HMS BERMUDA 1960
The first quarter of the year refitting in Gibraltar gives way to exercises with the Northern NATO Fleets and more training off Nigeria later in the year on the way to join the Mediterranean Fleet once more.
The first quarter of the year refitting in Gibraltar gives way to exercises with the Northern NATO Fleets and more training off Nigeria later in the year on the way to join the Mediterranean Fleet once more.
BERMUDA visiting Sunderland in July. (Thanks to John Briggs for this and other pictures below)
On the 1st of January FOFH flag was struck and the ship sailed on the 4th for Gibraltar arriving on the 7th to de-ammunition and enter dry dock where she remained through January thus the first month of 1960 passed quietly with plenty of recreation and run's ashore. The time and miles to Gibraltar were recorded as 70.25 and 1145.2 respectively.
The ship continued her refit in Dock No.1 at Gibraltar through February and most of March until she undocked and moved to No. 46 Berth on the 25th. There had been nearly three months of uninterrupted night leave and Gibraltar would have become 'home' to a lot of the ships company by the time 25 warships entered harbour on the 22nd of March. Fifteen of them were RN the remainder 'other' navies and it is entirely likely that this 'invasion' would have exercised the sport of scrapping (upholding the honour and integrityof the Royal Navy) in and around the bars.
That aside, the move out of the dock had created an increasing awareness that the good times might be coming to an end and any families that had come out would have to return to the UK. Hard work was now afoot with stores and ammunition lighters alongside and it wasn't long before the familiar but lately unheard "Special Sea Dutymen Close-up" was reverberating through the Tannoy.
At 0900 on Monday the 4th of April, looking her best, 'BERMUDA' left harbour to carryout gun function and full power trials and even managed to squeeze in a steering gear breakdown before returning to anchor off at 1800. Tuesday saw anti-submarine and direction finding exercises as well deguassing but the day ended alongside so it was ashore again! Wednesday saw the ship's divers in the water and the Captain of the Dockyard made his customary post-refit visit to the ship before the day was rounded off with a cocktail party and ceremonial sunset ceremony. Next day Flag Officer, Gibraltar inspected the ship and all the last minute items were ticked off on the snagging lists before "Night Leave…… The ship is under sailing orders" was piped and the final foray through Main Street began.
Firing a 13gun salute to the Flag. 'BERMUDA', in Light Airs, bade farewell to Gibraltar and by 1000 on Thursday the 7th of April 1960 was losing sight of The Rock as she headed for the UK. Sunday turned to Monday as Ushant was rounded and with a Westerly Force 5 (20kts) wind she pressed on up the Channel to pick up 'C' buoy in Plymouth Sound at 0730 on a dull grey morning. By lunchtime she was alongside on No. 5 Wharf in Devonport Dockyard from where the Port Watch and 1st Part of Starboard went to Easter Leave until 0830 on the 22nd afterwhich the remainder took their 14 days leave.
The post-docking runs and passage home meant 'BERMUDA' had steamed 1320 miles and been at sea for 88.5 hours in April.
At 0900 on Monday the 4th of April, looking her best, 'BERMUDA' left harbour to carryout gun function and full power trials and even managed to squeeze in a steering gear breakdown before returning to anchor off at 1800. Tuesday saw anti-submarine and direction finding exercises as well deguassing but the day ended alongside so it was ashore again! Wednesday saw the ship's divers in the water and the Captain of the Dockyard made his customary post-refit visit to the ship before the day was rounded off with a cocktail party and ceremonial sunset ceremony. Next day Flag Officer, Gibraltar inspected the ship and all the last minute items were ticked off on the snagging lists before "Night Leave…… The ship is under sailing orders" was piped and the final foray through Main Street began.
Firing a 13gun salute to the Flag. 'BERMUDA', in Light Airs, bade farewell to Gibraltar and by 1000 on Thursday the 7th of April 1960 was losing sight of The Rock as she headed for the UK. Sunday turned to Monday as Ushant was rounded and with a Westerly Force 5 (20kts) wind she pressed on up the Channel to pick up 'C' buoy in Plymouth Sound at 0730 on a dull grey morning. By lunchtime she was alongside on No. 5 Wharf in Devonport Dockyard from where the Port Watch and 1st Part of Starboard went to Easter Leave until 0830 on the 22nd afterwhich the remainder took their 14 days leave.
