All in one go.
July 1966 to February 1967 Baron Wemyss. Hungry Hogarth's lovely introduction. Fanbtastic bloke as chief.
Didn't normally touch the radar unless it was on contract with RAMAC. I got overtime for fixing the non-contract Decca on my first trip.
Glad now that I got the Baron Wemyss rather than the one I was told I would join, Bendoran. Things might have turned out a bit different.

 

i was what was known at the time as a "company sponsored" cadet.........
with Cunard Brocklebank.
all the college holidays were spent onboard a ship........deep sea or coastal.......right from the beginning..........signing on as supernumary.
this was far from satisfactory, as i didnt know enough about anything to be of assistance to anyone. not a good situation to be in for a youngster at sea.
nevertheless, what doesnt kill you strengthens you, and when i was actually fully qualified, i had stacks of "sea-time" if not "operating time".........and knew "the ropes" in so many areas of the company business other than the strict job of running a ships radio/electronics department.
when it came to sailing 2/R/O/........ i was well aquainted with things which i would otherwise be beginning to learn.......
on the other hand ......there was also intense pressure to PASS FIRST TIME.........failure was truly not an option.

all in all.......... i am pleased i went through the sponsored scheme..........i was never short of cash, and the Cunard tag carried some weight in the college in different ways..........all bulls**t........but it sometimes worked to my advantage.
even so.... often envied those who took the orthodox route and seemed at first to have more "freedom".
a case of "horses for courses" i suppose.

i would be interested to hear from other company sponsored cadet r/o's ........and hear their experiences and views


best regards............

 

Joined Marconi at East Ham after getting my 2nd Class PMG in Jan. 59. Signed on "Orcades" as 5th R/O in mid March 59 at Tilbury and sailed away on a round the world trip. the chief and 2nd R/O's didn't stand watches, that was left to we lesser mortals although the 2nd did hover around me and the
4th on our respective watches for a few days ,to make sure we were up to the job. One very brief moment of seasickness on first night at sea and then nio problem with that ever again. Remember wobbly legs on first trip ashore,( Naples I think)Takes a while to get your land legs back (nothing to do with the booze). Out to a Aussie via Suez with the , " £10 poms", then a couple of trans Pacific cruises before heading home via the Panama Canal and Maderia.
Not bad for a first trip and loved every minute of it . Dining 1st class every night, mixing with the lovely ladies , seeing the world and getting paid for it,
Why ever did I leave ?

 

...mixing with the lovely ladies....

Lucky, lucky. Was on two Cunarders for a while and only heads of dept could visit the public areas. Sure, I ate like a king and had some lovely trips up the St. Lawrence, but the social life passenger-wise was non-existent. On one trip I was in the habit of chatting up a young lady emigrating to Canada with her family. This was noticed one evening by the Master-at-Arms and reported to the Chief Officer. I was duly b*******d by said Chief Officer and threatened with a logging for "tampering with the cargo". I had to wait a few more months before I had a trip on Anchor Line and was able to indulge in polite social intercourse with the fair sex.

I remember some years later as a first class passenger on the Canberra (married by then of course) being absolutely amazed at how even the juniors were encouraged to mix with the passengers.

 

Joined Marconi in 1974, first trip spent 5 months at anchor in Lobito. Then later the Chief Engineer drowned in Beira, the atmosphere was terrible for a time but I loved every minute of my first trip

 

I signed up for P&O Bulk Shipping Division in 1973, aged 19, having done my MRGC at Wray Castle and my Radar ticket at Brook's Bar.

Joined the ss Maloja/GDHQ (20,000 ton product carrier) in Los Angeles in November '73. She was a nice old ship, built in 1959, with very comfortable air conditioned midships accommodation. Hugely entertaining going down aft for meals in rough weather! I was lucky enough to have a really great senior R/O, an ex-Marconi guy in his mid-20s called Dave English who was on his first trip with P&O. He showed me the ropes and kept me entertained with an endless fund of stories. Trip was Anchorage, Alaska, then Curacao via Panama. Spent a month or so island-hopping in the Caribbean (Curacao x 2, Venezuela, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) then back through the Canal to LA & Seattle. Across the Pacific to Singapore via Honolulu, and paid off in Kuwait after 4 months. Not a bad first trip at all.

