NEWS FROM THE FLEET, 1970....................... where were you?
1970
Administration
All Pay Accounting and Ratings Drafting records to be computerised
Continuous Service scheme for ships in place of fixed dates for each commission to begin in 1971.
Death of Admiral Micheal Le Fanu who had retired on medical grounds when First Sea Lord. A dynamic and forthright officer who will be sadly missed.
Details of modernisation of Devonport and Portsmouth Dockyards announced.
Building of three covered refit docks at Devonport approved.
Grievances from servicemen now to be allowed as for other Government employees.
First promotion to Admiral rank of an Engineering Branch officer.
French EXOCET missile system to be introduced into RN use.
Increase in demands on Hydrographic Department due to use of large tankers and deep diving submarines
Military Salary including X Factor introduced. Rise of 9% for males and 1% for females. Promise made for pay to be reviewed every two years.
Commutation paid on retirement to be subject to payment of interest as it regarded as a loan. This caused apprehension and some disquiet.
Redundancies since 1965 totalled 2,180 on 1st January.
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (RMAS) established and to include the larger vessels of the Port Auxiliary. New design of ensign for RMAS introduced.
Changes in training of Royal Marines announced.
SKYNET Satellite Communications System in HMS INTREPID used to carry out tests.
Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy issued after change of Government in October.
Requirements for Training Establishments to be rationalised (See below in Home Waters Section.)
Review of uniforms carried out.
University Naval Units established at Liverpool and Southampton.
Officers
Ceiling age requirement for University Graduates raised in numbers from 20 to 100.
Dartmouth Entry intake of 129 still below required level.
'In Service' Degree for Executive and Supply Branch officers being discussed with London University.
Minimum Seniority limits for entry into Promotion Zones for Captain and Commander lowered.
Prince Charles to enter Britannia Royal Naval College in 1971.
Redundancy programme in hand but some selections proved premature as retention needed.
Shortage of Supplementary List officers.
Title of Bos'n for Seaman Special Duties Seamen officers abolished.
Ratings
Institute of City and Guilds recognised advancement course for ratings in the Seaman and Communications Branches.
Disturbance Allowance paid to cover costs when moving home improved.
DONALDSON Report on Service Conditions adopted.
Ratings under age of 18 on entry can be released after 3 years service.
Proposed 5 years for Artificers rejected.
4 Year Engagement period for all ratings to be allowed after 1971.
‘On the Job' training introduced as a Trial in some ships.
Rum Ration abolished en 31 July. 'Sailors 'Tot' Fund set up
Slight increase in Intake but numbers still 50% below requirement.
33% Re-engagements (9 Year) and 59% (12 Year)
Terms of Regular Engagements altered. Release with 18 months notice allowed after completion of 10 years service. Three Grades of Pay introduced to recognise professional and other skills for some Ratings
'Trickle' drafting for ships instead of fixed date recommissioning to begin in January 1971.
Warrant Rank introduced for Senior Ratings on 30th September. Rank of 'Fleet Chief' introduced to equate with Army and RAF Warrant Officers. (Note: These did not equate with the Warrant Rank abolished in 1948)
Ships
HMS ANDROMEDA assisted RMAS Tug SAMSONIA after machinery breakdown during gale in Pentland Firth whilst towing HM LSI STALKER.
HMS ARK ROYAL recommissioned in presence of HM The Queen Mother. PHANTOM aircraft modifications and CAAIS equipment fitted during refit. No defensive armament. Ship to remain in service till late 1970's. First 'Hot Air’ Balloon ascent from RN Carrier
COUNTY Class GM destroyer propulsion plant problems reported. HMS FIFE returned to UK from Malta after fire.
HMS EAGLE completed refit, and to operate SEA VIXEN and BUCCANEER aircraft till paying off in 1972. Grounding of ship on entering Devonport resulted in several courts martial.
Controversy about deployment of aircraft carriers East of Suez continued.
HMS EXMOUTH not available for gas turbine machinery trials because of spares and labour problems.
Extensive surveillance carried out on Russian ships in NW Approaches.
HMS FEARLESS to join Dartmouth Training Squadron instead of HMS MOHAWK.
15 Coastal Minesweepers to be converted for use as Mine Hunters.
HMS HERMES to be converted for use as a Commando Carrier.
Drawings for INVINCIBLE Class Aircraft carriers completed but order for first ship delayed.
