HMS Corunna

[tim lewin]

HMS Corunna was a late-type Battle class destroyer; in 1956-7 she was commanded by my father. A Chatham ship she spent most of her time in the Med based at Malta and was quite often deployed on the Cyprus patrol againsat EOKA infiltration. She was part of the 4th destroyer squadron with Aisne, Agincourt and Barossa being the others. Here are some contemporary pictures. Maybe some of you will recognise yourselves? let me know

[ltotenby]

Hi All... Does anyone remember the night the Corunna 'knocked' the old Barossa..I once had quite a few good photographs of the Corunna after the collission, but sadly all were ruined.. Has anyone still got some good snaps of these two.. 'George'.

[alanbenn]

George, welcome to the forum.

The collision you mention has been covered in our thread 'sunk/sinking/damaged' the photo's of Corruna and Barossa were posted by myself, here's a link to the post relating to the photo's.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17892&postcount=9

Regards
Alan

[ltotenby]

Many thanks Alan, very much appreciated.. I was on the Corunna when the 'mishap' occurred. Trying to find out how it actually happened..George

[MartinH-K]

Welcome and enjoy!:)

[ltotenby]

Regarding the Corunna - I believe collission happened during the middle watch. Usual type of exercise, screen covering main body. A reorientation of the screen was carried out and all the screen turned to the new course, all except Corunna. Something had to happen!! - I think the routine for the Barossa went something like - "Starboard lookout here Sir" - Crrrrunch - "Port lookout here Sir" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Thankfully no one was hurt, it could have been much worse. The Corunna 'lost' quite a bit of her fo'csle. Never forget it, we were given a shake by the duty officer told to grab what we could and get out of the mess-deck. And all we thought, swinging in our hammocks, was that it was getting a bit choppy out there. - Oh Happy day!!...
Just to let all know my ships while in the RN - Theseus - Pincher (Ocean sweeper) - Corunna (2 commissions) - On loan to RFA Fort Duquesne and RFA Fort Rosalie - Hms Laymoor (Boom Defence) - Hms Tenby (capt F) and last of all Hms Albion.. Apart from Mercury - not a shore station in sight...
Note the LAYMOOR - not much mentioned on here about Boom Defence Vessels - My time on her was a bit 'sad' as one CPO was killed.....
Good luck to all..........George (at last a PO (Yeoman) in 1965 - out in 1966.

[Dave Hutson]

Hello George,
Not a Battle man, but I too did a couple of trips on Fort Rosalie, a wild guess says you were FE Fleet Pool. My trips were 63/4 chasing the ghost of the Borneo Coast [Albion] during the Malaysia/Borneo troubles. I also did a couple of trips on the Charlotte. Preferred Charlotte she was victuals and they taste better than munitions. By comparison the Forts beat Grey Funnel for service and conditions - sadly my next was Barbain laying moorings.
Regards
Dave

[stokes49er]

Hello George
Ex Corunna, but before the bump. I have a mate, George Chapman, who was Quartermaster at the time you speak of. Perhaps you knew him?
Cheers......Harry

[ltotenby]

Hi Dave, sorry for the delay.... My time on the Rosalie was'nt as exciting as yours. Just 'exercising' with the fleet. The only 'communication' rating available. The officers were great, was treat like one myself, and the crew at the time all Chinese.... But I must admit, I enjoyed it. At the time, I was sent out to Malta, but due to local politics my placement was changed, had a choice of RFA's or CinC... I chose the RFA's.... Cheers Dave.... George..

[ltotenby]

Hi Harry, my regrets for not replying sooner. The Corunna, I would say was my best/happiest ship of them all. I can't recall the Quartermaster, but if I saw him, I could recognise him.. Funny thing is, I have a mate who I went to school with, called, George Chapman.. no relation tho. Best wishes, George.

[NSR]

Corunna was my first ship as a Mech 3 - July 53 to May 54 when I got a ship-to-ship draft to Pincher at Harwich. It was a certainly a happy ship. I regret that I can't remember the Captain's name but he attampted to broaden our outlook by having members of the engine room branch visit the bridge to see how a ship was handled and sent the Midshipmen down to help in the engine room. An enjoyable year starting to practice my trade.

Ken

[ltotenby]

Hi Ken, my first ship was the Pincher, late 54/55, then onto the Corunna in 56/57.
George.

[NSR]

Hi George,

Checked my record, joined Pincher from Corunna in May 54 and got another ship-to-ship to Superb in Feb 56. It is a bit off thread but I have added a ships crew photo taken in 55. I had just come off watch and was still in my overalls so stood near the back on the right with just my face showing. I still had my beard from the Iceland run.

Ken

[ltotenby]

Hi Ken, can't recall having my photo taken, but the 'captain' certainly stands out.. Never went on the Iceland patrol, (did so with the Corunna), remember the SS Maidenhead salvage episode...
George..

[NSR]

Hi George,

I wrote about the Maidenhead salvage in another thread and included some photos. It was some time ago so can't remember the details of which thread it was. Still we are drifting off to another ship so we had better watch it.

Ken

[ltotenby]

Agree Ken................George

[Fairlead]

My first post -
I took the attached photograph in Gibraltar on 15th March 1959 (While serving in HMS CENTAUR) after her misshap with BARROSA.
I have read somewhere that the collision took place in May - it could not have and I am sure of my date because if it were May the Dress of the Day in Gibraltar would have been a Tropical Rig.

Fairlead

[Batstiger]

Great picture Fairlead, thank you for sharing it with us!

Regards, Bob.

[Fairlead]

I took the attached photograph in Gibraltar on 15th March 1959 (While serving in HMS CENTAUR) after her misshap with BARROSA.
I have read somewhere that the collision took place in May - it could not have and I am sure of my date because if it were May the Dress of the Day in Gibraltar would have been a Tropical Rig.


Fairlead

[jbryce1437]

My first post -
I took the attached photograph in Gibraltar on 15th March 1959 (While serving in HMS CENTAUR) after her misshap with BARROSA.
I have read somewhere that the collision took place in May - it could not have and I am sure of my date because if it were May the Dress of the Day in Gibraltar would have been a Tropical Rig.

Fairlead

A great photo showing the true detail of the mishap.

Jim

[qprdave]

Looking at the damage, it looks very similar to Unwanted when she had that mishap with Maxton. Could the Barossa have been bribed by those minesweeping pirates??????

[astraltrader]

The two HMS Corunna threads have now been merged...

[ltotenby]

Reorientation of the screen during the night, on execution of the change of course, all ships on the screen turned to their new course, Corunna failed to do so. Hence the collision.. Hours later in daylight, Agincourt was ordered to 'escort' the two damaged destroyers back to harbour... Ships company on the Corunna (for'd mess) ordered to evacuate their messdeck. Not a pretty sight the following morning looking at what should have been the 'sharp end'..
Strange what you do when the officer tells you to take what you can and get out of the mess - me, I grabbed a photo of the wife and a tin of Andrews Liver Salts - I often thought what the 'coonection' was......

[tim lewin]

Dear George, Cdr Lewin was captain of Corunna in 1956 if that helps you; I have a small book written by a national serviceman who served in her at that time, comprised of letters to/from home about the ship's travels, please send halfacrown etc. I see you were also in Tenby when she was F17, this was another command by then Capt. Lewin; were you there?
tim
Can send you a scan of the book if you like

[ltotenby]

Hi Tim, yes I served on the Tenby when your father was the Commanding Officer. I found him to be a strict but fair CO. He was one of the few CO's which I served under who had a vast knowledge of just about every department. In all, I rather liked him, being on the bridge a lot in his 'company'.. Without any 'grovelling' he was the kind of Commanding Officer which I would have placed my fate in his hands. Understand he went onto to be Admiral. George.

[tim lewin]

Dear George,
I would be very interested to hear any reminiscences you have of his command, which why and how i found this forum ages ago even before it became a forum. I am preparing a specific internet site on his career which will be greatly enhanced by the memories of the treal people who were there with him, this is even more important on the earlier aspects of his career which was increasingly futher back in time and for which there are sadly fewer people around to ask.
From Corunna he went to HMY Britannia ship to ship. Then to Urchin as Captain F17, Urchin was replaced in F17 by Tenby.
Later he took over Hermes.
Eventually he progressed to 1SL and then to Chief of Defence Staff at the time of the Falklands, he was in the War Cabinet before retiring in 1983. In retirement he worked at the chairman of the trustees of the NMM which is why I gave them all of his papers and significant artefacts after he died in 1999. He also lead the committee that created the Malta Memorial and Seige Bell in Malta which many forum members may have seen. To help raise funds for this he used to go around lecturing on the Pedestal Convoy on whch he was present as gunnery officer (aged 22) of the destroyer Ashanti.
Back to Tenby; did you see the many pictures I posted on her visit to Cleveland?
All very best
tim

[tim lewin]

A ship's company pic from the 1956-7 commission; anyone got any memories of this or recognise anyone?
Chalky White was in HMS Barossa around this time, it was the 4th DF from Malta. Corunna was a Chatham ship. I was 10 years old!
tim

[Batstiger]

Great picture Tim.
I have put a bit of body into it so that it will make things easier for the members to possibly recognise any old shipmates.

Bob.

[tim lewin]

many thanks for that, some of these old pics are a bit faded now, i have adobe p/shop coming but not installed yet.
Lots more pics to come
tim

[RonHowell]

A ship's company pic from the 1956-7 commission; anyone got any memories of this or recognise anyone?
Chalky White was in HMS Barossa around this time, it was the 4th DF from Malta. Corunna was a Chatham ship. I was 10 years old!
tim

Hi Tim, I recognise a few of the ships company in this photograph, in fact it was the 1955/56 commission, I joined her on the 27th of March 1956 at Chatham I stayed on board to become part of the new ships company when she Recommissioned with a new ships company on the 29th of May 1956, she left Portland on the 1st June for Gib.

Ron

[tim lewin]

Dear Ron, you are of course 100% right. My father took over as captain in a pierhead jump, I think at Rosyth, when her appointed skipper was obliged to take leave for family reasons. Any chance you can contribute any memories of him during that commission? He was very impressed by the ship and her company, if you look through the other posts from me you should find lots of pics of this commission and some good shots of members of the ships company at work.
All very best
tim

[Pelican]

Regarding the Corunna - I believe collission happened during the middle watch. Usual type of exercise, screen covering main body. A reorientation of the screen was carried out and all the screen turned to the new course, all except Corunna. Something had to happen!! - I think the routine for the Barossa went something like - "Starboard lookout here Sir" - Crrrrunch - "Port lookout here Sir" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Thankfully no one was hurt, it could have been much worse. The Corunna 'lost' quite a bit of her fo'csle. Never forget it, we were given a shake by the duty officer told to grab what we could and get out of the mess-deck. And all we thought, swinging in our hammocks, was that it was getting a bit choppy out there. - Oh Happy day!!...
Just to let all know my ships while in the RN - Theseus - Pincher (Ocean sweeper) - Corunna (2 commissions) - On loan to RFA Fort Duquesne and RFA Fort Rosalie - Hms Laymoor (Boom Defence) - Hms Tenby (capt F) and last of all Hms Albion.. Apart from Mercury - not a shore station in sight...
Note the LAYMOOR - not much mentioned on here about Boom Defence Vessels - My time on her was a bit 'sad' as one CPO was killed.....
Good luck to all..........George (at last a PO (Yeoman) in 1965 - out in 1966.
Hello Itotonby. I've been looking for info re Boom Defence Vessels and am likewise surprised how little there is and no fotos or have I been looking in the wrong place? More particularly was looking for a 'Bar' boat - e.g. Barmouth? The ones with the big lifting horns on the bows. Seem to remember post WW II they were used for buoy laying/lifting?
P.S. Now found this site which lists them all. Quite a few.
http://military-genealogy.forcesreunited.org.uk/501/HMS_Barbican
Also attached foto.

[Dave Hutson]

Dead right Mousey, The Bars became the lifting/laying horses. I laid moorings for the big tankers in the 60's Far East - Port Sunlight and Swettenham on the Barbain. They also did salvage work.

Dave H

[Pelican]

Dead right Mousey, The Bars became the lifting/laying horses. I laid moorings for the big tankers in the 60's Far East - Port Sunlight and Swettenham on the Barbain. They also did salvage work.

Dave H
Dave my I ask were you R.N. manned or RFA etc.?

[RonHowell]

After the Corunna (56 / 57 ) I joined HMS Lennox (Fishery Protection in the Arctic Jan 58 ) I then joined the Boom Defence vessel HMS Barnard on the Clyde, I have attached a few photos of the work of the 'Boomers'

[Pelican]

After the Corunna (56 / 57 ) I joined HMS Lennox (Fishery Protection in the Arctic Jan 58 ) I then joined the Boom Defence vessel HMS Barnard on the Clyde, I have attached a few photos of the work of the 'Boomers'
Thank you very much Ron. Gives a good insight into what you did. Obviously you had to be very aware of what was going on. Makes you wonder if it was today whether the elf and safety lot would allow you to do anything? Is it ok to post the pics elsewhere for those who are interested? Tks in antic. David.

[Dave Hutson]

Hi Dave [Mousey - so many Dave's now]

On Barbain we were mixed - Skipper, Jimmy, Cox'n, ERA, Sparker all RN

Crew - well mixed. Chinese cooks and steward, Lascar Riggers, Malay Seaman
Pakistani Oilers .... each a team in their own right ,,,, selected by the headman of each team after acceptance by the rest of the gang. Extremely democratic if you think of it.

Dave H

[Pelican]

Hi Dave [Mousey - so many Dave's now]

On Barbain we were mixed - Skipper, Jimmy, Cox'n, ERA, Sparker all RN

Crew - well mixed. Chinese cooks and steward, Lascar Riggers, Malay Seaman
Pakistani Oilers .... each a team in their own right ,,,, selected by the headman of each team after acceptance by the rest of the gang. Extremely democratic if you think of it.

Dave H
Tks Dave. Only similar experience I had was on a Gulf frigate where we had somali's to 'in theory' do heavy work in heat of day but it did not usually work out that way as they were rarely seen 1100-1500. About 8 of them with a Tindal i/c. On and off they spent some time away attending to 'family problems' which included camels. Think pussers term was local recruited or locally entered? Having said that about ours a sister ship evidently found theirs much better and an asset.

[RonHowell]

Thank you very much Ron. Gives a good insight into what you did. Obviously you had to be very aware of what was going on. Makes you wonder if it was today whether the elf and safety lot would allow you to do anything? Is it ok to post the pics elsewhere for those who are interested? Tks in antic. David.

Yes please do, I have a few more of that period. As you may well remember there was no elf & safetly in those days, as the only electrician on board I had to trim the coal bunkers on the long journey from the Clyde to the Forth, I did not wear a face mask, I am still alive at 71.

[Pelican]

Yes please do, I have a few more of that period. As you may well remember there was no elf & safetly in those days, as the only electrician on board I had to trim the coal bunkers on the long journey from the Clyde to the Forth, I did not wear a face mask, I am still alive at 71.
Thank you Ron. Someone ought to start a 'Boomers' thread and get the admiral to transfer the present stuff over as no doubt there are some interesting stories and fotos to be had.

[Pelican]

Thank you very much Ron. Gives a good insight into what you did. Obviously you had to be very aware of what was going on. Makes you wonder if it was today whether the elf and safety lot would allow you to do anything? Is it ok to post the pics elsewhere for those who are interested? Tks in antic. David.
Ron just to let you know that your fotos have prompted quite a few memories from Ganges Boys re the Bars/Boomers. At present we are down in S.A. where Barcross & Barbrake ended up. One member finished up as a Warrant Rigger. What was their job? The Moorhen is now at Rosyth with her 'horns' removed but still in comish.

[RonHowell]

Hi Ken, my first ship was the Pincher, late 54/55, then onto the Corunna in 56/57.
George.

Hi George
Great commission on the Corunna 56/57 under Comd. Lewin and Place, are you on the attached photo taken in Selima Creek?
Re. the Laymoor I remember we saw her straight from the builders when I was on the Barnard, she came alongside us at Greenock, when were you on her?

