Re: High seas
I was a soldier and due to my skills, or probably lack of them, I was exchanged with a Brit Navy Royal Marines Commando. He went to my unit, I to his.<br />I sailed in the HMS Albion, an old Pommy Aircraft Carrier with a straight thru flight deck, converted in to a Royal Marine Command Carrier. I recall there were a thousand or 2 of us idiots.<br />Anyway when we left Subic Bay for Hong Kong we struck, (or it struck us) a typhoon. Holy Mother of God, what a ride it gave us.<br />I am no sailor and know nothing about ships, but every few minutes the ship would vibrate like all hell and get a rear end shimmy, which would stop dead, throwing you around. The PO told me it happenned because the props were coming to the surface as the nose dived and the sudden stop was when the bow rose and the fast spinning props bit back in. I took his word for it.<br />Most of the Commandos were in the rear Hangar in Multi tiered bunks.The spu use to wash across the floor. You could hear it comming, so you would grab a cot and pull yourself up so it went under neath. As for the smell, who cares, put up with it and get on with life.<br />I never got sick. The benefits were, no que for meals in the mess. There was no one there. <br />the disadvantages were, those in good health got the "really" good jobs. Me, well I was put in the 40mm gun pit at the top of the island with a big big pair of binoculars. I think above the bridge. A merchant ship had put out a mayday/crew were in the water or something, and we were to look for them visually. Never saw a thing. Poor buggxrs.<br />Anyway from our position from the gun pit, you could see the nose dive, and all this water race over/or up (can't recall) the flight deck, hit the bottom of the Island and come straight up. Absolutely amazing.<br />They gave me one of those cots with sides that free wheel on single posts either end. I use to sleep with the light on, and watch one wall slowly come right around, then go down and the other wall come around from the other side. Every time i use to think to myself, this is it, its going right over.<br />Anyway I ate well and often, and really enjoyed Wan Chai when we got it.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip