mike1949 (a photo of)

[drewpy]

I got a standard email back from the archive saying they will respond within 10 days.

I'll keep you posted on what happens next

Drewps

[mike1949]

Cheers Drewps

[mike1949]

Just as an afterthought, the torpedo tube behind me, No. 8 is where we used to keep our beer in, it was like a fridge and every night about 7pm I used to collect the beer ration for the forward mess and towards the end of the trip which lasted three to four weeks I had to crawl right into the tube, very scary.

By the way Drewps, when we were in Manchester I was befriended by two brothers from Deansgate. They were a bit rough and ready and a couple of hard nuts (always swearing) but they were great.

We used to meet most days for a drink in their local, but one Sunday I didn't turn up because I thought that they would be having Sunday lunch with their perspective wives.

But little did I know they arranged a slap up Sunday dinner for me at one of their houses so they could introduce me to their wives.

Believe it or not that even to this day I still feel so guilty about it because when I met up with them on Monday they just shrugged it off as if it was no big deal. Although I could read between the lines they were disappointed.

[jimmy]

Mike

I work on them Lochs, The 3 of them. Heres me at my work

...and heres me with the Ark (although it may be Invincible)

[mike1949]

Hi Jimmy, mainly we were in Gareloch in a place called Faslane. Although we were based in Gosport we used to travel up to Faslane because our unusual job was a target boat for the nuclear boats. They used to fire their fish at us, not to actually hit us although we did get hit twice.

I'm not sure if thats the Ark or not, I served 2.1/2 years on her before going into boats so it was a different design.

I should imagine yours is a job to die for, I tried to get on smaller vessels but no such luck. Where about are you based Jimmy?

[jimmy]

I'm at Fazzers.

We brought the Ark up to unload its munitions at Glen Douglas, then a year later it was Invincibles turn. I checked over other pics and it was invincible, Here is the Ark

and heres one that'll interest you Mike...one (a yank) in and one (a Bomber) out

[mike1949]

Yeah, that looks like tha Ark I was on over 40 years ago.

My mate was on bombers and I only saw him once when up there. If I remember right they were in a restricted place and I couldn't enter.

[bennyboy1]

Mike

I work on them Lochs, The 3 of them. Heres me at my work

...and heres me with the Ark (although it may be Invincible)

WELL THEN MR JIMMY

you will be the bloody launch boat that used to run over the top of us about 3 years ago across from faslane ????

we used to do a lot of diving across from faslane and around the gareloch and arrochar

but this bloody police launch used to travel backwards and forwards on top of us to try to upset us with the noise,,

never worked ,, we just dived deeper

there was always a navy boat ? ship ? moored just before arrochar think it was called FORT GEORGE or similar

[jimmy]

Dunno anything about that Benny

Gies a shout the next time you're up there and I'll gie it a miss

[blackhat250]

Fk me mike "that first pic is somthin outa "Das boot" .

Lots o sailers on here eh " Rum Bum and baccy "

[mike1949]

Lots o sailers on here eh " Rum Bum and baccy "

It used to be "Rum, bum & Baccy"

Now it's "Juke, Jake & Jive"

[mervin]

Modern day Nelson
Nelson: "Order the signal Hardy."
Hardy: "Aye, aye, sir."
Nelson: "Hold on, that's not what I dictated to the signal officer. What's the meaning of this?"
Hardy: "Sorry sir?"
Nelson (reading aloud): "England expects every person to do his duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability". "What gobbledegook is this?"
Hardy: " Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devils own job getting 'England' past the censors, lest it considered racist."
Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."
Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have been designated smoke-free working environments."
Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men before the battle."
Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. Its part of the government's policy on binge drinking."
Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we had better get on with it... full speed ahead."
Hardy: "I think you'll find there is a 4 knot speed limit on this stretch of water."
Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crows nest please."
Hardy: "That won't be possible sir."
Nelson: "What?"
Hardy: "Health and safety have closed the crows nest, sir. No harness. And they said that rope ladder doesn't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until a proper scaffolding is erected."
Nelson: "Then let me get the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."
Hardy: "He's busy knocking up wheelchair access to the fo'c'sle Admiral."
Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."
Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier free environment for the differentially abled."
Nelson: "Differentially abled? I've only got one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of Admiral by playing the disability card."
Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The royal navy is under represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."
Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail, the salt spray beckons."
Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing too much salt - haven't you seen the advert?"
Nelson: "I've never heard of so much infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."
Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting anyone, Admiral."
Nelson: "What? This is mutiny."
Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they are afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There's a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."
Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"
Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not?"
Nelson: "We're not?"
Hardy: "No, sir. The Frenchies and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation."
Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."
Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity co-ordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on a disciplinary."
Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of the King."
Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be more inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life."
Nelson: "Don't tell me - health and safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?"
Hardy: "As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on corporal punishment."
Nelson: "What about sodomy?"
Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."
Nelson: "In that case... kiss me Hardy."

[jimmy]

kismet Hardy