On this date in the R.N.

[stokerstan]

On this day in1903 RNB Chatham was commissioned as H.M.S Pembroke. The barracks had cost £425,000
to build, and  previous accommodation had been three hulks anchored off, one of them named HMS Pembroke, the name was just transfered.

The barracks was built on the site of an old prison, not sure what that says, never got to Chats, but always thought old Pompey barracks had a bit of a "mind your fingers Jack"  about it !

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1891 the Whale Island gunnery school was commissioned !
     H.M.S. Excellent was born.

 Went there to drill for Churchills funeral, but only lasted a day ! was shouted at by all manner of chaps in shiny boots with whistles and sticks, (still have nightmares) ! I should have sued somebody !! Churchill recovered, I didn't.

[stokerstan]

 On this day in 1814 the great Admiral Alexander Hood 1st Viscount Bridpor died.

 This admiral got an awful lot of sea time in, and saw a great deal of action.

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1905, Fort Blockhouse was taken over from the Royal Engineers, and commissioned as HMS Dolphin. In 1999 it was closed down and the sub training moved into Raleigh. The famous 30ft escape training tower remained in place though and has reverted to the original name of Fort Blockhouse !


I suppose its a case of what goes round comes round. 

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1945 it was signaled that German U boats had been ordered to cease hostilities.

Donitz last message to his boats, "You have fought like lions. Unbeaten abd unblemished, lay down your arms after a heroic battle without equal".

Of the 1,155 boats that went into conflict, 725 had been lost. Crew members suffered 82% lost in action.

[stokerstan]

On this day in 1944, U473 was sunk by ships, Starling,Wild Goose and Wren, under the command of the legendary Walker R.N.
Walkers group had escorted the U.S. cruiser Milwaukee to Russia where she was made a gift to  the Russian Navy.The escort group had sunk two U boats,U653 and U961 on the way out, and sank U473 on the way back.
            30 survivors were picked up from the submarine.

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1801 HMS Speedy captured the Spanish ship Gamo, 15 miles off Barccelona.

The Gamo had been specially built with 32 guns to catch Speedy a 14 gun sloop, as the Spaniards had lost a large number of their ships to her. The first fight, was Gamos last and Speedy's Captain the great Thomas Cochrane went on the take many more prizes.
  He ended up being buried in Westminister Abbey having made it to 85 years of age.

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1917 the second experiment was carried out using sea lions to detect the presence of enemy submarines. Sea gulls had been tried earlier.
We packed it in at the end of the war, (WW1) but the Americans are still trying I hear ?  What ever ! do they have an RSPCA ? 

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1941 Petty Officer Alfred Edward Sephton won his V.C.
Serving on HMS Coventry off Crete, his ship was assisting a hospital ship that had come under attack from German fighter bombers. His position was hit by machine gun fire, and a bullet actually passed through Sephtons body and injured an A/B next to him. Badly injured and partially blinded P.O. Sephton remained at his post until the end of the engagement. He died of his wounds the following day.

[stokerstan]

On this date in1765 the Victualling yard at Gosport was officially established.
The yard was known as the "Weevil yard" until 1832 when it was expanded and renamed Royal Clarence Victualling yard.

Today the yard has been "excitingly redeveloped" its now waterside dwellings,with shops, pubs, and marina.
There may even be a "Burger Bar" in case Jack needs food, but cannot be sure about that, have not visited for many years.

[stokerstan]

On this day in 1756 Admiral John Byng fought an indecisive battle with a comparable sized French fleet off Minorca. The French had taken over Minorca, and got settled in the capital Port Mahon and seemed set to stay. Byng decided that beating the French was not really on, and took off back to Gibraltar, to guard the rock in case the French had any designs on that.
There Lordships it seems took a dim view of this, particularly after the French surrendered Port Mahon soon after, without a shot being fired.
  Admiral Byng for his troubles was court martialled and shot on the quarter deck of HMS Monarch.
 
No seat in the Lords or pension for him then !!

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1941 HMS Juno was sunk during the battle of Crete by German aircraft.

[stokerstan]

On this date in in 1943 all U-boats were recalled from the battle of the Atlantic.
Doenitz made the order after hearing that during the attack on convoy SC130 5 U-boats had been sunk without a single ship of the convoy being hit.
During May 1943 41 U-boats were lost in action, 38 of them in the Atlantic theatre.

[stokerstan]

On this date in 1822, the R.N. launched their first steam ship at Deptford.
The ship HMS Comet of 238 tons was not approved of by the First Sea Lord,Lord Melville, he thought it would detract from the effectivness of the fleet.

Anyway steam caught on.    Stokers rule O.K. !!!!

[stokerstan]

On this day in 1941 HMS Hood was sunk, and Prince of Wales damaged by Bismarck.

The engagement commenced at thirteen miles range at 0553.
Bismarck's second and third salvos struck the Hood at 0600, and she exploded.

Of Hoods crew of 1419 officers and men only 3 survived the action.