HMS OBDURATE 1957
Making for Chatham Dockyard with sunset fast approaching! Soon the wake will fade, the ship will fall quiet and her company will be given new 'homes' and horizons.
Making for Chatham Dockyard with sunset fast approaching! Soon the wake will fade, the ship will fall quiet and her company will be given new 'homes' and horizons.
JANUARY
New Year celebration memories were fading as the ship was moved again on Friday the 3rd of January this time to alongside CHIEFTAIN where she was to remain for a couple of weeks. During that time ships that passed by included: BRAMBLE, SULVA & NARVIK (both preparing to depart at the end of the month for Christmas Is. Atomic Tests) HARDY, BURNASTON, LENNOX, CALTON, LOCH ALVIE, TAPIR, GRENVILLE, KILLICRANKIE, SCOTT and MULL OF GALLOWAY (refitting for operational reserve).
On Monday the 21st Warrant No1 was read before Junior Rates and No2 before Leading Rates. Sub/Lt Phelps RNVR joined before the ship locked-out for Sheerness arriving there at 1520.
Ammunition was embarked on Tuesday before sailing at 1105 to Harwich where night leave was given until 0740 Wednesday. Going to sea at 1030 two depth charges were dropped in the Sunk area and the sea-boat was exercised for GANGES trainees before returning them to harbour and land at 1550.--------------- The same routine was repeated on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday giving about 90 Juniors their initial navy sea experience. Log 120nm
Sub/Lt Phelps left the ship on Saturday and on both Saturday and Sunday sports teams landed to play matches at GANGES. Log 220nm
Another group of trainees arrived onboard at 0830 on Monday the 28th. Underway at 1030 two more depth charges were fired and a return to harbour was completed by 1545. Another group of trainees enjoyed the same experience on Tuesday.
The Captain and Officers of OBDURATE hosted the Captain HMS GANGES (Captain R D Franks CBE, DSO, DSC), together with five others, to dinner on Tuesday evening. It would have been both memorable and familiar for Capt Franks as he had commanded the ship on her return to war following major repairs in February 1945. (See 1945 page)
On Wednesday more Juniors witnessed the firing of depth charges etc. but those who came on Thursday had to make do with the firing of a single depth charge and instead of a second one a 'Blow Soot' smoke screen. Log 160nm
Depth Charge detonation. (Pic. Ken Harrow. More of his pictures in HMS Obdurate 1952 section)
FEBRUARY
After topping up fresh water on Friday the 1st the ship sailed at 0930 and entered S. Lock at Chatham at 1440 before going to No2 Basin for technical assessment. Warrant No 3 was read on Saturday and subsequently Ordinary Seaman Moore left the ship to spend five days at Her Majesty's pleasure in Cells. Log 55nm.
The ship remained in No2 Basin through the week 4th to 10th notably parading a Guard on the Quarterdeck at 1150 on Wednesday in readiness for the Gunnery School's firing of a Royal Salute at noon to celebrate Accession Day.
Neighbouring ships in 2 Basin included the Daring Class destroyer HMS Diamond and Improved Fiji Class cruiser HMS Swiftsure which had collided with each other during exercises in 1953. DIAMOND had subsequently had a new bow put on and had returned to service. SWIFTSURE, however, began a refit which became interrupted before being finally abandoned and thereafter the ship languished at Chatham until going to scrap in 1962.
At 0910 on Monday the 11th OBDURATE was through the locks and into the river on her way to Harwich at 1020. Rounding Garrison Point at 1100 the Medway Buoy was not far astern when, at 1115, the starboard engine had to be stopped. The anchor was dropped whilst the engineers tried to resolve the problem but at 1555 it was decided to return to Sheerness to continue their work.
Sailing again for Harwich at 0915 on Tuesday it became clear by the time the Medway Buoy was again passed that there was a continuing problem with the starboard shaft. The engine was stopped and going slow ahead on the port engine the ship went to anchor off the Great Nore Tower. Whilst the ER staff worked on the defect the gun crews were called to Action Stations at 1040 to go through drills for an hour. Success in the engine room department resulted in the passage to Harwich resuming at 1330 and arrival at No1 Buoy there at 1640.
Juniors visited the ship and sports teams landed to GANGES to take advantage of the sports facilities there on both Wednesday and Thursday.
On Friday the buoy was slipped at 0800 and by 1330 'H' Berth at Chatham was taken up. White Watch got ready for long weekend leave, Blue had night leave and White looked after the ship. Log 125nm. On Sunday two RAF Officers joined the ship.
Special Sea Dutymen closed up at 1315 on Monday the 18th and at 1340 the ship was on her way to sea and Den Helder arriving there at 1100 next day. Log 170nm. The Captain hosted Dutch Naval Officers and Leave was given 'until the 0618 train from Amsterdam' on Wednesday. At 0830 on Wednesday 'Bus Tour Party' was piped to clean into No2's and left the ship just before 0900 to circumnavigate Holland. They returned onboard at 0100 on Thursday. Dinner parties and leave extended the weekend's recreation.
