- Author
- Francis, Richard
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, Ship histories and stories
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 2003 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Early in the Confrontation campaign 1963-66 a large proportion of the Far East Fleet was employed in actively patrolling the coastline of Malaysia and North Borneo – which had its moments of excitement.
WHILST SERVING IN A RN DARING CLASS DESTROYER during the early Confrontation campaign in North Borneo (Sabah) in 1963 we concluded our routine patrol with a port call at Tawau, a small timber export port very close to the Indonesian border, having carefully fired a few broadsides of our main armament for practice naval gunfire support, to announce our arrival. There was little ashore to amuse the ship’s company, as the only infrastructure was a thin street of Chinese traders and the odd grog shop. We could not even play football ashore as it was the monsoon season and the local padang was completely waterlogged.
The time came for us to leave at about midday on a fearfully hot sweaty day. For some reason I had been detailed off by the First Lieutenant as Foc’sle Officer (in the absence of the Gunnery Officer and the other Sub-Lieutenant, who were carrying out a six monthly RP muster below). Special Sea Dutymen had been closed up, the ship had been singled up fore and aft and we waited for the Captain’s return from official calls ashore with the Army and local dignitaries. There was some delay and he was late. Something like an hour later, the First Lieutenant feverishly tried to restrain his growing concern, aware of the mutinous looks from the hands on deck when they gazed up at the bridge, in the burning sun, and the thought of dinner spoiling below in the galley.
Finally, a taxi screeched to a halt beside the brow and the CO sprang out. ‘Let go everything, Number One!’ he shouted and raced inboard. On the bridge, he glanced around, then ordered ‘Half Ahead Both’. There was a rusty merchantman (tramp steamer) ahead of us in the berth alongside and we bore down on her. Facing aft in the eyes of the ship (as is customary), having hauled down the Jack as we cast off, I was amazed when the Foc’sle PO rushed up to me, grabbed the microphone out of my hand and bellowed: ‘Clear the Foc’sle!’
As my Cable Party rushed aft in response I took a cautious look behind me. The stern of the merchantman towered above me and our wooden jackstaff was bent almost horizontal in my direction.
‘Full Astern!’ I heard the CO bellow from the bridge. Judging personal safety ahead of time-honoured custom, I started to walk uncertainly towards A turret. Joining my wide-eyed cable party behind the turret I looked forward again, just in time to see the jackstaff miraculously straighten up intact towards the vertical again. We proceeded to sea without further incident; the hands on deck secured the cable deck for sea and sped below to dinner.
In accordance with Standing Orders I climbed up to the bridge to report both anchors secured for sea to the OOW (there was no sign of the CO), then entered the wardroom to make the same report to the First Lieutenant. Stooped between the deckhead rattan fans, sipping a long gin and tonic, he eyed me up and down. ‘Bit slow on the fenders today, Sub’, he remarked, before treating me to a cold can of beer, ‘I really thought the jackstaff was going to part your hair, just as the PO came up to save you.’
I looked round to see Commander (E) hanging upside down from the deckhead exposed pipework in his white overalls, trying to sink a beer (his party trick). Yes, he too had been bawled out again, for making black smoke whilst leaving harbour.