Proposed conversion of HMS LION to carry helicopters no longer to be carried out.
HMS MATAPAN conversion for use as Sonar Trials ship in hand at Portsmouth.
HMS MANXMAN and HMS CENTAUR (right - earlier in her career with Seahawks lined up, NavyPhotos/TerryHeaps) scrapped.
HMS TORQUAY to replace HMS MANXMAN and HMS ULSTER for training duties.
Negotiations for build of first Coastal Minesweeper using GRP in hand. HMS WILTON to be first ship.
HMS NORFOLK fitted with EXOCET French missile and carried out trials on French firing range at Toulon.
R&D trials carried out in ASWE Portsdown during design work for new aerials. These were to involve simulation of sea conditions.
SEASLUG missile still not ready for operational use although fitted in last four COUNTY Class GM destroyers. Test Launch from HMS GLAMORGAN in Cardigan Bay on Aberporth Range failed. .Missile landed ashore
High Speed Launch TENACITY borrowed from Vosper-Thornycroft due to late delivery of FPB on order.
Submarines
Battery explosion in HMS AURIGA with injuries to 10 of crew.
CHEVALINE Multi-warhead missile project work to improve POLARIS missile capability began.
HMS CHURCHILL laid down in 1967 finally commissioned in July. Labour difficulties blamed.
HMS CONQUEROR gearbox oil found to be contaminated. Sabotage by labour force suspected.
HMS COURAGEOUS launched.
Delays in completion of new submarines and torpedoes revealed in Parliamentary White paper. Only seven new submarines will be in service by 1972 instead of 17. Mark 24 Torpedo Programme still unsatisfactory. Special management system to be set up. Design defect in Mark 8 Torpedo warheads made necessary special repair programme.
HMS DREADNOUGHT refit completion delayed by pipe work layout and corrosion problems
MARTELL weapon to be developed for RN use.
Nuclear Deterrent responsibility absorbing over 3,000 servicemen.
HMS OBERON visited Simons Town for 12 days. First official visit for 6 years.
Free Ascent Trials carried out by HMS OSIRIS under way in Mediterranean from 600 feet.
HMS RESOLUTION commenced first refit at Rosyth
HMS REVENGE joined Fleet.
Trades Unions expressed concern about precautions during nuclear submarine refitting
Investigation being carried out by Y-ARD Ltd into use of electrical drive for auxiliary machinery in nuclear submarines instead of steam drive.
World record for 'simulated depth’ endurance set up using oxy-helium Breathing Mixture.
Naval Aviation
Air Force Cross awarded to PHANTOM pilot who saved his aircraft after damage in flight.
Fixed wing flying and need for aircraft carriers still under Public pressure.
RNAY (RN Aircraft Yard) Fleetlands, Gosport to be responsible for repair of all Service Hovercraft.
RN to service all marine craft.
Flag Officer, Naval Aircraft moved from Lee on Solent to Yeovilton.
Trials on HARRIER aircraft carried cut in HMS EAGLE and HMS ARK ROYAL. Press forecast earliest 'in-service' date as 1980.
Hovercraft BH7 trials at Lee on Solent to establish value for use as Fast Patrol Boat and as an Assault craft.
New Anti-submarine Helicopter Station established at Prestwick, Ayr.
Record flight by SEA KING from Lands End to John o'Groats.
Planned redundancy for 3,000 ratings withdrawn.
RNAS SEMBAWANG closed at Singapore with the end of Fixed Wing flying.
Spares shortages for WASP Helicopters admitted.
VTOL terminology replaced by VSTOL.
WASP operating trials carried cut in HMS PHOEBE to assess improvement in procedures.
WG13 (LYNX) Helicopter began manufacturer's trials.
Home Waters
HMS ARK ROYAL visited Oslo and had other high-publicity Press coverage.
HMS DRYAD computerised Tactical Trainer being installed.
Fire-fighting and rescue of survivors carried out from tanker PACIFIC GLORY off Isle of Wight. HMS ANDROMEDA and HMS ZULU took part.
Increased Fishery Protection deployments to enforce new 12 Mile limit. HMS BELTON and HMS KEDLESTON made successful interceptions.
HMS IVESTON crew courts martial held after 'mutinous' conduct at Ullapool.
Surveillance of Russian ships by HMS LONDONDERRY, HMS HECATE, HMS HECLA and HMS SOBERTON.
