NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 9
Actress joins
Navy? As if...
A FORMER actress who became
disillusioned with showbiz has
joined the Royal Navy.
Emily Corrie (30) spent 12 years
working on shows such as Making
Wa ve s , A Touch of Frost, Casualty
and Doctors, and played Ray
Winstone’s daughter in the series
Births, Marriages and Deaths.
Her best-known role was
probably that of Suzanne ‘Sooz’
Lee in the cult Channel 4 show As
If, which ran from 2001 to 2004. ● HMS Triumph, held in place by steel wires, opens ballast tank vents as she starts her basin dive
Emily (right) was invited to
transfer the character to the
American version, but the show
did not match the success of its
UK counterpart.
meant the Senior Service and
After three years of working in
basic training at HMS Raleigh.
Los Angeles, Emily decided she
“The Royal Navy seemed the
needed a new challenge.
Back in her element
obvious choice for me,” she said.
“To be an actress in LA is
“I’ve always lacked bit of self
demoralising,” she said.
discipline and was prepared to
HERE’S an unusual sight.
“It brought about the realisation
have that enforced.”
No, not a submarine submerging
that I didn’t want to be in the
Emily, who is engaged to RN
– that’s what they are designed to
industry any more.
warfare specialist AB Gary Street
do.
“I’d done what I’d wanted to
of HMS St Albans, said: “The
But HMS Triumph submerging
do and worked with some good
training has been great.
– that is something you won’t have
writers and directors.
“It’s been very challenging,
seen for around five years.
“I never wanted to be a leading
particularly physically, considering
The Trafalgar-class boat
lady and decided I just wanted to
my age.
reached a milestone in her refit (or
experience a normal life.”
“I’ve improved ten-fold and am
Long Overhaul Period and Refuel
And in Emily’s case, normality
very proud that I shaved three programme) with a successful
minutes off the time I achieved basin dive at Devonport.
in week one for my mile-and- During the overhaul, many
a-half run.” changes are made to the
She added: “Training has submarine’s structure and
been the most exciting thing equipment, which can affect the
● HMS Triumph during her basin dive at Devonport
ever. Glamorous as the film performance of crucial systems.
industry is, it can be boring They can also affect the weight
She was held loosely in place civilian personnel checked various on board, providing a more-than-
and you can become lazy distribution of the boat.
by steel hawsers and, with her systems, including the successful adequate 3,000 calories per man
waiting around. A basin dive is a crucial test to
Commanding Officer Cdr Rob discharge and recovery of four – for long periods personnel were
“During training I have ensure the submarine can dive,
Dunn on board, the boat’s vents dummy torpedoes. required not to move around.
discovered that when I’m told achieve neutral buoyancy and
were opened and her ballast tanks Large weights were shifted Cdr Dunn said: “I am
to do something I can give 100 surface independently, while also filled for the first time in five forward, aft, port and starboard, immensely proud of everybody’s
per cent and it has been very checking that the numerous hull- years. so that deflections of two long effort to enable us to achieve our
pleasing to find that out about breaching systems are watertight. With just the top of her fin pendulums, fitted for the tests, first dive.
myself.” Months of planning by Babcock showing – allowing a diesel could be measured and the effect “The performance of the boat’s
Emily now starts ten months Marine employees and ship’s staff generator to run, maintaining on trim and stability calculated. systems and crew bodes well for
of seaman specialist training, saw the boat towed to the middle essential systems – the boat started With the galley not yet the remainder of our post refit
● Emily tackles the assault course split between Raleigh and
of the dockyard basin, over a a 30-hour test programme. operational, ship’s staff were issued trials and subsequent return to the
Pictures: Dave Sherfield HMS Collingwood.
specially-dredged trench. A team of 44 Service and with ration packs for their time front line.”
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