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d The Magazine of The National Museum of the Royal () HMS Victory and the Friends SCUTTLEBUTT THE NAVAL HERITAGE AWARD WINNING MAGAZINE 1914 prepares for WAR

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Council of the Friends 6 The greatest assemblage of naval power ever witnessed in the history of the world Chairmans Report (Peter Wykeham-Martin) 7 The Grand Fleet on the eve of the Great War UPDATES: News from the National Museum of the Royal Navy (Graham Dobbin) 8 Reflections of the Chairman of the Trustees of the NMRN (Sir GCB DL) 12 HMS Victory, Commanding Officers Report (Rod Strathern) 14 Steam Pinnace 199 - Progess Report (Martin Marks OBE) 16

REGULAR FEATURES: Series on Museum Figureheads (David Pulvertaft) 18 The Grand Fleet in art (Rick Cosby) 20 The Museum Models - HMS Collingwood (Mark Brady) 42 Naval Swords - The Red Earls sword (John McGrath) 63 Naval Medals (James Kemp) 69 Naval Museum HMS Victory & Friends Events 78

SPECIAL FEATURES: Secret operations in the Cold war Strategic nuclear weapons in the Royal Navy The Anglo-German Naval Armament Race (Bernard Ireland) 22 WW1 commemoration project HMS Caroline (John Roberts) 28 War at - C-Cubed at Jutland ( Richard Hill) 30 The Grand Fleet on the eve of the Great War (John Roberts) 36 Secret Diary of a senior naval officer in the Grand Fleet (Chris Howat) 38 Secret submarine operations - Cold War (Iain Ballantyne) 46 Royal Navy TODAY overview (John Roberts) 52 Royal Navy in Mesopotamia (David Gunn) 64 Continuing our history of British naval nuclear weapons – Strategic Part 2: (John Coker) 70 OUR ROYAL NAVY REGULAR ITEMS: “Welcome aboard!” (come & join us), benefits of membership 78 Book Reviews 82 Letters to the Editor 89 OVERVIEW The Grand Fleet in art Editor: John Roberts 01329 843427 ([email protected]) Design: MMCS dh.creative 07765 245533 Print: Stephens & George Group 01685 352042 Advertising:: SDB Marketing 01273 594455 www.royalnavalmuseum.org/support_friends.htm

Photographs and images, courtesy of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (© Crown Copyright) unless otherwise stated

*The term Scuttlebutt is nautical slang for the latest gossip and rumours; it derives from scurrilous chatter between sailors gathered round the water cask, Relections of the the equivalent, in modern terms to the office water cooler. Chairman of the trustees Commemoration project Cover picture: A contemporary picture of HMS Iron Duke leading the 1st & 2nd Battle Squadrons of the 199 Steam Pinnacle The Anglo-German naval race NMRN HMS Caroline Grand Fleet (taken from a periodic review published in the early years of the First World War)

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt d The Magazine of The National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) HMS Victory and the Friends SCUTTLEBUTT t t uttutt ty gttg tg tg xt u THE COUNCIL OF THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL tv t NAVAL MUSEUM AND HMS VICTORY t t ty So where does all this leave the role of the time you read this. The plan is still to have ‘ t ’ respective Friends’ organisations? The her afloat on trials in April – and we are still Patron: Admiral of the Fleet HRH The Prince of Wales analogy we have used is that of the National within budget! Her programme for this year KG, KT, OM, GCB, AK, QSO, ADC t u t u uttutt Trust, which has a nationwide membership includes the Old Gaffers weekend in scheme, but its individual sites have Friends Yarmouth and the Boat Show. uty t t VICE PRESIDENTS who do everything from acting as guides to It will be marvellous to see her afloat and Admiral Sir Brian Brown KCB, CBE t t ut y vy’ working on the site. In other words they Ivan and his team of volunteers have done provide the vital local support for their a magnificent job. 199 is still looking for Richard Irwin CB t uu ty Peter Wykeham-Martin RN particular National Trust site and this is how volunteers for a second crew, so if you Lord Judd t y vy tut n the last edition of Scuttlebutt, I we see our future support for the National are interested in some sea time please tt u gt v tg wrote that the Chairmen of the Museum. For many of us, the iconic contact Ivan. President: Sir Michael Moore KBE, LVO Friends of the four major presence of the VICTORY and the Museum Chairman: Commodore Peter Wykeham-Martin Royal Navy yu ut t gz constituent Museums were in at Portsmouth are the reason we became A very encouraging piece of news has been Vice Chairman: John Scivier Royal Navy discussions with the NMRN to Friends, and this is exactly what we will the extraordinary increase in visitor numbers ug t t uy y Executive Secretary & Treasurer: Mr Roger Trise see how we could work with the continue to support. to the site over last year – a staggering yu ut Honorary Secretary: Dr Campbell McMurray OBE Museum and their aspirations for a national 121% increase. Whilst it is easy to write off ty y y y Membership scheme. I am delighted to be Fitting into this role is the exciting new much of this increase to the re-opened Mary vtg t uvv able to reassure you that we have reached a addition to Museum at Portsmouth is the Rose Museum, it illustrates the continuing MEMBERS OF COUNCIL pragmatic way forward, which will allow 20th and 21st Century Gallery, scheduled to high level of interest in what is on display Nicholas Bates, Royal Navy each of us to retain our “independence” open in April. This will fill a vital gap in the within the Historic Dockyard site. Sadly the Mr David Baynes – Events Organiser & Volunteer Liaison whilst working in concert with the National Museum’s coverage and should prove to be MOD Broadsheet, which kept retired naval Lieutenant Commander Mark Brady, Royal Navy Museum. You will see in this edition an a fascinating attraction. The Museum is still personnel up to date with naval Lieutenant Commander Clive Kidd, Royal Navy advert for the new Membership scheme for fund raising and approached the Friends for issues, has fallen victim to cuts and we are Mr Christopher Knox the National Museum. With the growth of support for the 12 minute film “All of One carrying some of the Broadsheet type the National Museum’s assets with the Company” that will be shown in the Gallery. material in this issue of Scuttlebutt with the John Roberts MBE, Royal Navy CAN YOU HELP US? acquisition of HMS CAROLINE and other This film uses a mix of archive film and blessing of the naval PR organisation. I think Mr Ivan Steele – Steam Pinnace 199 Project The Council would like to encourage members of plans afoot, there is a real attraction to interviews from the Museum’s collection to it important that we continue to reflect both Mr Paul Woodman the Friends to become more involved in various becoming a Member with the opportunity produce in the Museum’s words “powerful present and past naval matters. This edition ways such as helping on Museum or Friends stands to visit the Museum’s various sites. An imagery from the to the of Scuttlebutt also includes planned events EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL at special days and events to promote the museum added bonus is that as a Friend, you are Falklands”. Your Council was unanimous in for this year and I would particularly Commander John Bingeman, Royal Navy and the Friends. If you think you could help please entitled to a reduced Membership fee. voting to fund this project, using the money recommend the day at the RNLI HQ in – Society for Nautical Research contact us: [email protected] from the West Legacy which we considered Poole. Finally, we are not going to be left By working with the National Museum was an entirely appropriate use of the behind in commemorating the outbreak of Mr Graham Dobbin – Deputy Director General NMRN on the Membership scheme, we are able legacy in memory of Cdr John West DSC. the First World War. You will see that this Lieutenant Commander Rod Strathern Royal Navy to take advantage of the professional The Museum will recognise the support of edition covers the preparation of the Grand – Commanding Officer HMS Victory marketing expertise being used to market the Friends and of the Wests in the credits Fleet for war, but we plan to publish an Membership. The Membership leaflets for the film. This support has effectively additional special edition of ‘Scuttlebutt’ this Councillor Rob Wood - Portsmouth City Council Scuttlebutt’ is most grateful to the Councillor Chris Carter – County Council at each of the 4 sites will include the drained our reserves, and we will not be year specifically dedicated to the Royal Navy many contributors to the magazine appropriate Friends literature. We see this able to support major items at the Museum in the Great War. Although this will cover all for their invaluable support: Executive Secretary as being a good recruiting tool. Those for a while, but we all considered this to be the war years, we will also be focusing on members of the public who join the the right use of our funds. In this edition of various events and incidents in the normal Roger Trise (023 9225 1589) [email protected] Kit Anderson, Andrew Baines, David Baynes, John Bingeman, Mark Brady, John Coker, Membership scheme may well decide to Scuttlebutt you can read more on the film in editions as various anniversaries arise. Rick Cosby, Graham Dobbin, Giles Gould, strengthen their links with a particular site a piece written by Matthew Sheldon who is We are also looking at ways of increasing The purpose of the Friends is to provide assistance to the National managing the new Gallery project. Our Richard Halton, Michael Heidler, Nick Hewitt, by becoming a Friend. Whilst being able to the distribution, coverage and sales of “piggy back” on the National Museum’s AGM on 8 May will provide the opportunity Scuttlebutt and I hope to be able to update Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) and HMS Victory when Richard Hill, Bernard Ireland, James Kemp, marketing is a very positive advantage, there for Friends to see the new Gallery and I you at the AGM on this aspect. requested, to promote the interests of the museum and to help Martin Marks, Martin Gates, Campbell McMurray, financially wherever possible are inevitably some downsides to the new hope that many of you will take up this First Sea Lord, Ken Napier, David Pulvertaft, environment. The main one is that the invitation for a private viewing. Once again, thank you for all your support, John Roberts, Peter Samson, John Scivier, National Museum wishes to restrict the and I look forward to seeing you at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, HM Naval Base (PP66) Second Sea Lord, Annabel Silk, Rod Strathern, visiting benefit to the Museum supported This year will also see the Steam pinnace AGM on Thursday 8 May. Portsmouth PO1 3NH Julian Thomas, Bethany Torvell, Roger Trise, by the respective Friends. However, your back in action. The hull work is now www.royalnavalmuseum.org Dominic Tweddle, Allison Wareham, Paul Woodman, Council are actively pursuing other benefits complete, and although the boiler re-tubing and Peter Wykeham-Martin, Iain Ballantyne, in the way of discounts etc and we will has taken longer than expected, installation David Gunn, Chris Howat, John McGrath keep you posted. of the boiler should be all completed by the Peter Wykeham-Martin

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt usum W

Top left: Racing to war’ painting right: Pickle Night dinner in New Bottom left: Museum Community Road Show Bottom right: Lowering in the 4-in gun from HMS Lance

Top left: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh meets museum staff

Top right: HRH The Princess Royal at Trinity House fund raising dinner

Bottom left: USS New York in New York

Middle: M33 in

Bottom right: USS New York presentation

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL be a dramatic presentation of recent I’m sure it will be said elsewhere, but Museum and the Royal be to ensure these new Directorates objective is a significant step forward MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL history, best summed up by its strap I would like to take this opportunity Navy Submarine Museum) will be work effectively – it’s a major change and the American Friends offer a solid NAVY (PORTSMOUTH) line '100 years, 1000 stories, 1 Royal to thanks the Friends for their recent working within an integrated structure in the way we do our business and platform from which to launch the Navy'. At the same time we open our generous donation of £30,000 under five Functional Directors. there are bound to be some glitches fundraising events we have planned in DEPUTY DIRECTOR first special exhibition ''Racing to War: towards the HMS Galleries Project. so please bear with us if, at least America in the next few years – key to GENERAL’S REPORT the Royal Navy and 1914' which is I’m sure the curators will be able to The Functions are: initially, enquiries etc are not this is the generous offer by Cunard to the first of a series of events to mark show you where your donation has • Collections, Learning, Research responded to as quickly as we use two of their ships for fundraising the Great War at sea. These new been spent during the private viewing and Access led by Graham Mottram would like. events on both coasts (one event per As I have been intimating for Galleries will be a magnificent addition after the AGM. • Fundraising, Marketing and coast) in 2015 which also marks the last few issues, NMRNP to the NMRN family and ‘the Friends’ Communications led by US Fundraising Cunard’s 175th birthday! is going through a period of will all get an opportunity for a private In support of the HMS Galleries Allison Dufosee Allison Dufosee, Gemma Louise intense change with much of viewing of them after this year’s AGM. fundraising effort, we hosted our • Finance let by Sarah Dennis who Martin and I had an extremely Whilst in New York, last November Curators will be on hand to discuss annual Trafalgar Night Dinner in the joins the organisation on 1st April productive trip to America (West we were extremely privileged to have it pointing towards April 2014 the new displays with them and I hope Princess Royal Gallery and hosted a • Operations led by Robert Bruce and East Coasts) last November a tour of USS New York – this is the for completion as many ‘Friends’ as possible are able dinner in Trinity House, which both • Governance, HR, It and culminating in the agreement of the ship which has some of the metal to take up this invitation. There will HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Administration led by myself American Friends that they see from the Twin Towers in it. Quite HMS Galleries be many events associated with the Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended. fundraising (primarily for HMS Victory) an experience! After more than ten years in the new galleries and we look forward The formation of staff within this as one of their objectives – up until planning plans are all on schedule to welcoming all Friends - and your Integration integrated structure is, as the saying now they have done a magnificent job to open our new £4.5m exhibition families and friends - in coming By 1st April 2014 all of the NMRN goes, simply the end of the beginning of awareness raising (mainly through galleries on 3rd April. The permanent months if you are unable to attend Sites (Explosion, rather than a completion of integration. the annual Pickle Night Dinner held in Graham Dobbin exhibition 'HMS: Hear My Story' will the AGM. Museum, HMS Victory, NMRNP, The challenges for the year ahead will the New York Club). This new Deputy Director General

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt usum W ‘ o on omn l h h gnlmn hl h h mrnrs n h mrnrs hl h h gnlmn s sh 'Then the Grand Fleet arrived, it was like feeling one's feet on the bottom after 'Morning after passed through of wreckage, boats, mess rsls n mpny being carried away by a strong , Lord fittings, papers, oil, dead fish, dead men ...' r r r r they did look fine ...'

nl sm h yl y h nq lm rmng h nr p h n ’ r y ry hn Vice Admiral Sir Michael Moor, President of the Friends (left) presents Graham Dobbin, Deputy Director General NMRN, with a cheque for £30,000 for the new HMS’ (Hear My Story) Exhibition.

'It's hard, but when you're called up you can't

'You got awarded so many points for just say "Look, I don't want to go now" You spotting an aircraft, a ship signalling in, don't join a club and when the going gets or even a raft floating by. I remember the Captain saying that if you spotted a tough say "I'm not a member any more". The submarine and we sank it he'd try and get you the VC ...' taxpayers have been paying my wages all these years and OK they've called my number, 'We dogged that Uboat till the following morning, he probably thought he was away, but we'd been trailing him. About 06.30 we closed in. attacked and got him' they've called all our numbers. It's our duty'

In the new 'HMS' exhibition we set The 12 minute film sits literally at the heart San Carlos during the . The film will be immersive ourselves the challenge of conveying to of the exhibition gallery and is where we using sound - whether that is the 'ping, ping' of ASDIC, or visitors what is unique about the naval want to make an emotional connection extracts from an Ops Room recording during an air raid in 1982 - service; central to that is what it is that is with our visitors. Elsewhere in the and dramatic film to fill the whole space. At the heart of the distinctively different about fighting at sea. exhibitions we display original artefacts, or script are the words of those involved conveying their unique At the heart of the exhibition is a film which let people get hands on with technology; experience with drama, excitement, humour, pathos, poetry and we have called ‘All of One Company’ - the Museum's new book series on naval even philosophy. taking as a starting point Drake’s call to history which is being published to his crew over 400 years ago. By drawing coincide with the exhibition allows readers I am delighted that it is the Museum's Friends who have chosen on the Museum's collections of letters, to follow the detail of events; this film will to sponsor the film with a donation of £30,000 from the West Friends of the Museum man the Friends stand in the diaries and sound recordings we want to be about impact and drama. 'I felt a sickening impact like smashing Legacy. With so many naval and ex-naval members it is fitting that Victory starboard arena on Armed Day. your head against a car window, the draw out the personal experience of obvious expletive came from my lips as it a film dedicated ‘To all the men and women of the Royal Navy and Any members of the Friends who would like to help with conflict, focusing on the reality of fighting Starting with Kipling’s wonderful poem did from colleagues either side who'd Royal Marines who were, are or will be .... all of one company’ future events and activities should contact at sea in any period. The reality that there of 1915 ‘My Boy Jack’ the film moves also been hit, then I went down like a carries their name. [email protected] or telephone 01329 843427 is nowhere to hide - that you really are in through the last 100 years, looking sack of potatoes .. My oppo said "I've it together. especially at the Battle of Jutland, the been 'it', I said "I can tell that you daft Matthew Sheldon bugger, there's blood everywhere ...' , and the landings at Head of Strategic Development

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt tons o t rmn o t rusts Above: Matthew Sheldon shows HRH The Princess Royal the 4-in gun from HMS Lance. Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National o t ton usum o t o v Heritage Memorial Fund, she will be saved. Under the overall NMRN umbrella she will We all had to raise our game to start to open to the public in the Titanic Quarter of gain the credibility of the wider museum in 2016, the centenary of the great world and indeed our Service. Luckily we WW1 sea battle. had good strength in many fields so the basics were there. It was as much about Closer to home we have our WW1 believing in ourselves that we were up to contestant M33. Rather than just the task and could really achieve matters. continuing to adorn her dry dock we plan So how does the slate look? I think pretty to bring her to life as part of a good. We have taken under our wing the experience to open next year. Timing for National , HMS VICTORY. There M33 and indeed CAROLINE could not is much to do still to really establish the be more important if we are to tell the state of the ship but we are determined to Navy’s side of the WW1 story here in do that while we stabilise her. A few years Portsmouth. But before that I do want to ago I was really worried that the MoD was give visibility to two key developments on losing the battle. Now, I am confident the side of the harbour, the Above: The HMS Lance, which fired the first shot of the Great War at sea. we have the governance and structure, imminent reopening of the submarine much of the money, to start to preserve ALLIANCE and the integration of and the RM in the 20th Century nowhere the huge loss of life on both sides. But her properly. Explosion! into the NMRN fold. brought it all together. there are wider strategic lessons and activities in the maritime arena that must We have helped reinvigorate the The first is a very significant achievement That deficiency will be corrected in April be given visibility, the contribution of allies Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the by the Submarine Museum Team who ran when the Hear My Story gallery opens to and the Empire, the campaign to blockade partnership of trusts that reside here in a quite excellent appeal and have managed the public. This modern and exciting , the U-boat response by Portsmouth. Attendance was dropping, the project well to meet the target for presentation of the activities of the RN and Germany that had Britain facing starvation marketing was not being effective and for opening this spring. Explosion! represents importantly its people will be an enduring in 1917, the part played by the Naval years there had been no refreshment of the RN’s armaments collection which legacy to those that served through WW1, Infantry and indeed the war in the Baltic exhibits. Well 2013 saw quite a change – frankly should never have left the family. WW2 and in operations since then. It will in 1919. new management, a more collegiate The key issue is that the collection is now link to today’s Navy many of those roles approach by us and others, much better back with us and it was the NMRN that that are carried out today but resonate This gives us in Portsmouth the opportunity marketing and key, a new attraction – the made this possible. As in effect the back to the Georgian period – support for to be centre stage in the broader Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL new Museum – What a world Service’s heritage conscience, we are British Interests, Defence of the Realm, interpretation of WW1 and in the NMRN beater she is. able to champion causes such as this, Defence Diplomacy and protection of we have the vehicle to do just that. I am t is a pleasure to be able to had been that smooth. Why was this the sometimes offering affiliation or, as in shipping and trade. proud, as the Chairman, to be associated make a contribution to case? Firstly, because the trustees saw that We have met our first real “Save a Ship” this case, taking them into the closer with the staff and volunteers of NMRN ‘Scuttlebutt’ in this very with the decision to create the NMRN there challenge – HMS CAROLINE in Belfast. family core. Also, this gallery includes space to mount Portsmouth. I salute their achievement to significant year for the NMRN was no other option and what we had here The last survivor of a generation, a Jutland special exhibitions. The focus of these in date and what I know will be their and particularly the Portsmouth in Portsmouth was to be the heart of the veteran, the RN had decided that she So to return to the importance of 2014 for the early years will be telling the tale of the successes in the future. element. new Museum. Then secondly, the team should go to scrap having ceased being Portsmouth. It had been the hope of the RN’s vital part in WW1, kicking off with here in Portsmouth and their leadership the HQ ship for the RNR in the Province. RNM for a number of years to convert ‘the race to war’. This will cover More of that later but first let me reflect provided the kernel of the new structure Such an outcome would have been Storehouse 10 into a gallery that properly mobilisation in the summer of 2014 and the on the achievement of the staff here in and cracked on doing what was needed criminal and a body blow for the new reflected the activity of the RN and the first months of the war. Portsmouth over the last 3 years. They to get started on the road to the new world. museum. But thanks to the imagination, the contribution of its people since the days of seamlessly folded the former RNM I am so grateful on both counts. farsightedness of some of our trustees and sail. Indeed, it was extraordinary that while Rightly much of the national focus of the Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL organisation into the new NMRN. Oh if members of the executive, and of course the Service Museums very ably reflected WW1 centenary commemorations will be Chairman of the Trustees of the only all other aspects of NMRN Integration the crucial support of the NI Department of the contribution of , the FAA on the activities on the Western front and National Museum of the Royal Navy

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Top: Sporting Bears’ super cars parked in the starboard arena Bottom left: Second Sea Lord, Admiral David Steele presents Meritorious Service Medals Bottom middle: Fleet Admiral Julio Soares Moura de Neto, Commander of the Brazilian Navy with the First Sea Lord, Admiral Zambellas on board HMS Victory Bottom right: Nelson’s plaque with the traditional wreath

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Also in a good example of VICTORY’s Naval charities also benefit greatly from enduring international reach, the end of VICTORY, with over £ 600 collected for October saw VICTORY hosting the the RNRM Charity during December’s Course, both of which leave a lasting the Senior Management of Jaguar Land in the Great Cabin) who noted the events in coming months include the Royal College of Defence Studies course Carol Services onboard. December impression on those attending them. The Rover, Admiral Essenhigh, the Service importance of the event for UK relations First Sea Lord hosting the Chiefs of onboard for dinner and VICTORY’s also saw the Second Sea Lord being Ship has also hosted Valedictories for Prosecutors, Major General Rowan with a key strategic partner and the fact European (CHENS) onboard, a Lower Gun Deck made a significant presented with a large cheque for the Service Leavers, a farewell to the Captain (ACDS Health), the United States that the Turkish Admiral ‘departed the UK dinner and, appropriately, in impression on the military officers and RNRM Children’s Fund by the ‘Sporting of the Base, the Handover of the Warrant Ambassador His Excellency Matthew ‘full of enthusiasm for the Royal Navy’ – the year in which we remember the 100th civil servants of the fifty-two nations Bears’, Supercar owners who use their Officer of the Naval Service and Second Barzun, The Windsor Leadership Trust, the Friends of HMS Victory should be in anniversary of the start of the First World represented on this very senior and impressively expensive machines (parked Sea Lord Meritorious Service Medal and officers from the United Arab Emirates no doubt as to VICTORY’s key role in that War, VICTORY will host a function for the influential course. for the event in the starboard arena) to Commendation Presentation Ceremonies. and the Spanish Naval Attaché, to name visit. The First Sea Lord also hosted a Commonwealth War Graves Commission. generate equally impressive funds for Monthly Second Sea Lord ‘Influence but a few. further high level visit to VICTORY in As well as hosting his ‘Influence Dinners’ good causes. Dinners’ in the Great Cabin continue to February this year by the Commander I remain, as ever, grateful to the National in the Great Cabin, Second Sea Lord prove an invaluable means of engaging December saw one of the most important of the Brazilian Navy, Fleet Admiral Julio Museum and the Friends for enabling and approves a number of charity fund raising VICTORY continues to be the Royal with key players across society. Great Cabin dinners held onboard for Soares Moura de Neto, another important supporting the defence output of the dinners each year, including the Sailors Navy’s most prestigious venue for naval Admiral Bulent Bostanoglu, Commander defence partner. world’s oldest and most famous Society in September and the Hampshire events like the launch of the “Perisher” VICTORY has hosted a wide range of of the Turkish Naval Forces. This high commissioned warship. and Air Ambulance Charity Submarine Command Course and the visitors for tours over the last few months profile dinner was hosted by the First Sea Looking further into 2014, the year is in October, both events raising significant RN’s most senior course, the – the International Sub- Lord, Admiral Zambellas (whose sword, shaping up to be busier than ever and amounts of money for worthy causes. Commanding Officer’s Designate Course, the Croatian Chief of Naval Staff, incidentally, is now on permanent display the calendar is filling up rapidly. Notable Rod Strathern

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt

Above: shaft in and propeller fitted, with some rejoicing Boiler Progress The walls are 4mm and should have been simple 12 volt, battery powered system and Locker” paint from our sponsors The target date for completion of the 2 ½ mm thick. This makes expanding that supplies automatic bilge pumps, International Paints. Each pipe has had boiler has slipped to the end of February them into place very much harder work navigation lights and lighting in the two coats. at the time of writing. Over on the Isle of and has trebled the time allowed for this compartments similar to a modern day Wight two items have caused delays. In a part of the job. However, it is virtually yacht. There is also a 240 volt system 199 has been asked to be back in previous boiler rebuild some years ago, complete and a first fill of cold water and that takes shore power when alongside operation for Easter. Despite the nuts and bolts were incorrectly used in a test were carried out on the for battery charging, winterisation unpredictable difficulties involved in re- place of studs to secure the hand hole or 19th February. heaters to prevent condensation in the assembling her and the pitfalls of 19th access doors on the water drums. The compartments and the boiler as well as century technology we’re giving it our bolt heads were welded inside the drum We are awaiting the results. If successful, power tools for boiler cleaning. 199’s best shot! to prevent rotation but the bolt heads are the furnace insulation will be inserted and boiler is ten years older than the pinnace obstructing the use of the mandrel tools the boiler flashed up for a steam test. It is and was an experimental boiler with Martin Marks OBE for expanding the adjacent tube ends, quite likely that this will disturb some tube tubes very close together. This causes causing two mandrels to be written off. joints requiring some more work on the soot to clog up quickly and requires very tube ends. regular cleaning – a messy job. Top: Chief engineer Frank Fowler working on the donkey pump bilge manifold in the engine room The heads were ground out but this is Top right: 199 volunteers John Sheehan, Phil The Pinnace Work is progressing to replace the pipe time consuming. In addition the new boiler Atkinson and Dave Hill discuss the rewiring work tubes, ordered on advice from a In the meantime back in Gosport, the systems that run through the machinery Middle right: volunteer Reg Hill working on professional engineer involved in old volunteer team have been rewiring the space bilges. The pipe work has been some teak steam machinery, were over specified. pinnace’s electrical systems. She has a protectively coated in a smart red “Bilge Bottom right: 199’s refurbished shaft is inserted

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt nnng h srs y Wrs lr srng grhs h h n h rsmh lln sn hs h Wrshp grhs rsmh s plsh n r hr r mrl hs m lgh n hs grhs o ortsmout sr n h

HMS CALCUTTA 1831-1908 (2nd Rate of 84 guns)

The Figurehead - The most significant figurehead acquisition by the National Museum of the Royal Navy in recent years has been that from HMS Calcutta, bought from the estate of Lord Fisher of Kilverstone. Carved in Bombay, this huge - length male bust is more than 15 feet tall in the form of a lavishly dressed Indian ruler.

