HMS Hermes Bay of Biscay 1979

[Eric Mc]

The original Sea Harrier colour scheme was Extra Dark Sea Grey upper surfaces and gloss white undersides. On the way down to the South Atlantic yhey were hastilly repainted in all over grey using whatever greys were to hand. They never reverted to their pre 1982 colours.

[T66ORA]

When HMS Illustrious sailed for the South Atlantic in early June 82, BEFORE the cease fire {she was commissioned on route} it left with 2 AEW converted Sea Kings,and 2 Harriers that is all the available aircraft we had left, the Atlantic Conveyor had the reserve aircraft, Illustrious eventual took Hermes Harriers,

The second of the class was plagued with After aircraft lift problems, and cooling water problems with the Aft Phalanx, which were fitted with assistants of our American allies, half a dozen US Navy personal sailed with ship and left at Ascension, the cooling problem was rectified by using fire hoses and a bodged connection IIRC
The aircraft lift were hydraulic and were always over pressurising causing leaks, sometimes just fine high pressure spray which went every were

[Eric Mc]

If often think that Operation Corporate would have been more accurately named Operation Bodge.

[T66ORA]

perdu said:

Thanks for showing us these

lovely shot of the wide flat bit all wettish

[cheekygit]psst, got any more guv? They are great[/cheekygit]

I`ll upload some more when i have some more time.

Here is one showing some of the Falklands Task Force, HM ships Invincible,Illustrious,Bristol, a TYPE 21 and the nose of a TYPE 42,
I have some more from my own collection featuring a TYPE 22 doing some "goalkeeping" duties, and a steam by of Invincible. I will get them up soon if your interested.



Another of Illustrious meeting Hermes.

[perdu]

Thanks for these, yes please more, many more if you have them. They are great.

I always think the Hermes looked far more like a proper job than the "Through Deck Cruisers".

I saw her in Portsmouth harbour later that summer (I think it was in 82).

Boy she looked mighty high up from that little Tripper's Boat ("I can't go much closer, they'll shoot me" said the old guy driving the boat.)

[Vipers]

Lovely pictures, when we had a navy, good old days, fortunately I never got to serve on a carrier, but I did serve on

HMS Lion (Cruiser), her sister ship HMS Tiger had the ski jump fitted, orrible..
HMS Hampshire (Guided missile destroyer)
HMS Minerva (Leander class frigate)
HMS Sheraton (ton class, minesweeper)

As no doubt of you are old navy guys, you may appreciate this little joke.

A seaman joins a ship in Guz
Jossman says "Name"
Seaman says "Bug"
Jossman says "Bee U Gee?"
Seaman says "No I be UA"

Served from 61 (15 then) till 75, throughly enjoyed it.

Edited by Vipers on Thursday 20th October 20:56

[Vipers]

Matt Harper said:

One of my closest friends was a MEM on that ship - at that time. Hackford, his name is - more commonly referred to as "The Bison". Scary fker.....

Remember when stokers were called "Mechanical Engineers", and the Petty Officers were known(as Petty Officer Mechanical Engineers) POME

We were always waiting for one to join with the surname of Grannet.

[Le Mans Visitor]

Please post more pictures, My Dad served on the Hermes and was on Invincible during the Falklands.

[daveparry]

I served as a Stoker on Albion in 1972 and Bulwark as a Killick Stoker in 1980! good ships

[T66ORA]

Le Mans Visitor said:

Please post more pictures, My Dad served on the Hermes and was on Invincible during the Falklands.

He will remember this then

[T66ORA]

Le Mans Visitor said:

Please post more pictures, My Dad served on the Hermes and was on Invincible during the Falklands.

Dave
Just looked at your profile, the name Hedges rings a few bells, was he in Marine engineering branch??

[phumy]

T66ORA said:

The first Sea Harrier trials were on the same deployment as the photos, 1979, might have some photos in the loft, the Harriers were light blue and grey IIRC.

I`ve never heard a bad word said about "Happy H" until this thread

I know two lads who went on the same course as me, when Hermes was in refit for it`s "nose job" 80/81, they got drafted to HMS Ardent early in 1982.

RiP "Knocker" White and "Bungy" Williams

Hermes might have been a rusty old Tub? but she was well armoured, being designed during the second world war, i know what ship would have preferred to be on.

