NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2009 35
News and information for serving personnel
Step up to small ships
Y
OU may perhaps have looked at a time to take a second look. in the newer Rivers you’ll be enjoying
career in the Navy’s small ships, Life on board may be cramped – but the luxurious space of two or four-man
I prefer working on smaller ships. The living
but been discouraged by tales of the other side of the coin is close-knit messes.
accommodation is much
cramped life and lumpy seas. Well, it’s and supportive – in the older ships, but Perhaps it’s time for you to step up...
better – a two-man cabin
with en-suite shower.
Being at sea every
Tupperware Fleet. Plastic Fantastics. The Small Man’s Navy. All are
four weeks out of six
some of the attitudes that have pervaded the fleet about MCMVs. But what is
means I enjoy the
the reality of working in such a small world? In a word, challenging.
benefits of sea pay.
The bottom line is that you are responsible for a lot more with a lot less top
I prefer smaller ships
cover. With such a small team, the walk-on-by culture has no part to play.
because of the trust
Joining HMS Penzance as DMEO,
I cannot tell you it is easy, there is no space for dead wood, but the feeling of
onboard. I am a member
the change in responsibility hit me almost
professional pride is supreme.
of a close-knit working
immediately. The lack of manpower meant that
– Lt Mike Edwards, Gunnery Officer , MCM1
team.
as a department we would all ‘muck in’ as a team.
Lastly leave – I have watch leave every two out of six
The work was hard but once my crisis management
weeks, when I can spend quality time at home with my
skills were weighed off, I began to enjoy the spirit and
HMS Bangor friends and family.
ethos of not only the marine engineers but the ship’s
– ET(ME) Steve Langdon, HMS Mersey
company as a whole.
Living in such a close-knit community as the
MCMV squadron will always have its challenges but HMS Penzance HMS Archer
I have found small ships
for me the mix of the highly professional crew with HMS Middleton
incredibly rewarding. Small ships often push you
great responsibility at such a young age and the HMS Walney
to the limits as there are fewer to share the burden.
relationship between all ranks and rates makes this a HMS Shoreham
HMS Ramsey
There are those who believe that they won’t see the
unique experience. HMS Smiter
HMS Blyth
world serving in small ships, but during my time in
If you want to get noticed and of course, feel as
Brocklesby, Middleton and Blazer I have deployed to
though you are playing a key part in the day-to-day
HMS Example
the US, the Baltic and the Gulf.
running of your ship then this is for you.
HMS Mersey
I’m looking forward to the Baltic again next year,
– WO2 Chris Bradley, DMEO HMS Penzance
and at only 20 metres, Blazer gets into places that
HMS Severn
HMS Biter
HMS Explorer
bigger ships will never get to see.
It was 0430 on a cold October morning in – LET(ME) Laidlan, WEO HMS Blazer
1991, the Inverkeithing choo-choo (as it was known)
pulled in and I was met by a three-badge AB diver
who was upset I had him up at such an ungodly
XO onboard is a demanding job, challenging
hour – although the choice of language was a lot
but not always rewarding as the promotional prospect
stronger...
HMS Express HMS Trumpeter is limited as you are out of your source branch – but the
Rosyth was my destination HMS Brocklesby my
HMS Exploit good thing is that in the absence of the COs who are at
first ship.
their respective units, you have your own train-set to play
Modern day and all that sweeping kit is part of
with. You run all the routines.
our history that will never disappear as you hear
HMS Hurworth The students are good fun to work with as they come
the MW rates of old spinning their great sweeping
HMS Ledbury from all sorts of backgrounds and are very keen.
dits. Now it’s Action Vehicle, Launch Seafox and
HMS Brocklesby Should anyone wish to pursue a break from mundane
me boring any rating or officer alike about our
HMS Cattistock routines of the big ship Navy then the P2000s are a must!
wonderful newest piece of kit called Remus.
HMS Tyne They are not everyone’s cup of tea but enjoyable, with two
The fact is we will never replace these plastic ships as the men and women
HMS Ranger small deployments a year.
who serve, have served, or want to serve on them will tell you – “where the Fleet
I joined
HMS Blazer The only frustrating thing on a P2000 is although
is going, we have been”.