In the last edition of Scuttlebutt we followed the figurehead of HMS Calcutta from the of the 1831 ship to the estate of the First Lord Fisher at Thetford in . Mounted on a base built of red brick, he must have been a spectacular addition to the Latin American Wildlife Park that Lady Fisher created in the grounds of Kilverstone Hall.

By the 1980s he was in need of restoration and a contemporary press cutting shows a Mr H R Allan from the National Maritime Museum working on him under a shelter. This, it is understood, establishments and created replicas to The figurehead was carried along the lane had been erected to protect him from the display outside, thus allowing the originals from the workshop at Bickleigh and then weather but it blew away in a storm and to be preserved indoors. For this lifted onto a low-loader for its journey to from the 1990s he was again exposed to figurehead he devised a scheme that Portsmouth. The illustration above shows the elements. By 2011 his head had mounted the body on a metal base and detail of his cummerbund and ceremonial become detached and, on hitting the recreated the missing parts of the head dagger or khanjar’. ground, had broken into several pieces, and trailboards in clay so that silicone revealing that, during earlier repairs, much rubber moulds could be made. Resin and The figurehead it is now safely in store at of his face and turban had been fibreglass were then used to create the Portsmouth while decisions are made on reconstructed using wire mesh, plaster final product that incorporated all the where he will be displayed. There is no and concrete. All were agreed that urgent surviving pieces. simple as he is 15 feet tall and action was needed to save this historic therefore does not pass through normal carving and he was sold for a nominal Once assembled, a colour scheme was doorways or fit into standard galleries. sum to The National Museum of the Royal agreed with the Museum staff, based on No doubt a site will be found in the future Navy so that decisions could be made on period paintings of a Raja with a similar developments of The National Museum of how best this could be achieved. turban to that worn by the figurehead. the Royal Navy – the important thing now The items carved in the trailboards were being that he has been saved for future The restoration contract was undertaken identified as being symbolic of ; lotus generations to enjoy! by Rod Hare at The Old Court Works, flowers, mangoes and figs of the banyan Bickleigh, Devon; an artist/craftsman who tree and were painted in appropriate has over the years restored several large colours. warship figureheads for naval David Pulvertaft

Scuttlebutt g t Left page Top picture: "The Grand Fleet's Famous 5th BS at Jutland". © 2012 FW Wood's estate. Image from R Cosby Left page Bottom picture: "Boy Cornwell bravely remaining at his post, wins a posthumous VC. © 2010 Frank Salisbury's estate. Image by R Cosby with permission HMS RALEIGH Left page Middle picture: "Grand Fleet engaging MAINZ, Bight, ". Watercolour by W L Wyllie. rn t n rt © 2008 Image by Rick Cosby Right page picture: “Always at sea, always filthy weather - and back in Scapa, coaling, coaling, coaling! of the Grand Fleet in roughers again. Watercolour by Charles Dixon. ©2009 and image by Rick Cosby

r r r r r r r Lieutenant Montague Dawson RN had and different hull forms that the American too had a field day painting scenes of the joined up in 1914 and was building up his presented, Dixon, for one, Grand Fleet’s 370 ships (which included expertise with brush and easel and finding a lucrative market for these some US and French warships too) in all r r meanwhile the professional artists such paintings in the New World. their victorious might. Wood it appears went r as Wyllie managed days at sea with the on up to Scapa and he and John Lavery pr r Grand Fleet as did Norman Wilkinson Others who captured scenes of the Royal gave us several panoramic views of the ppr (commissioned into the RNR in 1915 and Navy in moments of action as well as the rusting HSF sitting at under the subsequent inventor of dazzle painting). monotonous routine of just keeping the watchful guns of the flotillas and squadrons p in all weathers included Arthur of the Grand Fleet. And at about this time Charlie Johnson Payne (“Snaffles” of the Burgess, Muirhead Bone, Irwin Bevan, too a young Rowland Langmaid RN was horse world) was a very competent marine Philip Connard, Charles Cundall and Sir also honing his artistic skills and was shortly artist also, and, commissioned into the John Lavery who was present in Beatty’s to swallow the anchor and take up painting The arrival of the from 1906 artists. But Wyllie, Wilkinson, Cull and RNVR, he drew and painted what he flagship, QUEEN ELIZABETH, when R as a career (a victim of Geddes’Axe?) - and a rapidly expanding fleet – big ships then, it seems, Wood soon found that they saw on the cold, storm tossed periods Adm Meurer of the (HSF) we were certainly well served by these and small - clearly fired up anew those were being actively courted by their he spent on the Northern Patrol and in came aboard to be given the surrender accomplished artists and others who marine artists who were already Lordships for their skills: the public wanted : his work proved to be some terms. He painted a highly atmospheric oil helped to ensure The Grand Fleet’s 4 ½ established in their field and led by WL to know what was happening, where the of the most spontaneous of the war at sea (“The Arrival”) of Meurer being correctly years reign was well recorded on canvas Wyllie, Charles Dixon, Alma Cull and Senior Service had gone, why their beloved and before long he had been recruited by but coldly received on the by and paper. others too, artists such as Norman navy wasn’t delivering fresh Trafalgars, and Wilkinson to join his camouflage team. Beatty under the glare of fog haloed arc Wilkinson, Frank Mason, Frank Watson so artists of ability were required to go to lamps and passing beneath the muzzles of Rick Cosby Wood, Bernard Gribble, Muirhead Bone - Scapa, to go to sea to record the busy Charles Pears had joined the Royal Marines four 15 inch guns and between a severe, all turned their skills to paint these new comings and goings of this great fleet and went on to become an official war grim looking Royal Marine guard, their fixed leviathans who posed many exciting which was trying so hard to bring its artist; and serving in the RNVR was Frank bayonets glinting in the cold, damp Scottish challenges. adversary in the to action. Mason painting scenes of the Grand Fleet November night. He painted too the scene Carefully chaperoned photographers with -ships big and small - in oils and shortly afterwards in Beatty’s large fore- Rick Cosby has run Frank Watson Wood, for one, became very the fleet were tolerated by the censors, watercolours. Then there was Frank cabin (“The End”) as across a green beize www.maritimeoriginals.com busy executing commissions for the better artists posed less of a problem it seems Salisbury, whose iconic oil of Boy Cornwell covered table and with other senior & www.maritimeprints.com for over heeled officers in these ships in the years and were preferred. winning his VC aboard HMS CHESTER representatives of the two fleets, Grand 15 years and he has built up an extensive up to 1914: other artists just painted the was presented to the First Lord in 1917 Fleet and High Seas Fleet in attendance, portfolio of images of the Grand Fleet by burgeoning fleet as the opportunity Naval officers of the day had long been and now hangs in the chapel at HMS the harsh terms were read out to a pale many of the artists mentioned above. occurred although the outbreak of war and trained to record in their Journals and in RALEIGH. The arrival at Scapa of the US and gaunt looking Muerer. The majority of these are available either the vanishing of the Grand Fleet to storm sketch books what they observed and 6th Battle Squadron in 1917 opened up for sale as pictures to hang or for use wracked Scapa, together with the many such sketches and drawings survive further possibilities and Cull, Dixon and Six days later the surrendering HSF duly in publications, copyright allowing. inevitable red tape imposed by censors, to this day: the Gallipoli landings were Gribble, to name three artists, grappled came across to the Firth of Forth and Dixon, must have made things tricky for the particularly well recorded in this way. Sub with the hitherto unfamiliar tower masts Cull, Wilkinson, Gribble, Tufnell and others

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Grand Admiral von Tirpitz HMS Iron Duke leads the Grand Fleet Admiral Lord Fisher, First Sea Lord THE Anglo-German NAVAL RACE Bernard Ireland continues our seriesPart Two commemorating - Fisher and the the Dreadnought Great War

On 1904 Admiral And, defining his own duties as Every obsolescent ship, each non- Sir John Fisher assumed the simply perfecting “the fighting productive imperial posting was subjected post of First Sea Lord (1SL). and seagoing efficiency of the to an unblinking and unsentimental stare. A no-nonsense man, “Jacky” Fleet”, he set-to with his Ninety ships went in the first tranche for Fisher was totally alive to the customary gusto. scrap, with consequent through-life German threat and would prove financial savings. to be a worthy counterweight to “The British Admiralty was taking Admiral Tirpitz. To him, war was a huge risk (something that it had Foreign stations were reduced through inevitable. historically avoided) in initiating amalgamation and many valuable fighting a development calculated to units brought home, Fisher being fully “THERE WILL BE make its existing numerical aware of Tirpitz’ “Heligoland to the Thames” NO TIME FOR superiority obsolete.” policy. The Home Fleet was re-styled the ANYTHING! Channel Fleet, its existing eight battleships Despite the many fine new ships acquired being supplemented by a further four WAR WILL COME since the Naval Defence Act, the Navy’s withdrawn from the Mediterranean, and by LIKE THE DAY practices were antiquated and its gunnery five from . The old Channel Fleet was OF JUDGEMENT! abysmal. Fisher quickly put in train renamed the Atlantic Fleet, built around 1st and 2nd Squadrons in 1914 SUDDENLY! personnel reforms including improved eight of the latest battleships. Based on education of junior officers. First-line , it could quickly reinforce either The phobias in both Germany and , the back of popular acclaim. Articles in from the blue” invasion – without explaining UNEXPECTEDLY! fanned by the popular press and supported German journals “proved” how Britain could how exactly the Germans could establish OVERWHELMINGLY!” reserve ships were given 40 per cent the Mediterranean or the Channel Fleet. complement to maintain them in ready by semi-official “navy leagues”, had be invaded, not least because it was and maintain naval superiority long enough condition. Fishers final innovation, however, reached levels at which their respective alleged that the Royal Navy had lost its to support such an invasion through would make naval history … governments were ready to support fighting spirit. The British press obliged by to success. continuous construction programmes on peddling the philosophy of a German “bolt

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt THE Anglo-German NAVAL RACE

German High Seas Fleet at anchor The launch of HMS Dreadnought 10 February 1906 Racing to War’, Dreadnought painting in the new gallery This febrile atmosphere suited Fisher’s superimposed (economising on ship The “armoured” featured vertical completing her to trial-readiness in just a Navy. If they now turned to constructing were narrower, and of 17.400 tons purposes admirably. Convinced that war length). They would not, however, be (belted) protection as opposed to the year and a day. Dreadnought- type battleships, this bluff at load draught compared to would come, he was not reticent in saying completed before 1909, while their horizontal protection of preceding would have been called. On the other hand, 18,100.Their machinery developed about 75 so; in the German press, his name quickly reciprocating machinery could drive them “protected” . This had been made In brief, HMS Dreadnought differed from to delay would be to drop further behind per cent greater power for 25 knots. They became synonymous with “Royal Navy”. at no better than 18.5knots. possible by the development of Krupp earlier ships in carrying ten 12-inch guns Tirpitz’ goal of achieving a 2:3 ratio with the carried eight 12-inch guns in four turrets but cemented steel plate, which offered a disposed in five twin turrets, three British in capital ships. A further problem boasted no armour thicker than 6-inch in the Before the Duncans were completed, the The Japanese had taken up Cuniberti’s similar level of resistance to penetration on centreline and two sided in the waist. This lay in German facilities, most of them belt and 7-inch in turrets and . succeeding octet of King Edward VIIs idea even earlier than the Americans, their half the previous thickness. Greater areas layout permitted an eight-gun broadside relatively new. For instance, existing locks The main function of the battle cruiser (as (1905-1907; 16,000 tons; four 12-inch) Satsuma pair being ordered in 1904. At could thus be covered for the same . (twice that of a current ) and, at Wilhelmshaven imposed a maximum we will refer to her) was to destroy enemy were already on the stocks. They were 19,400 tons, they were intended to carry Armoured cruisers increased rapidly in size. theoretically, six-gun chase fire. There was of about 23 metres/ 76 feet (already armoured cruisers from a safe range. Ships an advance in acquiring four 9.2s as no less than twelve 12-inch but, not yet Longer but slimmer than battleships, they no . exceeded by Dreadnought), while the so imposing and so heavily armed were secondary armament. This trend was manufacturing their own heavy ordnance, were up to five knots faster. Their vitals machinery, a daring extrapolation to so Kaiser Wilhelm Canal still had a depth bound, however, to be used as a fast wing of continued in a final pair, the Lord Nelsons the Japanese were obliged to complete proof against 6-inch armour-piercing shot, large an installation, saved, directly and restriction of nine metres in places. German the battle fleet or, worse, be placed in a line (1908; 16,500 tons; four 12-inch), which them with a mixed armament. they boasted a heavy battery of the indirectly, about 1.000 tons in weight. designers thus did not wish to exceed of battle. This inevitable employment was received ten 9.2s as a homogeneous excellent 9.2s, with 7.5s as secondary Developing about 30 per cent more power 16,000 tons displacement in order to quickly pointed out by “Brassey”, which secondary armament, and a nod to While CinC, Mediterranean, Fisher had weapons. They were intended to counter than that of the reciprocating machinery of obtain a satisfactory ship form. observed presciently that, in such expected greater battle ranges by the demonstrated that the then-standard battle smaller cruisers, but were used also as a the King Edward VIIs, the turbines were circumstances, “their comparatively light 12-inch barrel length being increased range of 3.000 yards could easily be fast reconnaissance wing of the battle fleet good for about three knots more, assisted Tirpitz’ rather theatrical threat to resign (not protection would be a disadvantage and their from 40 to 45 calibres. This pair would doubled, while the standard 40-calibre, (a function for which they paid dearly at by a considerably greater length. for the first time) may have helped to push high speed of no value”. have marked a significant advance except 12-inch gun was good for 8.000 yards. Jutland – a hard-won truth yet to be Weight savings elsewhere enabled full- the necessary legislation through the that, by the time of their completion, they -firing, it was shown, improved experienced). length armour belts to be worked in but, Reichstag when, in May 1906, a The German High Command itself and their preceding classes had been spotting fall of shot, enabling target range due to their greater area, they were both Supplementary Navy Bill was agreed. This expressed surprise at the readiness with rendered obsolete. to be found more quickly. Fisher formed a “Dreadnought Committee”, shallower and thinner than on the still- provided the necessary funds for the which the British had apparently thrown whose recommendations came quickly. It building Lord Nelsons. (This latter class necessary infrastructure improvements and away their unassailable lead in capital ships. Most of history’s great ideas appear to have Fisher was friendly with W H Gard, the met first in January 1905, and saw the initiated the rule of thumb that maximum for the addition of six “large cruisers”. The Parliamentary “Dilke return” for March originated from several disparate sources Chief Constructor based at and, from laying-down of the eponymous battleship armour thickness should equal the bore of 1906 (the month following Dreadnought’s almost simultaneously, and the all-big-gun, 1902, tapped his technical knowledge to (not the cruiser, it will be noted) exactly the main armament – in this case, 12 Germany had picked up the gauntlet launch) put British strength at 47 complete fast battleship was no exception. As early formulate his ideas for two “super” ships. nine months later. inches. Dreadnought had “only” eleven.) The British 1905 Programme had provided and six building/approved. The comparable as 1903 the great Italian designer Cuniberti One of these would be a battleship that About half her bunker capacity was for oil, for both the one-off Dreadnought battleship German figures were just eighteen and had proposed a 17,000-ton, 24-knotter with could defeat anything that could catch her, The British Admiralty was taking a huge although she was usually coal-fired. and for three “armoured cruisers”. As no eight respectively. Where Germany was twelve 12-inch, but had been denied the other, heavily-armed but lighter, would risk (something that it had historically details of the latter were divulged, and commissioning two ships per annum, Britain funding. In the United States, the navy’s be much faster, able to decline an avoided) in initiating a development Despite the secrecy, the Germans had a security was tighter, these three examples of was adding three or four. The fact was, gunnery expert, William S Sims, convinced engagement or to have the speed to calculated to make its existing numerical very clear idea of what the British were up Fisher’s ideal had, if anything, a however, that the all-big-gun concept was Congress, which authorised the laying- decide its battle range. It was to the latter superiority obsolete. Speed of construction to, well before the Dreadnought greater impact. Although not yet known by about to break generally, so Fisher decided down of the two 16.000-ton Michigans in that Fisher was particularly drawn. Two vital was thus of the essence in order to commissioned. It, nonetheless, put them in their later title of “battle cruisers”, the three to steal a march and rely on British wealth 1905. These would have an advanced influences on his ideal were the modern maximise the discomfiture occasioned to a quandary as, until now, they had Invincibles were laid down February – April and capacity to create and battery layout of eight 12-inch in four, armoured cruiser and Parsons’ recently- rival fleets. Portsmouth Dockyard built her maintained the fiction that they were not in 1906 and completed March – October 1908. to maintain a new lead – a bold but centreline turrets, of which two were perfected steam turbine. under conditions of considerable secrecy, any way engaged in rivalry with the Royal Sixty feet longer than Dreadnought, they necessary expedient.

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HMS Dreadnought to stake anything in order to prove a point. it was becoming clear that the British had The main rallying point for all the The average cost of a Royal Sovereign no intention of being out-built. With both accumulated rancour was the person of battleship of the Naval Defence Act was the Kaiser and Tirpitz at the helm, however, Admiral . Widely about £950,000. The last of the pre- those who valued their career tended not popular, a Member of Parliament and a Dreadnoughts, the Lord Nelsons, averaged to voice too strong an opinion. Tirpitz man of proven courage in action, Beresford £1,540,000. The Dreadnought herself, continued with his oft-voiced assumption opposed Fisher as one with similar motives admittedly a prototype, set the nation back that Britain would, ultimately, be forced by – both men wanted what was best for the some £1,730,000. public opinion to seek an accommodation. Service, but disagreed violently over how Indeed, exploratory visits were made to best to achieve it. The average cost of a British capital ship Germany by Foreign Office officials and had, therefore, increased by some 87 per by the Liberal leader, , Beresford unfortunately also had a cent. Germany, struggling to expand her who was known to have referred to personal grudge in his belief that Fisher heavy shipbuilding capacity to meet the Dreadnoughts as “wanton and profligate was prolonging his tenure as 1SL to The launch of HMS Vanguard 1909 challenge (heavy gun mountings and ostentation”. prevent him (Beresford) from being News of the Dreadnought’s construction metres. These rather enforced proportions Anxious not to fall behind, Tirpitz decided to armour plate were particular bottlenecks) appointed to the post. This, and past rather derailed Tirpitz’ building programme. assisted in making German capital ships build a prototype “large armoured cruiser” saw costs more than double, a This, however, was as nothing compared to clashes dating from when Fisher was Unsure of quite what to expect, he slowed steadier gun platforms. Already potentially (funded by the aforementioned 1906 Brandenburg completing in 1893 costing the schism which was threatening to rend serving as CinC, Mediterranean, provided the production rate of the current five slower than British hull forms, the Nassaus Supplementary Bill) but, based upon about 16 million Gold Marks, and a Nassau in two the officer corps of the Royal Navy. the ingredients of a bitter and destructive Deutschlands, all but one of which were suffered further because Tirpitz, at this rumour rather than fact, the resulting of 1909 requiring 37 million GM. “Jacky” Fisher was the man for the job but, feud that divided the Navy into two commissioned after the British ship’s entry time, refused to countenance steam Blücher proved to be a one-off, expensive like any major reformer, he attracted disparate camps. into service. Following the launch of last-of- turbines for ships larger than cruisers. mistake. Repeating the Nassaus’ Wilhelm persisted in his inflammatory detractors and opponents, while there were class Schleswig-Holstein on 17th “hexagonal” layout, she mounted twelve speeches, even after King Edward VII many disgruntled in being adversely Fisher had the strength of character to December 1906 there was a fifteen-month British secrecy regarding the Invincibles 21cm/8.2-inch guns, with belt armour of up visited Germany for the Week yachting affected by the sweeping measures withstand all of this, helped by the personal hiatus before the launch of the 18,800-ton was rather better than that maintained for to 180mm/7-inch thickness. For regatta. His interventions were disastrous necessarily and fearlessly taken. support of the King and his own deep-felt Nassau, first of a quartet of Germany’s first the Dreadnought. Fortuitously, they were reciprocating machinery, her plant produced for German foreign policy, while he beliefs. It was, nonetheless, distracting and Dreadnoughts. (Note that “Dreadnought” for long referred-to as “armoured cruisers”. a very respectable 24.5 knots appeared to set out to deliberately Fisher’s sizeable opposition (to whom he would run for years at a most critical time. became a noun, synonymous with the ship- In the Royal Navy these had, as noted antagonise the British. (“I have no desire referred as the “Adullamites”) included type. Earlier ships thus became known as above, escalated rapidly in size, so that the The Blücher hit the water just one month for good relationship with England at the most of the Conservative press, several Bernard Ireland “pre-Dreadnoughts”.) three Minotaurs, laid down early in 1905, after the Invincible but, although a fine ship in price of the development of Germany’s noted naval journalists, a number of very Bernard Ireland spent a lifetime with the had a designed displacement of 14,600 her own right, was a misfit throughout her navy … The Bill will be carried out to the senior (and aging/retired) flag officers Royal Naval Scientific Service. For over The Nassaus went one better than the tons and an armament of four 9.2s and ten short career. The Germans reacted quickly, last detail; whether the British like it or not and a considerable segment of Society. thirty years he served at the Admiralty Dreadnought in mounting twelve guns to 7.5s. Reports reaching Berlin contained launching the splendid Von der Tann as early does not matter! If they want war, they can They accused him, in varying degrees, of Experiment Works, , engaged in the development of the Royal Navy’s ten. The 28cm/11-inch weapons were nothing to indicate that the Invincibles as March 1909. By then, however, Britain begin it; we do not fear it !”). proceeding alone without consulting the ships and submarines. To a long and mounted in twin turrets, disposed in a would be other than an extrapolation of the had laid down the Indefatigable, the first of full Board of Admiralty, of rushing-through deep interest in naval history he has Minotaur model, with a likely homogeneous three “improved Invincibles”. There were, nonetheless, increasing signs change with insufficient consideration, and hexagonal layout with two on either beam. added a thorough technical knowledge that German political parties were that he surrounded himself with sycophants Somewhat greedy of space, this layout battery of eight or ten single 9.2s. and has written thirty books and demanded a beam of 26.9 metres in order Britain and Germany were in danger of beginning to have qualms about the huge (although that hardly accorded with the contributed to many other books, to maintain a draught of less than nine becoming like addicted gamblers, prepared and increasing expenditure, particularly as first charge!). magazines and journals.

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt COMMEMORATION PROJECT

destroyed by the Grand Fleet. Quite a GRANDSON OF JELLICOE, number of the severely damaged German YOUR FOCUS. ships only just managed to make port. The Grand Fleet was left in command of COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF the sea for the rest of the war enforcing the , which was to lead ultimately to the collapse of the OF THE GRAND FLEET Kaiser’s Germany.

(1914-1916) Jellicoe, who made his first visit to Belfast OUR RING SIGHT. to see the Caroline before restoration work AND HMS CAROLINE begins, said that he was deeply moved to step on board the historic fighting cruiser at its berth in Alexandra Dock. He said “If IN BELFAST HMS Caroline can help tell the story of just why Jutland was so important in the first place and tell it in a way that engages a BOTH PERFECT. younger generation and sparks new interest, then she will have served a very much higher cause. We have a chance to re-tell some chapters of history, not only of the battle but through her later role in the Royal Navy Reserves. It is absolutely essential that a strong communications role be developed for Caroline in the World War One centenary commemorations and that she contributes and pays her way to helping the rebirth of Belfast through educational tourism.”

