HMS Albion - to be

[JR]

Wully,The only time I went aboard the Albion was when she was Fleet Carrier at Suez,after a couple of days ashore in Port Said we went aboard for wash and brush up and a good meal the Marine detachment did us proud, Blue and Green again!.Aye JR

[Wully]

JR, it was 1958/59 that she did the world cruise, a few years after you were onboard. I was on the Newfoundland in '56; just coming to the end of an eighteen months commission ion the Far East.

[JR]

Wully,Just to let the youngsters know,The Only ship-to-ship action during the Suez operation 1956 and the last time Royal manned the big guns was when HMS Newfoundland sank a Egyptian destroyer in the red sea just south of the Gulf of Aqaba.The Royal Marines connection with big ships Gunnery was drawing to a close in 1956 hence the last time a RM guns crew went into action.Aye JR

[Wully]

True JR. I was the gun layer on the centre gun of 'Y' turret; 'Y' turret was always the Royal Marine turrent because it was on the quarterdeck and was a show piece. When we first went to the Far East our first action was to fire one six inch shell every three minutes for 24 hours into the Malaya jungle where we were supposed to cause havoc amongst the communist rebels. When they army guys went into the area after the bombardment all they found was one dead monkey!!!!

[harry hackedoff]

Not much sleep, that night, then boys
Aye, Harry

[El Prez]

I was on a ship that ran aground twice in the same day and nobody but nobody said a thing! Couldn't believe that such shoddy seamanship would go unnoticed, but that's the Torpoint Ferry for you!

[JR]

Torpoint Ferry Rob,A bit more sea time?.Aye JR

[Wully]

There used to be an old matelot saying to the effect: 'I've spent more time on one wave than you've spent at sea'

[El Prez]

Do you still get nostalgic for that sea breeze of an evening, the ships wake disappearing into the darkening distance, the murmur of Bootnecks on the gun sponsons, sipping tea, or beer. the brat phoned me last time she was in the Eastern Med, and I heard this swishing noise in the background over the mobile, and I asked, "You topside then?" She chuckled good and hard and replied "No Dad, I'm sitting beside a fan in a bar!"

Poor old Dad, always the last one to catch on.

[John_D]

We were on exersice with the Yanks,[I think it was 1958.
the ship was either the Striker or the Reggio, the Skiiper went
full screws turning Bow doors opening right up the beech at
HOLMS N/Africa,we were stuck there for ages Even after the Shefield,
a Tug and one other try to pull us off without seccess


Aye
John_D

[JR]

John_D, I was on the Striker in 1953 She came out of re-fit Pompey D/yard after having Davits Fitted,then tasked to take a Centurian Tank to Norway,Just rounded to top end of Scotland into the North sea,Gale force Winds Bloody Tank broke loose in the tank deck, Clear lower deck of seamen and Royal Marines spent most of the night securing the damm thing,mind you good run ashore in Oslo.Aye JR

[John_D]

I think it was the same ship,enrout to Cyprus there were afew vehicles
went over the side, [ Human error ]

Aye

john_D

[ratso]

http://www.mckennas.demon.co.uk/uklst.htm
a few pics of Striker for you young gentlemen to remember your youth.

It's great that there is so much info on the internet.

[John_D]

After enlarging the photo I find that it was the REGGIO LST 3511
Trouble is I cant put it on the site,so that you can see the bow doors

Aye

John_D

[JR]

Cheers ratso,Glad to see that the Tigers Head Motif was retained just above the bow doors,another job that the Dtachment carried out was to secure the Ramp and bow doors when getting under way with bloody great bottle clips the 'oggin' used to surge in betwen the ramp and bow doors, bow door party soaking wet.Aye JR