trainees duly signed the dotted line in boatmanship. At night it was off to on the 20th of June the bright lights of Plymouth 1967. and one particular venue the rooftop (that's I was fortunate another story) at HMS Ganges for two reasons; HMS Eagle -30/12/70 - one I progressed, 13/9/70. via the normal route The big day came and I from Annexe to the main camp joined HMS Eagle on the 30th but after a couple of weeks, I December 1968, I was billeted in 2PZ2 was made a Leading boy and secondly, I the flight deck stokers mess. My job was excelled at sport and I represented HMS in the Arrester Gear howdah, I put the bow springs down after the pilot who was RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -3

Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

landing a plane had caught one wire (I Resource, Lyness, Engadine, Olmeda say 1, not 2) It didn't happen to me but it Quite an impressive list of ships how many did with my fellow watch keeper. The can we muster now? plane I do believe was a Buccaneer I left HMS Eagle on the13/9/70 to join HMS came to an abrupt halt much to the Manxman. disgust of the pilot, luckily no damage was done. I served for 2½ years on HMS HMS Manxman -14/9/70 - 20/11/70 Eagle. In that time we had numerous HMS Manxman was refitted in Chatham visits to the Mediterranean And the in the early 60s and converted to a States, one such trip to Malta minesweeper support vessel. During this indoctrinated me into Dghajsas, Barrakka refit, Forward Boiler room fitted with lift and the Gut. I won't delve too much Diesel Generators to supply outboard (loose lips sink ships) in case I power to minesweepers. incriminate myself, but a good time was She returned from Singapore in 1968 had by all. and used for Engineering One day to remember training in Devonport. was The Fleet review Following a fire towards of the Western Fleet the end of September in Torbay. Queen's 70, she was colour was transferred to the presented on HMS reserve. I was onboard Eagle; I was in the for only 2 months and guard of honour. When left and had my first and the TV closed down for the only taste of sleeping in a night it would show the Queen hammock. One duty I will always being presented to the guard and if you remember was to collect the Oggies etc. looked close enough you could see me outside the gate. Except this time around on TV (my claim to fame). I decided to have a few drinks in the Avondale 2 hours later with no money left Name of Vessels that took part and no oggies. I was never asked to go HMY Britannia again. (Hey Ho). Aircraft Carriers Eagle HMS Tiger -21/11/70 - 19/5/74 Cruisers HMS Tiger was placed in reserve on the Blake 18th of December 1966 before undergoing conversion to a Helicopter Glamorgan, Hampshire, Diana and Command cruiser. I joined the ship in refit which was due to Torquay, Eastbourne, take 18 months and Tenby, Sirius, Charybdis, cost 5 million the refit Phoebe, Llandaff, actually took 5 years Keppel, Plymouth, and cost the Dundas, Duncan taxpayer over 13 Survey & Others million. She was Abdiel, Fox, Fawn, Hecate recommissioned on the Minesweepers 19 May 1974. Whilst onboard Soberton, Bildleston,Upton,Lewiston, HMS Tiger I was employed on the (RNR - Venturer, Curzon) Submarines refrigeration section which I enjoyed Tiptoe, Ambush, Acheron, Oracle, Olympus, immensely, especially when the ship was Odin, Warspite, Valiant, Solent at sea I had a daily diet of fresh fruit. RFA’s HMS Tiger had been designed to cope with a nuclear attack in that she can RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -4

Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

steam for up to a fortnight through HMS Ark Royal - 14-1-1978 to 14-12-78 radioactive fallout with remotely I joined HMS Ark Royal on the 14th January controlled boilers and engines. Places we 1978 as a Mech 3. visited on HMS Tiger, Gibraltar, Malta, HMS Ark Royal was the sister ship to HMS Capetown, Singapore, Hong Kong to Eagle and was the Royal Navy last name a few. Trips that I remember, remaining conventional catapult and arrester Capetown a cable car trip, gear landing . Singapore a doubleheader at Aircraft on board: HMS Terror, whilst in 809 NAS 14 Buccaneers Singapore I befriended a 892 NAS. 12 Phantoms Tailor and I would take his 849 NAS. 4. Gannets book of samples around 849 NAS. 1 COD Gannet (best the ship, so I always had plane onboard carrier onboard a good suit and trousers delivery collects the mail) (shame I can't meet up 824 NAS. 7 Sea King with him now) and not Helicopters forgetting Sembawang Ships flight 2 Wessex. Village and the market at Helicopters. Sembawang Hills. Hong I was billeted in the POs Mess Kong a trip up to Victoria just aft of the wing catapult. It Peak to look down at the was a mixed mess of different bustling port and Happy Valley branches. A RM Sergeant was (horse racing) Finally Gibraltar, President of the Mess who was a was always a good run ashore good saxophone player. (Ideal for Catalan bay The Rock (with the parties in foreign countries.) We had 6 Monkeys) HMS Rooke football on Seamen, 6 aircrews from 849 squadrons, the sandy pitch and numerous bars to 4 chefs, 6 clankies (Engineroom Branch) and 3 frequent at night. I left HMS Tiger 19th May from the Royal Marine Band. Whilst onboard I 1974 as an acting leading hand I also passed was employed in X Boiler room, one of four for Petty Officer. onboard, double banking until I passed my Boiler room Watch keeper Certificate which I passed in HMS Sultan - 20-5-1974 to 22-9-1974. May 78. We visited quite a few different ports, I passed my Leading Hands course with a Gibraltar, Malta, Ft Lauderdale and Norfolk very good pass, so much so I passed for Virginia. Whilst in Norfolk Naval Base we tied up Mechanician Qualifying Course. abreast of the USS Nimitz. While we were in Norfolk the Rugby team had a tour to Roanoke HMS Defiance - 23-9-74 to 31-8-75 which is on the edge of the Blue Ridge During my time in HMS Defiance, I was in Mountains; lovely time had by all concerned. One charge of the crane and workshop. Within of my mess-mates managed to get me on a trip on the COD Gannet leaving and returning on three days of joining HMS Defiance, I was board. When you imagine a pilot of a civil aircraft rated a Petty Officer. One of my tasks was landing on a runway it is stationary. When you putting periscopes into conventional consider a Naval Aircraft landing on the deck with Submarines. This, as you can imagine, the ship moving sideways and up and down. It is wasn't a nine to five job I was called for at astonishing how they managed the task. I can any time night or day. remember one such trip returning to the ship with the mail. When you caught sight of the ship at HMS Sultan -1-9-75 to 13-12 75 some considerable distance it looked like a small I was at HMS Sultan for just over 2 years. rowing boat bobbing about on the sea. As you The days passed by with Engineering, close the ship one minute you see the flight deck Workshop, Academics and a lot of sport. I next to the Quarter Deck or the props depending played Rugby for Sultan and a member of the on the movement of the ship very frightening, glad Brickwood field gun team. We won at HMS to say no disasters whilst I was onboard. I believe Collingwood and as part of the Queens it was down to the expertise of the pilots. She Jubilee Celebration; we were victorious at entered Devonport Naval Base on the 4th December 1978 and decommissioned on the 14th South Sea Common on grass 28th June February 1979. 1977. RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -5

Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

HMS Protector The Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol ship From the Internet, submitted by Shipmate Kevin Maguire

After 4 years away from the UK, HMS Protector In 1967 the MoD purchased the 3,600-ton returned to Devonport on 25th April 2019. Here Danish-built Anita Dan from Lauritzen we look at the history of Antarctic Patrol Ships, Lines. She was renamed HMS Endurance and Protector and her role in supporting UK interests converted for RN requirements by Harland in and global science in the region. Wolff in Belfast, including the addition of a hangar and flight deck for the operation of two Background Wasp helicopters. Events in 1982 The Royal Navy conspired to make HMS association with the Endurance a household name. Antarctic goes back John Nott’s disastrous 1981 to the early days of Defence Review which exploration of the would have decimated the continent in the navy had determined HMS 19th Century. Endurance would be axed Captain Robert Falcon as one of many short-sighted Scott, arguably the most economy measures. This was one famous polar explorer, was an of the signals that the Argentine RN officer and many of the British government took as a loss of British interest in the pioneers had naval connections. The Falklands, justifying their invasion. presence of a dedicated Endurance was involved in the Antarctic Patrol ship can recovery of South Georgia and be traced back to survived the war unscathed. Operation Tabarin of As the only Chatham-based World War II. Although ship to take part in the nominally to deter conflict, she arrived home on German commerce raiders the Medway to a hero’s welcome from interfering with whaling in August 1982. The Falklands War and merchant ships, the despatch of HMS ensured the future of the RN Antarctic Patrol Highland Monarch, initially to Ship that continues today. (You can read the full Deception Island, was motivated by a desire to story of the ship 1980-82 in the excellent book by deter Argentine and Chilean claims to territory in her Captain, Nick Barker (“Beyond Endurance: the region. In the event, there was no An Epic of Whitehall and the South Atlantic”) confrontation and the expedition embarked on Endurance II scientific work which remains the main focus of the UK Antarctic presence to this day. By the late 1980s, Endurance was in a poor mechanical state and the MoD began studies to In 1955 HMS Protector (the 5th ship to bear the replace her with an initial budget of £52 Million name) a former 2,900-ton net-layer built for a new ship. The budget was before the war was converted at quickly slashed to £25M and it Devonport to a ‘guardship’ was clear an existing vessel and survey vessel for the would have to be Falkland Islands and its purchased rather than be dependencies. The hull purpose-built. In October was ice-strengthened, she 1991 MV Polar Circle was retained some armament chartered to replace Endurance and was fitted with a flight for that season. Polar Circle deck and a crude hangar. was a 6,100-tonne icebreaker Serving until 1968, she was replaced by HMS built in . A powerful, modern and Endurance. comfortable vessel, she was a big upgrade on her

RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -6

Volume 9 Issue 3 June 2020

predecessor and was purchased outright in Work included installation of 4 Multi-Beam Echo October 1992, becoming the second ship to bear Sounder (MBES) transducers into the box keel for the name HMS Endurance. She enjoyed a highly hydrographic surveying, fitting a Sound Velocity successful career until disaster struck in Probe and a Ferrybox for water sampling. The December 2008 when she was off the coast of largest task was the repositioning of the flight Chile. A mistake was