Still had 2 months to do to complete my sea time, so joined LPG carrier MV Garmula/GPEA in Houston in June '74. Steamed to Ras Tanura via the Cape and anchored for a month waiting for cargo. My senior R/O left by launch whilst we were there, and I was on my own! I was ready for it, too, loved running my own station at last

 

Never forget my first experience

I will never forget my first experience. I joined Clan MacIver on 3rd January 1972 in London. I was as green as a gooseberry. The Senior R/O was Frank (Warren?) or something or other. He was 65 and had his wife with him. He was a good old chap but had forget how to send morse and did not have a clue about Radar etc. I was put into the radio room straight away and never saw the guy until meal times. He was also tee-total and frowned on anyone who drank alcohol. I had to sneak in and out of the bar after the last shift.
In East Africa he was always ashore. He got me to paint the radio room and change the copper aerials. He refused to let people call home. The crew could not believe it when I told them they could speak with their relatives.......over the airwaves.

All in all it was a positive experience but talk about being thrown in at the deep end.......

Glyn Lewis

 

Looks like I was a lucky one.
Way before Monty Python I'd learned to "always look on the bright side" so joining a Baron boat instead of a Ben boat didn't really phase me. I still think I got the best of the deal.
I was helped by a lifetime of messing about in boats and sailing back and forth across the North Sea. I'd also done a trip as one of the lowest of the low as a mess boy on a Danish ship during summer hols while taking my ticket. Not quite the lowest, that honour went to the crew's peggy, but still an intro to what it entailed keeping the officers in their accustomed luxury. [=P]

 

Hi All,

It took me a year to get my six months in - 10th March 1964 till 19th March 1965.

1st - Esso Pembrokeshire - Milford Haven to Mid East then back to Finnart - paid off sick (stomach).

2nd - Laurentia did 4 trips - Glasgow to Montreal - on 4th trip - appendicitis going through the Belle Isle St - never had so much pain in my life - collapsed going up to the bridge for the OBS - thought the ships doctor would have to operate on the saloon table - did not look forward to that very much - was told that if it burst they only gave you 3 days to live - survived till we reached Montreal where it was whipped out - but as i was under 21 at the time had to wait till permission was given by my father - good job it did not burst.

3rd - Dunkyle -Birkenhead to Port Elizabeth to Birkenhead - iron ore - so at last managed my 6 months as junior.

Seagoing career nearly finished before getting started.

Iain T

 

My first ship was the Egidia did 3 months on her Glasgow to India remember Chief R/O P.J. Kelly great bloke who liked a dram or two. Then sent to Singapore to join Shell's Frenulina all on my ownsome pretty much in the deep end, but enjoyed it greatly.(Pint)

 

Reading lots of the threads about first trips and getting jobs I must have been very fortunate. I did write to lots of direct employ companies for a job but everyone seemed to want RO's with the required sea time. Some years later I had the opposite with everyone wanting juniors.
I digress. (Scribe)
I joined MIMCO in 64 and I was attached to the East Ham depot. After the initial medical etc I was sent home to await a ship. The call came and I was told to go to Shell Centre where I would receive my travel instructions. Arrived at the designated time and I was introduced to other crew members who were joining the ship. One of which was the relieving Capt Alec Brown. There were also a couple of wives. We then headed by train down to Harwich to catch the overnight ferry to Rotterdam. The ship was due in the next day or so. I suppose being with the Captain we were all booked into a very smart hotel. The news then came that the ship had been delayed by weather and was not going to arrived for a couple of days. Great fun clubing in Rotterdam before even setting foot on a ship.
Eventually she arrived and we headed off to Europort in taxis. My first view of the ship took me back - not really knowing what to expect. She was a stunning twin stack all aft tanker called Opalia/GLQA. At that time only about 2 years old.
Duly signed on and was shown to my cabin which was absolutely immense - on the lower deck forward. A bit of a climb back up to the saloon and the radio room but it was A1. There was even a lift!.
Met my Nr1 who I am ashamed to say I cannot remember his name. He was from the Emerald Isle and a really nice guy. We also had the pleasure of one of the early Hermes and Argus radar setups aboard. They kept us busy! Anyhow we did trips in the Med down to Nigeria then the Gulf and then Gulf to NZ and back up to Singapore and Gulf and eventually home. By which time I had more than my seatime. A great ship.

