Crew positions

[rnsubdaft]

I went to join the RN many years ago as a lad and wanted to be either an RO(SM) or WTR. I had dreams of filling in the C230 and be drafted to SM10 (then) but unfortunately failed the medical and was rejected for RN, but my interest continues from visiting boats at Navy days and when alongside, watching submarine videos and reading books still all these years later.

What I am interested in is what the various branches do as secondary duties ie. I know the sonar team are also the casing party. Who works the fwd and aft planes, and coxn (is that CPO seaman branch?.) Who's the fire team made up of. Who does the boat's diver (is is still by ADQUAL or branch.)
I also saw in a TV documentary a PO(SSM) chart navigating and wondered if that was a Navigators Yeoman?

May sound daft to you but it's a genuine interest here from me.

Any info would be welcomed. Thanks

 

[Nicks]

I was in the MCC (Missile Control Centre ) on Polaris Boats and we did nothing but do watches from the first day we took over the boat til the day we went off crew,and as for Harbour Stations we just all went in the MCC and drank tea !
As for who works the Fwd and after planes,that would have been your branch (Supply etc)and also the Coxn at certain times.

I dont think we had a boats diver(but it was a long time ago now !)

Hope this is a help and if I am wrong in anyway it isnt intentional it just that its a long time ago now .

Good Luck

 

[rnsubdaft]

Thanks Nicks for info.

I remember as a really young lad getting a visit on an 'O' boat (Odin) with my Dad who was ex RNR when it was alongside and that got me started in the ideas of wanting to be a submariner.

Having only just discovered this website recently, I thought I would try my luck and ask a few questions that had puzzled me over the years without hopefully asking something that I shouldn't be asking..

Obviously from the TV series featuring the S boats, I saw that a CK was also ships diver. The sonar team became the casing party but also a lot of hands 'working' the boat aparty from their watch roles.

I tried to look for the branch badges on the No.8 shirts to see what they were doing in the Control Room but obviously not being a submariner I wouldn't know.

Just out of curiosity, hot bunking happens on SSK & SSN but does it happen still with Jnr & Snr rates in bombers?

 

[Nicks]

No hot bunking on Bombers you get the luxury of your own Bunk on those things.

 

[rnsubdaft]

Does a new entrant to submarine service get asked his preference for type of boats and location or is it based on branch needs.

 

[Wheel-spanner]

When I left mate, they were drafting lads to boats age 17 who really, abso-fcuking-lutely did not want to be on them. So yeah, its all about what drafty needs on the day.

One thing I will say about my second job on board as a Stoker, was the firefighting. That was bloody good fun!

 

[Greenie]

Does a new entrant to submarine service get asked his preference for type of boats and location or is it based on branch needs.

If you are a qualified Submariner you usually do your part three on the type of boat that you will remain with . However you can be interchangeable 'cos most of the boats are similar .

Ships Divers on boats could possibly be a thing of the past but in my time we had a full diving team [5 people] .

At Sea everyone on board has a watchkeeping position and an action station. In harbour then the technical staff maintain their own specialist equipment and the non technician ratings do the domestics like stores and ship husbandry.

 

[Nicks]

When I left mate, they were drafting lads to boats age 17 who really, abso-fcuking-lutely did not want to be on them. So yeah, its all about what drafty needs on the day.

One thing I will say about my second job on board as a Stoker, was the firefighting. That was bloody good fun!

I know now that they are taking new Entrant Classes at Raliegh that are purely Submariners. Mind you the £5,000.00 golden handshake for passing your Part 3 helps I should think !!!

 

[janner]

When I left mate, they were drafting lads to boats age 17 who really, abso-fcuking-lutely did not want to be on them. So yeah, its all about what drafty needs on the day.

One thing I will say about my second job on board as a Stoker, was the firefighting. That was bloody good fun!

I know now that they are taking new Entrant Classes at Raliegh that are purely Submariners. Mind you the £5,000.00 golden handshake for passing your Part 3 helps I should think !!!

Any chance of that being back dated a bit (1964ish)

 

[Maxi_77]

When I left mate, they were drafting lads to boats age 17 who really, abso-fcuking-lutely did not want to be on them. So yeah, its all about what drafty needs on the day.

One thing I will say about my second job on board as a Stoker, was the firefighting. That was bloody good fun!

I know now that they are taking new Entrant Classes at Raliegh that are purely Submariners. Mind you the £5,000.00 golden handshake for passing your Part 3 helps I should think !!!

Any chance of that being back dated a bit (1964ish)

I'm with you on that one.

 

[Nicks]

When I left mate, they were drafting lads to boats age 17 who really, abso-fcuking-lutely did not want to be on them. So yeah, its all about what drafty needs on the day.

One thing I will say about my second job on board as a Stoker, was the firefighting. That was bloody good fun!

I know now that they are taking new Entrant Classes at Raliegh that are purely Submariners. Mind you the £5,000.00 golden handshake for passing your Part 3 helps I should think !!!

Any chance of that being back dated a bit (1964ish)

I'm with you on that one.

Me as well but I will only push from 1978 cos Im a bit of skin still ! :lol:

 

[rnsubdaft]

Could someone please settle my curiosity.

Am I correct is saying that on attack / bombers there is a 2 watch system in operation?

If you have a 2 watch system of 6 hrs on/off, does that mean that the off watch hands are called for say diving stations and other operational duties?

What I mean is if you have say the sonar ops on watch in the sound room then their opposite watch will be sleeping etc. So who undertakes the additional operational duties or am I confused?

The on watch work in operational mode undertaking their branch role (UW, TS, MEM, WEM ) for the duration of their watch although I understand that everyone has secondary 'action stations' roles. (Do scribes & jack dusty's work watch roles too?)

Another puzzle please ! In a two watch system 0700-1300 & 1900 - 0100 would be continuous, do they never alternate to 1300 - 1900 & 0100 - 0700 or do you stay the same watch hours for the days on patrol.

Thanks but i can't help my curiosity !