March 22 (Thurs) 1945, Alexandria, Egypt [Part 1]

Royal Marines with sailors leave a ship in a picket boat to make a landing, 1940. Image copr. IWM A130

Last Monday evening, slipped from the buoys about 1800 and proceeded to sea for exercises, beginning with a night tracking with destroyer [HMS] Active. This did not last long & then we headed for Ras-el-Kanayis [west of Alexandria] area for bombardment exercises, arriving soon after dawn. 5 shoots were carried out on Tuesday, all except the “Air observation, ship control”, being very successful. “Air observation and control” was about the best. A section of about 30 Royal Marines was landed in the forenoon in the whalers towed by the Motor Cutter. 3 Midshipmen went in the boat & “a good time was had by all.” Each shoot was carried out by one turret commencing with a broadside of all three guns. Up to five ranging shots were then fired by a single guns joined in the broadsides of “fire for effect”. Opportunity was taken during these shoots to fall out the crews of the Lower Quarters of the turret after the hoists were loaded, & let them have a “look-see” in the Gun-house while firing was in progress. Reduced charges were used throughout, practice projectiles being used for the shore observed shoots, & HE [high explosives] (fused 230) for the air observations.

Anchored that night in position Ras-el-Kanayis Coastguard Stn 127 °, 15 cables, 8 shackles on waterline.

December 8 (Fri) 1944, Scapa Flow, Orkney

6″ Sub calibre shoot at towed target in Flow, during forenoon. Two torpedoes were fired from the port tubes and recovered with the whalers. This manoeuvre took half the time taken on the last occasion which is a big improvement, and it is hoped to further cut the time down to 20 mins. At 1500 anchored in berth A1, near Flotta & the Flagship.

A torpedo before being lowered to the deck after it had been fired and recovered by a whaler. The dummy head used was fitted with a calcium float to indicate the position of the torpedo after it had finished its run. HMS Derwent. Image copr. IWM A13702. Source: http://www.iwm.org,uk/collections/item/object/205186166

 

 

December 7 (Thurs) 1944, Scapa Flow, Orkney

Weighed anchor at 1120 & proceeded to Flow for exercises. After “swinging ship”[compass calibration], continued sub-calibre firings at moored target. These showed a definite improvement over yesterday’s effort. On completion exercised “Man Overboard” utilizing both whalers. Returned to berth A6, securing at 8 shackles in 17 1/2 fathoms at 1620.

Lowering a whaler. HMS Vervain July 1942. Image copr. IWM A10672.

 

 

December 6 (Weds) 1944, Fleet Anchorage, Scapa Flow, Orkney

21″ torpedo being hoisted inboard from a whaler after exercise. HMS Derwent Nov 1942. Image copr. IWM A13700

Usual harbour routine, subject to weather conditions and Gunnery Training program, since Saturday. Today, exercised in Flow. Overcast & showery. FRU [Fleet Requirements Unit] Plane unable to assist owing to weather conditions and destroyer detailed for oiling exercise was despatched elsewhere so after passing over D/G range [Degaussing], a couple of “tin fish” [torpedos] were fired for testing purposes. The recovery of these with the aid of the whalers [boats] took some time but no doubt practice will make a difference. During the forenoon, 6″ sub-calibre firing was carried out at a moored target, results being “satisfactory”. Returned to berth A6, FA [Fleet Anchorage].

It was announced over the radio from the BBC that last weekend, HRH Princess Elizabeth had launched the greatest war vessel ever built in the UK [HMS Vanguard].