HMS Unicorn 1941-1959 - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 2)

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HMS Unicorn 1941-1959 - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 2)

HMS Unicorn 1941-1959 (Page 2)

Posts 51 to 78

Straying from Unicorn to gun barrels, in early 50 they were cutting up 15" gun barrels in the dockyard. The barrels were from obsolete Battle Ships, maybe Anson & Howe.

[QUOTE=jbryce1437;10160821]Many thanks for your input and photo Paul. In your photo, the turret being lifted looks of the type fitted to Tiger, Lion and Blake, whereas the two turrets on the ground look like those mounted on Battle Class destroyers. Jim[/QUOTE] I think the turrets being lifted are more likely to have come from a cruiser, some of which were fitted with 5" guns for air defence. I think the cruisers were such as Penelope, Phoebe etc.

re post 50 - LVT were tracked landing craft - US Buffaloes. DWKS were the floating trucks - "Ducks". The gun barrels look pretty hefty - perhaps part of those originally installed ashore at Singapore.

[quote=oldsalt;10160826]I think the turrets being lifted are more likely to have come from a cruiser, some of which were fitted with 5" guns for air defence. I think the cruisers were such as Penelope, Phoebe etc.[/quote] I was thinking of the type in B turret in [URL="http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10095113&postcount=723"]this [/URL]photo Jim

Thank you for pointing out my mistake Paul regarding front and back. An easy mistake to make even for an old carrier hand ( 2 big ones and 2 smaller ones) I suppose the ariels give it away.

Firstly acknowledgements to: Jim Bryce (post 50&54) for comments regarding the hoisted gun turret (3inch) shown in my picture. It was indeed of the type fitted to Tiger class cruisers to complement their larger 6 inch system. buggins (post 53) for clearing up the abbreviations mystery in my post 49 – I now recall DWKS (or ducks) but didn’t know about LVT’s – many thanks. olsalt’s (post 51) for confirming that ex battleship gun barrels were to be seen lying around dockyards in the 1950’s. Good to know I didn’t imagine it! Johnny 07 (post 55) for acknowledging my observations regarding the location of UNICORN’s strange deck cargo. The main clues pointing to its whereabouts on the aft flight-deck were the positions of the carrier’s crane and aircraft lift as well as the width of the rear deck. The sharp end was very much narrower. Having carried out a little more research into the photo showing the old gun barrels and 3 inch gun mounting, I now realise that I was wrong to state that it was taken near Devonport’s gun shop. It was actually taken over a mile away in No 5 basin under the huge cantilever crane that used to occupy the basin’s east wall Unfortunately (at present) I don’t have a date for the photo but it could have been taken on the 13th of February 1959 or very much earlier depending on whether it was being installed or removed from its parent ship. The subject vessel (not seen in the picture) wasn’t one of the Tiger class cruisers that the turret was designed for – it was the county class cruiser HMS CUMBERLAND which had been converted to a weapons trials ship for testing new systems before installation on RN warships. Another photo of the event is shown below. UK members may be surprised to learn that whole mounting was transported through the dockyard by ‘Pickfords’. Regards….Paul
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I see the RN / dockyards didn't do health and safety back in those days.

[QUOTE=johnny07;10160907]I see the RN / dockyards didn't do health and safety back in those days.[/QUOTE] The above photo must be pre 1956.

I'd be very interested to find out why. Regards...Paul

Well Paul in 1956 black hats were no longer issued and were not allowed to be worn. The exception to this were ERAs as you couldn't tell the difference between their black hats and their white ones.

[QUOTE=johnny07;10160855]Thank you for pointing out my mistake Paul regarding front and back. An easy mistake to make even for an old carrier hand ( 2 big ones and 2 smaller ones) I suppose the ariels give it away.[/QUOTE] It may help that both bow & stern were aground.

I have photos of Cumberland in 1955, minus the three inch mounting. The next photo I can find is 1958 at Malta, with the three inch mounting, so could be 1956 or 1957 when the mounting was fitted as I don't think they would fit it and send her straight to the Med, without testing it in home waters first. I presume that Pauls photo was taken when the mounting was being fitted, rather than being removed. Jim

Re Johnny 07’s post 60 With no knowledge of RN uniform policy it was interesting to read of the change of headwear colour from black to white in 1956, – this fact could reduce further research time in trying to date the photo. Re Jim Bryce’s post 62 More interesting facts regarding CUMBERLAND’s appearance through the 1950’s which, hopefully, will also assist in tracking down the correct date. Thanks both. Regards…Paul

Yes Paul I remember this clearly as I was in the first intake of artificers who never wore a black hat. After 1956 all black hats had to have a white cloth cover winter and summer. As you are unfamiliar with naval customs I'll remind you that in home waters it was white hats in the summer and black in the winter. Eventually the old cloth hats were phased out and replaced by white plastic.

