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- HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
- By Robby G
- Published 05/6/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
Meteorological
The fir cones strategically placed port side of the lower bridge have worked many hours of overtime during the commission—and not Without effect. The Met. Department (both of us) earned an unsavoury reputation during the early months following tht refit for producing wind and rain (and often drizzle) whenever the Ship put to sea. This reputation was by no means enhanced by the weather encountered on the way out to Singapore—the south-west monsoon blew strongly all the way across the Indian Ocean. However, we really made our name on the various cruises on the station. To encounter two waterspouts, no less than six typhoons (and to have to leave harbour because of two of them) and two fine examples of a southerly “buster” is a record that all seaweed bosuns will envy, while the sight of the famed Bondi beach in midsummer with only four visitors, dressed in overcoats,
was one which baffled the Australians and appealed to our sick sense of humour. The real explanation of all this came with the change in Captain! Since then we have been blessed with beautiful bronzsy, bronzy weather (apart from typhoons Irma and Judy).
Apart from this, and because it is unlikely to be acknowledged elsewhere, we should point out that our special services section produces the quickest and most accurate BALMET in the Fleet and that nuclear fallout predictions are second nature to us. We pass on one O.K. slogan to all spectators of our activities on the bridge wing—it’s not a model racing car, whirling thing or a rain machine—it’s a clockwork aspirated psychrometer Mk. III!
We depart to new forecast areas. N.A.(Met.) B. K. Higgins, with over 1,500 Met, observations during the commission behind him, goes to Portland, and Inst. Lt.-Cdr. L. A. Bailey goes to a country estate called DRYAD—take your holidays abroad!
The fir cones strategically placed port side of the lower bridge have worked many hours of overtime during the commission—and not Without effect. The Met. Department (both of us) earned an unsavoury reputation during the early months following tht refit for producing wind and rain (and often drizzle) whenever the Ship put to sea. This reputation was by no means enhanced by the weather encountered on the way out to Singapore—the south-west monsoon blew strongly all the way across the Indian Ocean. However, we really made our name on the various cruises on the station. To encounter two waterspouts, no less than six typhoons (and to have to leave harbour because of two of them) and two fine examples of a southerly “buster” is a record that all seaweed bosuns will envy, while the sight of the famed Bondi beach in midsummer with only four visitors, dressed in overcoats,
Apart from this, and because it is unlikely to be acknowledged elsewhere, we should point out that our special services section produces the quickest and most accurate BALMET in the Fleet and that nuclear fallout predictions are second nature to us. We pass on one O.K. slogan to all spectators of our activities on the bridge wing—it’s not a model racing car, whirling thing or a rain machine—it’s a clockwork aspirated psychrometer Mk. III!
We depart to new forecast areas. N.A.(Met.) B. K. Higgins, with over 1,500 Met, observations during the commission behind him, goes to Portland, and Inst. Lt.-Cdr. L. A. Bailey goes to a country estate called DRYAD—take your holidays abroad!