Re: Fearless LC evacuation (3)
The remaining quarter of the ship's company (2nd of Port Watch) hoisted-the bomb in a series of pulleys from the flight-deck, whilst the bomb team guided through a series of holes cut through the ship by the Shipwrights from HMS Fearless. Two people had to stay below in the Boiler Room keeping the starboard boiler alive - the Petty Officer (Phil Phillips) & myself as boiler-front stoker. A series of chain tanks linked the boiler-room to the magazine, so if the bomb exploded, we probably wouldn't know much about it. Phil placed a couple of damage control wooden wedges on the deck. "What are they for?" I remember asking, puzzled. "Well, if that thing goes pop, they're my starting blocks- I want a head-start getting out of that hatch before you" smiled Phil reassuringly.As the bomb was hoisted, the main broadcast (tannoy) was used to control the hoisting team. As it was lowered onto the waterline and the announcement made "Bomb on the water" a 'scare charge' (an explosive 14oz charge similar to a hand-grenade, but twice the size) exploded suddenly, very close by - they were used to deter attack divers planting limpet mines etc. Of a night, all ships protecting the beach head anchored in San Carlos (the air threat of a night was diminished & limited to inaccurate high level bombing by Argentine Canberra aircraft) & were potentially vulnerable to attack. I beat Phil to the top of the hatch - no problem.