If you have any feedback on how we can make our new website better please do contact us and we would like to hear from you.

 

 

International Submariners Association meeting in ISRAEL May  2010.

 

ON 20TH May 2010 Mike Kirk and Terry Spurling flew from Manchester to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The prime treason for the trip was to attend the 47th Conference of the International Submariners Associatilon.

Whilst I wished to attend the conference, the main reason for my travel was to re-visit the many Israeli Submariners and Base Staff who I had spent a great deal of time with during the build and sea trial phases of the Project 540 Submarines in the 70s

 


On arrival I was picked up by an old friend, Dan Tzur, who  deposited me at the Conference Hotel in Natanya. He then informed me that he and his wife Nilly would be picking Betty and I up the next morning, very early, for a visit to the Dead Sea and Massada.

 

For those not familiar with Massada, it is a cliff top fortress originally built by King Herod ( yes that King Herod) but gained fame as the final strong hold of the Jewish Zealots in their fight against the Romans after the sacking of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Zealots held out for a number of years against the Roman Siege, until the Romans eventually built a ramp up to the entrance to Massada and broke into the Fortress.They found that all the Jewish personnel were dead. It turned out that they had all decided to die rather than face Roman slavery. Each man had killed his entire family before drawing lots to decide who of the remaining men should die last. They then killed each other until the last man committed suicide.

A place very well worth a visit.

 

The next day we were picked hp by Dan and Nilly for an all day visit to Ceasarea. It turned out that one of our friends, Avram Peer the last Head of Commission on the P540 Programme, had trained as a relief tour guide for Caesarea. We had a most pleasant day and saw much more than would normally be the case for the average tourist. Much could be said about Caesarea, but this is not the place – think Ben Hur and the Hippodrome Chariot Races and you’ll get a flavour.

 

The ISA itself was due to start on Sunday 23rd May with a cocktail party and registration.  As each of us registered we were given a “goodies” bag along with details of each of the next three days’ activities.

 

Over 300 Members of the ISA registered – 150 Russian Submarines turned up with SA representatives from USA, Argentine, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Japan and of course Israel.

Each of the next three days started with being picked up at the Hotel at around 0800 with visits to a number of the obvious sites in Israel – Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Acro and the Holaucost Memorial  were the main locations. Each of the tour coaches had one of our hosts onboard, together with an Israeli Submariner and a First Aider.

 

On the afternoon of the third day we visited the Submarine Museum and the Naval Dockyard,

 It was the visit to the Museum that I had most anticipated. The main attraction at the site was the INS GAl which was the first of the three submarines we built in Barrow in the P540 Programme. It was strange to walk round that very small submarine and remember the build and Sea Trials we carried out in Scottish Waters. I had to remind myself how very strange much of that programme was – a German Designed Submarine, built in Barrow for use by the Israeli Navy. I often had to travel to Germany and CHair Meetings between VSEL, Israeli  and German Personnel. I often wondered what certain parts of the middle of the last century had been about.

We had Lunch directly in the shadow of Gal.

 

My most poignant moment of the whole visit was to stand alongside the Memorial to fallen Israeli Submariners in the Museum. The memorial itself was part of the Bridge Fin of the lost submarine INS DAAKAR. Daakar was lost with all hands (69) in 1968 whilst in transit from UK to Israel. What made it more memorable for me was that Daakar had previously been HMS TOTEM which I took to Malta in 1956 and served on  for 2 ½ years. Betty and the kids had spent many happy hours onboard that vessel when I was duty and moored in Msida Creek.

 

I have been asked to pen a few words re the loss and eventual location of Daakar – she was located in 1999 at a depth of 3000M. That article will appear later.

 

The visit to the Naval Dockyard in Haifa was marked by one of the new Israeli Dolphin Submarines surfacing in front of all those assembled on the Jetty without any of us being aware that a submarine was dived in the basin. Very impressive

 

The final evening of the ISA 2010 was a Gala Dinner with some speeches and presentation of memorabilia to specified persons. It closed with the hand over of the ISA Motif to the 2011 ISA country Representatives – the reps from Turkey as Istanbul is to be the 2011 venue.

 

I had never attended an ISA International Conference before but must state that I was impressed by the organisation and the comradeship displayed by those attending.

 

I will probably go to Istanbul next year. In view of the recent Gaza Blockade problems it will be interesting to see if Israeli Submariners are able to attend.

 

It might be worth suggesting that one or two of our Branch and their WAGS might like to consider joining us?



The Submarine Heritage Centre and the Submariners Association of Barrow-in-Furness have commissioned a series of paintings  by Tom Murphy,  a notable local Marine Artist, of all the Classes of Submarines built in the local Shipyard over the last 120 years.

It is worth noting that this Shipyard now going under the name of BAe, has designed and built over 72% of all  UK Submarines and quite a few for foreign countries.

This series is intended to represent  the development of the Submarine over that period. It reflects  the development of the submarine, from a very basic vessel, to the sophisticated Nuclear Vessel of the 21st Century.

As part of that programme of Heritage we now are putting together a “Big Book” to  show these paintings and the allied data to the world.

The Book will contain Plates of the 44 Classes of Submarine , together with a number of Submarines built for other countries. We shall also include twelve decade paintings reflecting the products,   other than  Submarines, produced by the Shipyard over that same period.

