RAOC Gazette - page 100
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
DOWN THE HATCH A DAY OUT FROM GIB -SECURE all outer hatches!" The vessel reverberated with the clang of hatches slamming shut and doors being made secure. "All hands to diving stations" was piped and immediately men moved about on seemingly pointless errands back and forward. Suddenly all was still and, apart from the air conditioning units, quiet. The steam turbines could be heard in the background as a thud. "Prepare to dive!" The order was repeated over the loud- speakers and everyone tensed as the dive order was finally given and the deck gently angled forward. The FOWO Conductor Mark Moody looked at the deepometer and as the pointer swung round he took a firmer grip of the handrail. " Hold at two hundred feet and check for leaks." FOWO glanced across at the DAA and QMG, Major Alan Aiikins, "well at least he's enjoying himself" he thought. " 1 wonder what he would say if he knew that there was a steady drip of water falling just behind him?", The ships crew reported all tight and the order was given to dive another one hundred feet. The deck tilted sharply and Her Majesty's Submarine Sceptre, the latest nuclear addition to the fleet descended to the depths. The DAA and QMG looked across at FOWO and thought " How on earth did he persuade me to come onto this ship? Ever since I arrived in Gibraltar he has been determined to get me under the water!" ' L Three hundred feet and steady." " H o l d and check for leaks!" Once again the ship's crew reported that all hatches were intact and the order was given to descend to four hundred feet. Angling down into the depths the Sceptre slid through the darkness. Four hundred feet was reached and a brief stop at six hundred feet and then down to eight hundred feet. The sub- marine levelled out and with cool efficiency the ships crew went about their tasks of making sure that all systems were working. The Second-in-Command (Jimmy the One) came up to FOWO and asked "Enjoying yourself?". ki Gosh! yes thank you Sir" came FOWO's reply "Really super!" (he always talks like that). " It was very good of you to invite the DQ and I aboard for the sea trials!" •' My pleasure " ' Jimmy' replied, " It's the least we could do afv?r taking us around the caves." FOWO felt a drop of water hit his arm! 11 If I ignore it, it may go away " he thought. Another drop fell, and another. Looking across at the DQ he saw that water was still dripping behind where he stood. " No one else has noticed, I wonder if I should report it? after all it isn't much, only the odd drop or two." " H'm excuse me sir." "Ah yes Mr Moody, did you want something?" " Well sir, I don't want to be a bore but the roof appears to be leaking " 'Jimmy the One* glanced up and said " Oh you're standing under the air conditioning unit that always drips. " If I were you I'd stand to one side." Further embarrassments were avoided by the loudspeakers announcing lunchdme and FOWO gratefully escaped to the chiefs mess for lunch. After lunch a full guided tour of the ship was called for and the DQ and FOWO passed each other in the most unlikely places as their two guides ushered them up and down ladders and in and out of rooms. In the engine control room wedged in between the bulk head of the nuclear reactor and the starboard turbine, the DQ was distinctly heard to say ** Good ere innit?" Back in the Main Control Room the Captain asked " would you like to go up the conning tower onto the bridge Mr Moody?" " Ha ha! love to sir but wouldn't 1 get wet? ha h a ! " The Captain rolled his eyes to heaven and said in a gentle voice " 1 don't think so. We surfaced about an hour ago!" The view from the bridge was magnificent. There in the distance under a beautiful blue sky lay Gibraltar and it wasn't until you tasted the fresh salt air that you realised that for the past five hours you had been breathing re-cycled meralic air, As we neared Gibraltar the message was piped " Passengers prepare to embark in five minutes. Break out the lifejackets."" Sadly FOWO descended the ladders back into the bowels of the ship. ty This is as far as we take you I'm afraid. We have a fleet tender alongside to take you off back to Gib," The Captain actually sounded sorry! Lifejackets were donned and DQ and FOWO found them- selves on the wet sloping deck looking across at the fleet tender with dismay. The sides of the submarine sloped gracefully into the sea and in between the two rocking vessels was a horribly wide piece of water. A rope was slung from the base of the conning tower to the fleet tender. " Nothing to worry about. We have divers standing by in case you fall in" said the Officer of the Day in a jolly voice. lt Mr Moody." FOWO looked up and saw the Second-in-Command leaning over from the top of the bridge. " Remember when we were down the caves and you made me swing over that deep pit on a rope?" " Er, yes sir/' "Well I've been waiting all day for this! 1 ' There seemed to be an awful lot of people crowding the deck and bridge to see us ' off/ With some trepidation the two gallant soldiers made their way across the wet slippery deck and with a leap landed safely onto the rails of the fleet tender. They climbed over and casually took off their lifejackets. * " Quite easy wasn't it?" said the DQ casually. FOWO looked up to the conning tower and said to the 1 Jimmy * "Give me a call the next time your in Gib, Sir, and Til take you down Lower, Lower St Michaels!". The fleet tender edged away from the submarine and in- creased speed towards the harbour. Black figures could be seen aboard the Sceptre as she prepared for sea. RO VACANCIES RETIRED Officer 3 vacancies occur at Didcot for employment in Administration Support Group, Storage Group and Guided Missile Branch. For further information please contact Major King DAA and QMG, Secretariat, DLSA, Didcot, Telephone No. Didcot mil ext 337. * * * FROM 1st May 1979, a vacancy will exist for an Administrative Officer on Consolidated rates of pay with 51 Company RAOC (V) at Woodgreen Avenue, Kings Park, Glasgow G44 5SR. The upper age limit for applicants is fifty six (normal retiring age sixty). The annual salary ^ excluding phase 1 and phase 2 supplements is £3,092 on appointment, rising to £3,584 after six years and the post carries the rank of Captain TAVR. Further details are available in TAVR Regulations 1967 schedule XVI, part one or from Captain J. Cairns MBS (Ad- ministration Officer) on 041-637 4460. Application in letter form should be sent to:—The Officer Commanding, 51 Company RAOC (V), Woodgreen Avenue, Kings Park, Glasgow G44 5SR, Details required are:—(a) Personal number, rank, name and decorations; (b) Contact address and telephone number: (c) Date of birth; (a) Medical category; (e) Brief details of service and experience; (f) Full particulars and address of two referees. Details of interviews are to be notified later. |
| Book number | R0247 |