The post-docking runs and passage home meant 'BERMUDA' had steamed 1320 miles and been at sea for 88.5 hours in April.
May was to be a very different story. With leave completed the ship sailed for Portsmouth at Noon on the 11th of May and, carrying out calibrations and tracking exercises enroute, the lines were passed to South Railway Jetty in mid-afternoon the next day.
Scandinavia, or more descriptively The Baltic Lands was the destination, when, in company with the minelayer 'APOLLO', destroyers 'DARING' and 'CROSSBOW' and frigate 'BLACKWOOD', BERMUDA left Portsmouth on Monday the 16th to run up Channel to Brunsbuttel. They then transitted the Kiel Canal into the Baltic and announced arrival at Helsinki with a 21 gun salute at 0830 on the 21st. After five days of entertaining and being entertained the visit culminated with the usual cocktail and sunset duo before the squadron left on the morning of the 26th for Rosyth arriving just after colours on the 30th.
May's seatime had been 215 hours and the distance run was 2728 nm.
A week in at Rosyth was not all pleasure as the ships company went to formal Divisions one afternoon, first the Engine Room and Electrical Branches then, one hour later, Seaman and Communications Branches. Then there was Admiral Sir Charles Madden's (FOFH) inspection not to mention ammunitioning and painting and storing and fuelling. On the 9th of June it was to sea again, this time to Invergordon at the outset of intense exercises with a NATO Fleet. The passage started well enough but during the night 'BERMUDA' was lucky to avoid a collision with the Oiler 'TIDEREACH' which veered across her bows when her gyro failed. They missed each other much to the relief of FOFH who was hosting a NATO Captains dinner the following evening.
The Fleet sailed on Monday the 13th, and virtually went to war in 'Exercise Fairwind V' for the remainder of the month. It was non-stop anti-submarine, convoy, bombardment, anti-aircraft and Atomic, Biological & Chemical Defence exercises and more besides.
Distances for June 2729nm in 238 hours
There was relief when the exercises ended and 'BERMUDA' entered Bergen in Norway on the morning of Saturday the 2nd of July but the stay was short - just enough time for 'Wash-up' meetings and a run ashore for some. Monday morning saw her again underway this time to Copenhagen where her company enjoyed a leisurely week of exchanges, children's parties and visitors.
On Tuesday the 12th one or two broken hearts remained on the jetty as the ship left to return to the UK but continue her courtesy visits. This time it was to Sunderland where the length of stay and routine practised at Copenhagen was repeated but here the Commander thought it was a good time to wash and paint the ships side as well. Once again the sadness of leaving was soon overcome as the ship headed seaward and south at midday on the 20th of July to secure alongside on Portsmouth's Pitch House Jetty 24 hours later. It had been quite a while since Long-Weekend Leave had been granted!
Scandinavia, or more descriptively The Baltic Lands was the destination, when, in company with the minelayer 'APOLLO', destroyers 'DARING' and 'CROSSBOW' and frigate 'BLACKWOOD', BERMUDA left Portsmouth on Monday the 16th to run up Channel to Brunsbuttel. They then transitted the Kiel Canal into the Baltic and announced arrival at Helsinki with a 21 gun salute at 0830 on the 21st. After five days of entertaining and being entertained the visit culminated with the usual cocktail and sunset duo before the squadron left on the morning of the 26th for Rosyth arriving just after colours on the 30th.
May's seatime had been 215 hours and the distance run was 2728 nm.
A week in at Rosyth was not all pleasure as the ships company went to formal Divisions one afternoon, first the Engine Room and Electrical Branches then, one hour later, Seaman and Communications Branches. Then there was Admiral Sir Charles Madden's (FOFH) inspection not to mention ammunitioning and painting and storing and fuelling. On the 9th of June it was to sea again, this time to Invergordon at the outset of intense exercises with a NATO Fleet. The passage started well enough but during the night 'BERMUDA' was lucky to avoid a collision with the Oiler 'TIDEREACH' which veered across her bows when her gyro failed. They missed each other much to the relief of FOFH who was hosting a NATO Captains dinner the following evening.