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) in Portsmouth, which is now responsible for the decommissioned Caroline, has secured a National Heritage Memorial Fund grant of £1.1m to pay for repairs to prevent any further deterioration. A joint application by NMRN and the Northern Ireland Department for Enterprise Trade and Investment for a major grant was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2012. This has resulted in a further £845,000 being made available as a Round One grant to develop the plans further. The successful outcome of the Round Two application would see £14m being used to fully preserve, restore and Ring Sights has been in the business of expert staff and a massive amount of open the ship to the public in time for the Jutland centenary on May 31 2016. design and manufacture of the finest investment, the company now offers Nick Jellicoe added “I am very happy quality optical equipment since 1976. state of the art production facilities and Nick Jellicoe pictured with HMS Caroline moored in the Belfast dockyard indeed that Caroline may be the way through which a whole generation can re- are the world leaders in research, design Nick Jellicoe, grandson of the HMS Caroline was a 4,200 ton C’ class discover their history. Caroline played a Nearly forty years on and with highly and manufacture of unit power sights for Commander-in-Chief of the which was part of the 4th Light significant part in a very significant battle skilled leadership, dedicated teams of the military. Grand Fleet, Admiral Lord in the Battle of Jutland in but has also had a long, honourable Jellicoe, paid a visit to the World . Jutland was the biggest and relationship with Belfast so it is fitting that War I cruiser HMS Caroline in most important naval battle of the Great she remains there.” War with sixty-four battleships engaged. Belfast. He claimed that the Though in the initial stages the German Nick Jellicoe is writing a book about the restoration of the veteran cruiser, High Seas Fleet inflicted more losses on Battle of Jutland and his grandfather, Ring Sights Defence Group Ltd now part of the National Museum the Grand Fleet it was an important Admiral of the Fleet, John Rushworth of the Royal Navy, would create strategic victory for the Royal Navy. The Jellicoe, the First Earl Jellicoe, +44 (0)8700 422260 [email protected] one of the most significant Great German Fleet was extremely lucky to Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet www.ringsights.com War commemoration projects. escape during the night and make it back at the battle. to its home base before being caught and John Roberts

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt On 31 May 1916, The British and German Fleets clashed in a violent German light battlecruiser SMS Bluecher sinking at the battle of the Dogger Bank 1915 battle called Jutland by the British and Skagerrak by the Germans. It was tactically indecisive, against most expectations, and has been the topic of much argument and controversy ever since. This article seeks to highlight one aspect that may have been under-emphasized and that could hold lessons for the future.

The battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary, under fire from Derfflinger and Seydlitz at Jutland blows up

Some brief account of the action is main Grand Fleet under the The character of war at sea, a hundred necessary. The Fleets were the command of Jellicoe. In the ensuing years ago, needs to be recalled. Nearly all The battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary hit amidships at Jutland 1916 British Grand Fleet, consisting of fleet action the High Seas Fleet twice major units were coal-fired; battlecruisers some 24 battleships, eight extricated itself from a dangerous could make upward of 25 knots, battleships battlecruisers and supporting cruiser tactical situation by well-rehearsed 5 knots less. There were few gyro and destroyer forces; and the manoeuvres and, after a night in compasses. The presence of other vessels German High Seas Fleet, similarly which both forces avoided action, could be established only by visual observation. Fairly accurate bearings could constituted but numerically inferior. escaped to their base because be obtained by compass; range was The initial encounter was in the early Jellicoe had not correctly guessed available only by visual rangefinder. Great afternoon between the battlecruiser the route they would take. The British efforts had been made to improve the forces. There was then a run to the lost three major units and suffered accuracy of gunnery but fire control, under south before the British many other casualties (far more, battle conditions, was not fully reliable. battlecruisers under Beatty, with a incidentally, than at Trafalgar); Navigation was, again, a matter for supporting battleship squadron, the Germans were also badly hit, meticulous care, but was limited by made contact with the entire High more of their ships being seriously equipment and the demands of Seas Fleet under Scheer; their incapacitated though fewer were manoeuvring in action. Communication previous opponents had been only sunk. Both sides claimed victory, but between ships out of sight of one another, the German battlecruisers under the High Seas Fleet never seriously and between ship and shore, was confined Hipper. Beatty turned north, leading tried conclusions with the Grand to wireless telegraphy – morse code – and A British super dreadnought battleship firing a broadside with her 13.5-inch guns the German force into the path of the Fleet again. for ships in sight, flaghoist, searchlight or

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Great news from Snowbow the new DVD at last and two more special cruises.

The German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz after the battle of Jutland seamphore. Aircraft were in the very early did very well: in the British Admiralty, indications that the Germans were stages of development; submarines were through an egregious assumption by a staff somewhat more advanced in this aspect. somewhat more advanced, but much had to officer; in the German High Command by There is little reflection in GFBOs of be learned about their operation. North Sea what appears to have been neglect, Nelson’s wise precaution: Something must conditions, too were a limiting factor. Even oversight or lack of technical capacity. be left to chance ... shot will carry away the and what a great DVD and cruises they are. though the last accurately known position masts of friends as well as foes ... no might be only a few hours before, errors Thus, the clash of fleets, long predicted, Captain can do very wrong if he places his Using rare film never made available to the public before, we take you on trans-Atlantic voyages aboard three great liners, the lurked. Low visibility was common, tide occurred with little operational warning. ship alongside that of an enemy’. Olympic in black and white and the Normandie and QE2 in colour, showing you over them from top to bottom as we go. The sheer and tidal streams not always perfectly What preparations had been made to cope luxury and style aboard the Normandie has to be seen to be believed as does her and engine rooms… Magnificent. The understood. with this critical aspect of a battle that had Moreover, given the comprehensiveness of QE2 was for me, the most aesthetically pleasing of all time. We join her at her launch and then sail aboard on different been long considered and indeed GFBOs, it is surprising that there appears voyages throughout her entire life, ending with her very emotionally packed sailing from Southampton in November 2008… What In these circumstances, the commander of rehearsed? Grand Fleet Battle Orders to have been no set format for reporting an amazing send-off that was. a large number of ships at sea – and some (GFBOs) were voluminous. They were the presence, whereabouts, compostion But the most staggering film of all is the one of the Olympic, which for me is the rarest maritime film I have ever seen; a film that of the , as indicated above, based on the principle that the action and movements of the enemy once leaves me struggling to find words able to describe it adequately. She was of course Titanic’s sister and as the film was made had unprecedentedly large forces under between battle fleets would be managed, encountered. This was primarily the job of during the same era, this is the closest you will ever come to actually being on the Titanic itself. The old silent film takes you on a command – had a critical requirement for on the British side, centrally by the the cruiser forces, which were to be complete Atlantic crossing and all over the ship, mixing with her passengers and crew, but what really is remarkable, is knowing information: about his own position, the Commander-in-Chief from his flagship Iron stationed beyond the main fleets in their that for the very first time you can actually experience just what it would have really been like to have sailed on the Titanic, and not position and intentions of friendly forces, Duke. Some autonomy would be allowed scouting role. A generation later, the by as visualised through the eyes of Hollywood. I promise you, it will make the hairs stand on the back of your necks. and the composition and movements of the to Beatty with his battlecruisers and then established formula for enemy reports enemy. Without it, he would be confined to supporting (relatively fast) battle squadron; – What – Where – Whither – When’ - was guesswork based on his own observation significantly, his command was named the so well-known that the author, tasked in and the advice of his on-board staff. With a Battle Cruiser Fleet. But the main action, 1954 to give a lecture on the subject, was limited amount of it from outside sources, if it developed as expected, was to be told off for being obvious and dull. But he would be helped in such assessments. conducted by a single long line of the evidence suggests that at the time of With a clear picture of the operational battleships under firm command. The Jutland, even the need for such reports, situation, he would be able to make High Seas Fleet had adopted similar let alone a system for them, was not We have two more of our very special cruises for 2014 If you like necessary decisions. With an over- tactical principles. sufficiently emphasized. Imagination was abundance of such information, he might needed and was far too often lacking. cruising or love ships, then without doubt, these are the best cruises find himself confused, but this as we shall By implication – and all accounts of Jutland in the world. For full information on ordering this DVD and on our cruises, please go to our website at: see was the least likely thing to happen. bear this out – the British tactical command One senior officer must be exonerated www.snowbow.co.uk or email: [email protected] or call on: 01273 585391. All DVDs cost £18. 95p each plus p&p (Extra for was to be exercised primarily by flag signal. from this criticism. Commodore overseas) We still have our special offer of 3 DVDs for the price of 2 running. which really is a great saving, especially when you So far as advanced intelligence of a sortie The fleet was proficient in the hoisting and Goodenough of the 2nd Light Cruiser appreciate that we now have 35 of these fantastic, 60 minute maritime DVDs available. For payment by cheque or Post Order, send into the North Sea by either main force was repetition of flag signals and this had been Squadron made (by wireless telegraphy ) to: Snowbow Productions (2000) Ltd, 145 The Promenade, Peacehaven , East Sussex, BN10 7HN. England. concerned, both the British and Germans a high priority in the Royal Navy for an exemplary succession of enemy reports had listening organisations to hundreds of years. The tactical use of on the High Seas Fleet during the Everything we do, we do for you. transmissions that might indicate such a wireless telegraphy for manoeuvring had battlecruisers’ runs to the south and north. move. In the event , in May 1916 neither side not been similarly developed; there are

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Battleships of the Grand Fleet in the North Sea Unfortunately his ships were then absorbed insecure. Even the establishment of one’s preparation could have been made in into the main web of the action and Jellicoe own position turned out to be suspect; errors 1915-16 to ensure that the command in must have expected the responsibility to of many miles in ships’ records had to be every unit was in possession of all relevant fall upon Beatty; indeed, on at least two resolved, in subsequent analysis, partly by available information. In the historic occasions he twice asked (by searchlight) reference back to the known graves of major progression from the fog of war, through where is the enemy battlefleet?’ and got less units that were sunk. Add to that the fact C-cubed I, to the current C4ISR (Command, than accurate replies. By then he could at that both navies had not fought a major control, communications, computers, least see (in conditions of patchy and action for a century, and were doing it with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance) decreasing visibility) Beatty’s battlecruisers, novel material in every field. the Grand Fleet lagged, the High Seas Fleet but that was only part of the picture. only marginally less. Nevertheless the old schoolboy criticism So the opportunity for a decisive, crushing comes back: Should have Done Better. Historians have advanced many reasons for blow to the High Seas Fleet ebbed away that Considering how comprehensive GFBOs the shortcomings at Jutland: over-rigid and evening, aided by two deft turns-away by the were supposed to be, how constantly the cautious command styles, over-complex Germans and Jellicoe’s own turn-away from Grand Fleet exercised scenarios similar battle orders, slack ammunition handling a destroyer attack that had long been to the actual battle, how many major arrangements, fire control systems that were foreseen in GFBOs and was technically manoeuvres were conducted in the years not the best availa ble, shell that did not prudent but scarcely Nelsonic. Neither was before the First World War, surely the perform as advertised, construction defects his refusal to contemplate action during the question Who Knows What and When?’ in some major units. All no doubt contributed short summer night that followed; and a final should have been asked and tested much to a disappointing result and disproportionate piece of operational intelligence, a shore more often. casualties. But one harks back as so often intercept giving a clear indication of the route to the Duke of Wellington: the art of war Scheer intended to follow, either never A brief three decades later more tools were is knowing what is going on the other side reached the Commander in Chief or was available. By 1946 information was of the hill’. discounted. There was not to be another presented by plan position indicator (PPI) . that gave both range and bearing of Jutland will excite controversy for many years contacts. Own ship’s position was generated to come, and passions will go on raging. It must be said again: the technical resources by the automatic plotting table fed with I remember talking after dinner some years for information, command, control and inputs from the gyro compass course and ago to a charming lady; the topics turned to communication were limited: no radar, no speed from the ship’s log. (It worked very naval ones, and I lightly observed Well, , no direction-finding; well if you knew exactly where to kick it). everyone made mistakes at Jutland’. communication by visual means only, except And voice radio allowed rapid exchange of Oh’, she said, Grandfather didn’t’. by wireless telegraphy that was still data between ships. The point is that even Admiral Richard Hill distrusted by many and thought to be without these developments, more © RH

Scuttlebutt g t HMS Dreadnought leads the Home Fleet to anchor at Spithead

HMS Agincourt joins the 4th Battle Squadron at

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief HMS Iron Duke leads the Grand Fleet at the , 20 July 1914 The GRANDPart Two - Fisher and theFLEET Dreadnought on the eve of the Great War “The greatest assemblage of naval power ever witnessed in the history of the world”

On the18th July 1914, King reviewed the At the outbreak of war on 4 August the Home Fleet was reformed huge Home Fleet of over four hundred warships, as the Grand Fleet. Churchill and Admiral Jacky Fisher, the new First At 0830 on 4th August Admiral Jellicoe led the Grand Fleet to sea to carry out the first North Sea patrol including fifty-three battleships, assembled at Sea Lord, decided that Admiral Callaghan should be relieved by a more energetic commander and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was of the war. On sailing the Grand Fleet consisted of: Spithead; it was a spectacular demonstration of appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief. The newly formed Flagship Iron Duke (Admiral Jellicoe) 4th Battle Squadron Dreadnought (Vice Admiral), Temeraire British naval might, described by Churchill, the First Grand Fleet, described by Churchill as “the crown jewels” consisted and Bellerophon Lord of the Admiralty as “Incomparably the greatest of the twenty-one dreadnought battleships, of the 1st, 2nd and 4th, 1st Battle Squadron Marlborough (Vice Admiral), St Vincent 1st Battlecruiser assemblage of naval power ever witnessed in the battle squadrons, eight pre-dreadnoughts of the king Edward class (Rear Admiral), Colossus, Hercules, Squadron Lion (Vice Admiral), Princess Royal, history of the world”. The following day the Royal forming the 3rd battle squadron, supported by four battlecruisers of the 1st , a total of thirty-three capital ships. Neptune, Vanguard, Collingwood Queen Mary and Yacht, the Victoria and Albert, with the King and Superb. himself embarked, led the fleet to sea for gunnery Also in support were eight armoured cruisers, thirteen cruisers and 2nd Battle Squadron King George V (Vice Admiral), The capital ships of the Grand Fleet were supported by the 2nd and firings and exercises in the Channel. forty-two destroyers. The channel fleet, consisted of nineteen older Orion (Rear Admiral), Ajax, Audacious, 3rd Cruiser Squadrons, the 1sLight Cruiser Squadron and forty-one pre-dreadnought battleships of the 5th, 7th and 8th Battle Centurion, Conqueror, Monarch and destroyers. Future editions of Scuttlebutt’ will focus on the many As the crisis in Europe deepened the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Squadrons. Facing the grand fleet was the German high seas fleet Thunderer. operations, battles and events at sea as we mark their various Battenberg ordered the Fleet to remain fully mobilised and at instant of thirteen dreadnoughts, sixteen pre-dreadnoughts and five 3rd Battle Squadron King Edward VII (Vice Admiral), anniversaries on the appropriate dates. readiness for war. On 28th July Churchill ordered the fleet to sea and battlecruisers, a total of thirty-four capital ships. The Grand Fleet the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, Admiral Sir George Hibernia (Rear Admiral), had three vital tasks, first to protect the British Isles from German Callaghan, was directed to sail the Home Fleet north to its wartime Commonwealth, Africa, Zealandia, invasion, secondly to blockade Germany and thirdly to protect the base in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. During the night the eighteen , Britannia, and Hindustan. vital British Army supply lines across the Channel to . line of battleships, sailing in line ahead, sailed through the Dover Straight and headed into the North Sea. John Roberts

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt The armoured cruiser HMS Devonshire, The cruiser HMS Blanche, attached to Grand Fleet 4th Battle Squadron attached to the Grand Fleet

The Second Class cruiser HMS Highflyer The super dreadnought battleship HMS Monarch The Home Fleet in Portland Naval Base, 1914

THE SECRET DIARY OF A SENIOR OFFICER

IN THE GRAND FLEET Devonshire’s ill fated half sister HMS Aboukir The Town class light cruiser HMS Falmouth The armoured cruiser HMS Roxburgh (P Heydon ISM)

Chris Howat has managed to acquire HMS Devonshire was an armoured went in to coal. Spent the day at aiming rifle Saturday 1st August Scapa Flow. - 6.15 Wednesday 5th August 2.10 a.m. finished nothing. Joined up with rest of squadron at a fascinating secret diary written by cruiser of 10,850 tons, overall length and exercises generally. started coaling; 8.10 finished. p.m. landed all coaling. 8.20 sailed. 11.40 joined up with 2nd dusk. Sighted a strange destroyer or light Commander Arthur Goodenough 473.5 feet, beam 68.5 feet. Armament our spare boats and targets and spare CS. Started playing old harry with the fishing cruiser. Gave chase but she turned out to Craufurd, Royal Navy, Executive 4 x 7.5inch, 6 x 6inch, 2 x 12 pounders Tuesday July 28th Ordered to be ready wood. 7.00 thick fog. Hands to night industry. We boarded a German drifter be Norwegian. Officer of HMS Devonshire in the and 22 x 3 pounders. Built at Chatham for sea. Raised steam. defence stations. (sailing) but not allowed to blow her up. Grand Fleet, from July to December Dockyard and completed 30th April 1904. Saturday 8th August at sea. Searching 1914. Though for security reasons Wednesday July 29th Portland and at sea. Sunday 2nd August Scapa Flow. - A day Thursday 6th August Sighted battle fleet and disturbing enemy’s traffic. Heard of diaries with any naval or military The diary starts: - 7.00 a.m. whole fleet proceeded to sea. of rest. Painted out our funnel bands and and joined up with our own squadron which sinking of German submarine U15 by operational information were not Sunday 26th July at Portland. Being thick weather all steamed to covered all bright work with paint. we found with them. 0.35 p.m. boarded a Birmingham Very satisfactory and a bit of allowed in time of war this secretly Went ashore for a game of golf at Combe westward till out of sight and then altered to German drifter. Took off crew and blew her good luck this one of their later ones. written personal diary “survived” and and got aboard at 7 p.m. At 7.30 received eastward steaming up Channel keeping out Monday 3rd August Scapa Flow. up with guncotton. A pathetic sight as she gives a fascinating blow by blow - More account of everyday life in the Grand orders to raise steam for slow speed and of sight of land. Commenced preparing for or less ready for war now. 6.35 p.m. looked so helpless but we must stop these Monday 10th August. - All spare time Fleet at the time. This diary is now unmoor. 10.00 ordered to remain at short war. p.m. Cleared away guns and started war weighed and went out in company with rest devils giving information. After the last few employed ripping down wood work and being published for the first time stay all night and leave harbour at day light routine in earnest. of 3rd Cruiser Squadron. days work I guess the price of fish has risen burning it, a work the sailor revels in and and here in the first part we cover to let the battleships and larger cruisers get a bit in Berlin. (This drifter as it turned out many funny remarks were heard. the period from 26 July to 4 inside. They had been laying in Weymouth Thursday 30th July at sea. Went on Tuesday 4th August at sea. - Searching was the last German fishing boat we saw). September 1914.Commander Bay. News received of strained relations preparing for war. Blanche reported a for a supposed base for enemy The Monarch says she saw a submarine; we Tuesday 11th August Had another search Craufurd went on to be the over Austria and Serbia and Russia’s suspicious cruiser which she cleared but did submarines. Did not find it as it wasn’t are sent to investigate. of , with 3rd CS, light CS Commander of the battlecruiser mobilization. not come up with. there.11.45 a.m. ordered to part company (Barge Goodenough’s Squadron) and HMS Tiger and served with and go in for coal as we had not been Friday 7th August 3rd CS and groups of destroyers. Nothing doing. I think this will be distinction at Jutland. He became Monday 27th July 3.45 a.m. weighed and Friday 31st July at sea. - Still making small allowed to fill up on Saturday. Made for 2nd Flotilla of destroyers sent to coast of the last search here as the Norwegians will Commodore of the Australian went out of Southern entrance and preparations for war. p.m. Prepared for Scapa Flow. Arrived there 8.10 p.m. 9.10 Norway to look for an enemy’s base. A lovely start getting annoyed if we go on. Navy in the twenties anchored in P.I. berth. The battleships and coaling. Our destination obviously Scapa started coaling. 11 p.m. news of declaration day and as clear as a whistle which we all battlecruisers and 2nd cruiser squadron Flow. 6.50 anchored Scapa Flow. of war with Germany. enjoyed but needless to say we found

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt THE SECRET DIARY OF A SENIOR OFFICER IN THE GRAND FLEET

The old First Class cruiser HMS Grafton The Orion class battleship HMS Monarch The Home Fleet in Portland Naval Base, 1914 The armoured cruiser HMS Antrim

Wednesday 12th August Made for Monday 17th August - Anchored Cromarthy Tuesday 25th August Patrolling. Saw LCS On a sweeping manoeuvre to try to catch have reported thick oily tracks such as a luck we should have bagged them all right; Cromarthy; anchored and coaled. Started at noon 1.00 p.m. commenced coaling. 8.00 and 1st Battlecruiser Squadron (BCS) in the mine carrying trawlers. heavy oil boat leaves. now we have to start afresh. 12.30 p.m. finished 5.20; a heavy coaling with finished. afternoon evidently off on some big show lead . We took in 440 tons. For a Tuesday 1st September 4 a.m. turned out Thursday 3rd September 5 a.m. turned out Let’s hope this bad luck not be attended with wonder heard we were to have a night in Tuesday 18th August All day in harbour and Wednesday 26th August Patrolling off the hands and made last preparations for to relieve the captain at daylight and found any bad luck to our heavier ships. It’s very harbour. a day of peace more or less. We’re glad of it Norway. 3 p.m. heard rumours by wireless of battle. Drake’s Drum beaten for the first thick fog. It came on at 4 a.m. Unluckily funny I who have been used to exercise all as we all want a rest. an action off Heligoland evidently things time, this was by mistake really as I had captain cannot leave the bridge in this my life have now been aboard for 5 weeks Thursday 13th August Cromarthy and at seem to have gone alright. LCS and given orders it was not to be beaten till it weather except for a few minutes when I and I’m as fit as a fiddle and don’t feel it a bit. sea. - Tagg and the young marines we have Wednesday 19th August Sailed at noon for destroyers seem to have been in it. Evidently was certain we were in for the real thing. relieved him for breakfast. The Squadron are for training sent ashore and back to Chatham. our patrolling ground they have sunk two or 3 of the enemy’s light Anyway, it probably frightened some of the all over the place at present but if it clears we Friday 4th September At sea. We are They were very sick being afraid they would cruisers. A small but nice little action. faint hearted so it did good, perhaps. ought to be able to carry on with the making a big sweep towards the Skagerrack not be allowed at sea again till after the war. Thursday 20th August A foggy day. Guns Started off spread 10 miles apart with 1st operations tonight. Lets hope they result in in the hopes of mopping up a few cruisers They all want to fight, the bloodthirsty ruffians. manned by watch all day Thursday 27th August Spent the forenoon BCS in support steaming towards Pentland something. One ship of the 10th CS sank etc which they ought to have out to support We just managed to get them out of the ship at target practice which was fairly well carried Firth. 2 p.m. nothing doing, drawn a blank two German trawlers last night. Good work and mother their submarines. We advance before we sailed at 1.15 p.m. Leaving them in Friday 21st August Antrim and Roxburgh out. again. Ordered off on patrol again – how as they had evidently been dropping mines. I until noon another two hours and then go a very much overloaded motorboat cheering prepared targets and when dropped we all boring. cannot imagine them fishing out in English back. It’s blowing fresh from the north today and making a dreadful noise. fired at them making a big splash but the Saturday 29th August Patrolling. waters. The North sea is quite uncomfortable and any submarines will have a rotten time weather was so foggy and the targets so Wednesday 2nd September on patrol. for German fishermen. The RFR men are thank heavens. We have the 2nd , 3rd and Friday 14th August at sea. - Out on patrol. small that the practice was not of much value. Sunday 30th August 8.30 got into Boarded a British trawler this morning who quite an acquisition being very reliable if a light cruiser squadrons and a flotilla of Stopped and examined several steamers; very p.m. a thick fog; could not see the length of Cromarthy. 9.00 started coaling and drawing sent fish to the ship’s company and refused little slow. destroyers in company. We are still scraping dull work. Started deck sports to keep the the ship. 8 p.m. anchored in Cromarthy. provisions and stores; a very full days work. payment. Also gave us yesterday’s off paint; there’s mighty little left to burn now. men amused. We are all getting awfully 8.45 collier alongside. Got our mails, some shirts and socks etc from Aberdeen paper which has little news in it. 5 p.m. Just come off the bridge. We’ve been We had an emergency surgeon join us at bored. Burning all cabin furniture as we Annie which will be most acceptable as one’s Evidently something big on tomorrow. We in a fog till 2 p.m. and having got separated Cromarthy; he seems a very nice fellow, cannot get it ashore. Luckily we have Saturday 22nd August Cromarthy. 5.10 a/m. clothes suffer at this game. Heard the full are to get our orders from the Falmouth at from the rest of the squadron, I could not get Peyton by name. He’s of course a civilian managed to send our private effects to store started coaling. 8.11 finished coaling. Cleaned account of the action of Aug 26th and also 4 p.m. Lets hope it will lead to some good the captain to sleep; he’d been up since 9 joined for the war. We are quite merry and at Cromarthy. I am living in a tin case up the ship slept all the afternoon. the sinking of K.W.Grosse by the Highflyer. this time. 7 p.m. we met the Falmouth and p.m. yesterday. Anyway I managed it about 1 bright but rather sick at never getting to grips practically and have only old uniforms with Got 16 ABs and boys (RFR mostly) sent us; the of the various squadrons. Had p.m. and he’s just relieved me, we joined up with the enemy. me. Stiff collars are a thing of the past as we Sunday 23rd August Cromarthy. A whole they were very welcome being good staid a conflag and now we have lowered a boat during the afternoon. Our orders for tonight can get no washing done ashore. My servant day in harbour. Started taking up corticene on men and very useful. We have 48 boys in our to get our written orders from the Antrim. and tomorrow are coming through now by 5 p.m. We turned at noon not having seen is gradually improving at washing my gear. the decks ships company which are a continual 8.30 Read orders. 9.0 p.m. lectured to the wireless. The incinerator makes a fine stove anything and we’re now pelting back nuisance to us. men on the operations by way of for drying clothes by and the men make full towards Cromarthy in filthy weather. Saturday and Sunday 15th & 16th August Monday 24th August 1.45 p.m. weighed and stimulating their interest; they are very easy use of it. I hope it clears up before night. Still patrolling went out of harbour. Had an alarm in the Monday 31st August Ammunitioned ship. to lecture to, always. 9.20 the destroyer We should be in about noon tomorrow. middle of the night due to the 1st LCS Painted a light colour which looks rotten, 4.45 Martin reports having seen a submarine, 10 p.m. it is most unfortunate our information switching on their searchlights. sailed. On the way out passed the Grafton charged and missed (worst luck). There are must have been wrong by 48 hours about with Pat Heard aboard who gave us a wave. evidently submarines about as several ships these submarines coming over. With a little Chris Howat

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt THE MUSEUMS' MODELS

Top: HMS COLLINGWOOD in 1913, painted by the artist A B Cull. The ship is pictured as flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Stanley Colville, commanding the 1st Squadron (comprising the 1st Battle Squadron and 1st Cruiser Squadron) of the Home Fleets. Admiral Colville flew his flag in HMS COLLINGWOOD, COLLINGWOOD from June 1912 to June 1914, when the flag of V–Adm 1st Squadron was hoisted by the newly-commissioned 'Super-Dreadnought' HMS MARLBOROUGH. The painting, formerly owned by Admiral James Ley CB CVO (who as a Captain commanded HMS COLLINGWOOD from HMS COLLINGWOOD at the time of the Surrender of the High Seas Fleet. With the exception of HMS DREADNOUGHT herself (sidelined due June 1912 until end-November 1916) now hangs in the Wardroom of the Training Establishment HMS COLLINGWOOD. It is reproduced by to her weak secondary armament) the Grand Fleet 'Dreadnoughts' were considered useful throughout the war; and benefitted from the programme permission of MOD(N) and of Captain Richard Cosby LVO RN, the Director of 'Maritime Prints' (see www.maritimeprints.com). of modification, training and practice which by mid-1918 had rectified most of the shortcomings revealed off Jutland two years previously. In November 1918 HMS COLLINGWOOD was a well-equipped and effective battleship - but with the German naval threat removed there was no reason for the Royal Navy to retain her. (Drawing from Siegfried Breyer's 'Battleships & Battlecruisers 1905-1970' with tinting, minor alterations and annotations by Mark Brady). The Dreadnought The caption accompanying the model reads determination, and the reality of his having the 1907-08 Estimates, and completed in 'HMS COLLINGWOOD, in which His served 'under fire' pleased his father, with the first half of 1910. These ships - the St. Majesty King George the Sixth served at whom Prince Albert had not hitherto had a Vincent Class – were effectively repeats of the Battle of Jutland, 1916. This model, very close or affectionate relationship. the Bellerophon Class (completed some 12 HMS COLLINGWOOD designed and constructed by (Surgeon His biographer has noted that the months earlier) but with higher-velocity Lieutenant- Commander) H M Willoughby Abdication Crisis, and his own accession to guns. Together with HMS DREADNOUGHT RNVR, was presented to Her Royal the throne, was traumatic for George VI – he herself, and HMS NEPTUNE (1908-09 The subject of this article is a rather Highness the Princess Elizabeth on the probably anticipated becoming King in due Estimates), what may be thought of as the unusual birthday-present given to a occasion of her eleventh birthday, 21st April course; but not at that point in time, or while 'Dreadnought Programme' was intended to young girl in 1937 – a sizeable scale- 1937, by the Governors of the Seamen's his more charismatic older brother was still provide the Royal Navy by mid-1911 with model of a battleship in which her Hospital Society.' alive. In the circumstances I believe it's not eight Dreadnought-type battleships, and father had served as a naval officer fanciful to see the gift of the model of HMS four 'armoured cruisers', all carrying 12-inch during the Great War. Prince Albert, as her father then was, was COLLINGWOOD as an implied statement guns. Even as the later ships were building, the second son of King George V – and like of support for the new king – 'Let this be a however, the Admiralty was planning to In truth neither the ship nor that his father destined for a naval career. As a visible token of your experience, and sense order so-called 'Super-Dreadnoughts', with officer had a remarkable career in he joined the 'Dreadnought' of duty: we now honour you as our an improved main-armament arrangement the Royal Navy, though both served battleship HMS COLLINGWOOD in 1914 Sovereign'. It was certainly the case that and mounting 13.5-inch guns. well enough. Furthermore it's but was plagued by intestinal problems, during the Second World War the king's debateable whether the model is a which he'd first suffered at Dartmouth but status as a veteran of Jutland was often In the second half of July 1914, as it became completely accurate representation hadn't then reported. The trouble was first discreetly invoked; and having thus served clear that Austria-Hungary was determined of the ship at any point in her career, suspected to be incipient appendicitis but it 'in the front line' himself there was no upon war with Serbia even if that triggered a though it appears generally accurate persisted after his appendix was removed, criticism of his always making wartime general European conflict, it was fortuitous as a scale-model of HMS and would eventually be diagnosed as a public appearances in uniform. that Britain had ordered a 'test mobilisation' COLLINGWOOD some 12 months duodenal ulcer. In consequence he spent a of the Royal Navy in Home Waters followed after Jutland. But the model has good deal of time away from his ship As for HMS COLLINGWOOD herself, the by a Fleet Review in Spithead (17-18 July) considerable symbolic importance convalescing; but he wished to return to ship was in many respects a 'typical' and tactical exercises in the because the officer later became active service, and rejoined battleship of the Grand Fleet – so in this (19-23 July). Thereafter ships were to have His Majesty King George VI, and it The model is probably of HMS COLLINGWOOD as she would have appeared in mid-1917 – the C O LLI N GWO O D in May 1916 as an Acting particular issue of 'Scuttlebutt' a summary dispersed to their home ports for Summer was presented to his daughter in the 'coffee-pot' searchlight towers at the foot of the mainmast, aft-facing 'range clocks' and the screen Sub-Lieutenant. Consequently he served in of her career is appropriate. Leave and/or to de-mobilise, but instead the period between the abdication of his on the fore-funnel were all post-Jutland additions. It should be noted, however, that Dr Oscar the ship during the Battle off Jutland, which First Sea Lord (Battenberg) ordered the Parkes' drawing of COLLINGWOOD in 1917 (see inset - drawing reproduced from Parkes' book brother (Edward VIII) and his own was a very important experience for the HMS COLLINGWOOD was one of three Home Fleets to remain at full readiness. 'British Battleships') indicates the model may not be wholly accurate in certain details. . young man – not least because his courage, Dreadnought-type battleships provided for in

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COLLINGWOOD, with other ships of the Throughout the war COLLINGWOOD fully-operational First Fleet (soon to be re- remained in full commission, and except designated 'Grand Fleet' ) anchored off while dry-docked (on average once a year, Portland; and thence, on 29 July, typically for 7-10 days) fully-operational. To proceeded via the Dover Strait to an extent she, and the other 12-inch Scapa Flow. gunned 'Dreadnoughts', were outmoded even at the beginning of the war – but they For the first eight months of war ships of were still relatively new units, were the Grand Fleet spent a good deal of time continually modified (principally to increase at sea, not least for fear that Scapa Flow - the effectiveness of their gunnery) and which had not been prepared for use as even in 1918 could stand up to virtually any a main operational base - might be ship in the High Seas Fleet. Shortly after penetrated by German submarines. Once Jutland almost all the Grand Fleet's Scapa's defences were improved, however, 'Dreadnoughts' were gathered into the 4th the fleet settled-in for what was likely to be Battle Squadron – and once C-in-C Grand a long stay. To conserve materiel and Fleet was in the comfortable position of resources (e.g coal - even at 15-16 knots a having around twenty 'Super- battleship at sea consumed at least 300 Dreadnoughts' operationally-available at all tons each day) the big ships would, during times then one or both divisions of the 4th 1915-16, t ypically be at sea 1-2 days each Battle Squadron could be detached without fortnight for firings, tactical exercises and greatly diminishing the main battlefleet. general fleet-work but otherwise remained From the autumn of 1917, therefore, in Scapa Flow most of the time. At least a COLLINGWOOD and the other week every couple of months would be 'Dreadnoughts' were often assigned as spent at Invergordon (where there was a 'distant cover' to convoys between our East 'Floating Dockyard') or otherwise based in Coast ports and the Norwegian coast, and Cromarty Firth, where amenities were a the notion that after Jutland the Grand little less primitive than at Scapa and every The upper picture is of the COLLINGWOOD Fleet's battleships did little more than opportunity was taken to give shore leave. model, the lower of a model of HMS swing around a buoy in Scapa Flow is very DREADNOUGHT which is also in the For some three years, however, visits to wide of the mark – COLLINGWOOD's NMRN(P) collection. The meticulous 'civilisation' were extremely rare for detailing of the DREADNOUGHT model record shows that in the first six months of COLLINGWOOD and other Grand Fleet distinguishes it as the work of a first-rate 1918 she spent more time underway than battleships: only in the second half of 1917 model-maker – professional or amateur – in any 6-month period in the previous did it become practical to base the whole whereas Commander Willoughby's model of three years. COLLINGWOOD was plainly made by an fleet in the Firth of Forth, a move which amateur, albeit dedicated and painstaking. was finally made in April 1918. Nonetheless the COLLINGWOOD model is After the surrender of the High Seas Fleet, made of durable materials, and appears to be however, there was little future for Throughout the entire war, incidentally, the generally accurate as a scale-model of the COLLINGWOOD and her kind. She might ships of the Grand Fleet were based in ship as she appeared some 12 months after be less than 10 years old, but in that time Jutland – but its importance lies principally in Scottish waters, far from their home ports. the Royal Navy's requirements – and, the historic context in which it was made, and COLLINGWOOD herself only visited an subsequently presented as a gift to a member indeed, the very nature of maritime warfare English port twice in over four years, on of our Royal Family. – had changed radically. Well before the both occasions for a week in dry-dock – Washington Treaty was signed the much- once in Devonport (her home port), and maligned 'Ten-Year Rule' had effectively once in Portsmouth. armament rounds, and probably hit the determined that virtually all Royal Navy crippled battlecruiser SEYDLITZ), but to warships completed pre-war should be Admiral Beatty, then C-in-C Grand Fleet, such effect that the Germans never dared discarded: HMS COLLINGWOOD reduced wrote in mid-1917 'the weary waiting is risk another full-scale fleet engagement. to Reserve Status at Devonport early in hard indeed' – and for the ships' On 19 August 1916 and 24 April 1918 the 1919, and after some three years in various companies of the Grand Fleet's battleships Grand Fleet again sailed to counter sorties training roles finally paid-off on 31 March the whole war was almost entirely 'weary by the High Seas Fleet, but each time the 1922. The following year she was towed waiting'. The battlecruisers, cruisers and Germans headed for home once it was away for scrapping. destroyers had somewhat more excitement, known that our battlefleet was at sea. but the battle-squadrons sortied en masse COLLINGWOOD sailed on each of those The model itself is on loan to the NMRN just three times with a reasonable three occasions so it must have been from the Royal Collection, but I'm not aware expectation of engaging the Kaiser's 'High especially galling that on 21st November of any intention to display it either in 'our' Seas Fleet'. On 30 May 1916 the result was 1918, when the High Seas Fleet museum or in the present HMS the Battle off Jutland - during which most surrendered to the Grand Fleet, the ship COLLINGWOOD. Perhaps in Summer British battleships engaged the enemy only was in a floating-dock at Invergordon. 2016, however .... briefly (COLLINGWOOD fired 84 main- Mark Brady

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SUBMARINE OPERATIONS DURING THE COLD WAR

A controversial new book If Hollywood blockbuster movies and best interned at Lishally, near Londonderry, were by Iain Ballantyne, Hunter Killers, seller novels are to be believed the Cold War Type XXI boats. Fortunately, only two exposes the incredible secret under the sea was an affair of big beasts, electroboots’, as the Type XXIs were known, story of how Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines jousting with had ever deployed on combat patrol. Training submarines waged a dangerous each other at close quarters. This overlooks crews, ironing out defects common to and daring, covert campaign, the valiant efforts of the smaller, far less cutting-edge technology and intensive Allied to gain a vital edge over their powerful but equally hard-worked, diesel- bombing ensured the rest of Germany’s 120 Soviet counterparts during the electric submarines. Out of the three primary electroboots’ remained in port. Equipped Cold War. Here he explains that players in the undersea contest - the USA, with high-speed batteries capable of diesel submarines were essential and Britain - it was the British providing up to 17 knots submerged - eight to enable the Royal Navy to hold who most relied on diesels to do the knots faster than Allied diesels - the Type the line for NATO during the early dangerous work the other two nations XXI possessed snort masts enabling it to years of the long perilous East- quickly handed over to nuclear-powered remain submerged for long periods. It was West confrontation. boats. The three navies began the Cold War invisible to the enemy while venting using captured experimental Nazi U-boats generator fumes, recharging batteries and as the basis for building post-WW2 sucking in fresh air. With its sleek, Above: Submarines of the Anglo-Canadian submarine flotillas. hydrodynamic hull form, the Type XXI was submarine squadron in a chilly Halifax, Nova very different to other submarines, with no Scotia during the early 1960s Photo: Forsyth In the dying days of the Third Reich teams of external guns other than cannons mounted Collection © Rob Forsyth elite British green berets’ raced for Baltic within the fin. The Type XXI did not have to Right: Cold War 'battle map' as used in Hunter ports where they secured revolutionary U- surface to attack a and could fire Killers’ by Iain Ballantyne (Image: Dennis boats and associated technology. Among 18 torpedoes within 20 minutes. This was as Andrews, Copyright © Dennis Andrews) around 100 former U-boats long as it took any other submarine to load a

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HMS Auriga noses through ice in Arctic waters in the early 1960s, while operating out of Canada.(Photo: Forsyth Collection © Rob Forsyth) HMS Alliance at Gibraltar in the early 1970s. (Photo: © Rob Forsyth Collection) single . Using the snort to recharge commissioned them into service with their carrying the burden and taking plenty of sound of what may have been depth charges what Britain’s response was, there was no on their uniforms. Nor could they even be batteries, the Type XXI was supposed to Baltic Fleet. The Soviet Navy replicated the risks. They endured marathon deployments detonating was picked up. Roake also feared mention of the part played by Royal Navy caught dead with them. They must cut the conduct an entire patrol submerged. Stealth Type XXI in its Zulu and Whiskey classes. during which both men and submarines were the Soviets had fired torpedoes at Turpin, submarines operating from Canada and even shoulder flashes off. at low speeds was aided by creeping speed The British decided to incorporate Type XXI pushed to the limit. issuing orders for the submarine to go deep deploying on war patrol from . Both motors (on rubber mountings) that soaked innovations into some of their T-Class and turn in order to comb possible tracks. On HMS Astute and HMS Alderney were Meanwhile, among the boats sent out from up noise. The Type XXI was also , submarines. Eight boats, starting with HMS In the late 1950s, Lieutenant Commander returning to Gosport from such missions the ordered to sea from their home base at on war patrol was HMS Auriga, managing up to 440ft (around 90ft deeper Taciturn, were taken in hand between 1950 Alfie Roake, a veteran of the Arctic convoy diesels got no recognition at all – senior Halifax, Nova Scotia, to join a picket line which was already preparing for a tour of than the most British submarines of the and 1956. They had a whole new section runs during the Second World War, was officers Roake reported to declined to even attempting to detect Soviet submarines duty, based in Halifax. Her work-up off the 1940s). It reputedly had a crush depth of inserted containing two more electric motors appointed captain of HMS Turpin. One acknowledge where he had been. Roake heading south for Cuba, trailing them if west coast of Scotland was interrupted by a more than 1,000ft. When it came time to and a fourth battery. It gave the Super-Ts, as deployment under Roake’s command saw observed rather drily: We flew no “Jolly possible and marking them for potential FLASH message telling her to return home dividing up the spoils of war, the victorious they became known, a submerged top speed Turpin’s hatch shut on Trafalgar Day 1959 Roger” listing our achievements and had no destruction. The crews of the Halifax-based immediately and store for war. Lieutenant powers were keen to ensure they got their of up to 18 knots but only for a short period. and not opened again for another 39 days, special welcoming party – we left and submarines were Anglo-Canadian. They Rob Forsyth thought it was all very exciting. share of Nazi U-boats. The British, The guns were removed and they also the boat spending most of her time carefully entered harbour like “a thief in the night” … received instructions from the senior Royal Leading Seaman John Cumberpatch, the Americans and Russians each had ten U- acquired a streamlined casing. A large fin husbanding water and air while evading the We had no feed-back as to how we had Canadian Navy (RCN) admiral who had experienced rating who really ran things, boats of all kinds. The remainder were towed enclosed the bridge, periscopes and masts. Soviets in Arctic waters. Roake said he felt done, meanwhile, we were all ordered not to ordered them on picket duty that had a assured Forsyth everything would be fine as out to sea and scuttled off Ireland. Space was also made internally for specialist like David against Goliath, carrying out a tiny breathe a word about our adventures …’ decidedly chilling effect. The Canadian they offloaded dummy fish and took aboard intelligence-gathering equipment. pin prick of an operation against a colossus. national government was opposed to military torpedoes with warheads. The Americans used their two Type XXIs as We were on our own with the nearest The Royal Navy’s remodelled A-Class boats action to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis. the basis of new Tang Class diesels, also Alongside the Super-Ts the Royal Navy support and succour thousands of miles were in the early 1960s drawn into the However, in the event of hostilities there Once deployed on picket duty, Auriga made reconstructing some of their Second World continued to operate other Second World away.’ Cuban Missile Crisis, British naval would be no time for RCN submariners to be several contacts - Soviet submarines War-era boats under the Greater Underwater War-era diesels, some of which also participation in this dangerous episode going taken off the British submarines when they heading south at speed and soon out of Propulsive Power, or GUPPY, programme to eventually received similar design On a subsequent foray into the Russian unrecognized. reverted to UK national control for combat. range. In the end, while the British incorporate German innovations. Some Type improvements, such as the A-Class. The Bear’s backyard, a Soviet submarine Turpin Therefore, in the event of war, the Canadians submarines deployed on extended war XXIs were even pressed into service, the Submarine Service’s main effort against the was recording and photographing suddenly As Prime Minister Harold Macmillan got up in would stay with their shipmates. The admiral patrols they did not find themselves involved British operating two for a short period while Soviets in northern waters during the late dived right on top of her. The British boat the House of Commons during those order that they must ensure they were not in a hot war. the Russians, who had four Type XXIs, 1950s saw the Super-Ts and their crews dodged quickly out of the way. Later the dangerous days in October 1962, to explain captured with CANADA’ shoulder flashes still

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Cold War era Super-T diesel submarine: HMS Tiptoe, pictured in 1967. Above: HMS Osiris, an Oberon Class diesel submarine of the Royal Navy. Photo: BAE Systems Below: Side elevation of Nazi-origin Type XXI Photo: Jonathan Eastland/AJAX. www.ajaxnetphoto.com U-boat, which provided the technological basis Soon Auriga was herself operating out of the 1960s, but it was their last for early Cold War submarines. Image: Dennis Halifax, conducting training missions that period at the tip of the spear. Andrews, Copyright © Dennis Andrews surely tested everybody’s nerve to breaking HMS Alliance - commanded by point. She ventured under ice in the Gulf of Rob Forsyth in 1970/71 - was St. Lawrence to simulate lurking Soviet not taken out of the front line submarines. In that role she was hunted by fleet until 1973 (and she serves nuclear-powered US Navy attack submarines on today at Royal Navy keen to hone under-ice tactics. It was a risky Submarine Museum). job. The mere thought of a fire under the ice sends a shudder through any submariner, New nuclear-powered Fleet With the sun finally setting on the surviving opportunity to show their worth during the powered boats, it’s worth considering what especially if combined with battery life boats (SSNs, also known as outposts of empire, Oberon was the last 1991 Gulf War. Opossum and Otus carried was fundamental to success. seeping away as a diesel boat tries hunter-killers) would British submarine to be deployed for out covert operations not dissimilar from their repeatedly, and fails, to smash through. Not increasingly take the lead role operations from . Conley found reputed activities in the Baltic against the Tim Hale came up through the hard school only will you have a fire consuming all the in long-range surveillance and Oberon to be absolutely pristine, well Soviets. Their presence in either the Baltic or of the diesels. He commanded several , but also your crew will be fighting for Anti- (ASW) managed and well crewed – generally a the Gulf during early 1991 has never been conventional boats, including Tiptoe (a breath as the submarine fills with noxious operations. The diesels would happy boat and overall very professional. officially confirmed by the Ministry of Super-T), and was XO of Warspite in the late fumes. There is no means of escape and still be used for close inshore Returning to the UK, Conley and the Defence (MoD). It has been claimed that 1960s. He also commanded Swiftsure, first each time you try to break through your surveillance, on training tasks Submarine Service, knuckled down to the during coalition efforts to evict Iraqi occupiers of a new breed of SSNs, bringing her out of battery gets weaker, death that bit closer. and real dangerous Cold War business. from Kuwait the O-boats landed SBS the builders and into service during the early Flood is also a desperate prospect. Should a (SBS) insertions, plus patrols in reconnaissance teams on the coast to scout 1970s. He points out that good seamanship boat spring a leak she’ll swiftly fill up with waters close to the UK. They The diesels would, though, twice be drawn out enemy defences. In one incident US is absolutely essential to successful water, her occupants or freezing would also go into shallow away from their Cold War patrol areas to Navy strike jets allegedly sank an oil , operations in any submarine, which, he rightly them to death. The pressure will squeeze Scandinavian waters and engage in daring hot war operations. Onyx which began to sink on an O-boat hiding points out, operates in three dimensions - if more and more water into the submarine conduct barrier patrols in the conducted a marathon 116-day patrol to the underneath while attempting to recover a it goes to all stop, a surface ship will probably until the craft sinks like a stone. To the crucial --UK- The diesel submarine HMS Alliance in dry dock at Devonport Falklands in 1982, unsupported 8,000 miles Special Forces team. She swiftly withdrew. float. Not so in a submarine or aircraft. You forefront of everybody’s minds as Auriga slid gap (GIUK). in the early 1960s. Photo: Crown Copyright/Royal Navy from the UK under the command of have to keep the thing moving and put it on under the ice in 1962/63 was, of course, a Lieutenant Commander A.P. Johnson. In the early 1990s the four Upholder Class the interface of the fluids - water and air - in desire for the boat to find a polynya – an Meanwhile, some of the future nuclear command the nuclear-powered Sceptre. Though Lt Cdr Johnson has never diesels commissioned to replace the O-boats order to achieve stability. The need for area of open water - nearby at all times. submarine captains of the 1980s found Another graduate of the diesels, Dan Conley commented on his submarine’s mission, it is switched to Devonport. For Britain, with its awareness and competence is thus Auriga endeavoured to be no more than half themselves serving in the diesels during the (who later commanded Courageous and believed she landed SBS troops on various Submarine Service shrinking dramatically in paramount in order to stay alive’. In the an hour from one. 1970s, gaining valuable experience. Once Valiant, both SSNs) experienced the final raids. Her captain drew on periscope and post-Cold War defence spending cuts, a diesels of the Cold War it took a certain kind such was Doug Littlejohns whose first days of gracious colonial submarining during shallow water navigation skills he had decision was then made to go all nuclear. of luck and courage. Between the end of the 1950s and late command in the mid-1970s was the Oberon the early 1970s. As a junior officer in HMS learned during the notoriously demanding The Upholders were paid off in the mid- 1960s, the Royal Navy produced the Class submarine HMS Osiris. He took her up Oberon, he made flag flying visits to exotic Perisher submarine command course. On her 1990s and later sold to Canada, where they excellent and Oberon classes of against interfering Soviet spy vessels in ports - including , Penang, Hong return to Gosport, every ship in Portsmouth continue to serve. diesel boats, with the Super-Ts and the waters off Dorset and Scotland and then into Kong, and , though earlier Harbour sounded sirens and hundreds of Hunter Killers’(Orion) by Iain Ballantyne modified A-Class increasingly obsolete and the Mediterranean and on generations of Far East submariners had in sailors cheered the tired old Onyx home. Looking back across the decades of the is available in both hardback and ebook phased out. The British diesels would carry surveillance missions. It all required the the 1960s conducted surveillance and Cold War, and weighing up the exploits of the formats (£20.00) from various retailers. on shouldering the burden of the main customary grit, endurance and derring-do. commando insertion missions during the The last of the Royal Navy’s O-boats was diesels and how they produced the men who The paperback edition will be published undersea effort against the Soviets well into Both Forsyth and Littlejohns would also confrontation with Indonesia. retired in 1993, though there had been a final became warrior scientists in nuclear- in August.

