NEWS FROM THE FLEET, 1969....................... where were you?
1 9 6 9
Administration
American company contracted to review future refitting arrangements in Royal Dockyards.
Duty Free landing regulations altered to conform to civil requirements.
Future of aircraft carriers and Fixed Wing flying in RN subject to much comment.
Home Command introduced to replace Portsmouth and Plymouth Commands.
House Purchase loans increased to £1,250 for officers and £750 for ratings or 15% of Purchase Price. To be deducted from Terminal Grant payable on release.
'Lead Yard' concept for refits proposed for nominated Royal Dockyards.
Majority of MOD (Navy) offices moved from Admiralty Building to new Main Building in Whitehall.
Manpower 91,769.
Re-engagements 2,700 without significant change. 37% (9 year) ; 51% (12 year); 80% Artificer Apprentices. Significant shortage of Artificers. Intake requirements not met. Officers 80% and Ratings 70%. Grave Situation recognised as requiring remedial action.
Mark 31 anti-submarine torpedo development still in hand. Later cancelled.
Mess-deck layout alterations in ships made to allow more space for recreation
New Pay Code introduced with increase in allowances and pensions, except those for officers widows.
Charges to be made for food and accommodation provided for by men receiving Ration allowance.
"X" Factor Pay increment to be introduced in 1970 to compensate for restrictions of service.
Number of Royal Marines Bands halved.
Reduced Manning standards introduced for some ships for trial period, including HMS NAIAD and HMS EAGLE.
Review for Royal Dockyards completed and labour reductions to be cut.
Chief Executive (Dockyards) appointed.
Separate Service Ministers replaced by Parliamentary Secretaries to cover aspects of MOD responsibility for all three Services.
Shortage of spares due to financial constraints affecting deployment of ships and aircraft.
Trials at NCRE showed further strengthening needed for planned use of GRP for structure.
UK withdrew from Joint '3D’ radar development with Netherlands.
Work of Hydrographic Research Centre into Thermal Layers received publicity.
Officers
RNEC Manadon training course for Engineer Officers recognised as being of Honours Degree standard.
Advanced nuclear course recognised as M.Sc status.
RNR officers in Merchant Navy no longer liable to be called up in an emergency.
Second annual entry to Britannia Royal Naval College introduced. 28 University Scholarships awarded.
Ratings
Fortnightly payments reintroduced for ratings.
Four Year Engagements introduced instead of Nine if preferred but with lower pay.
Increase of interest(70%) reported for 5th and 6th term of Five years Re-engagement.
Naval Families Guide reprinted.
New WRNS Block opened in RN Barracks, Devonport.
Pension Increase on sliding scale to be introduced, dependant on retirement age.
Re-engagement Grant payments ended.
Recruitment problems still severe. 5,000 New Entries.
Reduction in numbers of re-engagements by experienced tradesmen.
Royal Naval Detention Quarters routines altered and less severe.
Psychological and educational standards for entry reduced
New Entries to Shipwright Branch to be trained as Mechanical Engineering Artificers. Branch first introduced in 1868.
Ships
British trawler claimed to have found wreck of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI sunk in 1939.
Fast Patrol Boats Ordered from Vosper-Thornycroft croft for training against attack by high speed craft.
Future deliveries of ships after completion to be made in Home Ports for final Acceptance
Completion of refits in Royal Dockyard being delayed by labour shortages.
Planning details for the new 'Through Deck Cruiser' concept announced.
First Type 21 Frigate HMS AMAZON ordered from Vosper Thornycroft. Initial drawings included SEAWOLF but this was never achieved.
HMS ANTRIM (right - during the 1982 Falklands War, Bob Shackleton) and HMS NORFOLK planned to be operational by 1970. This was never achieved.
HMS BLACKWOOD and HMS CROSSBOW to be deployed as training tenders for ratings from HMS SULTAN (Engineers) and HMS COLLINGWOOD (Electrical) Schools.
HMS BLAKE conversion delayed.
Ship's Bell from HMS CHEQUERS given to Prime Minister for use at Chequers residence.
HMS DITTISHAM and HMS FLINTHAM, training tenders for HMS GANGES visited Basle, Switzerland. First RN visit.
HMS FEARLESS used at Lagos by Prime Minister for meeting with Nigerian leaders.
HMS MAIDSTONE and HMS HARTLAND POINT to be used at Belfast with HMS RAME HEAD used at Londonderry.
HMS MANXMAN to be used for sea training of Engineer officers.
HMS WOOTTON deployed for interception of gun runners off Ulster
HMS INTREPID to be deployed for trials of SATCOM equipment during passage to Far East. SKYNET 5 Communications Satellite was launched in December.
Submarines
US Navy carried out trial using mew British Escape Suit.
British divers used US Deep Diving System allowing for long periods down to 500 feet.
Last RN submarine of 4th Flotilla left Sydney after service with RAN for A/S training.
Mark 24 Torpedo production transferred to Plessey and MOD Project Controller appointed.
RN Torpedo Factory at Alexandria, near Glasgow closed.
Marker trials carried cut by HMS ANDREW in Irish Sea with HMS VERULAM as consort.
No more nuclear submarines to be built at Birkenhead by Cammell Laird.
Psychological problems in POLARIS submarine crews under discussion.
Projected new Submarine Depot Ship (AS01) cancelled.
Consideration being given to use of new missile based on French MARTEL. Later, US HARPOON system selected.
RN formally took over responsibility for maintaining British Nuclear Deterrent on 1st July.
Underwater Test Platform ship (HMS CRYSTAL) ordered.
HMS CONQUEROR launched at Birkenhead.
HMS DREADNOUGHT completed nuclear refuelling at Rosyth. Special precautions observed when Reactor removed.
