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that they could only transmit not receive; furthermore the limited range of the radio equipment meant that at times the spotting aircraft had to withdraw nearer to the firing ships from its observing location in order to establish communications. The balloons were operated by a 4000 ton former tramp steamer, the SS Manica. An intrepid RN officer aloft in the basket beneath the balloon passed corrections by telephone line down to the balloon ship and from there they were sent to the firing monitor by lamp or flag. A laborious process.
The monitor could of course close with the coast so as to be in a position to engage targets by direct fire, however the targets still had to be indicated by someone, and additionally there was always the chance that counter fire might be a threat – remember that the “small monitor” class were constructed of half inch steel! A further factor to be considered is the lack of maps; it is thought that ad hoc maps were gradually built up from air photographs and ground observations, and eventually much of the
operational area of the Gallipoli Peninsula was covered by a fairly crude grid, but whether there was any relationship with RN charts is unknown. One account I have seen has it that the initial aim was to get a round into the correct map square, then take it from there. So there it is – all of 99 years ago our predecessors were at - in a sort of a way! But do go and have a look at the little baby in Pompey – it’ll only cost you the price of a couple of fish suppers!
A NAVAL OFFICER’S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE ST ALBAN’S HEAD RANGE
by Commodore Geoffrey Edwardes OBE RN
(The author is an Honorary Member of the ABA) It seems only a short while ago but it is nearly nine years since The Flag Officer Sea Training and his staff departed Portland for the last time. While there may be many Naval personnel for whom the very mention of ‘Portland Work Up’ brings back memories of extreme discomfort and stress, undergoing strenuous sea training based on a bleak rock off the Dorset coast. For others there are fonder recollections, particularly for those delivering the training rather than being on the receiving end. The departure of FOST effectively brought to an end the use of the St Alban’s Head range for basic training in Naval Gunfire Support and, while this range had many limitations, particularly from a safety trace point of view, it is remembered by many as the first range on which they learnt the skills of bombardment. It also had the advantage for the observers of being only a few miles from Poole. I served on the FOST Staff from 1980 to 1982, a period which included training ships’ companies immediately prior to and during the Falklands campaign. Naval Gunfire Support serials were, if anything, one of the more enjoyable aspects during the week for the training staff. For a start one could conduct control runs from alongside, even in the worst of weather, and after firing serials scheduled at the end of the day, it was only a few minutes steaming back into harbour to meet the staff boat. In addition, the skill of NGS perhaps lay more in good drill than complicated tactical consideration. In general, drill was easier to inculcate, particularly in ships’ companies from other nations for whom English was not the first language, than ethereal matters of tactical disposition.
I well remember, when I was Gunnery Officer of HMS JAGUAR, the training advice given to my team by the late Frank Tricky who was Assistant Staff Gunnery Officer at the time. Frank was larger than life, both physically and in character. “NGS is like a symphony” he would boom, “you lot, scanning the gunnery, communications and navigational teams, are the orchestra, and you, fixing his eye on the Gunnery Officer, are the conductor! We will now make music!” As I have mentioned, the range certainly had its limitations. With the South Dorset coast to the North, albeit largely occupied by the Royal Armoured Corps, and a busy fishing/inshore shipping lane immediately to the South, safety was always a major consideration. Having calculated that my own house in South Dorset lay within the maximum range of a 4.5 Mk 8 gun on the firing line off the harbour entrance, I tended to take the matter quite seriously. Safety briefing included this fact with the rejoinder that any shells found in my garden would result in an “Unsatisfactory” conclusion for the serial. Although in the past there had been some occasions when the coastline had been ‘modified’ by a naval practice round, I was fortunate that during my time on the staff, I believe there to have been no incident. I say believe, as there were a few occasions when the report “not observed” was received more than once from the observer atop St Alban’s in the same run.
When this occurred during a serial involving a foreign warship (some German and Netherlands ships had guns of 120mm or more), one did wonder whether Swanage Bay or even Poole Bay was coming under fire. The period of late 70s and early 80s provided a particular challenge
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