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt OUR ROYAL NAVY Top left: New HMS Dragon OVERVIEW on Operation Kipion in the Middle East Top right: The nuclear deterrent submarine “It is upon the Navy under the good Providence of God that the HMS Victorious departs HMNB Clyde safety, honour, and welfare of this realm do chiefly depend”. Portrait right: First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir KCB DSC ADC (King Charles II, in the introduction to The Articles of War’) All pictures (© crown copyright)

Whilst we look back and reflect on the Navy of yesterday and In the words of the Right Honourable Philip shape Britain’s Forces for ‘Future Force Hammond MP, Secretary of State for 2020’. These plans were made against very its many great triumphs, particularly as we focus, at this time, Defence: “The vital contribution that the Royal severe financial constraints as Britain on the mighty Grand Fleet and the launch of the new HMS Navy makes to the ’s national struggled under the global debt crisis and in 20th & 21st Gallery in the museum we must not overlook our security is as varied as the threats are the case of the MOD a substantial ‘black Navy of today. The world is no less divided and dangerous diverse. Whether it is Royal Marines or men hole’ in its budget. The armed forces were serving in Afghanistan, our maritime cut back across the board to deliver a than ever it was and todays Navy confronts those many vital operations all over the world or delivering our number of savings. For the RN the headlines tasks and similar challenges but without the considerable nuclear deterrent – sustained for over forty were the retirement of four Type 22 might and power of the Grand Fleet of a hundred years ago. five years without a moment’s break Britain is and HMS Ark Royal along with the Joint GR9 safer because of the outstanding work of Harrier force but with a commitment to the the Royal Navy”¹ new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers The enduring quotation above, by Charles II in the 17th and the Joint Strike Fighter. Century is almost certainly to be just as relevant in the reign The Framework of British Defence Policy of Charles III in the 21st Century. So let us take a close look at The broad parameters of current British The world remains an extremely our Navy. This overview is intended to bring readers up to Defence policy were set under SDSR 2010 unpredictable, divided and potentially (The ‘Strategic Defence and Security Review dangerous place as events in Libya, the Gulf date with the size, shape, responsibilities, tasks and of 2010’) ², due to be reviewed next year. This and the all underline. With the deployments of the Royal Navy today. covered the essential defence and security arrival of new equipment and improved requirements for the United Kingdom, for the capability, even with reduced numbers and following decade in order to prepare and less manpower the Royal Navy continues to

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meet all the ongoing vital tasks necessary to world but increasingly operations have been Organisation & Personnel protect the United Kingdom and her many concentrated on the 200 miles of sea close Top left: Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender arriving in The full time trained strength of the Royal commitments and interests overseas. In to the coast, the ‘littoral’ regions and all Navy is 31,400 ³ (some 24,000 officers and Top right: An anti-submarine Stingray torpedo fired other words, the Royal Navy is ‘Protecting evidence indicates that this will become an ratings plus 6,500 Royal Marines) supported from the Type 23 HMS Westminster our Nation’s Interests’. increasing area of focus for Britain’s by 2,000 RFA personnel. The total strength strategic interests and force structures. In Bottom: The 18,500 ton Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark following the SDSR programme The main tasks of the Royal Navy can be the process of restructuring the Royal Navy (Landing Platform Dock) will deliver circa 30,000 by 2015. The summarised as: has increased its ‘littoral’ combat All pictures (© crown copyright) professional head of the Royal Navy is the a. Preventing conflict (global deployment capabilities. The end of operations in Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord, & deterrence) Afghanistan should present the opportunity Admiral Sir George Zambellas (appointed in b. Protecting our economy (protecting to shift the UK’s focus from campaigns to April 2013) and he reports to the Defence trade routes and ports) contingency. Council, headed by the Secretary of State c. Providing security at sea (working with for Defence, the Rt Hon Philip Hammond international partners) The Fleet MP. The Fleet is commanded by the Fleet d. Promoting Partnerships (cooperating Today’s Fleet remains a powerful, credible Commander & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, with allies) navy with extensive global reach. In size Vice Admiral Philip Jones (appointed in e. Providing Humanitarian Assistance (aid terms it is significantly smaller than the 2012). The Maritime operational and basic disaster relief) navies of the USA, Russia and China but commanders are Commander UK Task f. Ready to fight roughly similar to the fleets of France and Group (COMUKTG) /Commander UK just ahead of the Italian navy. However in Maritime Force, who is a sea going rear The Maritime Strategic Environment terms of quality, encompassing training, admiral and the Commander of Amphibious Seventy percent of the earth’s surface is expertise, experience, efficiency, reputation Forces (CAF) who is a Royal Marine major covered by sea. Well over three-quarters of and tradition the Royal Navy still enjoys a general. the member states of the United Nations pre-eminent position and is respected are coastal states and two-thirds of the worldwide. Operations and Deployments world’s population live within one hundred The Royal Navy is heavily committed in a miles of the sea. A substantial proportion of Essentially the Fleet consists of: 4 SSBN, range of operations, activities and the world’s economic and political activity is 7 SSN, 1 CVH, 3 LPD/H, 19 DD/FF, deployments around the world, either on its conducted in a narrow strip of land and 15 MCMV and a full range of minor war own or often in conjunction with allies. sea, no wider than three hundred miles, vessels, specialist support ships, craft and The Middle East remains a strategically known as the ‘littoral’. The Royal Navy auxiliaries. See the detailed Royal Navy important region for the UK covering the continues to be a ‘’ navy capable Fleet Guide for further information on each whole of the Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden of operating throughout the oceans of the category, type and class. and the Northern Indian Ocean. The Royal

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Navy operate continuously in this area with Caribbean through the Hurricane season. NATO Response Force Mine Counter RFA Wave Knight is currently on patrol Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), for at least one escort, supported by a tanker The nuclear powered HMS Ambush in the Clyde of the (RFA), there. Drug trafficking remains a major example, provides an operational mine (© crown copyright) employed by United Kingdom Maritime problem in that part of the world and the countermeasures capability permanently Component Commander on Maritime RN in conjunction with the US Coastguard available in the Mediterranean and poised Security patrol, plus a four-strong squadron and other agencies have seized drugs that for action in peacetime, crisis or conflict. of Mine Hunters with a RFA support ship would have a street value running into the and hydrographic survey vessels. The hundreds of millions of pounds. The RN is Closer to home it is the 45th year of Royal Navy contributes to the stability by part of the ongoing battle to prevent illegal Continuous at Sea Nuclear Deterrence engaging and working with regional substances reaching the UK and Europe. delivered by the SSBN community. partners, as well as conducting hot climate Meanwhile the Fleet Ready Escort, the training. The UK has strong political, Further south, the Royal Navy maintains a duty Towed Array Patrol Ship and the commercial and trading links with the patrol around the waters of our South Fishery Protection Squadron along with the region and operations have extended Atlantic Overseas Territory. The Territory is Fleet Diving Units all contribute to the daily further south in order to control regional nearly 8,000 nautical miles from the UK delivery of the UK’s Maritime Security. off the Somalia coast and around and presents one of the harshest working the Horn of Africa. RN presence in the environments requiring the highest level of Response Force Task Group region is a high profile demonstration of the professionalism to operate in safely. Yet In addition to its enduring commitments UK’s strong commitment to this important further south the Ice Patrol ship HMS around the globe the Royal Navy conducts part of the world. Protector can be found patrolling the regular deployments to areas of Antarctic peninsular. importance and is constantly ready to be For most of the year there is a RN ship on called upon at short notice to carry out patrol in the North Atlantic providing The Royal Navy regularly contributes to vital, unexpected tasks. support to our overseas territories in the NATO operations and forces. Standing

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Top left: HMS St Albans’ boarding team returns to the Top right: Artist impression of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea Below left: The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth under construction in Below right: The white continues to fly proudly around the world All pictures (© crown copyright)

The Response Force Task Group (RFTG) RFTG forces were involved in the Libyan forward section) was built by BAE in start in two years with the first of class to RAF and the second 809 Naval Air through committed forces deployed on is ready to deploy to areas of crisis. The crisis in 2011 (OP ELLAMY) and in the Portsmouth and towed to Rosyth (see meet an ‘in-service’ date of 2020. The first Squadron both squadrons will have a standing tasks and contingent main elements consist of the Fleet Philippines disaster relief in late 2013 (OP ‘Scuttlebutt’ No.45). Good progress has of four new 37,000 Tankers for the mixture of personnel. There are also opportunities around the globe. Flagship, HMS Bulwark, and the PATWIN). been made with QUEEN ELIZABETH and RFA are due in 2016. Work is also in hand exciting developments in the helicopter Notes amphibious force concentrated in Her Majesty The Queen will launch the ship to decide the nuclear deterrent fleet with Wildcat replacing the stalwart 1. The Royal Navy’s yearbook ‘A Global Devonport. HMS Illustrious is also part of Future Capability on 4th July. The completed hull will then be replacement programme as the present Lynx, Merlin Mk II introducing improved Force 2012/13’ RFTG together with a number of The major build programme for Defence floated out thus enabling the start of the SSBNs will come to the end of their Anti-Submarine capabilities and the Merlin 2. Cmnd 7948 ‘Securing Britain in an destroyers or frigates and a Commando and the Royal Navy is for the construction assembly of the hull blocks of the PRINCE operational lives by the late 2020s. The Mk III programme which will replace the Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Group of Royal Marines. Other units can of the two new Queen Elizabeth class OF WALES to begin in the dry dock. first two Astute class SSNs are now venerable Sea King Mk IV for troop Defence & Security Review’ be attached as necessary depending on aircraft carriers, the biggest warships to be Captain Jerry Kyd has been appointed as operational the rest of the programme is carrying duties. The Crow’s nest 3. MoD UK Naval Service Monthly the task. Later this year HMS Illustrious will designed and built in the United Kingdom. the first commanding officer of QUEEN progressing with boats 3 to 7 in various programme is also underway to deliver a Personnel Situation Report January be replaced by the 22,000 ton Helicopter They are being built by the ‘Aircraft Carrier ELIZABETH, and the ship is scheduled to stages of construction. new Airborne Command and Surveillance 2014 carrier HMS OCEAN, just completing refit Alliance’ using a modular basis with ‘mega start sea trials in 2017. capability for the carrier. in Devonport. The force trains using the block’ sections being constructed in In the air, the Short Take Off and Vertical If you would like to know more about the Joint Warrior Exercises in Scotland and different locations and then being towed on Work is also progressing on the future Type Landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter In summary, the Royal Navy continues to Royal Navy visit their informative website at then deploys under the COUGAR banner sealift barges to Rosyth and assembled in 26 Frigate, the ‘Global Combat Ship’ which will be known as the ‘Lightning II’ is protect our Nation’s interests by delivering www.RoyalNavy.mod.uk delivering engagement, influence, Babcock’s massive Number one dry dock. designed as the replacement to the Type undergoing extensive trials in the USA. credible War fighting, Maritime Security deterrence and, if required, intervention. The 6,000 ton ‘Lower Block 02’ (the giant 23 frigate. Construction is expected to The first Squadron will be 617 Squadron and Defence Engagement capability John Roberts

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GO TO THE PAST Commemorate the 1914-18 Centenary Bird Battlefield Tours

Convivial & informative. Group or private tours to the Somme and Ypres.

Fig. 1. The Trinity House sword of the 5th . John Poyntz Spencer was born in 1835 and succeeded to the title as the fifth Earl Spencer in 1857. He had an impressive pedigree in naval affairs starting with the second Earl, who had served as an exceptionally effective First Lord of the Admiralty under Prime Minister William Pitt from December 1794 to February 1801 . It was he who gave Nelson the command that resulted in the victory at the Battle of .FOBOEXPNFOPGUIF3PZBM/BWZBOE3PZBM.BSJOFTTFSWF       the Nile (1 – 2 August 1798). His uncle, UIFJSDPVOUSZ PîFOBUUJNFTPGEBOHFS&TUBCMJTIFEJO           UIF3/#5IFMQTOPODPNNJTTJPOFE4BJMPST .BSJOFTBOEUIFJS    Captain Sir Robert Cavendish Royal Navy, GBNJMJFT 5IF3/#5'BNJMZ UISPVHIPVUUIFJSMJWFT     died at sea in 1830 and his father, the :PVSEPOBUJPOXJMMIFMQVTUPIFMQUIFN fourth Earl, was a distinguished naval officer who had fought with distinction Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8RN Nick Bird: [email protected] in command of the frigate Talbot at the T: 02392 690112 F: 02392 660852 E: [email protected] www.rnbt.org.uk birdbattleeldtours.com Battle of Navarino (20 October 1827) and was a vice admiral on the retired list on his death in 1857 .

While still Viscount Althorp, the future fifth Earl entered politics being elected to Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1857. LOSING Fig. 2. John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer, A LIMB IS courtesy of the Corporation of Trinity House. However, his father’s death in the same year and his accession to the title meant TRAUMATIC Fig. 6. The Spencer device of six intertwined that he transferred his political interests to letters S’ surrounded by the collar of the BUT BLESMA Order of the Garter. the . He was a supporter BELIEVES of Gladstone. He was nicknamed The Red THERE IS Earl on account of his magnificent beard, Fig. 2. His exceptionally generous gift of LIFE AFTER Wimbledon Common to the Nation was LIMB LOSS The Red Earls rewarded in 1864 by his installation as a Knight of the Garter. He was twice the BLESMA is the leading charity for limbless veterans. Viceroy of Ireland (1868 - 74 and 1882 - We provide health and well-being activities 85). When the Liberal Party returned to and support to servicemen and women, their widows and dependants. sword power in 1892, Spencer was given the We can only continue to provide these As we approach the centenary of when Britain’s post of First Lord of the Admiralty so vital services with your support. following his ancestor, the second Earl, naval forces were to be severely tested, it seems appropriate into this office. He remained First Lord to look a little further back into history to those men until the Liberals lost power in 1895. responsible for ensuring the preparedness of the Royal Navy The first innovation he made was to retain to meet the challenges of this conflict. Some of these men the professional members of the Board of Twitter: @blesma were distinguished naval officers but they would have been Admiralty (the Sea Lords) who had been Facebook: /blesma unable to prevail in their efforts to get the Navy into a fit state appointed by the previous administration, thus introducing a degree of continuity Registered Charity Number: 1084189 (SC010315) without the support of key politicians. The sword of one of the into naval policy. Three years before he Fundraise, donate, nd out more most distinguished of these civilians is the starting point for took office, a large naval building www.blesma.org 020 8590 1124 or call these notes, Fig. 1. programme had been approved as a

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Spencer connection is clearly indicated on the outer face of the blade, close to the shoulder by an etched design of the Spencer device of six intertwined letters S’, in this case surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Garter, Fig. 6, which had been awarded in 1864. The inner face carries the Royal Cipher, EVIIR.

This sword is a fascinating direct link to one of the major influences in naval policy in the latter years of the nineteenth century. Had Spencer lived to see the start of World War I, he could have been secure in the knowledge that his obstinacy some two decades earlier had helped to ensure that the material state of the Royal Navy was up to the challenges it was about to face. John McGrath

Note: Readers interested in learning more Fig. 4. The Coat-of-Arms of Trinity House in the cartouche on the guard. about the swords of Trinity House will find additional information in May and Annis , reaction to the increased construction health. He had suffered a heart attack in McGrath and Barton and McGrath . programmes of Russia and France. Despite 1904 and a severe stroke the following year. There are two Trinity House swords in the this, in 1893 when Spencer backed the He died on 13 August 1910 after suffering collection of the National Maritime Museum demands of the Sea Lords for the another stroke. (WPN1163 and WPN1499) details of which construction of seven new battleships can be viewed on line . together with six cruisers and thirty-six As one of the Elder Brethren of Trinity destroyers, he met serious opposition from House, an organisation tracing its recorded the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William history back to a charter granted by Henry Acknowledgement: Vernon Harcourt. Strong support for this VIII in 1514, Spencer would have worn a The author is grateful to the Corporation of Trinity demand for an increase in the size of the uniform complete with the sword, which has House for permission to use the image of Earl Spencer which appears as Fig. 2. Fleet came from Lord George Hamilton, been illustrated in Fig. 1, on ceremonial Spencer’s predecessor as First Lord. Things occasions. This weapon was purchased from Reference sources then turned very messy. Harcourt reacted by Charles Smith and Son whose initials are Peter Gordon, Spencer, John Poyntz, fifth Earl Spencer (1835– informing the House that the Sea Lords etched discretely on the under edge of the 1910)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 were content with the expenditure as it shoulder of the blade. They traded from 5 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36209, accessed stood. When, to a man, the very next day they New Burlington Street and had a Royal 21 Nov 2013]. Malcolm Lester, Spencer, George John, second Earl Spencer denied this claim, the scene was set for a Warrant from King Edward VII as Gold and (1758–1834)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford showdown. Gladstone supported the Silver Lacemen to His Majesty the King . It is University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26125, accessed Chancellor in opposing this increase in the curious that Spencer chose Charles Smith & 21 Nov 2013]. funding for the Navy and informed Spencer Son to provide his sword rather than using a J. K. Laughton, Spencer, Sir Robert Cavendish (1791–1830)’, rev. Andrew Lambert, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford that he would resign rather than agree. more established firm of sword cutlers such University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2012 Spencer refused to yield and on 1 March as Wilkinson. Perhaps he was just putting the [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26136, accessed 21 Nov 2013]. This article also contains information about the 1894 Gladstone resigned and a week later business in the way of a firm which he had fourth Earl. the estimates were passed by Parliament. used for the uniforms and robes associated Ireland, Bernard, The Anglo-German Naval Race, Part One, Scuttlebutt, Edition No 47, Autumn 2013, p 27. Attention was drawn to the importance of the with his other positions. Although the Provenance: Christies Sale number 5467, The Althorp Attic Sale, so-called Spencer Programme in the article uniform naval sword of the period had a Lot 229 and then via Les Martin, dealer, to the present owner. Bezdek, Richard H., Swords and Sword Makers of England and by Bernard Ireland in the Autumn 2013 slightly curved blade, this weapon’s is straight Scotland (Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press, 2003) p. 154. edition of Scuttlebutt. Spencer continued and 31½in (800mm) long. The Trinity House May, Commander W E, RN and Annis, PGW, Swords for Sea Service (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 197) Vol I, pp. 36 to serve under Gladstone’s replacement, pedigree is prominently represented in its & 46, Vol II, Plate 37. Lord Rosebery, until the defeat of the design by the coat-of- arms of the McGrath, John and Barton, Mark, British Naval Swords & Swordsmanship (Barnsley: Seaforth, 2013) pp. 73 – 75. Liberals in 1895. Corporation in the cartouche on the guard, McGrath, John, Swords of Trinity House, Classic Arms & Militaria, Fig. 4, and etched on the outer face of the Vol XIX, Issue 6, December 2012/January 2013, pp. 12 – 17. http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/78610.ht It was this time as First Lord of the Admiralty blade, where on a naval sword, a crowned ml and /78946.html. which merited his election as an Elder and fouled anchor would appear. The design Brother in 1905. Sadly, his enjoyment of of these arms consists of four sailing ships this honour must have been limited by ill surrounding the cross of St George. The

g t Scuttlebutt HMS Clio’s drum and fife band. Phil Gunn third from left (© Author) A swarm of bellums (canoes), lashed in pairs came around the of the sloops and tore towards the beach as the sloops bombarded the enemy positions. The advance up the Tigris had begun.

No one mentioned a little known campaign , Britain found itself at war with in the east, used to operating up rivers in in a place called Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Turkey, whose jutted up places like China and East Africa. These against Persia on the other side of the were now sent to provide gunfire support to ROYAL NAVY IN Prior to the outbreak of the First World and Shatt al Arab. The Turks were thus in a the army in its advance upriver to protect largely at the instigation of Admiral ‘Jacky’ position to cut off the Royal Navy’s oil Britain’s oil. The navy’s role was important Fisher, the Royal Navy had decided to move supplies to its ships in the North Sea to the as the guns in India’s depleted army were over from coal to oil for the more efficient delight of Turkey’s German allies. largely mountain guns, the majority of its propulsion of its capital ships. In 1913 field artillery having gone to Europe. , then First Lord of the Attention in Britain was understandably Admiralty, had masterminded the taking of concentrated on what was occurring on the And so with naval gunfire support from the six four inch guns of the sloop HMS Odin, As 2013 moved into 2014, the heavy guns of the historical journalist world poured a £2 million stake in the South Persian continent of Europe and it was decided that oilfields from which this oil came. It flowed the people to cope with this potentially what became known as the Indian forth their World War One offerings. Hastings and Paxman salvoes were fired at a by pipeline down to Abadan on the Shatt al serious threat were the government of India, Expeditionary Force (IEF) landed against public ready and eager to enter the centenary commemorations. It was mostly Arab estuary of the rivers Tigris and a substantial part of the . Turkish opposition at the entrance to the Shatt al Arab waterway on 6th November about the trenches, understandably as that had been just across the Channel. Euphrates where it was refined and India had a significant army of its own but transported by sea to wherever the navy had already committed much of this to the and advanced upstream to take Basra Much also dealt with what had been happening at home. The books did not needed it. war in Europe with the gratifying support of which was in Turkish hands. The capture mention the navy much, other than to say that its German opposite numbers had the Indian people. It had no naval resources of Basra to a large extent protected the oil supply from attack but things did not stop bombarded Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool, Kitchener drowned in There was a short period during which to speak of and this was significant. If ships were built to be powered by coal or oil forces were to operate in Mesopotamia they at this point. The IEF appeared to be in HMS Hampshire and that at the we had suffered the first defeat but Fisher, returning for his second round as would need waterborne transport, for the the ascendant and an ambitious general in a battle at sea since before Trafalgar. Then there was the draw at Jutland. First Sea Lord, put a stop to that and oil it rivers Tigris and Euphrates were the main decided to go on and capture Baghdad, the capital, some five hundred miles upstream. Credit was given for the protection of the troops crossing to the continent. was henceforth. communication routes across that country. Then on 5th November 1914, following a However, the Royal Navy had a number of Odin, together with two sister sloops general raising of the diplomatic and military shallow sloops and other small vessels Espiegle and Clio provided the backbone

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Above: HMS Clio looked like a rich man’s yacht but was armed with six 4-inch calibre guns (© Author) of the Royal Navy’s river force in the Leaping ashore the Ox and Bucks as lower reaches of the Tigris and they were known, made short work of Euphrates. They were shallow draft the forts out of which lines of Turkish £45.00 £30.00 £45.00 vessels, and although built in the first soldiers emerged with their hands up few years of the 20th century had in surrender £36.00 £24.00 £36.00 been designed, surprisingly, with sails in a remarkably short space of time. as well as engines. Opinion within the Navy had been critical about the make This operation was the start of what up of these ships, many considering became known as ‘Townshend’s them useless for purposes of war. Captured Turkish soldiers under armed guard Regatta’, named after the operational by the river Tigris (© JJ Heath-Caldwell) Fore and aft sails on their three masts were general who had just taken over day to day augmented by square sails on the foremast. which is above Basra and near the command in the field. Under sail, day and night, would come the confluence of the rivers Tigris and shrill, haunting whistle of the bosun’s call to Euphrates. It was also believed to be the Townshend’s Regatta went on upstream, the duty watch of seamen to adjust the set original site of the Garden of Eden but the Turks in the next town, Amara, of the sails. However, these had largely Phillip, in a ‘run ashore’, found it less surrendering to a naval lieutenant and eight been dispensed with by 1914 and the than idyllic. sailors of which Gunn was one, in an armed sloops were to prove their worth in tug. At Amara Lieutenant Singleton found, Mesopotamia North of Qurna lay a number of Turkish to his surprise that he had also captured military forts intended to prevent the 250 Turkish soldiers, eleven officers and It was in Clio, the last of the three sloops, progress of the Indian Expeditionary Force all their weapons. that Able Seaman Phillip Gunn arrived in farther upstream. Shortly after assembling at Mesopotamia from the South China Sea. Qurna the three sloops sailed with the Phillip Gunn left unpublished memoirs of On the way, and in order to keep the ship’s intention of dealing with these. As they drew the campaign which are written from the company fit, there were route marches abreast the forts, out from their hidden sides viewpoint of a seaman as opposed to an ashore in which a slight musical ability emerged a large number of canoes, lashed officer. These have recently been published enabled him to be one of the players of a fife together in pairs and protected in their bows by Pen & Sword in a book called Sailor in in the drum and fife band which he found with steel plates. They were paddled the Desert for it was across the deserts of significantly lighter than a rifle. furiously by soldiers of the Oxfordshire and Mesopotamia that they fought and where 421851 Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and covered many died, often of disease rather than The sloops proceeded upstream to Qurna by heavy four inch gunfire from the sloops. wounds.

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v oo ootn ontnun our srs o turs on t usums nnt oton ms m

The museum has a very extensive collection of naval medals with the medals donated by the late Captain Douglas-Morris forming an integral part of the collection. These comprise campaign medals for service in naval actions and awards for gallantry which includes five Victoria Crosses. In 1900 an admiral Images of the obverse inspected HMS Astraea and reverse of the and wrote a report medal are shown praising the Ship's (reproduced courtesy company for their good of Bryan Williamson, physique, (“remarkably Canada). The Edward clean and well dressed; VII medal was awarded the stoker division a fine to AB James Miller who body of clean and well- won it firing a 6pdr QF dressed men. At exercise gun on HMS Haughty. the men moved very The George V medal smartly and the ship was earned by PO looked well inside and Robert March in 1911 Above: Ordinary Seaman Gunn in tropical Above: Phil took charge of a launch, towing two horse boats armed with 4.7-inch guns, out, and is very clean (12in BL HMS Queen) uniform, 1914 (© Author). to support the army and bombard the Turks throughout”). It is extraordinary that he made The medals were awarded to the sailors and and the bar in 1913 (13.5in BL HMS absolutely no reference to the fact that HMS marines who attained a very high percentage Thunderer). Also shown are all the bars Medal for his handling of the horse boats In 1917, a far greater number of troops Astræa was one of the best shots in the of hits in the annual Fleet target practices. awarded in 1911 which are mounted on a After the capture of Amara the Tigris under fire. than had been made available to General Navy nor was there any praise for her During the period 1903 to 1914 medals museum specimen medal. became too shallow even for the sloops. Townshend, again aided by the Royal Navy, captain and gunnery lieutenant for making were earned for excellence in no less than However, to continue the navy’s gunfire Some miles south of Baghdad the Turks drove the Turks back. Kut and Baghdad the ship such an efficient fighting unit. 14 different calibres of guns ranging from Naval gunnery did improved significantly support role Able Seaman Phillip Gunn was had established a strong defensive position were captured and in due course the war Appearance appeared much more important 3 pdr Quick Fire to 13.5 inch Breech following the introduction of good shooting put in charge of a Calcutta River police at Ctesiphon. It was General Townshend’s against the Turks came to an end. than gunnery and battle-worthiness. Loaded. The medals were impressed on medals. In 1900 during Fleet practice less launch towing two horse boats from the plan to attack this from four different angles the rim with the recipients’ official number, than one third of rounds fired hit the target. each armed with 4.7 inch guns with the navy providing its gunfire support Phillip Gunn rose to the rank of Captain, Fortunately this situation changed, largely name, rank, ship name, year and the gun This had improved to 42.80% in 1904, due to the work of Captain (later Admiral Sir) calibre. If a man earned a second medal 56.58% in 1905 and 71.12% in 1906 and last used at the Relief of Ladysmith in the from the river. Unfortunately the IEF troops Royal Navy, serving in and commanding . He saw the crucial importance then that was rewarded by the issue of a in 1907 a 79% hit rate was achieved. The Boer War in 1899. His crew were Muslims only advanced on one side of the Tigris, ships between the wars and during the of improving gunnery equipment and training clasp/ bar for his medal showing the ship Naval Good Shooting Medals were difficult who needed halal killed meat and so he allowing the Turks to station heavy guns Second World War. In June 1944, then and also that competition could raise name, year and gun calibre for the new to win and were highly valued by their embarked a succession of sheep which on the other that prevented the advance of Duty Captain at the Admiralty, it fell to him standards. Shooting was first stimulated by award. In all 974 medals and 62 bars were recipients. In 1914 the medal was were duly despatched and eaten to the the naval guns to their ideal position so that to tell Winston Churchill that seriously the introduction of an unofficial the issued. Three men receiving medals with two discontinued, although the reverse design satisfaction of everyone, except perhaps they were less effective than they might bad weather in the English Channel had Bluejacket Medal, in 1902 (retrospectively bars, LS (later PO) E.V. Baker, PO J. Dart is still used today on the Queen’s Medal the sheep. have been. improved sufficiently for a seaborne invasion issued from 1900). It was presented to the and L Cpl C.E. Dart RMLI. One man, Sergt for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy of Europe to go ahead. best shot in the Navy with the gun captain (later Col Sergt) G Boyce RMA, received the and Royal Marines. They advanced upriver, bombarding the Phillip Gunn, who had been attacked by receiving the medal in silver and his gun medal with three bars. He earned his medal crew each receiving the medal in bronze. in 1904 and first bar in 1905, both for 6in Turks as directed by an army spotting officer large and voracious mosquitoes throughout On retirement he became a landscape artist Then in 1903 an official Naval Good QF guns on HMS Illustrious, his second bar standing up a vertical ladder that Phillip the campaign, collapsed with malarial fever for the last thirty years of his life, but in the Shooting Medal was introduced. The medal in 1908 (9.2in BL on HMS Natal) and third Gunn erected in the launch for his benefit. and was carried back down the Tigris to 1970s completed some thirty oil paintings was struck in silver and the obverse (the bar in 1913 (12in BL on HMS Inflexible). They coped with the distorting effect of Basra which probably saved his life. of life aboard ship before and during the front) shows the head of the monarch mirages and rifle fire from Arabs on the First World War. These included work on (Edward VII, 1903 – 1910, George V 1911 In 1907 Admiral Sir Percy Scott was in bank who regarded both Turks and the IEF Technically, the Indian Expeditionary the upper deck of HMS Clio, at war towing – 1914). The reverse of the medal shows command of the Second Cruiser Squadron James Kemp as unwelcome invaders of their tribal lands. Force defeated the Turks at the Battle of the horse boats in Mesopotamia and their Neptune holding five thunderbolts in each (flagship HMS Good Hope). He was James Kemp started collecting medals Ctesiphon, but its losses were so great eventual destruction by Turkish gunfire. The hand. The Latin motto Amat Victoria Curam disappointed that even though his ship was over 45 years ago and is a member of As part of the operation to capture Kut al that Townshend decided to retire to Kut al paintings are now part of the British National (‘Victory Loves Care’, more aptly ‘Victory top of the Channel Fleet, she was only the Orders and Medals Research Society. Loves Preparation’) is around the seventh in the whole Fleet. He recorded that Amara, Gunn was involved in an action to Amara and await reinforcements he had Art Collection and some of them illustrate He spent over thirty years working on circumference of the reverse. The medal the highest scorers were PO E Burgess rid the river of a barrier of dhows joined by been promised in order to continue the Sailor in the Desert. various ship and naval equipment ribbon has a red central stripe with blue edge (9.2in BL) with 9 rounds fired and 9 hits wire intended to prevent the Royal Navy’s campaign. With 13,000 men he was David Gunn projects, which started in Chatham stripes and thin white stripes in between. in a run time of two minutes and Gunner E Dockyard. His last project being the advance. This resulted in a Lieutenant besieged in Kut and the reinforcements Brown RMA (6in BL) with 11 rounds fired The Naval Good Shooting Medal was only Combat System Manager for the design Commander Edgar Cookson being never arrived. Eventually they ran out of His book Sailor in the Desert, the awarded to the gun layer and not the whole and ten hits in a run time of one minute. and build of the Landing Platform Docks awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for food, were forced to surrender and adventures of Phillip Gunn, DSM RN in gun crew. That year Burgess was awarded the Naval HM Ships Albion and Bulwark. bravery with Gunn receiving the sailor’s marched to Turkey as prisoners of war. the Mesopotamia Campaign 1915’ has Good Shooting Medal. decoration of the Distinguished Service Most of the British died on the march. recently been published by Pen & Sword

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt HEROISM AT SEA A unique and detailed history of the Awards for Skill and Gallantry presented by the Society since 1851. This E-book gives a fascinating insight into British maritime history and the selfless acts of bravery of so many. Of special interest to anyone with an interest in maritime history and love of the sea. Published on CD at £9.95 plus P&P

To order please contact: Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL Tel: 01243 789329 Fax: 01243 530853 e-mail: [email protected] www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

Reg Charity No 212034 Shipwrecked Inst. 1839 Polaris A-3 missile launched by HMS Resolution Launch of SSBN HMS Resolution Mariners’Society STRATEGIC Supporting the seafaring community for 170 years NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the Royal Navy The previous article, Part 1, provided a brief overview of the development of nuclear weapons in Britain from the Second World War to the cancellation of and the planned purchase of the American Skybolt missile to be carried by RAF Bomber Command’s Vulcan aircraft. This part will review the events leading to the acquisition by the United Kingdom of the Polaris Weapon System (SWS) and the early days of the British Naval Ballistic Missile System (BNBMS).

espite their forward thinking Admiralty support. This reluctance to accept that the British Naval Staff (BNS) when preparing their mid-1945 the burden of responsibility for deploying and Washington were aware of the USN plans paper on the future of naval maintaining the deterrent continued up until for a ship-launched Intermediate Range warfare at sea, neither the Naval the cancellation of Skybolt. Fortunately, Ballistic Missile (IRBM). From the setting up Staff nor the Admiralty sought, in the short prudent staff work meant that the RN was of the USN’s Special Project Office (SPO) at term, to promote nuclear propulsion for able to respond quickly to the outcome of the end of 1955 BNS received regular submarines or support a long-range rocket the December 1962 informal briefings on progress and, at the programme. This was understandable given between Macmillan and Kennedy even end 1958, an RN officer was appointed to their immediate post-war concerns over the though the support of Admiralty and the BNS to become Special Projects Royal Navy RN’s role and their forward thinking on the Naval Staff for Polaris was far from fulsome. (SPRN) on SPO’s staff. Thus that the potential advantages of a second-strike, Admiralty were cognisant of the USN’s Fleet relatively invulnerable deterrent capability Post-war cordial relations between the Ballistic Missile (FBM) programme and the was well ahead of its time. Following the (USN) and the RN as development of the Polaris SWS before the cancellation of Blue Streak, consideration well as the mid- 1950s personal relationship V-force had even got into its stride. was given to Polaris as an alternative to between the First Sea Lord, Mountbatten, Although the potential advantages of a Skybolt but did not receive full-hearted and the US Chief of Naval Operations meant submarine-based IRBM were readily

Scuttlebutt g t STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the Royal Navy School Raising to

SSBN Resolution under construction Distinction

HMS Resolution being assembled on the slip way Open Morning (RR&A) were contracted to manage the up of an organisation on the lines of SPO Sat 20 Sept 2014 purchase and integrate the power plant, should it be needed. with the Admiralty (Dreadnought Project Admissions Deadline Team (DPT)) and Vickers designing, and This prudent staff work was followed by the latter building, the hull. The RN’s first a visit by Director General Ship’s staff in Thu 15 Jan 2015 , HMS Dreadnought February 1961, again sponsored by SPRN, Nuclear missile submarine layout with her American designed after-end’, to review the US SSBN programme (with Queen Victoria School in Dunblane appreciated in some naval circles, the was launched in October 1960 and the exception of the warhead and nuclear is a co-educational boarding Admiralty were content to maintain a commissioned in 1963, a saving of two reactors) and to tour the SSBN watching brief on the progress of the or three years of development time. and facilities. Although their original remit school for the children of UK FBM programme. specifically excluded advocating Polaris, Armed Forces personnel who In parallel with the design and build of their final report did include the proposal for are Scottish, or who have served (Submarines) and Mountbatten Dreadnought, work was underway on the a fleet of five Polaris SSBNs, based on the in Scotland or who have been were keen on pursuing nuclear power- construction at Dounreay of the Admiralty Valiant design with a Missile Compartment members of a Scottish regiment. plants for submarines, seeing a growing Reactor Test Establishment (ARTE) (later (MC), similar to the US with 16 missile requirement for nuclear-powered hunter- HMS Vulcan) to house and test the RN’s launch tubes, inserted aft of the fin. In The QVS experience encourages killers. Even though a naval group had been prototype naval nuclear propulsion plant. addition they proposed having an Auxiliary and develops well-rounded, set up at Harwell in the late 1940s to The nuclear plant was developed and built Machinery Space (AMS) between the MC consider nuclear propulsion progress had by RR&A using information gained from the and the reactor compartment to allow conident individuals in an been slow and hopes in the early 1950s Westinghouse S5W reactor design but with services to be twisted as necessary to re- environment of stability that relaxation of the US Atomic Energy Act a British designed, resiliently mounted, align hydraulic piping and electrical services, and continuity. would open the way for an information propulsion system. This plant (PWR1) was this space also being used to accommodate exchange on US naval reactors were not used in the first all-British nuclear-powered auxiliary diesels and air conditioning plant, The main entry point is into realised. However in early 1957 the head of hunter-killer HMS Valiant, launched in 1963 etc. The report gave costings as well as Primary 7 and all places are fully the USN’s nuclear propulsion programme, and commissioned in 1966, as well as the proposing the use of Devonport as an funded for tuition and boarding Admiral Rickover, was prevailed upon to UK Polaris SSBNs. operating base with Ernesettle as an by the Ministry of Defence. visit the UK but little progress was made armaments depot. and it was a surprise when, later in the year, Notwithstanding their lack of enthusiasm, Families are welcome to ind out he proposed the sale of an American there was an awareness that the RN might With the realisation that Skybolt was about more by contacting Admissions on nuclear-submarine power-plant to the UK. have to accept the deterrent role in the long to be cancelled, the Cabinet reviewed its Negotiations were underway by early 1958 run and the Admiralty Board commissioned options noting that Polaris provided a +44 (0) 131 310 2927 for the purchase of a Westinghouse S5W an investigation into the organisation that virtually indestructible second-strike to arrange a visit. Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) and would be needed if the UK were to opt for deterrent of proven capability and with associated propulsion system, as used in Polaris. Following an SPRN arranged visit prospects of a long life’. In the run-up to the Queen Victoria School the USS Skipjack, for incorporation in the to the US, a report was prepared by Admiral Nassau conference the First Lord of the Dunblane Perthshire hunter-killer announced in the 1957/8 Navy Le Fanu and delivered to the Board in July Admiralty (Lord Carrington), following some Estimates. Rolls Royce and Associates 1960, providing the blueprint for the setting fast foot-work by the Plans Division of the FK15 0JY www.qvs.org.uk Scuttlebutt g t STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the Royal Navy

Resolution sails for sea trials Resolution on full power trials Naval Staff, informed the Cabinet that four submarines, each with (JAEIG) procedures to handle Polaris related US classified nuclear sixteen missiles, could be completed between early 1968 and 1970. information outside the scope of the PSA. At the December 1962 Nassau Conference Macmillan and Kennedy drew up, in broad terms, the main principles governing the provision If the overall programme was to be achieved within five years, several by the US to the UK of the Polaris SWS, less the missile’s warheads, issues had to be resolved quickly. Decisions were required on: the and spares on a continuing basis. Britain was to be responsible for number of hulls to be built; the number of missiles to be carried by the hull, propulsion and other ship systems, with UK Polaris being each hull; which missile to purchase (A2 or A3); whether to use UK used in support of or US Ships Inertial Navigation System (SINS) and where to site an the Western Alliance, except when supreme national interests operating base. Even though the proposed CPE organisation was were at stake, so maintaining Britain’s operational independence grudgingly accepted in most quarters, there were ownership’ issues of her deterrent. to be resolved. Concern was expressed that a naval officer was incapable of heading-up such an organisation and that Dr Beeching, Following endorsement by the Cabinet and the signing of the Nassau of railway infamy, should be appointed. Atomic weapons were the Communiqué or Statement on Nuclear Defence Systems’, the UK responsibility of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Polaris project – the BNBMS – was set in train and the Chief of what (AWRE), with the Ministry of Aviation, being responsible for missiles, was to become the Polaris Executive (CPE) was appointed on the claiming overall charge of the Polaris programme. Tactful arguing that 1st January 1963. His first task was to set up the organisation whose the submarines, navigation, control and launching systems were a objective would be to have the first RN ballistic missile submarine and necessary part of the overall and inseparable Polaris weapon system missiles, with full supporting activities, in service in July 1968, with eventually won through. In similar fashion the maintenance of other submarines becoming available at six monthly intervals. Using commonality and currency with the USN meant that the US SINS Admiral Le Fanu’s report as a starting point, the Polaris Executive, was adopted and the A3 missile purchased. along the lines of the USN’s Special Project Office (SPO) was established during the early months of 1963. Fact-finding missions A longcast’ of the overall life of UK Polaris was drawn up, including 2014 PROGRAMME were quickly despatched to the US to provide a greater the submarine build programme, patrol cycles and refit periods, ideally understanding of the overall task facing the UK, and to work up with five hulls being built to ensure that two would be on patrol at any ůůŵĞĞƟŶŐƐǁŝůůďĞŚĞůĚŝŶƚŚĞZŽLJĂůEĂǀĂůůƵďΘZŽLJĂůůďĞƌƚ a detailed procurement plan. one time. The refit periodicity and length was based on what was zĂĐŚƚůƵď͕ϭϳWĞŵďƌŽŬĞZŽĂĚ͕KůĚWŽƌƚƐŵŽƵƚŚ͕WKϭϮEd ĂŶĚďĞŐŝŶĂƚϮƉŵ being forecast for the Valiant class reactor core, the first of which To expand on the communiqué a (PSA) would not be in service until 1967. The decision was taken to use a ƚŚ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJϭϭ DĂƌŬĂƌƚŽŶZE͕͚ƵĞůůŝŶŐŝŶƚŚĞZŽLJĂůEĂǀLJ͛͘ was negotiated during the early months of 1963 and signed by both stretched Valiant design with a 16 missile MC, as proposed by the DG &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϴƚŚDĂƌŬĞĂƫĞͲĚǁĂƌĚƐ͕EĂƵƟĐĂůƌĐŚĂĞŽůŽŐLJ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ͕ governments on 6 April. It laid down the main principles governing Ship’s Task Group, and design work on the hull commenced in March ͚ŶŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚƚĂůŬ ŽŶƚŚĞ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĐWƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚtƌĞĐŬƐŽĨƚŚĞŶŐůŝƐŚ the supply of Polaris (less warheads) with an ancillary document to 1963. Vickers at Barrow was chosen as the lead build yard, sharing ^ŽƵƚŚŽĂƐƚ͛͘ the PSA, the Technical Arrangement (TA), expanding these principles the build programme – initially for four boats – with at DĂƌĐŚϭϱƚŚĂƉƚWĂĐŬDĞŵŽƌŝĂů>ĞĐƚƵƌĞ͕:͘͘ĂǀŝĞƐ͕,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶĂŶĚ and providing detailed guidelines, being agreed and signed later in . Pressure hull design was underway at Vickers by May ƵƚŚŽƌ͕͚ƌŝƚĂŶŶŝĂ͛ƐƌĂŐŽŶ͗EĂǀĂů,ŝƐƚŽƌLJŽĨtĂůĞƐ͛͘ the year. To ensure the smooth operation of the joint SPO/CPE 1963 and the first was laid in February 1964. To minimise aspects of the project, a regular working party – the Joint Steering radiated noise the propulsion plant was resiliently mounted on a raft, ƉƌŝůϭϮƚŚƌ͘ĂǀŝĚ:ĞŶŬŝŶƐ͕ƵƌĂƚŽƌ͕EĂƟŽŶĂůDƵƐĞƵŵtĂůĞƐ͕ ͚DĂƐƚĞƌDĂƌŝŶĞƌ͕^ŚŝƉͲŽǁŶĞƌΘWŚŝůĂŶƚŚƌŽƉŝƐƚʹZĞŵĞŵďĞƌŝŶŐ^ŝƌ Task Group (JSTG) – was established to review progress and resolve use was made of ball-valves (easy to close with 90 degree of tŝůůŝĂŵZĞĂƌĚŽŶ^ŵŝƚŚ͛͘ problems. Under the terms of the PSA the US were to supply Polaris movement) and pipework was welded not braised (and causing missiles (less warheads), missile launching and handling systems, problems as in the reactor plant in Dreadnought). Long-lead items DĂLJϭϬƚŚZŝĐŚĂƌĚůĂŬĞ͕͚&ŝŶĚŝŶŐsĂůƵĞƐĨŽƌƌŝƚĂŶŶŝĂ͛ƐZƵůĞ͗dŚĞ ZĞŶĞǁĞĚWƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůŝƐŵŽĨƚŚĞϭϵd,ĞŶƚƵƌLJEĂǀLJ͛͘ missile fire control, ship’s navigation system as well as associated were purchased from the US for a fifth boat, later cancelled. support, test and training equipment. The less warheads’ was defined ϬĐƚŽďĞƌϭϭƚŚEĞǁZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞƌƐ͛WƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶƐ͘ as the atomic weapon’ in an amended 1958 Mutual Defence Various sites were considered for an operating base for the UK EŽǀĞŵďĞƌϴƚŚ'DĂŶĚDĞŵďĞƌƐ͛ZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶƐ͘ Agreement (MDA) and a special committee – the Joint Re-entry Polaris force, from Falmouth to somewhere well away from major System Working Group (JRSWG) – was set up in mid-1963, under habitation eg . The Faslane/ area was chosen in ĞĐĞŵďĞƌϭϯƚŚƌ͘ƌŝĂŶƌƚŚƵƌ͕͚dŚĞZŽLJĂůEĂǀLJ͛ƐůŽĐŬĂĚĞƐŽĨƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ^ƚĂƚĞƐĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞtĂƌŽĨϭϴϭϮ͛͘ the terms of the MDA, to ensure compatibility between UK and US early 1963 as it had good deep water exit and entry potential (to /ĨLJŽƵǁŝƐŚƚŽůƵŶĐŚǁŝƚŚ^EZ;^ͿƉƌŝŽƌƚŽƚŚĞŵĞĞƟŶŐƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ components associated with the warhead. Special arrangements had reduce chances of detection) and there were practically no land ZŽLJ/ŶŬĞƌƐŽůĞͲĞŵĂŝů͗ƌŽLJƐƚŽŶΛŝŶŬĞƌƐŽůĞϱ͘ǁĂŶĂĚŽŽ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ to be made under existing Joint Atomic Energy Information Group acquisition problems. Faslane, on the Gareloch, was already approved ĂƚůĞĂƐƚϳϮŚŽƵƌƐŝŶĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ

g t Scuttlebutt STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the Royal Navy

SSBN Repulse en route to Contractor’s Sea Trials Below: Repulse arrives at Faslane as the base for the hunter-killer SSNs was redeveloped with new jetties, maintenance and training facilities, stores accommodation etc to cater for what became the 3rd and 10th (SSBN) Submarine Squadrons. Coulport, on , was developed to include missile storage, servicing and loading facilities.

Post the 1958 MDA the decision had been taken to manufacture virtual copies’ of US warhead designs, with the US Mk 28 warhead being adapted for but anglicisation’ had proved far more difficult than expected. AWRE had been working on a copy of the US W-59 warhead for Skybolt at its cancellation and this design led to at-sea deterrent (CASD). These included the difficulties that were common lineage of warheads for the WE177 variants and Polaris. experienced with the reactor primary cooling loops and the The reduction in physical size to fit into the Polaris A3 Re-entry complications caused by the introduction of Chevaline. Vehicle (RV) ablative shell meant that mechanical safeing’ had to be introduced. In November 1964 the Cabinet Defence Policy Committee stated that no Permissive Action Link (PAL) or physical control mechanism In mid 1963 a Naval Staff Progress Committee was formed to was required for the UK SSBNs as national considerations would consider the tasks that would need to be completed to support the override all others. Security of control would rest entirely on the operational aspects of the Polaris Force prior to first deployment. discipline of the SSBN’s Commanding Officer (CO) and his team Topics covered included: Command and Control with a reliable and (as in the US Polaris force) with authority for release being by the unambiguous firing chain’, provision of a Polaris Command Centre Prime Minister (PM) and exercised through direct national and robust communications system, targeting, as well as the communications to the SSBN CO. recruiting, training and appointing of officers and men for the Force. Communications with submerged SSBNs were by Very Low With the project underway uncertainties emerged with the election Frequency (VLF) and to support this requirement it was decided to of Labour administration committed by their election manifesto to refurbish the General post Office (GPO) VLF station at Rugby. The the re-negotiation of the Nassau Agreement’. Their manifesto for transmitter was updated and output power increased, the 3.25 mile the 1966 general election proposed an Atlantic Nuclear Force long VLF array also being overhauled. To provide a backup service, (ANF) and stated that Labour stands by its pledge to internationalise the VLF station at Criggion, on the Welsh border, was also our strategic nuclear force’. Nevertheless Polaris continued as an refurbished. The height of the aerial masts for its smaller VLF array independent deterrent but politics and the economy dictated various were increased, the top of a hill providing a winch-point at one end of aspects of the overall project including the number of hulls to be built the array, its output power was also up-rated. HMS Forest Moor was and commissioned. The administration also had to resolve command revamped early in the 1960s as a purpose built backup Naval and control issues, respond to Multilateral Force (MLF) proposals, Terminal Control station for the Whitehall (Citadel) Communications and consider the possible deployment of Polaris east of Suez. The Centre (Comcen) and added resilience to the network. number of hulls was reduced to four which led, in later years of deployment, to considerable problems in maintaining a continuous John Coker

Scuttlebutt g t “WELCOME ABOARD” DO COME & JOIN US! EVENTS CALENDAR MEMBERSHIP OF THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM (PORTSMOUTH) & HMS VICTORY The Friends were formed in 1976 to support the Royal Naval Museum. They play an important part in assisting, promoting and publicising the museum and their primary purpose remains to support both the Museum and HMS Victory financially and in various other ways including work on specific projects, purchasing and collecting important items and artefacts and providing volunteers.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP In return for their support members of the Friends receive a range of benefits and special privileges, particularly to assist them in using and expanding their knowledge of the Museum, HMS Victory, the Royal Navy and the wider aspects of Britain’s great Maritime Heritage. The many benefits are listed on the Friends website at: http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/support_friends_join.htm Do come aboard and join us, you will be most welcome, complete the form below or the online application at: http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/support_FriendsMembershipform.htm Ab-Sail the Spinnaker! 18 April 2014 FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM On 18th April 2014 at 2pm the National Museum of the Royal Navy will be holding a charity abseil at the I/We wish to join the Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory as: Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, to help raise funds for Single Annual Member...... £ 20 or more, annually, or Joint Annual member...... £25 or more, annually our new HMS-Hear My Story Galleries and as part of Single Life Member ...... £200 or more, or Joint Life Members ...... £275 or more our Public Appeal. Full name and title in CAPITALS ……………………………………………………………………………………… Set to open in May this year, HMS - Hear My Story is a Address ………………………………………………………………………………..…… major exhibition, situated in the brand new Babcock ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Galleries, which will tell the undiscovered stories of the ……………………………………………………………………………………………… men, women and ships who have made the Royal Navy’s Post Code ……………………………………………………………………..…………… history over the last century. The Public Appeal is the culmination of the fundraising Signature: ………………………………………………………………………………… activity which has been taking place over the last year and Please enclose a cheque for one year’s subscription, payable to the Friends of the RN Museum and HMS Victory invites the local Portsmouth community and NMRN or, preferable, use the Banker’s Order Form below supporters to play a vital part in preserving national naval GIFT AID DECLARATION heritage. As the opening of the new Galleries fast If you pay tax in the United Kingdom, please complete this Gift Aid Declaration. approaches, hitting our goal is imperative. I declare that all donations made by me to the Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory are to be treated as Gift Aid donations. At present Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Dymock KBE CB, the I confirm that I pay income tax or capital gains tax in the United Kingdom. Appeal’s Chairman, and Vice Admiral David Steel CBE, I will advise you if this ceases to be the case or if I change my name or address. Second Sea Lord, have courageously volunteered to plummet 170 meters down the tower. Both hope to raise MEDIA PARTNER TO PORTSMOUTH FC Signed ………………………………………………………………… Date ………………………20……… large sums of money to help preserve the nation’s and MAGAZINE DESIGN & DISTRIBUTION PRINTING · ADVERTISING & MARKETING BANKER’S ORDER their own heritage for future generations to learn from, EVENT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT Name & Address of Donor’s Bank enjoy and remember the heroes of the past. The third and PUBLIC RELATIONS · BRANDING SOCIAL MEDIA · WEBSITE DESIGN ……………………………………………………………………………………… final fundraiser will be announced on social media soon. It promises to be a spectacular event, so if you can, come Recently appointed the Offi cial Media Partner to ……………………………………………………………………………………… Portsmouth Football Club, Limefresh Media is the South’s down and watch the abseil take place! There will be plenty fastest growing media company capable of managing ……………………………………………………………………………………… the most complex of design, print, marketing and media of NMRN staff on hand to chat to and answer any Please pay to the Friends of the RN Museum - (Bank Account No 10049576 - Sort Code: 16 19 28) projects. Limefresh prides itself on quality of work, client confi dence and delivery to budget. Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Fareham Branch, 1-2 Westquay House, 20 West Street, Fareham, Hants. PO16 OLH questions you may have about the Museum and our upcoming projects. CALL US TODAY AND SEE HOW WE the sum of ………………..……………. on the……………..…day of ……………………….20……… CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS And annually thereafter on the same day until further notice from my account No: ………………………………………………… If you would like to sponsor our fearless volunteers Full name and title in CAPITALS: please visit our Just-Giving page …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… https://www.justgiving.com/nationalmuseumofthero Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………… yalnavy or alternatively, you can send us your …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… donation here at: Post Code …………………………………Signature …………………………………………… Date ………………………20……… Freepost RTHB-BZCY-CYSH, LIMEFRESH MEDIA Forum House, Stirling Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7DN Please print, sign and return this form to Roger Trise, Executive Secretary, NMRN, HM Naval Base (P66), Portsmouth, PO1 3NH. t:02392 001 373 m:07843 435 385 e:[email protected] Friends of Royal Naval Museum & HMS Victory, Royal Naval Museum, Cheques need to be made payable to: www.limefreshmedia.com HM Naval Base (PP66) Portsmouth, Hants PO1 3NH Royal Naval Museum.

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt EVENTS CALENDAR EVENTS CALENDAR

Behind the Scenes Tours Inspired Art! Workshops for Adults FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM 2014 EVENTS PROGRAMME HMS – First World War Below HMS Victory’s Make and Mend Surgery Make and Mend Craft Three excellent events have been organised for the Autumn and it is hoped that Artefact Tour Water Line Date: Monday 10th March Afternoons Time: 1.30pm to 4.00pm Friends and their guests will support what are sure to be extremely interesting, Date: Wednesday 9th April Date: Thursday 11th to Sunday 15th Dates: Monday 31st March, 19th May Time: 2pm to 3.30pm September Pick up where you left off last autumn with our and 22nd September informative and sociable opportunities for meeting up with other Friends. Times: 10.30am and 11.45am, knitting, crochet and embroidery refresher sessions. Time: 1.30pm to 4.00pm A chance to get up close to some of our First World 1.30pm and 3pm For those who attended last autumn this is chance THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER War artefacts and take part in a fascinating tour of to get tips or more guidance, and perhaps even Following on from the naval tradition of ‘Make a the Museum stores. Join one of HMS Victory’s tour guides for a unique pick up dropped stiches. Alternatively, if you didn’t Mend’, join us throughout the year for these FREE A day in Poole, visiting the RNLI HQ and Training School and Poole Free event, booking essential as spaces are chance to go below the water line. Walk under 3500 come last time around but need help just pop into beginner craft sessions in the Victory Learning limited. Please contact 02392 727595 or email of ship and view Victory’s keel at close range our Make and Mend surgery. Don’t forget to bring Centre. Each session lasts 2 ½ hours and by the end Station. There will be a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities, with an opportunity to watch [email protected] for details. for a completely different perspective of the ship. your work with you! of it you will have learnt the basics and created a small sample to take home! training in progress. At the Station the 2 lifeboats, together with the full range of All tours are free but must be booked in advance. Free, booking essential. Please contact 02392 31st March, Beginners knitting equipment and kit, will be on display and volunteers will be on hand to describe its history HMS – Black Tot Day Only 15 places per tour. Contact 02392 839766 or 727595 or email [email protected] for email: [email protected] to reserve further information. 19th May, Beginners crochet and current operational role. The cost of the day will be £30, to include coffee on arrival at Twilight Tour a place. 22nd September, Beginners embroidery 10.30am, the tours, lunch with splendid views across the harbour and a donation to the Felting Free, booking essential. When you book we will Date: Thursday 31st July give you a list of materials to bring on the day or Station’s operating fund. The site is very convenient for rail travel. If driving, details of Time: 6pm to 7.30pm HMS – Photography provide you with a starter kit for £5. Please contact Collection Twilight Date: Saturday 12th April 02392 727595 or email [email protected] nearby parking will be sent on booking. Car sharing will be organised as appropriate. In recognition of Black Tot Day – the last day rum Time: 10.30am to 1.30pm for details. was issued in the Navy – come and explore our Tour rum-related artefacts as part of this special tour. Learn how to make felt and then investigate sailor WEDNESDAY 22nd OCTOBER You may even get a tot as well! Date: Thursday 16th October handicrafts from our collection as inspiration for creating either a unique felt medal brooch, collar or At the Royal Maritime Club. Free event, booking essential as spaces are Time: 6pm to 7.30pm epaulette finished with a vintage naval button. limited. Please contact 02392 727595 or email Underpinning the Nation’s Security through the 21st century’ Join us behind the scenes to explore and investigate [email protected] for details. Cost £15 -including materials and refreshments. our vast collection of historical photographs. Booking essential. Please contact 02392 727595 Captain Iain Greenlees will give a perspective on developments at Portsmouth Naval Base Free event, booking essential as spaces are or email [email protected] for further during the next decade, including preparations for the new aircraft carriers - for which he Behind the Scenes limited. Please contact 02392 727595 or email information. at the Museum [email protected] for details. has personal remit. The evening will commence with canapés in the Victory Bar from 6.30pm, followed by Captain Greenlees’ presentation and discussion in the Nelson Dates: Saturday 13th and Lounge at 7pm and then supper in the Horatio Restaurant at 8.15pm. The cost will be Sunday 14th September Sea Life Community Roadshow adult & community Times: 10.30am and11.45am £20. The venue is a few minutes from the Harbour rail and bus stations. Parking 1.30pm and 3pm Date & Place: Thursday 20th February, Christmas Wreath Workshop Nimrod Community Centre, Gosport, PO13 8BE arrangements will be advised on booking. Enjoy a tour of the artefact and archive stores with Time: 11am to 3pm Date: Saturday 6th December, one of our curators and discover their highlights Time: 1.30pm to 4.30pm Join us as we take the Museum on the road! From THURSDAY 20th NOVEMBER among the thousands of items kept behind the craft to object-handling and dressing up we’ll be scenes. Join us for this ever popular event. Work alongside At the Royal Maritime Club. NMRN : The Way Forward . . . . . bringing a range of activities, artefacts and fun to your our florist to learn new techniques and skills All tours are free but must be booked in advance. doorstep, all completely free of charge! As well as the whilst creating a beautiful wreath from a range of Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, Chairman of the Trustees of the National Museum of the Contact 02392 839766 or email enquiries@ National Museum of the Royal Navy and HMS Victory, materials that is ideal for your home or to give as events historicdockyard.co.uk to reserve a place. there will be the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Royal Navy, will tell us how NMRN evolved, describe its achievements to date, together a gift. January – December 2014 Discovery Centre, Fort Nelson, HMS Warrior, the Mary with its current strategies and future plans. The Victory Bar will open for coffee and pre- Rose Museum and the . Cost £22 - including all materials and refreshments. Booking essential. Please contact 02392 727595 lunch drinks at 11am and a 3-course lunch will be served at 12.30pm in the Horatio Free event, all ages welcome. Look out for details in or email [email protected] for further the local press or contact 02392 727595 or email information. Restaurant. Admiral Band’s talk will commence at 2.30pm in the Nelson Lounge and will THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY AND HMS VICTORY [email protected] for details. be followed by a discussion session. , py Menu options will be sent out nearer the date. The Royal Maritime Club is in Queen Street, Portsmouth, not far from the Historic Dockyard Victory Gate. If you will be 14 May Faithful and attached companions: Sir Edward familiesmaf ili &&se children’sc h il s’nerd 1730-1830 Pellew and the Young Gentlemen of HMS SummeruS mmer HolidaysHSummeruSlo idmmsya er HolidaysH lo id sya travelling from some distance, overnight accommodation at the Club is available to Friends Indefatigable at the members’ rate. Call 02392 824 231. Parking arrangements will be advised on L Campbell & H Noel-Smith, Independent scholars eventsevents booking. b 11 June HMS Victory: deconstructing the myth. All bookings will be acknowledged. 1730-1830 Repairs and alterations during Victory’s HMS VVictoryictory Summer Fun harbour service period Investigate life on board HMS Victory by A Baines, NMRN identifying the mystery sounds, smells and To book for the above event please detach and complete the form below objects in our Ship’s Challenge. Dress up as a and send it with your cheque to: 19, 20 June The Politics of Protection: member of the crew and make your own HMS The Royal Navy and the Atlantic World, 1756-1815 Victory souvenir to take home. Activities are David Baynes, 17, St.Thomas’s Street, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 2EZ. (in partnership with the University of Southampton) available on the following dates: Thursday 31st July Please call 02392 831 461 This conference addresses the vital connections between the Royal Navy Thursday 7th August or email [email protected] with any queries. 2014 and the British Atlantic empire, focusing on such themes as slavery, Thursday 14th August RESEARCH abolition, war, revolution and imperial expansion in the period between Thursday 21st August 1756 and 1815. Thursday 28th August BOOKING FORM PROGRAMME Free with valid ticket. Drop-in, For more information about this event, contact: all ages welcome. I wish to book . . . . place(s) on the Poole Visit Dr John Mcaleer [email protected] 2013-2014 Dr Christer Petley [email protected] on 8th September @ £30 per person. 2014 or Dr Duncan [email protected] or write to: AuAutumntumn HalfH fla f TermTTee mr The National Museum of the Royal Navy, HM Naval Base (PP66), I wish to book . . . . place(s) for Talk and Supper Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3NH on 22nd October @ £20 per person. TTrafalgarrafalgar Challenge MuseumMuseum by TorchlightTTooorchlightrchlight 16, 17, 18 July The Anglo-German Naval Arms Race and I wish to book . . . . place(s) for the Talk and Lunch the First World War at Sea Date: Saturday 18th Octoberr,, Date: Wednesday 29th October Time:ime:T 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Time:Time:T 6pm-7.30pm on 20th November @ £20 per person This conference aims to explore the Anglo-German naval arms race during the early twentieth century and the Great War at sea with an emphasis What was it like to be on HMS Victory at the Battle Get dressed up, grab a torch and come along to prior to the Battle of Jutland. ofTr Trafalgar? W ould you have made the same the National Museum of the Royal Navy to explore I enclose a cheque for £ . . . . . payable to Friends of The Royal 9 July First Sea Lord’s lecture on Naval History and Strategy: decisions as Nelson? TTaake partpa in our games and our galleries as darkness falls. Follow our Skeleton Point of the Spear, or Just the Shaft? quizzes to see if you can complete our Trafalgar Crew trail, handle some of our exciting artefacts Naval Museum. To register an interest in attending this conference, contact Challenge. and take part in spooky arts and crafts. The Royal Navy in the First World War Dr Duncan Redford: [email protected] Free with valid ticket. Drop-in, all ages welcome. £2.50p per child, accompanying adults free, all Professor Eric Grove, Hope University or write to: The National Museum of the Royal Navy agesges welcome, bookinbookingg essential. TTeTelephoneeelephonelep 02392 Name (Please print) : HM Naval Base (PP66), Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3NH 727587 or email [email protected] to book.

2014 Attendance at this event is by ticket only. Creepy Crawly Encounters Address : 5, 6 September Who burnt whose capital? Ghost Ships and Skeleton To request tickets contact: The Royal Navy and winning the Date: Wednesday 29thh Octoberr,, Crews Time:ime:T 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Emma Nash This conference will explore the War of 1812 and the Royal Navy’s part in Date: Thursday 30th Octoberr,, [email protected] it, its successes, its failures and how the Royal Navy contributed to British Join Animal Encounters to meet some of the Time:Time:T 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Telephone : Email : national strategy and the winning of the war. strange and sometimes scary stowaways that hid on ships as they travelled around the world. Come Join us on board HMS Victory to find out about or write to: the ghost ships, scary crews and sea monsters that To register an interest in attending this conference, contact face to face with snakes, scorpions and rats, and Signed : Date : The National Museum of the Royal Navy find out about the pets sailors kept on board. haunted sailors in the past. Dr Duncan Redford: [email protected] Free with valid ticket, drop-in, all ages welcome. HM Naval Base (PP66), Portsmouth or write to: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Free, drop-in, no ticket required, all ages welcome. Hampshire PO1 3NH HM Naval Base (PP66), Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3NH

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt to Illustrious, MG 1 from the and must be his most ambitious to date. Very line drawings throughout including a fold the Battle of Sirte where Vian’s cruisers well designed and superbly produced by out four-page gatefold of the original plans held off the Italian battleship Littorio and Seaforth it provides an extensively detailed of HMS Ark Royal (1956), this outstanding W heavy cruisers, the unsuccessful but valiant history of British aircraft carriers from the book is a tour de force and will clearly be Vigorous convoy and the heroic efforts of very first clumsy, experimental, hybrid the acknowledged, essential, reference Pedestal including the tanker Ohio, conversions, right up to the latest new source on British naval aviation for many stretch over two pages (p524-525) and her first Captain, such as the siting of the perhaps the most famous of all the Queen Elizabeth class under construction, years to come. Most strongly should be contrasted with those on foremast so that spotting was obliterated convoys. the biggest warships to be built in the recommended. Beresford (p96-97). Whether subsequent by funnel smoke, her trials were assessed The Official Histories are supported by United Kingdom for the Royal Navy. John Roberts volumes will be quite so interesting remains as very satisfactory. This is amazing given excerpts from Despatches written by The first three chapters deal with the early to be seen, in any case it will require a her innovative nature. Dreadnought didn’t Cunningham, Somerville and history covering Admiralty concerns at a prodigious amount of work if Alastair take part in Jutland, but she did sink U-29. Syfret, detailed track charts, and damage particularly difficult time with the Royal Wilson is going to tackle it all on his own. I This extraordinary forerunner of the reports on some of the ships involved. Navy’s huge surface Fleet coming under am not sure who this work will appeal to modern battleship was scrapped in 1920. The overwhelming impression of these increasing threats from modern technology but certainly naval historians, genealogists HMS Hood , or the “mighty ood”, was the Histories is that they are eminently with torpedoes, fast attack craft and and any serious students of twentieth- epitome of the modern battlecruiser with readable; these are not dry accounts of submarines. Admiralty plans were set back century naval history. the contradictions of beautiful, powerful, operations, but fascinating contemporary in 1909 when the first , designed by John Roberts proportions masking a wealth of problems. history. Of particular note are the two naval submariners, crashed. Her catastrophic loss in the action against comments by Vice Admiral Syfret on the Nevertheless experimentation with naval the Bismarck in 1941 shocked the nation, “conduct, courage and determination” of aviation continued and a wooden take off not least because she was seen as the the merchant ship crew. structure was constructed on the battleship ultimate image of British naval power. In a concluding Comments and Reflections HMS Africa. Various carriers were A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY There is an unfound rumour that her keel chapter is an excellent 21st century built but the first real aircraft carrier came OF THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY was laid on 31 May 1916, the day of the assessment, with comparisons to the Arctic when Fisher’s white elephant, the light ROYAL NAVY battle of Jutland; the records of John convoys, the importance of the diversion of battlecruiser, HMS Furious was converted Volume 1 Admirals of the Fleet Brown, her builders, show she was laid Axis air assets from the desert war and the and later the other two light battlecruisers, and Admirals down on 1 September 1916. The irony of a fact that the convoys illustrated above all HMS Glorious and HMS Courageous were by Alastair Wilson, published by Seaforth launch date on the day which exposed the the “inexorable effect of sea power”. completely reconstructed as carriers 1924- at £30 (hard back 88 pages plus CD) fundamental weakness of the British In the words of the editor, “the story of the 30. Chapter seven deals with the Royal BRITISH NAVAL SWORDS Alastair Wilson has embarked on a hugely battlecruiser design would be too much. may well be regarded with Navy’s first purpose designed and built & SWORDSMANSHIP ambitious project using an interesting and Both books have some stunning photos to by pride by the Royal Navy and Mercantile aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, launched in By John McGrath & Mark Barton relatively new concept of book and CD accompany the line drawings; those on Marines that took part”; I cannot sum it up 1919, and shows how naval aviation had This past decade has seen a significant combined. This is the first volume, Dreadnought are particularly good. The better. This is a marvellous and stimulating come a long way in just ten years. In increase in the hobby of collecting edged described as a compendium, of a planned subtitle to these reprints in soft back, “the read of an extraordinary piece of maritime chapter eight a useful survey of carrier weapons. Militaria has always had its six volume series covering twentieth ultimate references to the world’s great history which I trust both young Officers will development in other navies is provided enthusiasts and thus collectors and century naval officers from admiral of the ANATOMY OF THE SHIP – ships from the inside out” says it all. digest appropriately! Very highly and the section on the Imperial Japanese researchers but within that general and fleet to lieutenant-commander and below BATTLESHIP DREADNOUGHT Peter Wykeham-Martin recommended. Navy makes most interesting reading wide description the edged weapon (selected). Volume 2 Vice-Admirals’ is in AND BATTLECRUISER HOOD Peter Wykeham-Martin contrasting with the US Navy. collector has been in something of a the course of preparation and volume 3, by John Roberts BETWEEN HOSTILE SHORES – The book then devotes a chapter to each minority within what is itself a relatively Rear-Admirals’ is in outline. This first John Roberts’s Anatomy of the Ship series Mediterranean Convoy Battles 1941-42 major class of carriers, some eighteen small community. Bayonet collecting is volume covers some 336 senior admirals on the Dreadnought was first published in Britannia Naval Histories of World War classes in all. A useful comparison with probably the most prolific with prices that who have served since 1900. 1992 and that for the Hood in 1982. They II £17.00 carriers in other navies, showing the huge are still achievable for the beginner and The book is a very slim hard back, taking have now been updated and re-issued by This book, edited by Michael Pearce, and rise in US naval aviation, is also provided. usually within reach of anyone who is less space on the book shelf and provides Conway Books in softback. It is to their published as part of the BRNC naval There is a fascinating chapter on Project prepared to make the occasional sacrifice the basic information to understand and credit that the quality hasn’t suffered, but history series is essentially the reprinting of Habbakuk’, the bizarre plan to use a but swords have always seemed to be on interpret the extensive data on the CD. The the price has come down. Both books are the Admiralty Official History of the Malta gigantic iceberg aircraft carrier’, an idea the next level up. I well recall the late 7.66 MB CD has 1,479 pages of data (over a mix of fascinating detailed line drawings; convoys of 1941 and 1942 including Op which enthused Churchill and Mountbatten author and military historian Richard 600,000 words). The admirals are covered nothing escapes minute examination from Pedestal. but after nearly two years work proved Holmes explaining the lengths to which he alphabetically in the special database awning stanchions to boiler design. With The convoys took place at time when impossible, though it raised awareness of had had to go to put aside sufficient funds programme, using a standard data an introductory section on the ships’ Malta’s strategic location was vital to the the importance of size for carrier to acquire a particular French cavalry sabre template for each; this is in contrast with service and technical details of refits and war in the Mediterranean, providing a base operations. As well as tables of technical at auction when the money should have Heathcote’s narrative style in The British modernisations, these books should be the for submarine and aircraft attacks on data for each class David Hobbs recounts been allocated to more mundane (and Admirals of the Fleet 1734-1995’. Each primary source document for modelmakers, German convoys supplying the Afrika the detailed histories of each ship, which family) activities. data section is set out with black for outline and naval historians. Corps. Vulnerable to air attacks from both makes most interesting reading, though The naval sword is a narrow but rich area headings and sections and blue for the The Dreadnought was the ship that Italian and German aircraft, submarines, BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIERS surprisingly the chapter on HMS Hermes of interest and not before time a new specific information contained within each. revolutionised naval construction and torpedo boats and heavy units of the Italian DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND has only one brief paragraph on the reference book has been published. 'British Each entry has an interesting record of literally made fleets obsolete overnight. Fleet, there was no question that every ship SERVICE HISTORIES Falkland’s Conflict and the chapter on Naval Swords and Swordsmanship’ by service and many have a fascinating With her efficient and effective main had to be fought through every inch of the By David Hobbs, published by Seaforth HMS Invincible has only half a short John McGrath and Mark Barton provides a general remarks’ section and it is this armament layout and Parson turbines, she way, particularly the stretch from to at £45 (hard back 384pages) paragraph, not that it matters as so much thorough and detailed introduction to the latter section that many readers will find was radical design. She is often referred to Malta, and the margins between success David Hobbs, an ex-naval pilot and Curator has been written elsewhere on that conflict topic, not just for the collector but for most interesting. Reading through them as the ship constructed in a “year and a and failure were wafer thin. of the has written and more details would have taken up anyone with an interest in the traditions, one comes across all sorts of gems of day” at Portsmouth. Whilst there were The accounts of the different convoys some fifteen books but this masterly unnecessary space. customs and history of Britain's Senior information. The general remarks on Fisher some basic design problems highlighted by include Excess with the crippling damage reference book on British aircraft carriers Profusely illustrated with photographs and Service. The authors are well qualified, the

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Basic technical specifications are set out in but Susan Rose makes the important point one a retired Captain and the other a the (1936 – 39). He then missions, have been shamefully neglected Appendix one and each chapter includes a that actually most service required of serving Commander in the Royal Navy who takes us through all the various naval and denied the public recognition and complete chronology of service. England’s navy was the transport of men both represented the Service in fencing. events and operations in northern waters in acclaim they most certainly deserve. It is The book is fully illustrated throughout with and war materiel to the scene of conflict, Their work is not only a veritable treasure that early period of the war, including an only right that their story should be told and seventy-eight black and white photographs. though occasions did arise when an trove of facts and information about enthralling account of U-47 torpedoing the in this book Ian Ballantyne does that A high quality book covering the stories of engagement with the enemy at sea did swords, cutlasses, dirks and cutlass battleship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow. All the remarkably well considering the severe a most successful class of anti-submarine become unavoidable. The key battles, bayonets but also about their use, care and, battles of the campaign are covered in restrictions that are still in place concerning frigates, well recommended. Damme (1213), Dover (1217), Sluys (1340), above all, history. Did you know when and much detail with clear maps. such matters and the Silent Service omertà John Roberts Les Espagnols sur Mer also known as the in what circumstances a naval sword was As if this was not enough there are over a that prevents them talking about the reality battle of Winchelsea (1350), La Rochelle last surrendered to a superior enemy? You hundred pages of appendices and notes, behind the official cover stories. As (1372) and Harfleur (1415) have a section may be surprised at the answer. packed with further information such as Ballantyne states, when referring to an each. Those few sea battles over the Easy to read and presented in logical details of every naval and merchant ship incident when the hunter killer nuclear course of four and a half centuries rather chapters that are themselves interspersed lost in that period, well over 500 and where submarine Warspite reportedly collided with contrasts with the much greater numbers with relevant plates and all combined with they were sunk or destroyed. At the start an “iceberg”: Warspite’s logbook entries for of famous sea battles in later years. As to excellent photographs and illustrations, the he quotes the Naval Staff History’: To have October, November and December 1968 to be expected the book is completed with work is rounded off with a series of useful anything more than entertainment value this day remain classified and closed to LOCH CLASS FRIGATES good bibliography, notes and brief timeline appendices that make this a well- Naval maritime history must be analytical public scrutiny. That surely wouldn’t be By Patrick Boniface (published by of notable dates. The book is well researched and authoritative work that, and critical. And it must, in so far as it is necessary if she really had hit ice?’ Maritime Books at £25) (hard back, 248 illustrated throughout with maps, above all, is affordable. However as the humanly possible, be truthful’. This book is The book tackles the story in a pages). photographs, and plenty of contemporary Introduction makes plain, it does not set an excellent example of that. chronological way and is based on first- With a fine cover painting of HMS Lock pictures, quite a few in colour. Well out to challenge or compete with the Profusely illustrated with masses of hand accounts from those brave enough to Killisport by Ossie Jones Maritime Books recommended to students of English naval leading works on the subject but instead it photographs and maps throughout, this reveal a certain amount of information adds another important volume to its history. complements them by whetting the outstanding book completes the trilogy and about what happened on those dangerous growing reference library of classic ship appetite for more and giving the fledgling forms a splendid reference source on this covert missions. The story starts with the classes. Patrick Boniface is well qualified to John Roberts collector a head start on what to look for. important campaign. Most strongly northern intelligence gathering patrols write this book, which is his third in this This is a book that will appeal to anyone recommended. conducted by specially adapted particular series. The Lock class frigates with an interest in the Royal Navy, edged John Roberts conventional diesel submarines and covers were highly successful and amongst the weapons or just naval history and no library such events as the extremely dangerous best anti-submarine escorts built by Britain should be without it. Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 when during the Second World War. They were Charles Ackroyd the Cold War came perilously close to designed at a time when the Battle of the ENGLAND’S MEDIEVAL NAVY being a third World War with nuclear Atlantic against the German U-boats was 1066 - 1509 Ships, Men & Warfare THE GATHERING STORM devastation. The cramped, rather basic and beginning to turn and the Admiralty took By Susan Rose, published by Seaforth The Naval War in Northern Europe rudimentary living conditions in those early advantage of new technology to design at £30 (hard back 208 pages) September 1939 – April 1940 submarines are vividly portrayed in anti-submarine specialist frigates, ocean Susan Rose is a specialist in medieval By Geirr H Haarr, published by Seaforth Ballantyne’s lucid narrative style. He goes going with good sea keeping qualities. The naval warfare and has written several at £35 (hard back 550pages) on to deal with the introduction of nuclear result was the Loch class. Though the war books on the subject. This new book This is Geirr Haarr’s third volume on the powered submarines, both the hunter ended before the full planned construction provides a good focus on a period of German invasion of Norway and will be of killers, whose job it was to find Soviet programme was completed many of those English naval history, which is often particular interest to naval readers as it submarines, and gain vital intelligence, and which were commissioned served on, some overlooked as naval historians tend to concentrates on the naval side of the deterrent, ballistic nuclear missile into the 1960s. At the outbreak of the concentrate much more on later more operations. The first volume covered submarines, known in the Service as Korean War nine ships were taken out of dramatic periods. There is therefore much Operation Weserubung’ and won much “Bombers” but described by Ballantyne as reserve and formed two squadrons mostly to be learned from a study of this period. In praise, I attended the Hampshire Libraries “Atomic battleships”, whose job it was to to free up other ships to serve in Korean chapter one Susan Rose tackles the NAVAL ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS awards where Haarr was deservedly keep as far away as possible from any waters and some saw action in the Korean question of sources for medieval maritime & GUNNERY awarded first prize by the late military other submarines. Submarine operations War (1951-53). Seven of the Loch class history explaining the importance of the By Norman Friedman, published by historian Richard Holmes for his first during the Falkland’s Conflict are well frigates underwent a modernisation chroniclers of the period, particularly the Seaforth at £45 (hard back 399pages) volume. covered and make good reading, though programme in the 1950s with improved official legal and financial records of the Norman Friedman, one of the leading This third volume is even longer and more not quite as exciting as some of the much guns being fitted and a director on the time but she also considers illustrations, military analysts and naval historians has detailed. His research must have been very HUNTER KILLERS more dangerous patrols conducted in bridge. They served on patrol duties in tapestry, coins, models, carvings and produced yet another splendid book on extensive indeed as it is quite amazing the By Iain Ballantyne, published by Orion Soviet waters. The importance and dangers distant isolated regions of the world, many wrecks. naval weaponry. This new book is a amount of information that he has at £20 (hard back 482 pages) of operating in extreme conditions as well in the and Indian Ocean, The book tackles the subject by topics companion volume to his highly successful unearthed and then packed into this Ian Ballantyne is to be congratulated on as under the ice are all well brought out. whilst the unmodified ships were rather than by a chronological narrative Naval Firepower’, which dealt with surface volume, including the names of people in tackling this very difficult, sensitive and This excellent book goes someway to decommissioned. style, with chapters on ships and ship types, gunnery, and ranks with his encyclopaedic the background in many of the much neglected but very important side of giving long overdue recognition to our This record of the twenty-eight ships of the shipbuilding and shore facilities, resources reference book on the Naval Weapons of photographs. I thought I knew the full story naval operations since the Second World submariners for their brave and vital role in class completed and commissioned follows of the crown, medieval mariners, corsairs World War One. but have learned so much more reading War. These highly dangerous and secret helping to win the Cold War. It is an the usual format of devoting a chapter to and commanders and the navies of other this book. Though the title gives a start missions conducted by our submarines in exciting, thought provoking and very the story of each frigate. Appendix two European states. I would have expected a The book starts by setting out the evolving date of September 1939’ in fact he sets hostile Soviet waters have been shrouded instructive book, most strongly provides details of all the other Lock class little more detail on Richard I’s vast fleet threat of air attack on naval forces and the scene before then very well with early in mystery and concealed from the general recommended. ships completed as Bay class frigates (20), constructed to convey the Third Crusade. explains the complexity of making anti- chapters on the participants’, briefing on public by strict secrecy rules. The result is John Roberts despatch vessels(2), HQ ships (2)and Rather surprisingly war at sea is all covered aircraft fire effective against fast attacking the Allied navies and an excellent chapter that a generation of courageous survey vessels (4) as well as fifty-seven in one short chapter (number seven) and aircraft. The next part deals with the on the building of the Kriegsmarine submariners, who have faced all sorts of cancelled frigates, almost a hundred had much of that is given over to illustrations, different approaches to solving the including German naval operations during perils during many vital dangerous covert been planned and laid down by 1945.

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt problems, examining the recommended for technical experts, naval Lambert, who has written a biography of (£705) then these two annuals taken helicopters and can accommodate an air developed during the inter-war years by historians and enthusiastic amateurs. Nelson, produces a tour de force essay together provide all the necessary group of ten helicopters. They look the Royal Navy, the US Navy and the John Roberts on Nelson. His theme is that Nelson’s information and are most strongly remarkably similar to the British Through- with a chapter on genius was developed through “patient recommended. deck Cruisers’ of the Invincible class and a each. Between the wars the impact of the study” of his commanders such as Hood The 2014 edition of Seaforth’s World Naval further class of two bigger ships has been depression and severe economic and Jervis, and constant reflection”. He Review, edited by Conrad Waters and ordered for delivery next year and two years on defence budgets leading to states that whilst any competent British written by an impressive group of later. Other profiles cover the new Danish inadequate air defences prior to the admiral of the day could have won international contributors, including Norman frigates, German submarines and the USN outbreak of war are clearly shown. The Trafalgar, only Nelson, with his “superior Friedman and David Hobbs, now joined by JHSV-1 (Joint High Speed Vessels) book also claims that the Royal Navy was intelligence focussed through a lifelong Paul Sweeney, Ian Johnson and Ross Gillett. programme. the most alert to the air threat but its dedication to professional education”, This fifth edition with its selective, executive The Technological Reviews cover the Royal systems were too ambitious and were could win such a decisive strategic victory. style overview is again divided into four Navy’s Type 45 (Daring class destroyers), inadequate because they tried to achieve The final essay is by Roger Knight on life sections, Brief Maritime Overview, World the latest developments with torpedoes by too much. Then before moving on to the after Trafalgar, highlighting the role of the Fleet Reviews, Significant Ships and Norman Friedman and an overview of world war Friedman makes a brief survey of Royal Navy in maintaining naval Technological Reviews. The Royal Navy naval aviation by David Hobbs. Again the developments in other European navies. supremacy and allowing trade to flourish. features highly in this edition. book is laid out to Seaforth's very high The next major section covers the Collingwood, Saumerez, Pellew, all The initial brief overview, by way of standard and has many excellent experiences of the different navies at war, demonstrated the post Trafalgar strength introduction, sets the scene with useful data photographs, data tables and clear summary again with separate chapters on the Royal of the Royal Navy, which by 1815 tables on Defence Expenditure and Major boxes. This is a must for all those wishing to Navy, US Navy, and Axis Navies. At the comprised 50% of world naval tonnage. Fleet Strengths. Conrad Waters points out keep up with world naval affairs. THROUGH ALBERT’S EYES (by beginning of the war the Royal Navy was What this book admirably portrays is the that whilst the USN remains the The latest edition of Maritime Books well A.Bentley-Buckle, Whittles Publishing, by far the most prepared for anti-aircraft way the nation’s progress in the “long unchallenged blue- water power it confronts established and authoritative annual of ISBN 978-1-84995-066-4, £16.99) defence but nevertheless the fleet was NELSON, NAVY & NATION 18th century” was dominated by the similar problems to those faced by the Royal British Warships & Auxiliaries covers This is Volume 2 of The British Navy at War woefully short of AA guns. When the The Royal Navy and the British people success – or otherwise as in the case of Navy before the First World War, attempting warships, aircraft, weapons, Fleet auxiliaries and Peace’ series edited by Captain Peter Italians were overrun in North Africa large 1688-1815 Byng – of the Navy. The influence of the to balance limited resources against and a whole range of support ships of the Hore. The title is strange until you know that numbers of Italian Breda AA guns were Acknowledging that Nelson still remains Navy on everything from culture to growing threats. Nevertheless he considers Royal Navy. It is a handy sized reference Tony Bentley-Buckle was a POW in the captured, which proved invaluable in for many the enduring symbol of British industrial improvements is expertly that the USN is achieving an adequate book, attractively illustrated in full colour German naval prison camp, Marlag O’. protecting the Mediterranean Fleet. naval power, this book traces the covered in a highly readable fashion. match between numbers and technology. throughout and covers all the basic Albert RN’ was the dummy prisoner made to Combat experience is set out covering inextricable links between the history of Lavishly illustrated and well presented, He also claims that the Royal Navy is information needed to keep up with the size enable their escape. some of the main failures of AA the British people and the Royal Navy in this book serves to remind people of the making meaningful progress in recovering and shape of the present Royal Navy. Cadet Bentley-Buckle joined as a special defences, such as the loss of the Prince the period from the arrival of William of legacy that is more than just that of from the cutbacks imposed in 2010 (SDSR) For regular readers the most interesting part entry cadet in January 1939. In HMS of Wales and Repulse, Operation Orange in 1688 to the defeat of Nelson, but that of the Royal Navy of the BUT further pressures on the defence is the overview at the beginning by Steve Dunedin he was the Officer-in-Charge of a Pedestal and PQ18. The USN experience . Published to accompany a day. A marvellous book and highly budget remains a threat. Bush, which provides a very good, concise boarding party taking command of a is fully set and even has a section on new exhibition at the National Maritime recommended. The individual Fleet Reviews are divided into summary of the state of the Royal Navy and Swedish cargo vessel and piloting her Defence against ’. Museum, the contributors are a veritable Peter Wykeham-Martin regional groupings, starting with USN and current issues. He points out that the through the minefields into Scapa Flow. The book is then completed by a rather Who’s Who of current naval history South America and finishing with Europe proposed streamlining of the fleet under Volunteering for special service, he was a surprisingly brief chapter on post-war writers. and Russia but also include special reviews SDSR was no more than window dressing Beachmaster’ during the invasion of Italy. developments, which almost looks as if Nicholas Rodger is one of the essayists of the (The Best designed to conceal yet more savage He then helped Allied POWs escape, using the work had grown too big and Norman covering social issues from the Navy’s Small-Nation Navy’) and the Royal Navy defence cuts. He highlights the serious gap surrendered Italian MTBs before being Friedman was in haste to complete it but impact on culture to life afloat. The essay (Mind the Gaps’). The first class eleven caused by the ludicrous decision to removal captured by the Germans; he escaped but in reality it is the case that missiles by Roland Pietsch graphically illustrates page Royal Navy review, by Richard Beedall the vital carrier strike capability. With the was later betrayed by an Italian for a bounty increasingly took over from guns as the the horrendous conditions during battle, assesses the Fleet three years after the withdrawal of the Harrier and reward. prime anti-aircraft defence in the navies although major fleet sea battles were Strategic Defence & Security Review. He decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal, the After the war he sailed an old ketch to of today, although automatic guns of infrequent. Officers were expected to be states that the downsized Royal Navy is UK has been left perilously exposed until Mombasa. His father had an ex-Navy MFV varying sizes still provide a close range professional, but the rewards could be having to meet its continuing world-wide the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft which Tony sailed back to Mombasa and last ditch’ means of defence against high, with and accolades. commitments with no fixed wing aircraft carriers enter service with the F-35B sold to the Fisheries Department. In aircraft and incoming missiles. Also rather For the Lower Deck, “Jolly Jack Tar” was carrier, just nineteen frigates and destroyers VSTOL Lightning aircraft. Steve Bush , he bought another MFV and surprisingly I could find no mention of the an object of sentimental affection, and and morale has been badly hit by exposes the full story including the costly three submerged MFVs. These started his AA gunnery battles fought during the although his life was rough and tough, it SEAFORTH WORLD redundancies reducing trained strength to fiasco over which version of the F-35 to trading venture which developed into trading Falklands Conflict. was relatively harmonious; interestingly, 2014 just 24,400 men. It is proving impossible to operate from the carriers. between Africa and Europe using 15,000 In typical Friedman style the book is only 16% of the Navy was pressed in the Edited by Conrad Waters, published reconcile the mismatch between the The main sections are backed up with ton vessels. completed with seventy pages of very Revolutionary Wars. The Navy remained by Seaforth Publishing at £30 demands on the Royal Navy and its reduced detailed notes and the chapters on the He lived life to the full; piloted his Piper detailed notes, and a gun data section the bulwark against invasion, and victories (Hardcover 192 pages) means and capability gaps accepted by the Ships for the future Fleet’, which includes Comanche to conduct business and the designed to cover every conceivable gave rise to a plethora of commemorative government. Nevertheless he points out the Type 26 frigate, and future weapons plane came in handy for holidays. He question. Although highly technical the plates that make modern day Royal BRITISH WARSHIPS & AUXILIARIES positively that the Royal Navy is in the midst provide useful background to keep readers represented East Africa sailing in the 1960 book is written in a way to make it easily wedding memorabilia look understated. 2014/2015 of a major re-equipment programme (new up to speed. It is sad to notice the absence Olympics and he sailed his 73-foot understandable to the layman. Brian Lavery writes on the naval By Steve Bush, published by Maritime destroyers, submarines, tankers and of the Type 42 destroyers, other than a Bermudian cutter on a 2,000 miles to the Magnificently illustrated with photographs dockyards, describing the innovative Books at £8.99 (soft back, 121 pages). helicopters) and good progress is being passing reference in the final chapter At the . He never entirely retired and and drawings throughout this outstanding nature of dockyard organisation, For the busy reader who wants to keep made with the two new aircraft carriers. end of the line’. This primer on the Royal spent his final years in his lovely home in book is exceptional and will clearly be the epitomised by Brunel’s blockmills in abreast of current naval affairs and The Significant Ships section covers an Navy is excellent value and strongly Beaulieu. I’m so glad Tony wrote his essential, reference source on naval anti- Portsmouth. He also tells of shipwrights particularly Royal Navy matters, but who excellent profile of the new Japanese recommended. autobiography before he died peacefully aircraft guns and gunnery. This being allowed to take home “offcuts” – does not have the time or money for the 19,000 ton Through-deck Destroyers’ of the John Roberts in 2010. companion volume is most highly hence “chips on their shoulder”! Andrew classic reference, Jane’s Fighting Ships’ Hyuga class. These ships operate JMB

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Letters to the SCUTTLEBUTT Henry and Stephen Harwood are producing a book of approx 120 pages entitled Harwood and the Battle of the River Plate – Editor including a brief biography’. The events leading up to the encounter of the three cruisers with the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee on 13th December 1939 are explained followed by a narrative of the battle which drove the wrh Graf Spee to seek Shelter in the Uruguayan port of pwryuh and subsequently to scuttle herself. There is discussion on how prhr and why the memory of the battle still stimulates books and films, rhr three quarters of a century later and pays tribute to the Veterans ru Associations, the British Uruguayan Society and to the town of rp Ajax, which have helped keep the story alive. The book will be available from 1st April from the author: tel 02392 632494 or hr‘uu email [email protected] or to Captain SCP Harwood, hrh Royal Navy at Hunters Cottage, West Street, Hambledon, PO7 uuh 4RW, Hampshire. Cheques for £6 (inc p & p) made payable to yyruh HMS AJAX and River Plate Veterans Association. ruh RJS

Dear Editor, Dear Sir, I have just received that latest edition of “Scuttlebutt” in the post Just received the autumn 'Scuttlebutt', for which very many and what a great magazine it is, it gets better and better! thanks. I'll enjoy reading it, I'm sure, especially the article on the I must point out however that on page 62 covering the Anglo-German naval race. Indonesian Confrontation, the caption for the picture reads HMS Just one thing I've spotted (as I'm sure many other readers will Bulwark [ Aircraftcarrier] &HMS Tidereach [cruiser] As far as I also spot). In the article on the Indonesian Confrontation, or page know there was never a Cruiser of this name and it is not a 62, there is a photograph captioned, "HMS Bulwark cruiser alongside of Bulwark. I believe it is RFA Tidereach [ (Aircraftcarrier) and HMS Tidereach (Cruiser) " Surely not? At tanker ]doing a RAS [refuel at sea ] with HMS Bulwark? the risk of being a pedant, shouldn't this be "HMS Bulwark Fantastic read and quality pictures, keep up the good work! (Aircraft Carrier) and RFA Tidereach (Fleet Replenishment Kind regards, Tanker)”? Apologies for picking this up. David Pickett (Cllr) Maidstone Andy Field Dear Mr Roberts Many thanks for pointing this out, many of our readers On page 51 of the Autumn 2013 edition of Scuttlebutt there is a also spotted the same errors and wrote in to tell us. At fine picture of H M S Cleopatra. least it shows that lots of people are actually reading I served, as a Midshipman RNVR, in Cleo in 1953! Scuttlebutt’ - Ed Is there any chance of me purchasing a copy of the picture? My Friends membership number is 3286. HMS AJAX and River Plate Veterans Association Regards, During 2014, the Association will mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle with three key events. Funds are being raised to Bob Hastie finance a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. Approval has been given and a site allocated by the NMA and Dear Sir, the Dedication is planned for 1130 on Saturday 12th April 2014. I very much enjoyed reading the articles about the coming of the In June, Members of the Association will travel to the town of Great War in the recent editions of Scuttlebutt’. I have always Ajax, named after the cruiser, near Toronto as they mark the been fascinated by the naval battles of the First World War, anniversary. The highlight will be the presentation to the town of particularly the Battle of Jutland because my Grandfather fought Commodore Henry Harwood’s Admiral’s uniform in addition to in the battle. talks by Jonathan Harwood, the Commodore’s grandson. The final event will be a lunch to be held in Portsmouth on Saturday He joined the Indefatigable class battlecruiser HMS New 13th December. Zealand in the first battlecruiser squadron in December 1914. He was onboard in time to be present at the Battle of the Dogger The Association is keen that crew members and their families of Bank the following month. He was still serving onboard her but in the various commissions of both HMS AJAX, and the second battlecruiser squadron when she took part with ACHILLES, who are not already members of our Associations, Beattie’s battlecruisers at the Battle of Jutland at the end of May attend these celebrations and also support the appeal for funds. 1916. There is a website www.hmsajax.org and an email address of [email protected] which contain more useful information As a stoker my grandfather would have been in the bowels of the about these events and how donations can be made. ship with little idea of what was going on up top. From the

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Letters to the The Friends of the Royal Naval Museum is a Registered Charity No. 269387 SCUTTLEBUTT The National Museum of the Response from the Admiralty Librarian: We can give an exact time, at least as far as the Royal Navy is Royal Navy and Editor concerned. Use of port’ to replace the older larboard’ is something that happened over time, naturally, but the Admiralty HMS Victory, Portsmouth did come to an official decision on the matter, promulgated in is a Registered Charity No. 1126283-1 Admiralty Circular no.2 of 22 November 1844, which reads as follows: hurried orders for full speed, violent alterations of course and the “It having been represented to my Lords Commissioners of the sound of the big guns firing he would have been only too well Admiralty, that the word “PORT” is frequently, although not Make a difference in the future: aware that the battlecruisers were engaging the enemy in a major universally, substituted on board Her Majesty’s Ships for the action. Deep in the engine and boiler room they would have been world “LARBOARD”, and as the want of a uniform practice in remember the museum in your will now working in unbearable heat, shovelling coal and hearing the this respect may lead to important and serious mistakes, and the enormous explosions, first of HMS Indefatigable blowing up distinction between “Starboard” and “Port” is so much more Council would like to take this opportunity to immediately astern of them and then a short while later HMS marked than that between “Starboard” and “Larboard”, it is their Queen Mary, blowing up ahead of them. With such terrible Lordships’ direction that the word “LARBOARD” shall no longer encourage all Friends to consider remembering explosions ahead and astern they must have feared they could be used to signify Left on board any of Her Majesty’s Ships and suffer the same fate at any moment. Being down below they Vessels. the Friends or the Museum in your will. It costs you nothing would never have had any chance of escape and they would all By Command of their Lordships, now, but every gift, however small, have known that. In 1918 he transferred to the Lion class (Signed) SIDNEY HERBERT.” battlecruiser HMS Princess Royal in the first battlecruiser will make a difference in the future. squadron. Jenny Wraight | Royal Navy We cannot offer legal advice, Grandfather survived the war and went on to be a deep sea diver, but he was invalided out of the Navy on 24th July 1919 at Dear Editor, but if you would like further information, please contact Haslar having lost his right hand during a diving accident. It is Many thanks for the latest edition of Scuttlebutt. What an rather ironic that he survived right through the war and fought in excellent publication it has now become. Just a small point: the the Museum on Tel: 023 9272 7567 two great sea battles only to be invalided out in an accident list of council members on page 4 does not seem to have caught shortly after it was all over! up with the fact that our patron has now attained 5 star rank! Scuttlebutt is edited by: John Roberts

Yours faithfully, Regards The Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory

Dave Howell - Gosport Andrew Rutherford - His Honour Judge Andrew Rutherford National Museum of the Royal Navy Bristol Civil Justice Centre HM Naval Base (PP66), Portsmouth PO1 3NH Dear Sir, Exiting in winter. HRH The Prince of Wales was indeed promoted in the Tel: 023 9272 7562 The cold, very blustery January mornings this year summer last year. A good judgment handed down by His Friends direct Tel: 023 9225 1589 reminded me of going out of Portsmouth Harbour as the Honour! We will get there “with a little help from our foc’sle officer of HMS Starling (1956) and one’s hands freezing Friends” - Ed E-mail: [email protected] as we were never allowed to wear gloves. I was fallen in up in Find us at www.royalnavalmuseum.org the “eyes” of the ship looking forward. I know that the Chief Dear Editor, Stoker operating the capstan – (known to all as Dad’) used to First, congratulations on Scuttlebutt’ – it really is interesting and Scuttlebutt’ gained national recognition as winner of the BAFM * award for the best Friends come up on those cold mornings with thick layers of newspaper informative even to an octogenarian naval historian like me. magazine 2012. In 2013 Scuttlebutt’ was nominated for the Desmond Wettern prize’ under his greatcoat. I assume the article on Confrontation is yours? I just missed it at in the British Maritime Media awards. (*British Association of Friends of Museums) Once clear of harbour I used to give the lads PT to keep warm either end (HM Ships Torquay and Hermes) but with a lot of time Photographs courtesy of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and on the first occasion, as we were hidden from the bridge by with the Fleet Air Arm have a number of non PC stories about the the gun baffle, the captain thought the loud rumbling of running different attitudes between the services. (© NMRN Crown copyright) unless otherwise stated on the spot meant that we had run aground! However, thoroughly enjoyed the article but (there has to be one!) The cruiser HMS Tidereach in the first picture and a pity Yours faithfully, the Hermes photo was not as she was then. Forgive a grumpy In Memoriam old man – I have similar problems from time to time with Navy David Gunn News! We were most sorry to hear the very sad news of the passing of the following:

LARBOARD v PORT’ Yours , Mr Trevor Hughes, a long and loyal supporter of the Royal Naval Museum, HMS Victory Dear Sir, and the Friends who served with Captain Don Beadle on the Council of Friends I write regularly for the CS Forester Society's journal. Julian Loring The editor - a good (Dutch) friend has asked, Commander Our condolences go out to his family , friends and colleagues. when did Larboard become port? Can you help? Many thanks for taking the trouble to write and point out I suspect it wasn't an exact time! the caption error. Ed

Ken Napier

Scuttlebutt g t g t Scuttlebutt Visit the website below for an exclusive Royal Naval Association price ZZZÀQHZLQHVHOOHUVFRXNSXVVHUVUDWHKWPO Tel: 0845 626 2220