Hawkey01 (==D)

 

1st trip junior R/O(Shanghaied)

Unfortunately, joined Marconi's straight from Radio college 1967
in Liverpool, interview was "lets see your Ticket" yes ok, go and see doctor for medical and sign here!!
Was told to go to Newcastle to join a tanker going to P gulf and back to uk
4 month trip so i said yes ok. (Suez closed at that time). Even so i thought that is must be a very slow ship!!
Anyway joined the Border Boat in Smiths dock, Newcastle and sailed for gulf,
very good 1st R/O on board, taught me a lot.
I really got led up the garden path by GTZM as I was on her for 14 months, yes 14, after we eventually got LEFO, we got to the channel orders to discharge Isle of Grain. There the 1st R/O rang up the local GTZM depot and told them got a jnr on here with 14 months in, can he sign off here at go home?? they said where is she going next, he told them Newcastle for drydock, depot says tell him to stay on till Newcastle and go home from there. I said to myself what a shower of -----!! What a way to treat someone. I wasn't needed to take the ship to Newcastle.
So off we went to Newcastle missed the morning tide, had to wait till next tide, it was saturday afternoon, all the others onboard, were Geordie's, they all went home on saturday, poor old me had to wait till Monday to go to Newcastle office to report. I said i would go home and go to Liverpool office, they said NO you must go to the local office where paid off!!
I was not a happy chappy believe me, and when i then asked the local gtzm branch for £300. they said NO you cannot have that much, i said why??, i have been away 14 months and have worked for it and saved it up. anyway they would not give me the requested amount.
I went on leave and sent them a letter and told them where to put their job
in no uncertain terms and went elsewhere to work!!
Whilst away and after 6 months kept thinking, might get transferred to a BANK boat on Indian coast and sent away for another 2 years, luckily that did not happen.
Certainly saw a bit of the world on that trip, the Indian serang died
when up the gulf, the Captain and Chief engineer were marched ashore at gunpoint by the NLF in Mukalla Bay (200miles East of Aden) a few days after British troops pulled out of Aden, taken to a deserted airstrip and interrogated, the NLF had pinched a Djibouti airways Dakota plane, shot the Senior pilot dead and left them with just the co-pilot, the NLF were after
ATK, but Captain did not tell em we had 400 barrels of it in the forehold,
i know that because i had to count them IN to the hold because the local guys up the gulf could not count, so i earned myself a case of beer for doing that, only had two mates ch/off and 3rd/off as second mate paid off sick in Mina al ahmadi a while before and no more reliefs available.
The Captain and Ch.eng were allowed back on board after about 9 hours
and immediately ordered cast off and full ahead, (Were tied up to buoys doing a stern discharge)
This was in front page of newspapers back home, my mother doing her nut
as it said the radio room is silent they must have an armed guard on it, they didn't. She rang up the union played blue murder with them---I would not have minded but i had not joined the union then as i had been told one afternoon by Marconi's i must go tonite to join the ship and had not had time to join!!. Should have seen my mums face when i told her!
Had a fire on board, all Indian crew had suitcases and sewing machines and
push bikes in the lifeboats and lifeboats launched (down aft).
nobody went to Fire stations of the indian crew, so if it was not for the ch/off and 3rd/off and a few engineers we could have been in very real trouble!! I must point out that NO abandon ship or launch lifeboats signals had been given. They said "sod you lot" we are off!!
Do not think Captain impressed by this behaviour at all and I believe all were logged, was not impressed myself either.!!
Also had to divert from course Japan to Gulf to drop a "sick" indian seaman off in Philippines---Manila, "supposed" to have possible stomach problem requiring immediate attention, XXX's to Hongkong for Medical advice
they said "must divert" to nearest port.
Anyway we dropped him in Manila and proceeded back to P.gulf again.
Got a report he did not have stomach problems, but used the same symptoms he had previously had when he was sick a few years before and required an operation. Basically nothing wrong except a dose of clap
he must have picked up from a five bob jiggy_ jig_ jig.
He was sent home to India from Philipines.
Captain informed BP and Common Brothers and Indian Pool this man must not be allowed to to sail on ANY BP or British ship in the future.
A few months later with an Indian crew change in Dubai, who walks up the gangway---yes you guessed it, MR TUMMYACHE!! from Bombay.
We could not believe our eyes.
Later in the long voyage we were approaching P.gulf when we got orders to go to So and So and load x thousand tons of oil to take to MUKALLA BAY
(again), well you should have seen the Captains face when he saw that
message. He replied to BP telling them in no uncertain terms we were NOT going to there again.
Next day we got new orders, load gulf for Japan again. Better than mukalla bay anyday!!
All in all a long trip but had a few good laughs but not at all impressed with marconi's treatment of their JR/O's. FTF(Cloud)

 

First Ship.