As you have served in the Andrew you will know that everyone is different and some have good drafts and some dont, Hermes for me was that bad draft, mainly due to the way it was run at that time, maybe Dan Dare had left when you was on board. I was in 5E Stbd mess with about 120 other young stokers, i was 21 at the time and one of the oldest in the mess at that time as well. My favourite draft was HMS Eskimo, great ship and great crew too.....someone will come along now and tell me it was ste ship.....

[Vipers]

phumy said:

My favourite draft was HMS Eskimo,

HMS Eskimo, I seem to recall they had some kind of alliance with Eskimo frozen foods, I was on HMS Sheraton, a ton class sweeper, apparantly the Captain, (Soapy Watson) tried to form some kind of alliance with Sheraton Hotel chains whilst we were in Hong Kong, (Anything for free booze, - Tiger and San Mig), they politely told us to ps off.

[Seight_Returns]

I gather the ship's company of HMS Beaver tried to enter into a similar agreement.

Edited by Seight_Returns on Friday 21st October 07:01

[phumy]

Vipers said:

phumy said:

My favourite draft was HMS Eskimo,

HMS Eskimo, I seem to recall they had some kind of alliance with Eskimo frozen foods, I was on HMS Sheraton, a ton class sweeper, apparantly the Captain, (Soapy Watson) tried to form some kind of alliance with Sheraton Hotel chains whilst we were in Hong Kong, (Anything for free booze, - Tiger and San Mig), they politely told us to ps off.

Not sure Eskimo frozen foods was around in '76 when i was on it, so i wouldn't have known. However i do know that a lot of the crew had a strong alliance with the Lost Young Ladies Refuge of Chatham and Gillingham.

[Vipers]

phumy said:

Vipers said:

phumy said:

My favourite draft was HMS Eskimo,

HMS Eskimo, I seem to recall they had some kind of alliance with Eskimo frozen foods, I was on HMS Sheraton, a ton class sweeper, apparantly the Captain, (Soapy Watson) tried to form some kind of alliance with Sheraton Hotel chains whilst we were in Hong Kong, (Anything for free booze, - Tiger and San Mig), they politely told us to ps off.

Not sure Eskimo frozen foods was around in '76 when i was on it, so i wouldn't have known. However i do know that a lot of the crew had a strong alliance with the Lost Young Ladies Refuge of Chatham and Gillingham.

76 you say! gordon bennit, I was thinking when I were a lad in the Andrew in around 66.

Oh and I didn't know there was a Lost Young Ladies Refuge in Chatham

I knew there was one in Pompey and Guz. (I do hope our readers know why it was called Guz)

[Elroy Blue]

Vipers said:

HMS Eskimo, I seem to recall they had some kind of alliance with Eskimo frozen foods, I was on HMS Sheraton, a ton class sweeper, apparantly the Captain, (Soapy Watson) tried to form some kind of alliance with Sheraton Hotel chains whilst we were in Hong Kong, (Anything for free booze, - Tiger and San Mig), they politely told us to ps off.

Another HMS Sheraton refugee here. I'm a tad later then you and left the ship a few months before she was decommissioned. Rolled like weeble on a windy day.

[Shar2]

I can't hope to match all the old salts on here, but I've got a few pics of when I served on Lusty and Vinnie. Here's all three CVS's off Cornwall in 1989.



Invincible at the ranges off San Juan

[DBSV8]

sorry for the Hijack

but remembered as a lad going to Spithead to watch the silver jubilee celebrations in 1977 ,

fantastic array of RN ships in attendance ,




found a website with a review of some of the type 42 Frigates

heres F 38 HMS Arethusa



at the review and her subsequent demise in 1991 used as target practice. She took a lot of punishment before she was sunk helicopter-launched missile, two torpedoes and two depth charges, and by bombs dropped from fixed wing aircraft.

[phumy]

DBSV8

What an amazing set of pictures you have put on there, excellent. The shot of the Jubilee is great i was on the Hermes at that time, i think she is the one on the left of the picture in the foreground, so to speak. The pictures of HMS Arethusa are just as amazing but in a different and sad way, to see one of our own Navy frigates getting blown away is not a nice sight to see but is something that needs to be seen.

Great stuff, do you have any more......

I was in the RN for nearly 8 years, in the 70's and wondered what i did with my life whilst visiting far flung places and going on all kinds of obscure exercises with different Navies, did i take any decent photos? did i bugger, i can sit and kick myself now. Its people like yourself who have these photos and put them on here, that now i can sit and say ive been there and done that. Thanks.