With farewell's said and salutes exchanged the ship sailed at 1800 on Monday the 25th for Sheerness.
In a quick turnaround there a Gunnery School Class was embarked at around 0840 and were ready to fire at the dropped target off the Sunk LV at 1145. 'A' and 'B' guns were used for the firings until 1230. The target was inboard fifteen minutes later and the Class disembarked at Sheerness around 1600. HM Customs then spent two hours clearing the ship's company after their foreign visit.
Ammunition Lighters came alongside at 1045 on Wednesday and the ship was emptied of all remaining ammunition. Log 240nm.
MARCH.
On Friday OBDURATE slipped No3 Buoy at 1340 for the run up the River Medway to lock-in to Chatham Dockyard. Log 8nm. Arriving alongside West Wall the Captain ordered 'Finished with Main Engines' soon after 1615 on Friday the 1st of March 1957. Hitherto that command had meant 'until the next time' but now there was never to be a next time!
On Monday the 4th routine events were as follows:
0730 Both Watches of Hands employed Part of Ship
0900 Colours
1000 Secure. Ship's Company pack own gear
1300 Ship's Company provide gear on Jetty
1330 Clear Lower Deck. Hands fall-in on the Jetty and march to RNB
From Tuesday to Friday the reducing ship's company marched to the ship from RNB at 0850 and left again for dinner at 1145. In the afternoon they were onboard from 1320 to 1545 to continue de-storing and de-fuelling.
First Lieutenant's followed by Captain's Requests and Defaulters were held.
On Monday the 11th of March the same routine was followed but thereafter the Ship's Log records weather, ships location, 'Normal barracks Leave' and occasionally the passing of other ships.
Requests and Defaulters and Ship's Company Payment took place on Thursday the 21st of March.
On the 28th of March there was only First Lieutenant's Requests and Defaulters and that really brings to an end both the month and ship's active life.
The Quartermaster's Initials lastly appearing in the Log are: JDG, NES, CG, DBL and DG (the latter a large G enclosing a smaller D)
H M S OBDURATE was officially put into 'Extended Reserve' on the 4th of April 1957.
Whilst sailors would still be de-equipping her they would be borne on the books of HMS Neptune (Chatham Reserve Fleet HQ). (In contrast at this time sister ship OBEDIENT remained in Operational Reserve and de-humidified at West Hartlepool).
On Friday the 31st of May the ship locked-out of Chatham Dockyard's No.3 Basin for the final time at 1310 to be secured to buoys in Short Reach. There she remained until early in September when she was towed to Portsmouth to join the many other ships 'laid-up awaiting disposal'.
On Friday OBDURATE slipped No3 Buoy at 1340 for the run up the River Medway to lock-in to Chatham Dockyard. Log 8nm. Arriving alongside West Wall the Captain ordered 'Finished with Main Engines' soon after 1615 on Friday the 1st of March 1957. Hitherto that command had meant 'until the next time' but now there was never to be a next time!
On Monday the 4th routine events were as follows:
0730 Both Watches of Hands employed Part of Ship
0900 Colours
1000 Secure. Ship's Company pack own gear
1300 Ship's Company provide gear on Jetty
1330 Clear Lower Deck. Hands fall-in on the Jetty and march to RNB
From Tuesday to Friday the reducing ship's company marched to the ship from RNB at 0850 and left again for dinner at 1145. In the afternoon they were onboard from 1320 to 1545 to continue de-storing and de-fuelling.
First Lieutenant's followed by Captain's Requests and Defaulters were held.
On Monday the 11th of March the same routine was followed but thereafter the Ship's Log records weather, ships location, 'Normal barracks Leave' and occasionally the passing of other ships.
Requests and Defaulters and Ship's Company Payment took place on Thursday the 21st of March.
On the 28th of March there was only First Lieutenant's Requests and Defaulters and that really brings to an end both the month and ship's active life.
The Quartermaster's Initials lastly appearing in the Log are: JDG, NES, CG, DBL and DG (the latter a large G enclosing a smaller D)
H M S OBDURATE was officially put into 'Extended Reserve' on the 4th of April 1957.
Whilst sailors would still be de-equipping her they would be borne on the books of HMS Neptune (Chatham Reserve Fleet HQ). (In contrast at this time sister ship OBEDIENT remained in Operational Reserve and de-humidified at West Hartlepool).
On Friday the 31st of May the ship locked-out of Chatham Dockyard's No.3 Basin for the final time at 1310 to be secured to buoys in Short Reach. There she remained until early in September when she was towed to Portsmouth to join the many other ships 'laid-up awaiting disposal'.
The mine rails and a last look ahead!
The mine rails were a permanent feature but never once, in fair weather or foul, did I see anyone trip over them!
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This HMS OBDURATE 1957 section first published online 2013 and since revised.