I got my 2nd Class PMG in March 1956 and joined MIMCO. I was asked to report to the Liverpool Office were I was sent for a medical at Clatterbridge Hospital on the Wirral.I was then directed to the Shipping Office were I was given my Discharge Book and ID card. I was then told to report to the Cunarder Parthia in Huskisson dock.I was supposed to ask for the Ist R/O, Mr Sullivan. When I got there I couldnt find anybody who was the least bit interested in me. The Radio Room was locked up, as were the cabins of the 2 senior R/Os. I hung around for a while and then gave up and went back home to Manchester.I returned next morning,which was Friday just in time for my first boat drill.Things livened up from then and I met my 2 seniors Mr Sullivan and Mr Markham. They were two pleasant elderly gentlemen, probably in their last few years at sea.I hope they had a long and enjoyable retirement.

I stayed aboard that night and the following morning, Saturday, we went alongside the Princess Landing Stage to take on the passengers, and in the afternoon we sailed for New York.We all stood a watch and I drew the 12-4. The main concern of the 2nd RO was how well I went at receiving the press,because until he was satisfied, he had to do it.I must have coped reasonably well, since I was pretty soon left alone. I have to confess however at making up some of the stock market numbers.

I was horribly seasick for about the first four days, which wasn't helped by the tobacco fumes that emanated from the seconds pipe.I was regularly fortified during the night watch by hourly rations of a pot of tea and rounds of buttered toast. I finally managed to face the food on offer, which was to my mind, quite lavish.

I settled into a pleasant sea going routine of a week across to New York, a week in New York, a week back to Liverpool and about the same amount of time in Liverpool.The writing was on the wall for ships like the Parthia which maintained quite a large staff for the passengers, but who were underemployed most of the time and in fact the passenger numbers were dropping drastically, the most we ever carried during my time was about 65, Eastbound. I think 1956 was the time air travel across the Atlantic overtook sea travel, and I must say that the atrocious weather thrown up by the Western Ocean was to be avoided if possible.

We were not allowed to mix with the passengers, my instructions were to politely answer any queries and then withdraw.I was allowed to attend the film shows which were run in the passengers lounge.

My pay was about 24 pounds per month with the right to draw 8 pounds per month from the ship. As you can imagine this didn't go very far, I seem to remember $4 US being my lot for a week in NY, kept me out of trouble. Luckily at that time there was the Merchant Navy Officers Club in a hotel just off Times Square, which was somewhere to go, and I don't think hamburgers at the Market Diner were all that expensive.

In New York we berthed alongside the 2 Queens, the Mauritania and the Caronia and just across from the Bermuda boats. The whole experience was quite something for a 17 year old.

I did my 6 months and then signed off and was sent to T& J Harrisons.

 

First trip

After reading some of the postings above, my first trip seems very mundane.
Joined Methane Progress (owned by Conch Methane, operated by Shell tankers) in Belfast in September 1968 and spent 6 months on the route Canvey Island to Arzew in Algeria. Fairly busy with radio traffic and regular
skeds with sister ship Methane Princess. The senior mostly left me to get on with things and I learned a lot on that ship.
After some leave I joined ss Purnea/GFFJ (British India) in Tilbury and sailed on her for 13 months. What a great trip, Europe, Canaries, South Africa, Red Sea, Pakistan and all points East including Australia and NZ.
During my 10 years at sea I only sailed on one non BI ship.

 

Junior R/O time

Joined my First ship the ACT5 in Seaforth dock Liverpool August 1976, first stop Melbourne then to Sydney (Balmain not Botany Bay) Auckland Wellington back to Tilbury via Panama Canal all in just over two months. Next trip as junior was with Booker Line and one of their stalwart R/O's Alan Moss who had been there so long the saying onboard was that in the beginning God created Mossy then he built the Booker Vanguard. Again Liverpool with general cargo to the Caribbean islands of Tortola, St. Lucia Antigua and Trinidad followed by Paramibo in Surinam and turnaround in Georgetown Guyana where bulk Demerra sugar loaded back to Liverpool all in two months so still had two month seatime left a a junior. It seemed that I had progressed well enough to be let loose on a coastal tanker on my own for last two months so it was off to Milford Haven and the little Esso Inverness where I relieved an older R/O who's discharge book read like the history of post war Cunard with all their passenger ships in it. So for two months pottered right round the UK with various grades of petrol and Naptha to ports as diverse as Holy Loch(royal navy base) near Glasgow, Dublin, Immingham, Plymouth and yes actually went to Inverness....happy little ship. So after a good leave a call from Dave Wardley at IMRC sent me off deep sea for the first time on my own from all places Portishead on one of only two bulk phospherous carriers in the world at that time but thats a story for another day when its cold and wet outside and have a long time to recall one of my more memorable outings.