MCM1 Crew
HMS Puncher it’s a sea draft and you get your sea leave, unfortunately
There are no passengers on a plastic boat, you have to dig in, but
7 six months
HMS Tracker you don’t get sea pay, which is annoying as you are on
your rewards are great runs ashore in places the Fleet can’t get in, extra
prior to
a sea-going platform and not quite getting the benefits
responsibility and a sense of real belonging not only in your mess but across
deploying to the
that the grown-up ships get.
the senior rates and wardroom.
Arabian Gulf.
– CPO(Sea) J Cleeve, XO HMS Tracker
Bottom line is – you’re not a sailor until you’ve served in a minehunter.
It seemed odd at
– PO(MW) ‘Fingers’ Dumbleton, ORS HMS Grimsby
first that I was
to join Shoreham
then shortly afterwards have to
move to another platform out HMS Dasher
East. HMS Pursuer
6*'41;#.0#8#.
However having been through
the roulement process, it is HMS Quorn
certainly not as daunting as it
appeared at first.
HMS Sabre
#551%+#6+10
Because of the relatively small
HMS Scimitar
size of the ship’s company, it
has also been necessary for me to
get stuck in to all sorts of other
Once Navy Always Navy
activities outside my comfort
HMS Grimsby
zone, such as seamanship and
HMS Pembroke
damage control.
HMS Chiddingfold
It’s good to be amongst people
MS Atherstone
t
Zat t
Ze Associa
Ÿo
v
 oesW
who work and play hard –
Supports the Royal Navy Maintains Naval tradi
Ÿons
always as a team.
– POWEA James,
Enjoys social ac
Ÿvi
Ÿes Re-unites Shipmates
DWEO HMS Pembroke
Remembers the fallen Helps the disabled
My small ship story began
with the devastating news that after
>ooks a
L er the needy Cheers up the distressed
selecting small ships I would be sent to
Faslane. Faslane! With a steady resolve
I thanked the appointer for sending me
Stands together in Unity
to purgatory. The truth was far removed.
Aside from the rain, summer in
Scotland is exceptionally beautiful. I
had a new ‘family’ who welcomed me
with open arms. Gone was the ‘not my
HMS Clyde
part of ship’ mentality, and in was a
whole ship craze.
I can only liken
a small ship to
running your
own business. You
literally have to step
up to owning all that
you do.
The hours were
initially daunting,
Crown Copyright 2008
THE first step towards joining Building, HMNB Clyde:
but once settled
the demanding and rewarding Mine Countermeasures
Full Members
into the rhythm the
Small Ships World can be 1 Squadron Manpower
reward was tenfold
to register your interest with Controller – CPO(MW)
Consist of Serving and Ex-Serving members of the The Naval Service,
that of my big ship experience.
the appropriate Small Ships Al Innes – 93255 6627,
The level and trust and respect earned WRNS, RFA,RNXS and RMAS, regardless of Rank. Any person who
Manpower Controllers. DII(F) FLEET FASFLOT-
by each member of the ship’s company
■ Portsmouth – located on MCM1CMSup2
is fantastic. served in the Naval Forces of a na
Ÿon which is or was a member of the
the ground floor of Lancelot ■ Devonport – Located
And the runs ashore during my
Building, HMNB Portsmouth: in Tyne Building, HMNB
small ship experience have been the best
ri
Ÿsh Commonwealth.
Fishery Protection Squadron Devonport: contact your
of my career.
Manpower Controller – CPO(SE) branch Career Manager
– Lt Tom Worley, XO HMS Grimsby
Associate Members
Graham Blick – 9380 26397, All should liaise directly
DII(F) FLEET-PORFLOT-FPSMC with your DO or EWO
Those in sympathy with our Objects, especially families.
Mine Countermeasures 2 and inform them of your
Squadron Manpower Controller aspirations to join the Small
– CPO(MW) Chris Christian Ships organisation.
Contact Nigel Huxtable at RNA HQ
– 9380 20783, DII(F) FLEET- They will advise the next step
Rm 209 Semaphore Tower, PP70, HM Naval Base, PORTSMOUTH PO1 3LT
PORFLOT-MCM2 and will help you to complete
■ Faslane – located in room an E240 Drafting Preference
Phone - 023 9272 3747 E-Mail - Nigel@royalnavalassoc.com
305 on the first floor of Admin Proforma.
tebsite - www.royal-naval-associa
Ÿon.com
News and information hnity, >oyalty, Watrio
Ÿsm and Comradeship
034-036_NN_Dec09 2-6.indd 2 19/11/09 16:37:44
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48