HMS Prince of Wales visiting Liverpool

[Biggles Wader]

I don't think that the crew of the carrier have much to fear from the subs'. These guys couldn't find their way out of the Clyde without help to guide them. They'd probably stand little chance of hitting PoW, unless they were alongside, of course

With an unreserved apology to all RN Submariners...............except one

Surely they would be more astute than that?

 

[capnsensible]

Captain FJ Walker CB DSO*** RN, you should really have heard of him.

Some skimmer?

 

[[3889]]

Nothing to do with north/south it’s everyone outside Liverpool. I’m from Bebbington and we still joke about the need to secure everything if you cross the Mersey.....

Are you sure? I assumed even Bebingtonians would be able to spell their home town correctly. Speaking as a Scouser (now exiled to the "Leisure Peninsular") I find Scousers generally a PITA but not quite so much as the exhausted and outdated jokes which were vaguely relevant 40 years ago.
Perhaps next time Germany crops up in a thread there will be an opportunity to resurrect some superannuated trope about Nazis to have us all rolling on the floor clutching our intercostals.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Its a good job Liverpudlians have a renowned sense of humour and don't take these waring 'jokes' to heart?
Its a tired old jibe which unfortunately just supports the North/South divide.

Oh, I don't think it has anything to do with north-south ... it's more the honest-criminal divide.

Some years ago I had a job to do at Aintree during Ladies' (the term is used approximately) Day. I was expecting the fascinators and fake tan, but was initially surprised to see that all the shaven headed thugs accompanying the "ladies" had suits to wear. Somewhat ill-fitting, but undeniably suits. Then of course I realised that every Scouse male needs one for court appearances. And I'm not talking about Ken Dodd picking up his OBE.

 

[Skeffles]

Are you sure? I assumed even Bebingtonians would be able to spell their home town correctly. Speaking as a Scouser (now exiled to the "Leisure Peninsular") I find Scousers generally a PITA but not quite so much as the exhausted and outdated jokes which were vaguely relevant 40 years ago.

I've always found a decent rule of thumb regarding these sort of jokes about groups of people is that unless you are part of that group yourself then it is wise not to tell them. It is one thing to use self deprecating humour with your friends, but to anyone else and about anyone else and you are playing with fire.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Some skimmer?

Possibly, if that's jackspeak for a chap who killed a lot of Submariners.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Whoever that is it would only be in his skimmer dreams.

Oh dear. That really is a sad but perhaps illuminating response.
What an extraordinarily public way to shoot oneself in both feet simultaneously...

 

[capnsensible]

Oh dear. That really is a sad but perhaps illuminating response.
What an extraordinarily public way to shoot oneself in both feet simultaneously...

Ive noticed you do that a lot.

Undersea warfare is not your thing either is it?

 

[capnsensible]

Possibly, if that's jackspeak for a chap who killed a lot of Submariners.

No. It refers to those who choose to spend their lives on the roof, never knowing when a sleek underwater deliverer of death will strike.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Words fail me...a 'submariner' who doesn't even know who Johnny Walker was, and then has the temerity to accuse someone he doesn't know of knowing nothing about submarine warfare!

Dazzling, simply dazzling!

 

[capnsensible]

Words fail me...

They do, dont they. Of course I know who Captain Walker was. I grew up reading about that kind of stuff. Its why I joined the Navy.

Now tell us all, old stumbleup, how much you know about Alastair Mars, David Wanklyn and Max Horton. How about Sir John Fieldhouse?

Tell us your understanding of the evolution of undersea warfare and how you think the pendulum has- or has not- swung in the favour of surface vessels in the way they prosecute underwater contacts and the evasion techniques available to Submarine Commanders?

Or just flap like some retired crab looking to score points? Up to you, Bigg Les.

Is it true that Par Ardua Ad Astra means 'after work we go to the pictures'?

 

[zoidberg]

My dear 'capninsensible', remind me please to relate to you, when one day we are insulting each other genially over sundowners in some legendary waterfront dive, of the tale of the RAF FltLt commanding a JSAT Nicholson 55 bumbling under sail on its way between Cabo de Sao Vicente and Gib, when it encountered a PAIR of Soviet nuclear boats on the surface.

The said FltLt had been a 'Kipper Fleet' nav, the first Nav in the RAF to command a Shackleton, and an instructor on the Nimrod OCU. He was also Station Int Officer at RAF St Mawgan and knew a thing or two about sub hunting.

In direct consequence he had an airman/signaller - part of the volunteer sailing crew - fire off a message on an operational HF frequency to HQ 18 Group, which commenced 'FLASH FLASH FLASH CERTSUB CERTSUB CERTSUB'..... and the rest of the details.

I understand from another source that the Soviet submariners reported 'The British are now so poor that they are doing maritime reconnaissance in sailing boats.'

 

[capnsensible]

Russian submarines can be easy to find on a yacht. Frinstance I found one tied up in Ceuta. Coveniently with its masts and periscopes raised. Lots of photos taken and passed on dutifully to RAF Gib 'chaps who deal with that kind of thing' via my good friend who was 2IC at the time.

Who incidentally, talking of waterfront dives, took us to the very last Cocktail Party to be held in the wardroom of HMS Rooke. A fine venue and superb company from across the three services. BZ.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Of course you know who Johnny Walker is, now you've looked him up. You didn't 36hrs ago, you admitted as much yourself!
As a submariner you ought to know - or rather I understood you ought to know that making unwarranted assumptions is a foolish thing that leads to making an ass of yourself, which unsurprisingly you've gone and done again. Retired crab indeed. Foolishly guessing =Fail, fail fail!

 

[capnsensible]

Of course you know who Johnny Walker is, now you've looked him up. You didn't 36hrs ago, you admitted as much yourself!
As a submariner you ought to know - or rather I understood you ought to know that making unwarranted assumptions is a foolish thing that leads to making an ass of yourself, which unsurprisingly you've gone and done again. Retired crab indeed. Foolishly guessing =Fail, fail fail!

In a polite way, you are utterly wrong. As I said, I read of his exploits as a kid. Taking the mickey out of skimmers is fair game for the underwater elite.
As this is the polite scuttlebutt, I wont stoop to your lounge like attempts to be insulting. but we all know, dont we.

 

[Matador]

Sorry to barge in, but HMS Whimbrel which was one of the sloops in Captain Walkers flotilla is rusting away in Egypt. It's a shame she can't be brought home to Liverpool.
I mean they've already got a U boat. Just saying.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Probably best not to bring historic old battlescarred ships back to the Merseyside area. They didnt do too well with Bronington and Plymouth.

 

[Greg2]

Taking the mickey out of skimmers is fair game for the underwater elite.

Only a crabmariner would labour under such delusions of grandeur!

Quite happy to have spent my time as a skimmer/target and to have seen the world and breathed the fresh air. Never understood the attraction of being stuck in a steel tube but thankfully some did!

Back on topic, I would love to have a poke around one of the new carriers. My first ship was an old carrier (Rusty B) and I can imagine that the difference is significant!
.