Niggle

 

Joined my First ship the ACT5 in Seaforth dock Liverpool August 1976, first stop Melbourne then to Sydney (Balmain not Botany Bay) Auckland Wellington back to Tilbury via Panama Canal all in just over two months. Next trip as junior was with Booker Line and one of their stalwart R/O's Alan Moss who had been there so long the saying onboard was that in the beginning God created Mossy then he built the Booker Vanguard. Again Liverpool with general cargo to the Caribbean islands of Tortola, St. Lucia Antigua and Trinidad followed by Paramibo in Surinam and turnaround in Georgetown Guyana where bulk Demerra sugar loaded back to Liverpool all in two months so still had two month seatime left a a junior. It seemed that I had progressed well enough to be let loose on a coastal tanker on my own for last two months so it was off to Milford Haven and the little Esso Inverness where I relieved an older R/O who's discharge book read like the history of post war Cunard with all their passenger ships in it. So for two months pottered right round the UK with various grades of petrol and Naptha to ports as diverse as Holy Loch(royal navy base) near Glasgow, Dublin, Immingham, Plymouth and yes actually went to Inverness....happy little ship. So after a good leave a call from Dave Wardley at IMRC sent me off deep sea for the first time on my own from all places Portishead on one of only two bulk phospherous carriers in the world at that time but thats a story for another day when its cold and wet outside and have a long time to recall one of my more memorable outings.

Niggle

It seemed a 'regular' route for IMRC juniors

I did one trip on Denholms Arctic Troll, followed by two on Booker Viking (the regular sparkie was Don Macrae, who had a similar pedigree to Mossy)
That two month trip to the West Indies was a fantastic run and running out of Liverpool, my home port at the time (lived about 25 miles away)

Was also allowed on the Esso Inverness with still one month of my 'six' to do.
The chief engineer used to do the run up the road for the papers. seemed to spend more time in port than at sea!

 

My First Ship.....

.....mv Ripon/GVJK. Bolton SS Co Ltd. Joined it in Cardiff for short trip to Amsterdam then back to Birkenhead. That was while serving with Marconi Co. Typical of Marconi in those days - sent off my application. Back came the reply that they would be prepared to interview me "to see if I was a suitable candidate to join them." And while you are at it, bring your deep sea kit with you as we have a suitable ship all ready for you.

So it was off to Mountstuart Dry Dock in Cardiff to join mv Ripon. Great ship (at least it seemed so at the time). Old man was an alcoholic who had a habit of sacking me from time to time (when he was p----d) and then reinstating me the next morning when he was sober. Mostly a very uneventful six months spent aboard this vessel - the usual ports visited by bulkers of that time. Vitoria (Brazil), Conakry (West Africa) and Sagunto (Spain) and Seven Islands (Canada). However, we did get one unusual charter which was to load in Brazil for discharge in Philadelphia. Nobody aboard the ship would believe us when we received the orders by radio the previous voyage saying we were off to Philly. It was unheard of in those days for a Boltons ship to visit the States.

During one passage whilst inbound to Cardiff for discharge, the senior RO and I were on the 2000-2200 GMT watch when we picked up SOS from a small Spanish freighter which had lost its rudder in a storm to the southwest of Ireland. A good feat of seamanship followed by the Master (yes - he who usually "sacked" me) when we managed to get a line aboard her and took her in tow. 24 hours later, we dropped the tow in Cork and continued on our voyage to Cardiff. The long and short of it was that I received my first (and only) salvage award - the princely sum of £50 which was a month's wages to me in those days (1966).

Rest of the time spent aboard GVJK was very ordinary. At the end of my time, I had a quick turn around from GTZM - I was sent almost immediately to Southampton to joint the magnificent Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross/GSWW. Round the world in 77 days. Magnificent times. Those were the days.