The Fleet sailed on Monday the 13th, and virtually went to war in 'Exercise Fairwind V' for the remainder of the month. It was non-stop anti-submarine, convoy, bombardment, anti-aircraft and Atomic, Biological & Chemical Defence exercises and more besides.
Distances for June 2729nm in 238 hours
There was relief when the exercises ended and 'BERMUDA' entered Bergen in Norway on the morning of Saturday the 2nd of July but the stay was short - just enough time for 'Wash-up' meetings and a run ashore for some. Monday morning saw her again underway this time to Copenhagen where her company enjoyed a leisurely week of exchanges, children's parties and visitors.
On Tuesday the 12th one or two broken hearts remained on the jetty as the ship left to return to the UK but continue her courtesy visits. This time it was to Sunderland where the length of stay and routine practised at Copenhagen was repeated but here the Commander thought it was a good time to wash and paint the ships side as well. Once again the sadness of leaving was soon overcome as the ship headed seaward and south at midday on the 20th of July to secure alongside on Portsmouth's Pitch House Jetty 24 hours later. It had been quite a while since Long-Weekend Leave had been granted!
John Briggs (in October 2010) remembers HMS BERMUDA's 1960 visit to Sunderland and took these photographs as he explains: "Just been looking over your site, thanks for all the info. As a small boy around 1960 I was privileged to board this ship when she visited my home town of Sunderland. I took my camera along and although my camera was only a cheapie I have a few photos if you are interested. Most are close-ups of the guns (6", Bofors 40mm and 4") as being a small boy I was really interested in those. One sailor, who's name I forget is pictured, he took me under his wing and showed me around the ship."
As colours was piped on Monday morning the ship prepared to leave harbour bound for Portland where she picked up A2 buoy to carryout calibrations while the paintwork was washed, the decks were scrubbed and the brightwork was polished. On Wednesday evening the buoy was slipped and courses set to round Plymouth Breakwater at 2240 that evening and anchor in the Sound overnight. Entering the dockyard next morning 'BERMUDA' was put alongside 6/7 Berth where she was to remain for 'Devonport Navy Days 1960' through the weekend (30, 31 July & 1st August). Open on each of the three days, on the Sunday alone she recorded 7300 visitors over the gangway. In July the ship had been underway for 144 hours and steamed 2058 miles.
Navy Days duty done the ship was tidied on the Tuesday and Night Leave was granted to expire at 0730 with the ship under sailing orders. By 0840 she was heading seaward and east to The Solent where the anchor was let go at 1800. At 1810 Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home embarked and by 1900, with the frigates 'LYNX' and 'WAKEFUL' astern, 'BERMUDA' was underway to Lagos, at the southern end of Portugal, almost back to Gibraltar! HM Yacht 'BRITANNIA' with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh aboard for Cowes Week, was given a 21 gun salute as the ships headed down to The Needles Channel.
On Saturday morning the anchor was let go in Lagos Bay. 'Call the Hands' was piped at 0545 on Sunday morning to enable the many assembled ships to get in position for the Portuguese President's Review from where they went to Cascais before going up to Lisbon on Monday. Thursday dawned sunny as the ships departed and headed home to Portsmouth where FOF(H) was landed before 'BERMUDA' whipped back down Channel to Devonport to give fourteen days Summer Leave. The ship was de-ammunitioned while ships such as her sister-ship 'GAMBIA' and the survey ship 'DALRYMPLE' came and went as the month of August came to an end.
Distance steamed in August 2247nm in 140 hours at sea.
In the first couple of weeks of September, as Summer Leave was being completed, ships that passed by at Devonport included the frigates 'LOCH ALVIE' & 'ROEBUCK' (below), boom defence boat 'BARGLOW', fast patrol boat 'GAY FENCER' and 'MTB 0105.
Navy Days duty done the ship was tidied on the Tuesday and Night Leave was granted to expire at 0730 with the ship under sailing orders. By 0840 she was heading seaward and east to The Solent where the anchor was let go at 1800. At 1810 Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home embarked and by 1900, with the frigates 'LYNX' and 'WAKEFUL' astern, 'BERMUDA' was underway to Lagos, at the southern end of Portugal, almost back to Gibraltar! HM Yacht 'BRITANNIA' with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh aboard for Cowes Week, was given a 21 gun salute as the ships headed down to The Needles Channel.