Ron

[torpedoes-running]

Here's a photo of Corruna's bridge badge and one of her gun tompions.

Redagrds Freddy

[RonHowell]

Thanks Freddy I will add them to my scrapbook

Cheers
Ron

[ltotenby]

Hi Ron - sorry for the delay... I've checked the Corunna crew photo, I've got to be there somewhere but darned if I can recognise myself - that was some 53 years ago, but I'll keep on looking... As for the Laymoor - jumped on her in 1960.. Spent some time waiting for her to be put together, had to stay a few weeks with some little old lady. - I was in the Comms dept, and must admit I had some great times with the lads from other departments.. Only sad thing was the death of a CPO, some accident regarding 'toggling-off' - I think that's the phrase....Yes, I enjoyed myself on that vessel..... Best wishes Ron,
George:)

[neil6814]

George.
I have just found this thread and maybe I can explain what happened in your last sentence. The Chief who died was a friend of mine. Pansy Potter.
When laying an mooring anchor your have to be able to let it go completely and also it has to be layed so that it is the right way up (mooring anchors or picks have only one fluke) and bedded into the bottom. You do this by shackling on your winch wire with a strop and toggle so that when you pull the toggle out it lets the anchor go. The ideal height is just a few feet from the bottom, this you have to judge as best you can. The toggle weighs about 30 or 40 lbs. The anchor by the way weighs about 10 !/2 tons. If you toggle too high there is a good chance that the anchor won't land the right way up and there is also a chance that the toggle will fly back inboard.
What I believe happened was that there was an argument between the Buffer ( CPO Potter) and the First Lieutenant about when to let the anchor go and the Jimmy pulled Rank so the Buffer left him to it and walked off the foredeck. As he walked away the First Lieutenant let go the anchor too high, the toggle flew back inboard and hit Pansy in the back of the head.
I believe that your Skipper was Lt Cdr JB Kendall and that he was harrassing the Jimmy to hurry up and get finished. I had him as my Skipper when I was Buffer of the Laymoor in '63/'64.
Neil.

[ltotenby]

Neil, my sincere apologies for taking so long to reply - I've just got round to this thread. I am grateful for the info regarding the incident on the Laymoor, I was the signalman on the vessel and on the bridge at the time of the accident. The 'Jimmy' [Number One or First Lt] was someone I managed to get on with, the skipper, a bit laid-back. CPO Potter was a man who got on with everyone. I had forgotten his name and the skippers, and the 'Jimmy's'.. But for all that Neil, I enjoyed my time on my one and only boom vessel.... Again, thanks for all that info which I had forgotten.. Grey cells failing badly.. Same age as you (75), but I hope yours are in good working order........... Best wishes,,George

[ltotenby]

My apologies if I seem to be repeating myself, grey cells etc., But I am hoping to obtain the ship movements of all the ships I had been on during my time in the 'Andrew', 1954-1966.. Obtained Pinchers and Albions, thanks to some of the members of the Forum... Looking now for CORUNNA 1956-58, eg, rough dates of the Iceland period upto the 'bump' with Barrosa.....
Also the TENBY 1962-1963ish...........Just trying to put together all the places etc., which 'we' visited as all of my Naval 'history' was destroyed in a 'small' accident............ Any help would be great... Cheers, George.

[RonHowell]

Hello George

I was on Corunna from April 1956 to November 1957, I kept a diary of sorts so if you require anything specific just scream out and I may be able to help. Tim Lewin's father was Skipper for half the Commission then it was Commander Place VC

Ron

[ltotenby]

Hi Ron, many thanks for your assistance - what I'm after is any dates for certain areas where the Corunna was, including the Iceland route. I recall being there with the rest of the 4th, recall the episodes with various trawlers and gunboats, but no dates, as to when we left the UK and returned. Also any dates for exercises or visits while in the Med. etc... I know it sounds 'daft' but I just want to fill in all those 'missing dates' and visits.... If you can make any sence out of all this Ron, I would be very grateful..
Cheers George.
If you want my e-mail just PM me.............