 

I completed 2nd class at Earls Court, London. Joined GTZM at Eat Ham and sent to Liverpool to join Baron Inverclyde about 1961. Reasonable trip down to Durban via Dakar and Capetown. Little did we know what was to come. ON the way home around the Canary Islands we broke down, I think it was salt water in the boilers. Engines were shut down and a Dutch tug was sent to tow us into Las Palmas. There was no power and sea water leaking into the E/room! The first Dutch tug left for another job and another one towed us out of Las Palmas only to break down! Back to Las Palmas! Fixed the tug and we started the long tow back to Glasgow via Lisbon. I guess I thought it was an interesting first trip. I was 2/ro my chief was Mike Corry, whom I still remain in contact
Ken

 

I did two trips under Alan Moss on the Booker Vanguard - probably the perfect introduction to life as a sea-going R/O. Then on the container ship Columbia Star to the west coast of the USA and Canada and back to Europe. Finally the Wellington Star, from London's KG5 dock (now London City Airport) to New Zealand via Pitcairn Island. My senior, John Jackson, paid off in Lyttleton so my first trip in charge was round the NZ coast and back to Avonmouth via Curacao.

Rob

 

Did 2nd class and radar at Leith Nautical , went with P&O straight away in1969 after a couple of months going between Soton and Tilbury the two passy boat terminals on the Iberia, Himalya and a couple of others I cant remember ( grey cells are going fast) doing a couple of weeks on each babysitting the ships while the permanent guys were on leave went as J/R/O on the Pando Cove MLQP ( ex Comorin ex Singapore) built in 1948 no AC We had a new Ericsson transmitter that could blast out 2kw and in fact it was so powerful it generated enough eddy currents to light the 24v light by itself !! we went from KG5 to Panama then through the canal to Japan , half way across we ran into a hurricane and were stuck for three days more or less in one place enough so that bunkers were in short supply so we went back to Hawaii for three days till we could get some , imagine 3 days in Hawaii with no cargo to work , trouble was the drinking age in Hawaii was 21 and a number of us were well under that age !! anyway off to Japan then Taiwan ,Hong Kong , Singapore, Durban and back to the UK couple of weeks leave then of again on the B run which if I remember correctly was out to
Japan the other way then back again going east to west with all the usual stops on the way, by that time I had my 6 months in so they took me off and put me on the Canberra as junior 4th ,, 8th of 8 R/O's. great days !!

 

Welcome aboard, Ian.
Sounds like a good introduction to a life in the radio room.
Most of you guys make my first trip with Hungry Hogarth's in 1966 look like a walk in the park.

 

I
I do remember the radar though, a Decca, with the transmitter up in the scanner. They had mentioned the model on the BOT Radar course at Leith, but then said we would never see one. I saw one. Close up. (POP)

That little radar was a marvelous thing, the receiver bolted to a bulkhead or was tucked under a settee. Came out if I remember right in '51/2 when standard marine radars came in huge metal houses that were welded onto the monkey island minimum 50 kw pulse and cost a bundle.

Decca used a tiny little klystron at (If I remember right) 10kw pulse and as you say, it was tucked under the antenna. On short range work it had the shortest pulse width available and would pick up a bouy in rough water.

And the whole thing sold for seven thousand quid..... and could be installed in an afternoon or less
Them were the days de chas (Pint)

 

Ian. I did my 2nd Class and Radar at Leith, left in 1970. I'd started to go for a 1st but ran out of money, so wandered down to the Marconi depot and got a job. I don't remember many names from that day, but I lost a few months in 1968 after breaking my leg on an old BSA.
Charles, yup that radar would fit. The old coaster I was on was built in the late 40s. For some reason I thought it was called a Decca 45, but I'm probably thinking of the bloody records (Bill Haley/Beatles and such) I used to buy. Seem to remember the parabolic scanner was a double decker, transmitting and receiving.
I once sailed with a small japanese radar that used the same idea of putting the transmitter/receiver up in the scanner assembly (saves on waveguides, but changing a magnetron in bad weather was a bit of a no no unless you want to do an Ellen Macarthur up the mast).

