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- HMS Devonshire 1st Commission 1962-64
HMS Devonshire 1st Commission 1962-64
- By Robby G
- Published 05/6/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
LATTER DAYS
Winter at home and the tans soon began to fade. but nevertheless it was good to be with wives and families. Xmas leave seemed all too short, and the months ahead all too long before we could return to hot suns and tropical seas. But there was work to be done and an important exercise to complete.
Little will be said here about the Exercise, but those who took part agree that it was one of the best they had ever taken part in. The planning was superb, and our execution—almost faultless, though one or two of the other ships taking part had the audacity to make a terribly minor quibble or two at the final wash-up.
Throughout the Exercise everyone worked hard though not to the point of exhaustion, the three two watch system look care of that and so did the Supply Department who saw to it that the night watches were eased by regular deliveries of food and drink.
Ship’s interest was stimulated by nightly summaries given by Lieutenant Porter over the S.R.E., introduced to the strains of “The Firebird.” Night after night we listened to accounts of battles fought and won. There were submarines who claimed to have sunk us but were unaware of our brilliant O.O.W’s and helmsmen who had an uncanny ability to avoid the torpedoes that never were. ( BANG!!! Wot the F*** wos that!)
Suddenly the Exercise was over and our thoughts turned towards the next major phase of the commission——the honour of flying the flag of Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Madden, while leading the N.A.T.O. fleet into Lisbon.
Our visit to Lisbon seemed all too short, It needed more time to really get to know a city which has in part the look of London and the charm of Paris. However by Continental and English standards the prices were low and the rabbits were worth buying. There was an acute shortage of copper pots and pans in Lisbon the week after we left.
Many sampled the pleasures of Mateus Rose and Vino Verdi, but the days
which followed had been carefully planned to destroy any feeling of well-being. We entered into sea-worthiness trials.
Photo.The First time four GMD's are together
Mr. Connelly and his merry bunch of men arrived on board on March 16th, 1964, and soon convinced us that only the complete and absolute destruction of every cup and saucer in the ship would give them satisfaction. The weather, by Azores standards. did its best to help.
The ship obligingly, at times, rolled through 20 degrees to port and then to starboard. However the main aim of the evolution was kept firmly in sight as the mail continued to arrive, thanks to our intrepid aviators who lived up to their motto “We never lost a post card.” We may have impressed elsewhere but seemed to have failed with the natives of Santa Maria; ne’er one did we sight, though to be fair we usually arrived off shore during siesta time.
With a week to go of sea-worthiness trials the weather changed. There was no longer a chance of the 40 ft. swell the sea-worthiness team prayed for, so a course was set for Portsmouth, and in due course the man who drew the dog-watches of March 29th in the “Time of passing Nab Tower” sweepstake collected his winnings.
For the purposes of this book the commission is almost at an end, but by the time it reaches you, the reader, we will once again have sampled the joys of the West Indies; with sorrow we will have seen our Captain, elevated to the Order of Flag Officer, Middle East, depart to the sandy wastes of Araby; and welcomed the arrival of our new Captain.
The life span of this Commission, the first of the first British Guided Missile Destroyers, is drawing towards its close. It was a good commission in a good ship, and all those who have sailed in her know this and will remember this
Winter at home and the tans soon began to fade. but nevertheless it was good to be with wives and families. Xmas leave seemed all too short, and the months ahead all too long before we could return to hot suns and tropical seas. But there was work to be done and an important exercise to complete.
Little will be said here about the Exercise, but those who took part agree that it was one of the best they had ever taken part in. The planning was superb, and our execution—almost faultless, though one or two of the other ships taking part had the audacity to make a terribly minor quibble or two at the final wash-up.
Throughout the Exercise everyone worked hard though not to the point of exhaustion, the three two watch system look care of that and so did the Supply Department who saw to it that the night watches were eased by regular deliveries of food and drink.
Ship’s interest was stimulated by nightly summaries given by Lieutenant Porter over the S.R.E., introduced to the strains of “The Firebird.” Night after night we listened to accounts of battles fought and won. There were submarines who claimed to have sunk us but were unaware of our brilliant O.O.W’s and helmsmen who had an uncanny ability to avoid the torpedoes that never were. ( BANG!!! Wot the F*** wos that!)
Suddenly the Exercise was over and our thoughts turned towards the next major phase of the commission——the honour of flying the flag of Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Madden, while leading the N.A.T.O. fleet into Lisbon.
Our visit to Lisbon seemed all too short, It needed more time to really get to know a city which has in part the look of London and the charm of Paris. However by Continental and English standards the prices were low and the rabbits were worth buying. There was an acute shortage of copper pots and pans in Lisbon the week after we left.
Many sampled the pleasures of Mateus Rose and Vino Verdi, but the days
Photo.The First time four GMD's are together
Mr. Connelly and his merry bunch of men arrived on board on March 16th, 1964, and soon convinced us that only the complete and absolute destruction of every cup and saucer in the ship would give them satisfaction. The weather, by Azores standards. did its best to help.
The ship obligingly, at times, rolled through 20 degrees to port and then to starboard. However the main aim of the evolution was kept firmly in sight as the mail continued to arrive, thanks to our intrepid aviators who lived up to their motto “We never lost a post card.” We may have impressed elsewhere but seemed to have failed with the natives of Santa Maria; ne’er one did we sight, though to be fair we usually arrived off shore during siesta time.
With a week to go of sea-worthiness trials the weather changed. There was no longer a chance of the 40 ft. swell the sea-worthiness team prayed for, so a course was set for Portsmouth, and in due course the man who drew the dog-watches of March 29th in the “Time of passing Nab Tower” sweepstake collected his winnings.
For the purposes of this book the commission is almost at an end, but by the time it reaches you, the reader, we will once again have sampled the joys of the West Indies; with sorrow we will have seen our Captain, elevated to the Order of Flag Officer, Middle East, depart to the sandy wastes of Araby; and welcomed the arrival of our new Captain.
The life span of this Commission, the first of the first British Guided Missile Destroyers, is drawing towards its close. It was a good commission in a good ship, and all those who have sailed in her know this and will remember this