On Saturday morning the anchor was let go in Lagos Bay. 'Call the Hands' was piped at 0545 on Sunday morning to enable the many assembled ships to get in position for the Portuguese President's Review from where they went to Cascais before going up to Lisbon on Monday. Thursday dawned sunny as the ships departed and headed home to Portsmouth where FOF(H) was landed before 'BERMUDA' whipped back down Channel to Devonport to give fourteen days Summer Leave. The ship was de-ammunitioned while ships such as her sister-ship 'GAMBIA' and the survey ship 'DALRYMPLE' came and went as the month of August came to an end.
Distance steamed in August 2247nm in 140 hours at sea.
In the first couple of weeks of September, as Summer Leave was being completed, ships that passed by at Devonport included the frigates 'LOCH ALVIE' & 'ROEBUCK' (below), boom defence boat 'BARGLOW', fast patrol boat 'GAY FENCER' and 'MTB 0105.
HMS LOCH ALVIE 1944-1965 HMS ROEBUCK 1943-1968
Then the 16th of September dawned and, being a Friday, 'BERMUDA' was off to sea again. Letting go at 1415 the Breakwater was passed at 1500 then 'Man overboard - Away both seaboats' was called at 1600. After the that the ship settled to her course to round Ushant Light and into its first night on passage to Freetown, Sierra Leone. As latitudes decreased and temperatures increased the ship stopped on Monday for a thirty minute 'Hands to bathe'. The sea and air temperatures were now the same at 74F (26C) and the exercise was repeated each afternoon on the way south.
Kissy Oil Jetty at Freetown, hove into view once more at 0930 on Saturday the 24th of September and the ship was secured alongside by 1000 to start taking on fuel. Leave, granted from 1200 to 1900, was generous as the ship completed fuelling at 1600. Redied for sea the last line was recovered at 2100 to go through the narrows into the Atlantic again to continue south and east. In the early hours of Tuesday, AA Gun crews were closed up as the ship was illuminated by starshells and came under 'attack' from the frigates LYNX & PUMA. Later, at 0750, Vice Admiral Sir Robert Watson, Flag Officer, South Atlantic & South America Station, was transferred by jackstay to BERMUDA from the homeward bound LYNX. At 0900 on Wednesday the 28th of September 1960 the ship arrived, with PUMA, to anchor off Lagos, Nigeria.
She had steamed 2387 miles in 147 hours underway during September.
Visits by the Governor General then the civil and military dignitaries as Lady Watson joined her husband for the duration. Accompanied by HMS NIGERIA they sailed on Tuesday afternoon for exercises and passage to Victoria in the Cameroons arriving on Friday the 7th of October where the ships company had the honour of having the Premier and Cabinet officers on board. At 0700 on the 9th BERMUDA began, this time a little slower, her return to Freetown. The tasks on yet another visit to Sierra Leone were to land Flag Officer, SASA and his wife as well as to refuel. She arrived alongside Kissy Jetty at 1530 on the 13th. The next day, Friday, was Pay Day and leave was taken to spend some of it as the Admiral & his wife left the ship and his flag was transferred to HMS Afrikander. Leave expired at 1900 and the ship got underway at 2100 leaving the bumboats eagerly awaiting the next ship to call.
The next five days at sea were relatively routine with the now customary stop for a swim in the Dog Watches. Inevitably there were 'Requestmen' and 'Defaulters' who were dealt with resulting in one or two having the prospect of a run ashore in Madeira removed. The ship arrived off Funchal firing a 21 national gun salute at 0800 on the 20th. By 1000 the British Consul had visited and left the ship to a 7 gun salute and at lunchtime the Civil Governor (19 guns) and Military Governor (15 guns) had been and gone. On Friday the 21st, most of them returned with their wives for the cocktail party. Over the weekend a children's party was held and visitors were welcomed onboard.
The Royal Mail Steamship STIRLING CASTLE on one of her runs between Southampton and Cape Town came to anchor closeby at 1700 on Sunday. At the same time BERMUDA was about to leave for Gibraltar. They secured there, again on 46 Berth, at 0840 on 25th of October.