No suitable RFA ships available to take RM Commando for exercise in Norway. Chartered ship proved to be an unsatisfactory substitute.
Only four Technical Training Establishments to be used in future - HMS COLLINGWOOD (Electrical and Weapons), HMS DRYAD (Radar operators), HMS SULTAN (Marine Engineering), HMS EXCELLENT (Gunnery). Air Engineering School at Grail to move to Lee on Solent. HMS DAUNTLESS (WRNS), HMS VERNON (Torpedo School), HMS ROYAL ARTHUR (Leadership) and HMS CALEDONIA (Artificer Training) all to be closed.
RN patrols active to prevent arms smuggling into Ulster.
Russian visit to Rosyth presented problems related to use of RN radar in Forth area.
Salvage of coaster ST BRANDON in Bristol Channel carried out by HMS CAVALIER.
HMS WOTTON survived Storm Force weather conditions off Orkneys.
Foreign Stations
HMS BULWARK ‘Triad’ members in Chinese catering staff caused problems.
Beira patrol maintained at cost of £2.5M annually.
No RN fleet Aircraft Carrier available for Exercise BERSATU PADU in Indian Ocean in June. HMAS MELBOURNE took part. HMS BLAKE was withdrawn because of boiler problems. .HMS BULWARK left after initial phase to visit Japan to take part in EXP070.
Increased naval strength maintained in Mediterranean. Need for Standing NATO FORCE was now apparent but could not be implemented because of capability of Greek and Turkish ships. HMS FIFE, HMS ALBION, HMS ARK ROYAL and ships of Dartmouth Training Squadron deployed.
HMS INTREPID visited Mauritius with USS VALOUR.
Joint Defence Organisation to be set up in Malaysia after UK withdrawal from Singapore. Training to be continued in Far East.
Assistance provided in Pakistan after Flood damage (Operation BURLAP). HMS INTREPID, HMS HYDRA, HMS SIR GALAHAD and RFAs took part.
Extensive activities in West Indies included - HMS SIRIUS rescued survivors from ferry off St Kitts, deployed near Jamaica and Grand Cayman during political threats, and at San Juan, Puerto Rico during visit by Lord Mountbatten. HMS SIRIUS and HMS GRENVILLE at Bermuda during protests about visit by Prince Charles.
HMS GAVINGTON and HMS PUNCHESTON rescued crew of Maldavian ship in Persian Gulf.
HMS HERMES assisted repair work on Panamanian EARNER off Malta.
Protests made by Spain about exercises in Gibraltar area.
RFA ENNERDALE sank after hitting reef in Indian Ocean near Seychelles.
HMS ROTHESAY patrolled possible 'Splash Down’ area in S, Atlantic for APOLLO 13 Moon Mission.
RFAs deploys for transfer of stores from Libya required for planned RM exercise in Norway
HMS TRIUMPH assisted repair work on board Liberian tanker FAIR TRANSPORT in South China Sea
HMS YARNTON sent to Sharjah, Persian Gulf to enforce movement requirements during oil drilling operations.
Top 10 songs from this year
1970
1. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
2. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
3. Let It Be - The Beatles
4. Your Song - Elton John
5. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine - James Brown
6. Lola - The Kinks
7. Who'll Stop the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
8. Fire and Rain - James Taylor
9. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
10. All Right Now - Free
Top TEN TV shows
1. Miss World 1970 (BBC)
2. Benny Hill Show (ITV)
3. Eurovision Song Contest (BBC)
4. This is Your Life (ITV)
5. Coronation Street (ITV)
6. News at Ten (ITV)
7. Steptoe and Son (BBC)
8. Royal Variety (BBC)
9. Apollo 13 Splashdown (ITV)
10. Kate (ITV)
Great Sporting Moments: Brazil 4 Italy 1, 1970 World Cup final
To those who were there, and to the millions who watched it on television, the final of the 1970 World Cup was the consummate celebration of football, in which the good guys won - and won beautifully. Brian Viner looks back on a day of pure sporting joy.
Sealing the title on her sixth match point, Margaret Court outlasted Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9 in a two-hour, 28-minute match. Court would go on to win the Grand Slam that year, making her the second of only three women to accomplish that feat (Maureen Connolly Brinker, Steffi Graf).
other years to follow........... any suggestions?