HMS RENOWN (3rd POLARIS submarine) accepted. Involved in collision with coastal steamer in Mull of Kintyre. Lack of information about movement criticised. Results of Missile Firing Trials commended by US Navy.
HMS REVENGE (last POLARIS submarine) accepted. Involved in collision with HMS RESOLUTION at Faslane.
HMS SWIFTSURE, Fleet nuclear Submarine laid down.
Naval Aviation
First SEA KING Helicopters delivered.
Trials of Helicopter refuelling whilst hovering carried out with HMS ROTHESAY.
PHANTOM aircrew carried out deck landing training on US Carrier USS SARATOGA in Mediterranean. No RN carrier was available.
RNAS ARBROATH to be used for Commando Training.
RNAS Lossiemouth to be turned over to RAF.
RNAS Brawdy, Pembroke to be closed.
RN/RAF controversy over provision of air cover for Fleet given Press publicity.
Trans-Atlantic Air Race won by Naval PHANTOM. Air refuelling rendezvous controlled by HMS NUBIAN.
WASP Helicopter from HMS PLYMOUTH used to demonstrate AS12 Guided Missile
Home Waters
CinC Naval Home Command established.
HMS COCHRANE recommissioned at Rosyth as a Shore establishment. Replaced HMS GIRDLENESS and DUNCANSBY HEAD.
HMS DRYAD and HMS SULTAN Schools to be extended to met new training requirements.
HMS HECLA visited Rockall to re-affirm British sovereignty.
Libyan trainees at HMS SULTAN involved in disturbances over feeding arrangements
NATO Fleet Review in Solent by HM The Queen to commemorate 20th Anniversary of founding.
Joint Anti-Submarine School at Londonderry moved to RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh.
HMS SEA EAGLE transferred to Army.
HMS LLANDAFF attended Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales at Caernarvon.
HMS PENELOPE and HMS SCYLLA carried cut investigation into propeller cavitation noise.
RN Tactical School at Woolwich to move to HMS DRYAD, School of Maritime Operations at Southwick.
Royal Review in Torbay, during which Queens Colour was presented to Western Fleet.
Russian warships continued their significant presence.
HMS SOBERTON, HMS LETTERSTON, HMS WASPERTON and HMS BELTON of Fishery Protection Squadron involved in arrests for illegal fishing offences in UK waters.
HMS ST VINCENT, training establishment at Gosport and opened in 1937 to be closed in April
Trials of use of helicopter for Fishery Protection carried out in Thames estuary.
Unexploded bomb removed from wreck off St Heller, Channel Islands.
Foreign Stations
HMS ARLINGHAM rammed by Spanish Customs launch near Gibraltar. Subject of later formal complaint.
HMS ASHANTI and HMS MOHAWK embarked RM Commando detachment at Bermuda during a Black Power Conference.
HMS BARRAGE and HMS BARNARD, last coal burning ships in RN Paid-off.
HMS BULWARK and HMS ESKIMO took part in exercise off Gibraltar.
HMS DIAMOND shadowed Russian Task Group off Gibraltar and recovered bodies of two sailors from a tanker.
HMS MINERVA stood by at Montserrat for use if required during local unrest.
HMS EAGLE relieved HMS BULWARK in Mediterranean. No aircraft carrier deployed East of Suez.
HMS HYDRA took part in International Global Atmospheric Research Programme in Atlantic.
HMS JAGUAR provided medical aid at Astove, Seychelles.
'Jenny' of Hong Kong 'Side Party' fame received 'unofficial' Bar to her Long Service Medal.
HMS ROTHESAY and HMS MINERVA landed Royal Marines at St Vincent and Anguilla after local unrest.
'On call' NATO Standing Force to be introduced in Mediterranean.
Parliamentary question about British contribution to Naval presence in Hong Kong.
HMS LAYBURN, last RN ship in Malta. Remaining Coastal Minesweepers put in Reserve at Gibraltar.
RFA ENNERDALE assisted South African destroyer during rescue work in South Atlantic.
Sales cruise carried out to South American ports to attract purchase of British warships
Temporary build up of RN ships in Gibraltar during UN discussions about return of Gibraltar to Spain.
HMS VIDAL visited Basra and experienced some diplomatic problems.......
( I wonder what they could have been........................? (Ed) )
Also in this year........
Top 10 songs from this year
1. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
2. Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
4. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
5. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
7. Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
8. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
9. Come Together - Beatles
10. I Can't Get Next To You - Temptations
Top Films
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Football
League Div 1
Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool. Newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers were relegated after finishing bottom along with Leicester City.
Div 2
Derby County were runaway winners of the Second Division and they were joined in being promoted by runners-up Crystal Palace. Despite still boasting the talents of Johnny Haynes and George Cohen, Fulham finished bottom and were relegated. They were joined in the Third Division by perennial strugglers Bury
Meanwhile in Sotland..........
p w l d g/f g/a g/d pts
| 1 | Celtic | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 89 | 32 | 57 | 54 |
| 2 | Rangers | 34 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 81 | 32 | 49 | 49 |
| 3 | Dunfermline Athletic | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 63 | 45 | 18 | 45 |
5 nations results.........
p w l d p/f p/a p/d
| 1 |  Wales |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 31 | +48 | 7 |
| 2 |  Ireland |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 6 |
| 3 |  England |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 4 |
| 4 |  Scotland |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 44 | −34 | 2 |
| 5 |  France |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 53 | −25 | 1 |
On the telly....................
1. Miss World 1969 (BBC)
2. Royal Variety (ITV)
3. In Loving Memory (ITV)
4. Coronation Street (ITV)
5. Benny Hill Show (ITV)
later years to follow........... any suggestions?