At 0900 the next day the flag of Flag Officer Fleet (Mediterranean), Rear Admiral D.P. Dreyer, CB, CBE, DSC, was broken out. Like any good 'flagship' she was at sea again Thursday afternoon this time to cross the Med. for an official visit to Oran, Algeria was a much more peaceful place than it had been when she was last in the area during the North African Landings ('Operation Torch) 'exactly 18 years earlier. From the North Mole the official and ceremonial comings and goings, drumming and bugling ebbed and flowed as the busy month came to a close.
In the month of October the ship had been at sea for 272 hours and steamed some 2390 miles.
Kissy Oil Jetty at Freetown, hove into view once more at 0930 on Saturday the 24th of September and the ship was secured alongside by 1000 to start taking on fuel. Leave, granted from 1200 to 1900, was generous as the ship completed fuelling at 1600. Redied for sea the last line was recovered at 2100 to go through the narrows into the Atlantic again to continue south and east. In the early hours of Tuesday, AA Gun crews were closed up as the ship was illuminated by starshells and came under 'attack' from the frigates LYNX & PUMA. Later, at 0750, Vice Admiral Sir Robert Watson, Flag Officer, South Atlantic & South America Station, was transferred by jackstay to BERMUDA from the homeward bound LYNX. At 0900 on Wednesday the 28th of September 1960 the ship arrived, with PUMA, to anchor off Lagos, Nigeria.
She had steamed 2387 miles in 147 hours underway during September.
Visits by the Governor General then the civil and military dignitaries as Lady Watson joined her husband for the duration. Accompanied by HMS NIGERIA they sailed on Tuesday afternoon for exercises and passage to Victoria in the Cameroons arriving on Friday the 7th of October where the ships company had the honour of having the Premier and Cabinet officers on board. At 0700 on the 9th BERMUDA began, this time a little slower, her return to Freetown. The tasks on yet another visit to Sierra Leone were to land Flag Officer, SASA and his wife as well as to refuel. She arrived alongside Kissy Jetty at 1530 on the 13th. The next day, Friday, was Pay Day and leave was taken to spend some of it as the Admiral & his wife left the ship and his flag was transferred to HMS Afrikander. Leave expired at 1900 and the ship got underway at 2100 leaving the bumboats eagerly awaiting the next ship to call.
The next five days at sea were relatively routine with the now customary stop for a swim in the Dog Watches. Inevitably there were 'Requestmen' and 'Defaulters' who were dealt with resulting in one or two having the prospect of a run ashore in Madeira removed. The ship arrived off Funchal firing a 21 national gun salute at 0800 on the 20th. By 1000 the British Consul had visited and left the ship to a 7 gun salute and at lunchtime the Civil Governor (19 guns) and Military Governor (15 guns) had been and gone. On Friday the 21st, most of them returned with their wives for the cocktail party. Over the weekend a children's party was held and visitors were welcomed onboard.
The Royal Mail Steamship STIRLING CASTLE on one of her runs between Southampton and Cape Town came to anchor closeby at 1700 on Sunday. At the same time BERMUDA was about to leave for Gibraltar. They secured there, again on 46 Berth, at 0840 on 25th of October.
At 0900 the next day the flag of Flag Officer Fleet (Mediterranean), Rear Admiral D.P. Dreyer, CB, CBE, DSC, was broken out. Like any good 'flagship' she was at sea again Thursday afternoon this time to cross the Med. for an official visit to Oran, Algeria was a much more peaceful place than it had been when she was last in the area during the North African Landings ('Operation Torch) 'exactly 18 years earlier. From the North Mole the official and ceremonial comings and goings, drumming and bugling ebbed and flowed as the busy month came to a close.
In the month of October the ship had been at sea for 272 hours and steamed some 2390 miles.
The visit to Oran came to an end on the Wednesday the 2nd of November when BERMUDA sailed for Malta. The next day she exchanged identities with six vessels, including the RFA FORT BEAUHARNOIS bound Gibraltar and Chatham, during the forenoon and repeated the exercise with a further seventeen vessels during the First watch. The Afternoon watch was passed at AA Action Stations with ADCD State 1 pre-wetting exercises. A stop for a swim in the First Dog watch ended the 'working' day. In the early hours of Friday the 4th the westbound aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS, was passed before BERMUDA entered Grand Harbour and picked up the buoys at 8 Berth at 0900. ARK ROYAL was amongst the fleet in Grand Harbour and at the other end of the scale came BARGLOW - last seen leaving Devonport a couple of months ago - and HM Tug MEDIATOR.
