HMS Hermes Bay of Biscay 1979

[T66ORA]

I spent a couple of hours on Sunday scanning some of my old Navy photos, amongst them lots of Falklands 82, and this one of the big carrier in a bit of "rougher's"in the Bay of Biscay spring 1979,i thought id share it with you




Then entering Fort Lauradale Florida a couple of months later.

Edited by T66ORA on Tuesday 18th October 21:22

[T66ORA]

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.

[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

[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.

[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??