Re: RFA Ships (what do you think) ? -- Looking for old Friends

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Subject: Re: RFA Ships (what do you think) ?

Author:
Billy McGee (RFA Olwen)

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Date Posted: Monday, January 14, 06:32:40pm
In reply to: Peter J Murphy happy 's message, "Re: RFA Ships (what do you think) ?" on Monday, January 14, 12:21:23pm

Only sailed on one RFA, the tanker Olwen in 1984. Joined in South Shields dry dock. Big horrible grey looking thing. Was involved in Nato exercises and the Portland work up including the "Thursday War Games" (think it was Thursday?) Full war exercise with the Royal Navy, smoke bombs, thunder flashes, make up people simulating casualties. Remember the women (Portland Commandoes as they were known). Had a job on the telephone line and distant line during a RAS. Volunteered to work on the chocks & lashings gang on the flight deck for a �5.00 a day bonus. Proper Audie Murphey stuff it was. Used to have their own beer/lager brew, I think it was called CSA. (nicknamed nerve gas) Trained for nearly two months for 3 month stint in and around the Falkland before returning via the West Indies. Unfortunately was paid off sick in Devonport. On a more serious note two of the crew were killed after the ship was hit by a huge sea on the way down to the Falklands. I remember hearing it on the radio not long after I returned home.

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