- Home
- HMS Devonshire
- HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
- By Robby G
- Published 05/6/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
The Seaslug System
The system really splits into 3 sections, covering the length of the ship. We like to think that during the last two years we have worked together as a team.
Despite what the secondary armaments, and other opposition factors think, we don’t just fire once a year and then have a M, & M. for the rest of the time. Like the “Windmill” we never close, and we are even going to have to fire again within six months of the last firing! On a more serious vein though, the system has remained at five minutes’ notice throughout most of the commission.
After the rigours of H.A.T’s and S.A.T’s, at the end of the refit, there followed the Portland work-up and Liverpool visit. During this time most of the section acquitted themselves well, both ashore and afloat. We also managed to fire on the range at Aberporth, and were the first ship to get away not only one, but two missiles on the first day.
There was the pre-sailing spell at Portsmouth, and then the trip out to the Far East, and straight away the hardships of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
At Tokyo several of the section were introduced to H.R.H. Princess Alexandra, namely C.O.A. Clark, C.R.E. Urry, C.A.(W) Page, W.M. Felton, R.E.A. Heathman and REM. White.
After a spell back at Singapore we went to Australia and at this stage Lt.-Cdr. Ruffell wondered whether he still had a section as most of them were ashore carrying out linsons with our Australian friends. However, after six weeks, which covered Christmas, all but one were present for the journey to Singapore.
During the D.E.D, period Lt.-Cdr. Ruffell went R.A. C.R.E. Urry got his knees brown, C.O.A. Clark was seen
swimming, C.R.E.A. Linfield got even browner, O.A. Tullet and C.A.(W) Johnson drank some “Tiger”, while R.E.A. Titman played tennis. E.M. Getgood learned to play golf and A.B. Caruana sometimes went ashore. Meanwhile R.E.A. Heathman took photos of all these goings on, and Lt. Kimber and SILt. King claimed they did all the work.
After the D.E.D. the next big event was the Okinawa firings, where we like to think we distinguished ourselves well. The Ship now holds the record for simulated “kills” on the highest and lowest targets there. At least the Captain recognised our worth and we can now call ourselves the “Champagne Boys”. On a serious vein though (again) we think that we have set an example of how a mixture of various characters and rates can work together on a modern system.
Things we will remember:
C.A.(W) Page and E.M. Smart on either end of the intercom, with Lt. Kimber using R.E.A. Titman as an interpreter.
C.A.(W) Page’s cries of “nothing seen”.
C.O.A. Clark’s cheerful tones on the missile control intercom.
C.R.EA.’s Young and Linfield—-being Frank and Curly when on good terms, but plain Chief at others.
BA, White still trying for his station leave.
C.A.(W) Johnson taking up all the spare gear stowage with his camphor wood chests.
L.R.E.M. Best, at first our prize agitator, now taking charge as a leading hand.
Lt.-Cdr. Cummins—Slops could not fit him out for gym shoes. He had to have a pair made to measure at a heavy cost for materials.
S/Lt. Balchin who would have a fire exercise anywhere.
Lt.-Cdr. Honey who was about sometimes.
OA. Tullet—the worst deck hockey player we’ve seen.
R.E.A. Titman who sometimes took time off from sport to do some
work.
PO.R.E1. Squire—enough said!
The system really splits into 3 sections, covering the length of the ship. We like to think that during the last two years we have worked together as a team.
Despite what the secondary armaments, and other opposition factors think, we don’t just fire once a year and then have a M, & M. for the rest of the time. Like the “Windmill” we never close, and we are even going to have to fire again within six months of the last firing! On a more serious vein though, the system has remained at five minutes’ notice throughout most of the commission.
After the rigours of H.A.T’s and S.A.T’s, at the end of the refit, there followed the Portland work-up and Liverpool visit. During this time most of the section acquitted themselves well, both ashore and afloat. We also managed to fire on the range at Aberporth, and were the first ship to get away not only one, but two missiles on the first day.
There was the pre-sailing spell at Portsmouth, and then the trip out to the Far East, and straight away the hardships of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
At Tokyo several of the section were introduced to H.R.H. Princess Alexandra, namely C.O.A. Clark, C.R.E. Urry, C.A.(W) Page, W.M. Felton, R.E.A. Heathman and REM. White.
After a spell back at Singapore we went to Australia and at this stage Lt.-Cdr. Ruffell wondered whether he still had a section as most of them were ashore carrying out linsons with our Australian friends. However, after six weeks, which covered Christmas, all but one were present for the journey to Singapore.
During the D.E.D, period Lt.-Cdr. Ruffell went R.A. C.R.E. Urry got his knees brown, C.O.A. Clark was seen
After the D.E.D. the next big event was the Okinawa firings, where we like to think we distinguished ourselves well. The Ship now holds the record for simulated “kills” on the highest and lowest targets there. At least the Captain recognised our worth and we can now call ourselves the “Champagne Boys”. On a serious vein though (again) we think that we have set an example of how a mixture of various characters and rates can work together on a modern system.
Things we will remember:
C.A.(W) Page and E.M. Smart on either end of the intercom, with Lt. Kimber using R.E.A. Titman as an interpreter.
C.A.(W) Page’s cries of “nothing seen”.
C.O.A. Clark’s cheerful tones on the missile control intercom.
C.R.EA.’s Young and Linfield—-being Frank and Curly when on good terms, but plain Chief at others.
BA, White still trying for his station leave.
C.A.(W) Johnson taking up all the spare gear stowage with his camphor wood chests.
L.R.E.M. Best, at first our prize agitator, now taking charge as a leading hand.
Lt.-Cdr. Cummins—Slops could not fit him out for gym shoes. He had to have a pair made to measure at a heavy cost for materials.
S/Lt. Balchin who would have a fire exercise anywhere.
Lt.-Cdr. Honey who was about sometimes.
OA. Tullet—the worst deck hockey player we’ve seen.
R.E.A. Titman who sometimes took time off from sport to do some
work.
PO.R.E1. Squire—enough said!