Obviously I would have passed safely ahead had I pressed on . .

Al,

Six short for man overboard in company - I'm guessing you didn't have a lifeguard ship. Glad it turned out alright.
Top photo is priceless - it appears that not one, but two recreational boats are passing on the wrong side of the lateral marks. Well I suppose the mobo might be inside - hard to say.
 
[ QUOTE ]
but in fact five OR MORE all mean the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite right tcm, but the six short is a NATO special rule.
 
[quoteQuite right tcm, but the six short is a NATO special rule.

[/ QUOTE ]

so if it's big and grey, it's top secret... if it's not big and grey, it means get out of the way.

I'd probably do the latter in both cases.
 
Not a bad idea to stay away from groups of warships - never know what they're going to do. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Sorry tcm, I don't have a specific link for the allied publication. I did find this: http://tpub.com/content/administration/14067/css/14067_45.htm
and this: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKE/is_5_47/ai_87915661
where the six short are mentioned. The 5 short from colregs really indicates "your actions/intentions are not understood", but is often taken to mean "pull your head out of your bung-hole and pay attention." The naval 6 short specifically means the latter.

For the ex-RN folk - have any of you seen the video of HMS Persephone (iirc) scraping around the bow of a Canadian oiler after a rudder failure during a RAS?
 
Persephone, I didn't have the opportunity, shame, I have seen a few.

Six short blast in the RN IS for an emergency break away, and has been used by HMS Gloucester as well, during a 'BOST' in Portland, when Portland was still RN.

During the Thursday war, exiting the harbour, awaiting the 0830 squadron of Hunters to come over from the chalk horse on the hill, to the left of Weymouth, and whilst HMS Oberon, an 'O' class sub sat way off to the West of the entrance taking simulated pot shots at us all, Gloucester as lead vessel, (Behind two sweepers), up'd revs, turned hard to Stbd to start forming a line facing said Sub, rolled and a WO (EW) went 'Plop!' over the port side.

Six short blasts to inform the rest of the fleet what was happening, and like a well oiled machine, every vessel followed the rules and went off to port and awaited sitrep!!!!

And to answer your earlier question.

The Faroes Gap incident, we were 'TRYING' to keep two Russian Udoly class ship's away from our Nato exercise and were tasked to stand between them and our 'fleet', oh and the obligatory AGI. Anyway two days off running around the outer extremes of the north sea the MEO informed the Command that we needed fuel!! So we went of to RAS with RMAS Brambleleaf. Just us, away from every one. Done it a hundred times. Bent down to unclip my safety line from the jack stay to pass it over a deck eye, and a 'Goffer' came and spilled my F'castle party everywhere, leaving me out board clinging to the guard rails like a grab monkey!! Went up the next wave, and into the third which swept me aft between the two ships riding high on a wave!!!!!!! No chance in hell of holding on. Didn't realise how quick it could happen.

Anyway, here to tell the tale due to six short blasts, which informed Brambleleaf to retreave all gear we were ditching, ie their bloody big fuel line, and bugger off out of the way
 
You know it might have been HMS Penelope - or something like that; starts with P, ends with E, 4 four syllables, girl's name, mythic origin...
Didn't disagree with the emergency breakaway signal; just added the mob definition. To be honest, I didn't remember its use in RASing, but my memory's not what it used to be. As said before, the navy meaning is a "watch out!!!" to ships in company. Cheers.

Kevin
 
All those 'P' names were, I believe, Leander class frigates.

Gun Leander's,
Ikara Leander's,
Exocet Leander's,
And I think there may have been a Sea-Wolf Leander.

All God's and Goddesses.

I bet if some one has the time or knowledge they could visit Google or something similar and get a list, or even pictures!!!!!!!! I would love to be able to find them and post them, but I'm just not the ofay with these sort of things.

Oh well one day I'll find a way I suppose.

Al. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Thanks for the links colmce, the second one provided the history - it was Penelope that collided with Provider in 88. If anyone can find the video (shot from a helo) it's amazing.
 
Thanks Colin,

Great walk down memory lane!

And on your Birthday as well,

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Colin
Happy Birthday to you.

Best wishes

Al & Tina
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Unchanged bearings???

Quote
"After two unchanged readings, during which we had maintained course and speed, the ship gave a long blast on his hooter. I called him up and he was not happy that we were passing clear enough ahead, which I estimated to be at least one mile"

So if the bearings were constant - whats that telling you - you are going to hit him, not pass one mile ahead!!!!

People should rely on bearing observations - they tell the truth. But why heave to, much easier to alter course to pass under stern.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Assuming there's enough water

[/ QUOTE ]

"Assumption" is the word, then. Those weren't bifurcation marks - port and stbd hand marks only indicate that one side is safe to pass, that means the other side is not necessarily maintained, dredged, surveyed. Even on large-scale charts, hydrographers will economize by not marking each and every rock outside of marked channels. Mind you it's not like driving on the sidewalk - you won't likely get a ticket for passing inside of a buoy. Is the gamble worth it?
 
[ QUOTE ]

"Assumption" is the word, then. Those weren't bifurcation marks - port and stbd hand marks only indicate that one side is safe to pass, that means the other side is not necessarily maintained, dredged, surveyed. Even on large-scale charts, hydrographers will economize by not marking each and every rock outside of marked channels. Mind you it's not like driving on the sidewalk - you won't likely get a ticket for passing inside of a buoy. Is the gamble worth it?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't entirely agree with that.

I would say that all any navigation mark ever tells you is where you are on the chart. To make any assumption based on the existence of a navigation mark without reference to a chart and if necessary tide tables is very silly.

In the Solent (and I'm guessing the original photo is taken in the Solent) it is normal behaviour for small craft to sail outside the marked big ship channel and in fact it would be wrong for a yacht to be in the channel that close to a large ship
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is the gamble worth it?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's not a gamble if the buoys mark a deep water channel with plenty of water around, such as you'll find in the Solent. Passing the 'wrong side' is normal and keeps you clear of shipping
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top