 

That would be a double-cheese antenna ,no TR cell required and a very short waveguide rgds J

 

I got my 2nd class at Grimsby in 1967 and joined MIMCO, they somehow forgot about me for a month and I joined Ben Nevis in KG5, the Chief was Ray Burn. Nothing unusual, voyage round the Cape, apart from me being violently ill, (the Suez Canal being closed), to the Far East with Christmas in Hong Kong.

We arrived back in Singapore and Ray went up the road to see the doctor because he had a small pain in his lower abdomen – appendicitis! I then had to do the job up to Swetenam and Penang when he rejoined and have a quit voyage back home. My second ship was Lancing one of Steve Clark’s colliers running Goole to Shoreham, went for a month and stayed for 5.

In 1976 I was on Specialist/ GUVU, one of Harrisons big bulk carriers brand new out of Copenhagen (should have been called comedian, we had two Bob Hope’s and a Mike Yarwood). For some reason they gave me a second and all was fine for the first month, across the Atlantic and back to discharge in Hamburg. The R/O’s cabin was next door to the radio room and in it was a reclining leather chair, so one afternoon going down the channel I decided to go and put my feet up, well what could go wrong! I must have dozed off for a second or two when I woke up to the following:-
Niton Radio this is Goo Vuuuu, Niton Radio this is Goo ......... that is about as far as he got before the hand-set was nearly rammed up his nether regions. I cannot remember his explanation, not very good from what I remember, and after a run in with the old man he was removed when we got back to Europe.

 

Hi All
Joined Marconi 1964 As Junior RO On The "Baron Minto" In Liverpool The Chief
RO Was Also From Dublin, But To Give His name Here I Would End Up In Court.
If He His Still Around, I Hope He Reads This. After About 6 Mths Of Doing Nothing In The Shack Except Clean The Brass And Fault Find On The OSpan
"Yes" He Would Put Faults On The Gear In The Mid Pacific As He Said It was
Good Taining For Junior ROs So As When The Span Blew Up, Or The Rest Of The Gear I Would Be A Expert At Clearing Faults "I Do Not Lie"

After About Seven Months He Jumped Ship In Townsville, The Rest Is History
Only To Say That I Got More QSPs Than Any Other RO In The MN Cos I had
Not A Clue How To Send any MSGs Or Run The Station, But Learned The hard
Way. If Any Other ROs Can Beat That Experience I Would Love To Hear From
You.

Paid Off In Liverpool 12 Months Later. Headed For The Depot And The Poor
Old Personnel Guy "No Names" Now Did Not Believe My Story. Was I Stupid
Or marconi? To This Day I Never Received Any Letters Etc Regarding The Chief RO........... My Finger Is Itching Now To Let You Know His Name, Lets
Say "NR" Thanks And Happy Memories.

RO Vintage (Marconi 22271)

 

Hiya, Spats:

Couldn't you get to the last reunion - it's not too far from Minneapolis to the Station Hotel, surely?

 

Well, my JRO time seems quite mundane and boring compared with some !

I emerged from Norwood Tech in December 1970 with a 2nd PMG and (only just) failed BOT radar to 4 interviews, BP, RFA, Reardon Smith, and B & C. I deliberately chose not to apply to Marconi, having heard some stories about them from the college lecturers, anyway the Direct Employ companies paid better. From this came 3 offers, BP, B & C, Reardons; RFA said they'd let me know, I'm still waiting !

Joined B & C, stood by S A Oranje for a few days in Jan 1971 then sent to KGV London to join Rothesay Castle, RO was Roger Perks who also had his wife aboard. Voyage was Hamburg, Rotterdam, Las Palmas and the usual Cape ports to Beira with general, then back to load the first fruit of the season from Durban, PE and Cape Town for Le Havre and Southampton. I can remember being horribly seasick going down channel in a force 9 (but so was Nelson); leaving it rather late to get back to the ship in Rotterdam; all that steam shunting the docks in South Africa; an 'interesting' run ashore in LM; and absolutely nothing at all of 21st birthday which took place crossing the channel from Le Havre to Southampton. I don't think my parents were too impressed by my condition the following day ....

That was exactly 3 months, which was followed by 3 trips as 4th (of 4) on Edinburgh Castle with a superb Chief, R MacCormack, what a gentleman, even took my watch on Crossing the Line day so I could see what went on.

After a total of 208 days seatime (should have been 182) I was sent away on my own to join Clan Macleod on a voyage to India via the Cape and Mauritius. No air con, no hot water in the cabins, but what a great trip, great crowd, just on 6 months.

Those were the days ....