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- HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
- By Robby G
- Published 05/6/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
T.A.S.
The battle to sell T.A.S. to a Gunnery Ship has been fought with enthusiasm by our small and select company—with what success only the Gunners can say! We have been helped by a string of exercises that by accident or design have been predominantly anti-submarine, starting at Portland, where G.M.D.’s are considered to be “Improved—improved-- type 12’s”, and ending with “Sea Imp” where we were so carefully screened that we never got a sniff of an “unterzeeboten”. We also remember the other “jollies”, like “Guard Rail” and “Warrior”, between the miseries of Tokyo, Hong Kong and Australia! After the horrors of these places it was a great relief to get back to the old “one-in-three”
again!
The strain of keeping gunnery in line has proved too much for Petty Officer Kingswell, who is off to recuperate at ST. VINCENT and whose reply, when asked if he wished to become a T.A.S.I., is unprintable! Another casualty is L.S. Elmes, who hung around the Flight more than was good for him, and has been seduced into Aviation. Do they make long, thin helicopters?
The terrible twins, Bardoe and Ileynon, who kept VERNON traditions alive by supporting the whole W.R. Department between them, have at last been separated and the “Greenies” haven’t looked the same since. However, we have been ably supported by our technicians, led by S/Lt. Ashurst, who, with string, shackles, and glue (no joking!) have kept it all working without failure. They even turned the dome into a diving bell on one occasion!
The battle to sell T.A.S. to a Gunnery Ship has been fought with enthusiasm by our small and select company—with what success only the Gunners can say! We have been helped by a string of exercises that by accident or design have been predominantly anti-submarine, starting at Portland, where G.M.D.’s are considered to be “Improved—improved-- type 12’s”, and ending with “Sea Imp” where we were so carefully screened that we never got a sniff of an “unterzeeboten”. We also remember the other “jollies”, like “Guard Rail” and “Warrior”, between the miseries of Tokyo, Hong Kong and Australia! After the horrors of these places it was a great relief to get back to the old “one-in-three”
The strain of keeping gunnery in line has proved too much for Petty Officer Kingswell, who is off to recuperate at ST. VINCENT and whose reply, when asked if he wished to become a T.A.S.I., is unprintable! Another casualty is L.S. Elmes, who hung around the Flight more than was good for him, and has been seduced into Aviation. Do they make long, thin helicopters?
The terrible twins, Bardoe and Ileynon, who kept VERNON traditions alive by supporting the whole W.R. Department between them, have at last been separated and the “Greenies” haven’t looked the same since. However, we have been ably supported by our technicians, led by S/Lt. Ashurst, who, with string, shackles, and glue (no joking!) have kept it all working without failure. They even turned the dome into a diving bell on one occasion!