I found this photo of a messdeck in Unicorn. As was usual in those days the accommodation was crowded & sweaty.
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You will have to dig out some more of these old photos Keith. This one taken in bygone days when our sailors had good physiques ( my old hobby horse ) I have never been in a ship where you were allowed at the dining table bare chested, or was that just senior rates messes?

[QUOTE=johnny07;10160980]You will have to dig out some more of these old photos Keith. This one taken in bygone days when our sailors had good physiques ( my old hobby horse ) I have never been in a ship where you were allowed at the dining table bare chested, or was that just senior rates messes?[/QUOTE] Most of the time during summer months we wore lightweight shorts & flip flops, not on watch obviously. The mess deck had very few punka louvres, there used to be arguments caused by men coming off watch during the silent hours directing the louvre outlets onto where they slept.The port boiler room had temps. around the 120 F mark, we used to spray SW from the firemain on ourselves. Conditions were perfect for cockroaches. I weighed 9st 4lbs on my return from the far east.

Please pardon me if this has been asked before now, as I thought I'd looked thoroughly before posting--but missed it: Can HMS [I]Unicorn[/I] fairly be considered the first/original MONAB?

Johnny, I am sure my former mess mates in Unicorn will not mind me posting this picture. Three Stokers in HMS Terror canteen. The Tiger tops are there alongside cigarette tins.
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Hello OldSalt, My brother, Alan Pickering, was on HMS Unicorn in the 1950s. I will try to find the exact dates. Unfortunately Alan passed away in 1992 so can't be exact. Davepick.

Further to my previous Post. Alan Pickering (my brother, now deceased) was on HMS Unicorn from October 1952 to November 1954. His wife died last year and I have recently received a box of photos/papers etc which include his Service Record. Amongst the photos are 2 of HMS Unicorn on the ocean and 2 others which show aircraft which appear to have crashed upon landing on the deck. There is also a photograph of what appears to be the Atom Bomb exploding at sea. That would have been, I think, when he was on HMS Cumberland (DCE 1954 to Jan 1956 when they were at Monte Bello. Unfortunately I'm not very well versed, yet, in this fantastic website.

Davpick, your brother was in Unicorn when I was. I was in the engine room branch. The name doesn't ring a bell, it was a long time ago & there were several hundred in the ship's company.

Keith, Thanks for getting back. I've just inherited a box of papers/photos etc including my brothers RN Service Record. There are 2 photos of aircraft which appear to have crash landed on the deck. If my memory is correct, Alan was a gunner. Coincidentally, as was our G/G/Father in the 19th Century, whose Service record I have recently downloaded. There is also a large photograph of the whole crew of a ship, unfortunately I can't make out which ship it is nor tell because the crew fils most of the photo. Dave

[QUOTE=oldsalt;24676]This is a picture of Unicorn leaving Malta homeward bound in Oct. 1953. During the korean war she steamed 130,000 miles, ferried 600 aircraft and carried 6,000 troops.[/QUOTE] Unless my rheumy eyes betray me this looks like UNICORN is entering Grand Harbour. I've never seen or heard of a ship backing out past the breakwaters. :D

[QUOTE=D01Caprice;10163193]Unless my rheumy eyes betray me this looks like UNICORN is entering Grand Harbour. I've never seen or heard of a ship backing out past the breakwaters. :D[/QUOTE] Where did you see that picture ?

Looking back through the thread the picture shows Unicorn leaving Malta, she is passing out of Grand Harbour , the fort behind her is St Elmo? sited at the seaward end of the Gut.
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Keith is the Fort in the background St. Angelo?

Johnny, the fort at the entrance to Grand Harbour, situated at the seaward end of Valetta is St Elmo. St. Angelo is opposite Valetta, in Vittoriosa, used to the RN base in Malta. Near St Angelo is a brilliant Maritime Museum.

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