Skipper has the con

[Seajet]

There is the ' Captain ( or Admiral, whatever the highest ranking bod aboard is ) on the bridge' but that's a courtesy, doesn't mean he or she has control.

 

[maxi77]

Remember running 'shut down' in bad weather with the upper lid shut?

One could listen for a particularly nasty goffer and then:

'Bridge, Helm.'

'Bridge.'

'Warm and dry in the control room, sir.'

Followed at some stage later by a one way interview with the First Lieutenant, without tea.

Only too well, with the elephants trunk rigged in O Boats. Mind you there were times when being on the bridge was best, like when the outside wrecker used hp air to clear a blockage in the heads, the helmsman asked for permission to come onto the bridge

 

[john_morris_uk]

Wandering through the ops room of BULWARK at SIBS, I was surprised at just how many seats there are there. I know it coordinates land & air as well as amphibious ops - does anyone have any non-classified links as to how they operate?

I've tried to find an unclassified link to give you an idea of what is involved, but can't find one at the moment.

In broad terms.

The ship has to be fought - surface, sub surface and air threats need to be evaluated and appropriate actions taken. Each have their own desks and screens. There will be a variety of operators, senior rates and warfare officers controlling and examining each part of the picture - all feeding the command an overview of the battle.

Then the amphibious operations of the ship itself need to be controlled. Launching and recovery of Landing Craft from the dock, LCVP's from the derricks and helicopters off the back end. All simultaneously and co-ordinated if necessary. (There's a separate Flyco for the actual near to ship flying and deck operations) The bigger picture and aircraft in the air management is from the ops room.

Finally Bulwark and Albion are Command platforms. It would be rare that they operated independently, and so a whole section of the ops room is given over to Amphib task force operations - controlling other ships and assets and co-ordinating what is nowadays called STOM Ship To 'Over the horizon' Maneuver. Forget images of amphib troops storming the beaches a la Normandy and D day. Nowadays amphib warfare is about landing inland as well - by multiple helicopter lift usually. Which leads me to explain that the latter part is one of the jobs the people I look after do.

Hopefully you can see why you need lots of people to do all this at the same time.

 

[mcframe]

I've tried to find an unclassified link to give you an idea of what is involved, but can't find one at the moment.

In broad terms.

The ship has to be fought - surface, sub surface and air threats need to be evaluated and appropriate actions taken. Each have their own desks and screens.
[]
Finally Bulwark and Albion are Command platforms.
[]
Nowadays amphib warfare is about landing inland as well - by multiple helicopter lift usually. Which leads me to explain that the latter part is one of the jobs the people I look after do.

Hopefully you can see why you need lots of people to do all this at the same time.

Many thanks - I guess I hadn't quite considered that it's really a mini Northwood-on-sea.