HMS VICTORIOUS 1941-1970. HMS TOTEM 1945-1965 and Israeli DAKAR 1965-1968
A Remembrance Day Service was held in the ship on Sunday the 13th of November whilst two ratings joined the ship, one from RN Hospital, Gibraltar, the other from RN Detention Quarters, Portsmouth. I don't know what warrant number he was but the Punishment Warrants were now in the mid 120's. Wednesday the 16th of November saw a 0750 departure from Grand Harbour into an exercise with HM Submarine TOTEM - in 1968 to be lost with all her Israeli crew - until 1000 when the 7th Destroyer Flotilla ('SAINTES', 'SOLEBAY', 'JUTLAND', 'TRAFALGAR', 'BROADSWORD', 'DUNKIRK', 'FINISTERRE' & 'CAMPERDOWN') joined to carryout Anti-Aircraft shoots until midday. The next day a group of seven US warships was passed as the squadron moved up the Med. towards Toulon where they berthed on Friday morning for the weekend.
To sea early on Monday morning, the next 56 hours were spent in continuous action exercises with the French Navy. There was air defence, convoy escort and weaving at 15 & 20 knots with ships darkened to concentrate the minds. For exercise the RFA Tanker WAVE AUSTRAL was hit by a torpedo as the ships fought their 'battles' before returning alongside in TOULON late on Wednesday. The 'wash-up' was held on Thursday morning allowing the squadron to return to sea in the afternoon and continue the exercise theme as they returned to Malta arriving on Saturday afternoon. The rest of the month was spent on No. 8 Berth watching other ships, including the Guided Missile (Seaslug) Trials Ship HMS GIRDLE NESS and Despatch Vessel HMS SURPRISE coming and going while 'BERMUDA's boats dangled at (not from) the boom ready to ferry libertymen. Made a change!
Time at sea in November came to 202 hours and distance run was 2829 miles.
To sea early on Monday morning, the next 56 hours were spent in continuous action exercises with the French Navy. There was air defence, convoy escort and weaving at 15 & 20 knots with ships darkened to concentrate the minds. For exercise the RFA Tanker WAVE AUSTRAL was hit by a torpedo as the ships fought their 'battles' before returning alongside in TOULON late on Wednesday. The 'wash-up' was held on Thursday morning allowing the squadron to return to sea in the afternoon and continue the exercise theme as they returned to Malta arriving on Saturday afternoon. The rest of the month was spent on No. 8 Berth watching other ships, including the Guided Missile (Seaslug) Trials Ship HMS GIRDLE NESS and Despatch Vessel HMS SURPRISE coming and going while 'BERMUDA's boats dangled at (not from) the boom ready to ferry libertymen. Made a change!
Time at sea in November came to 202 hours and distance run was 2829 miles.
HMS GIRDLE NESS 1946-1970 HMS SURPRISE 1946-1975
One of those Mediterranean storms was predicted for the 1st of December and notice for steam was reduced from 8 to 2.5 hours but nothing much happened until the middle of the next day when a full gale ensued without causing any problems. The next day, Saturday, was relatively quiet as the aircraft carrier HERMES entered harbour at 1430 and departed again at 1630 on her way to Suez and east.
HMS HERMES 1959-1985 then Indian VIRAAT 1986-To date 2015. Planned to decommission and become Museum Ship 2016
Full ceremonial Divisions were held in 'BERMUDA' on Monday and 'Hands employed part of ship' saw Tuesday out. At 0800 on Wednesday the 7th the ship slipped to rendezvous with RFA FORT DUQUESNE and take on stores. The afternoon was taken up with a 6" bombardment of Filfla Island before going to anchor in St Pauls Bay. Next morning she gave Filfla another hammering and then went on to Anti-Aircraft firings then came a fuel RAS. Next day a jackstay transfer with 'ARK ROYAL' preceded Air Defence Stations and anti-submarine exercises that continued until 'BERMUDA' returned to Grand Harbour on the 15th of December to prepare for and look forward to Christmas 1960. She was not to go to sea again until the New Year. Her running in December amounted to 133 hours and 2302 nautical miles.
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This HMS BERMUDA 1960 section first published online 2001 and since revised