The Book will be a “Coffee Table” Hard Backed product with the Painting Plate on the right hand page with associated information on the left hand page.

The collection is now complete. We now need to attract funding for the publication of this unique product.

We are planning on 1000 copies of the Book. For this we shall require sponsorship of £25,000.

We are requesting  you to consider if you can suggest individuals or organisations we should approach for us to raise this amount. Clearly a simple sum suggests that if 25 persons, or organisations, offered £1K each we would be home and dry.

Anyone who does assist in any way will be listed in the acknowledgement section of the Book. It is also suggested that each Sponsor would have a few lines of script within the acknowledgement defining their link with submarines or support of submarines.

Our intention is to publish the Book in time for the 50th Anniversary of Nuclear Submarine Build, which occurs in September 2010.

We believe this project will highlight a major section of the UK Submarine History and is therefore really worthy of your support.  Anyone wishing to purchase a copy should let us know at info@hmsdreadnought.co.uk. The price has not yet been fixed but it will be in the order of £25 to£30.00.

Please contact SHC Ltd on tps@submarineheritage.com or 01229 820993 or 07900 920385

F


We are very sorry to report that another of our members has crossed the bar. The only information we have is that Brian was drowned in a boating accident, more information when and if we receive it.

B.E. (Brian) Chapman. L/Sea.UC1.  Sussex Branch. Age 66.   S/M. Service:1962-70

 The following clips have been "Borrowed" from  the British Pathe website who hold the Copyright on them.

They cover the Launch of the Dreadnought in 1963

Trials and a visit to Portsmouth in 1963

Trials at Gibraltar again in 1963

We  then jump to February 1968 when Peter Cobb was the C.O. He is shown on the periscope roundabout, a very young David Pulvertaft  in the Wardromm having dinner with the other young chaps, Brian Rutherford can just be seen on the left if you are quick. Coxn Ollie Hards dishing out the rum in the JR's mess and a cinema show in the S.Rates mess.

Two more clips, one of the Reso being launched by the Queen Mother and the other of her (the Reso) being commissioned, which may be of interest to some of you.

Please click on the links below.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=43224  Launching of Dreadnought 1963

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=69574 Trials & visit to Pompey 1963

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=43478 Dreadnought on trials off and at Gibraltar

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=2444 On board at  Sea 1968 (Peter Cobb C/O)

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=2445  Outakes from above

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44314 Launching of the Resoloution

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44929 Commissioning of the Resoloution

 

 

From W (Bill) McNeil

Monday, February 15, 2010.

Progress report number five.

 

Well folks it's that time again, the results are in and the long awaited verdict is looking good.

On 5 February I had to have an MRI scan along with a CT scan to check to see if the cancerous cells had shrunk. The outcome of this was to see if I was to have surgery early or continue with my chemotherapy for the full nine courses. On Monday the eighth I went to see my oncologist to find out they had scanned the wrong area! Left hand right hand springs to mind. After much passing the buck it was decided I was to go in for another scan on the 12th. What a way to spend your birthday. The results of this scan was to be revealed at 0815 Monday the 15th.

Having had a very restless weekend, due to sickness from the chemo I psyched myself up ready for the scan results.

My oncologist informed me that the tumour on my liver had reduced from 1.7 cm to less than 1 cm. He has therefore decided to put me forward for surgery to have the offending areas removed. The timescale for this should be within 4 to 6 weeks for surgery all being well. The surgery will take place at Blackburn Gen Hospital as opposed to Preston. My surgeon comes highly recommended as he was the mentor for my bowel surgeon, whom I could not praise enough.

The only downside is on completion of the operation I have two complete a further 6 courses of chemotherapy which will take another three months or thereabouts, I am certainly not looking forward to that.

Well I think that's about it for now, for once a bit of good news, I have had my chemo and blood lines removed, so I even feel a little more human.

Once more I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me by telephone, e-mail, visits and cards your support has been marvellous, my spirits have been kept on a high plane, thanks to all your words of encouragement.

So it's back to the waiting game but hopefully with a positive outcome.

I thank you for caring.

Regards Mac.


 

10th December 2009
Re David Kelway last known to be residing in the Cornwall area, if anyone knows his present address can they please get in touch with the webmaster at info@hmsdreadnought.co.uk

Following recieved after Sam Salt crossed the bar.

From Robert Dick 07-12-2009

So sorry to hear this sad news, the man was a 'true gent'

Rob

From Christopher and Peta Jane Field (Commander) Thank you, A  great man. What a sad day. 
Chris Field. 
Thank you.
TChris

From Brian Hall (Coxn) 07-12-2009.
Thanks Bruce, He'll be sorely missed.  I dont often get emotional but he was an exceptionally gifted  and talented submariner whose man management skills were second to none. Hope some remeber the  Salt Boxes used on the bridge of the Do'nut. 
Yours aye
Brian

From Paul Allison 07-12-2009
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for that, hadn't heard  Sam had crossed the Bar- how sad, good memories!
Best regards
Paul


email received this morning 7th December 009 from Jim Manningham.
Dear All,  sad to report that Wayne Lurcook crossed the bar yesterday afternoon (Sunday 6th December 2009) Further details and arrangements will be posted when known.

Signed   Lurch

December 5th, 2009

Sam Salts full obituary appears on the Obituary page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 info@hmsdreadnought.co.uk

  Site Map