fearless_rs
20-09-2009, 17:11
I had a few interesting days between La Spezia and Marseilles onboard Indomito whilst my ship, HMS Mohawk was part of NAVOCFORMED (Naval On Call Force Mediterranean) a NATO Force activated for a few weeks, twice a year.
I joined it around 0715 and after ditching my Steaming Kit down the Mess thought I would just about make breakfast. Or not as the only thing on the menu was a weak, milky, warm cocoa type drink.
Lunch was differant. I joined the queue and saw a few people grabbing a bowl shaped glass together with the steel tray that every navy gave their Junior Rates. Moving down the counter, I saw that it was Red Wine going into the glass bowl. I held it out, feeling like Oliver Twist and got a no, as the dining hall guy reached under the counter and presented me with a bottle of Red. After lunch I gave myself a Make and Mend. I kept my head down.
It was also around the time England were due to play Italy in Rome and the dining hall was alive with differing predictions. If I remember correctly, we lost 2-0.
We were also part of the first activation of 1977 and I enjoyed dinner with my Italian shipmates.
I found myself part of the penultimate NAVOCFORMED in 1991 as Charybdis took over from HMS Battleaxe at the end of the first Gulf War. We were back about eight weeks later for the last activation as it became a full-time force
called Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED).
I joined it around 0715 and after ditching my Steaming Kit down the Mess thought I would just about make breakfast. Or not as the only thing on the menu was a weak, milky, warm cocoa type drink.
Lunch was differant. I joined the queue and saw a few people grabbing a bowl shaped glass together with the steel tray that every navy gave their Junior Rates. Moving down the counter, I saw that it was Red Wine going into the glass bowl. I held it out, feeling like Oliver Twist and got a no, as the dining hall guy reached under the counter and presented me with a bottle of Red. After lunch I gave myself a Make and Mend. I kept my head down.
It was also around the time England were due to play Italy in Rome and the dining hall was alive with differing predictions. If I remember correctly, we lost 2-0.
We were also part of the first activation of 1977 and I enjoyed dinner with my Italian shipmates.
I found myself part of the penultimate NAVOCFORMED in 1991 as Charybdis took over from HMS Battleaxe at the end of the first Gulf War. We were back about eight weeks later for the last activation as it became a full-time force
called Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED).