September 1967 - Bay of Biscay - We made rendez vous with the destroyer squadron and I was transferred by boat to the Hr Ms Limburg. After making my rounds I was off that night. The next morning I met my colleagues in the ops-room of (A) division. Now everything had to be brought into practice that I had learned at NAVGIS. Working out all the tracks on the tactical plot or observing the radar was an easy job to do. To explore the operation room took more time. When there were no exercises I had the time to find my way there and learn all kind of procedures like: connecting radiofrequencies to different positions in the ops-room, line out radar aerials, different radar settings like (prf - time pulse - inclination and amplitude etc, setup a general plot, reading or resetting different navigation equipment,......in short, explore everything that was in the ops-room. Watch was done in the operation room and every watch had four man. The eldest RAPP 1 acted as chief of the watch and had the responsibility. On destroyers the AIO had one sergeant - one or two corporals - five RAPP-1 en ten to twelve RAPP-2. I learned a lot with the support of R.Lauret who was my first chief of the watch. The B-class destroyers, to which the Limburg belonged were fine ships however a strong stomach was needed in the beginning. It took a while before I was used to the nasty dances and movements of that destroyer.














Theme of this September exercise was anti submarine warfare and was held west to the Bay of Biscay. Daily exercises were held with Dutch submarines supported in the air with helicopters or S2N's from the Hr Ms Karel Doorman. After two weeks we headed for Brest for a five day stay and went to sea again for more asw exercises at the same location. Ten days later we went to Cadiz.

From Cadiz (*) to Tenerife. On the way artillery exercises were held with the 12 cm turrets aimed on another destroyer with a sideways correction. An RAPP stood aft with the artillery officer to note the shot affects of the destroyer in turn that was firing at your vessel. The impacts astern of your vessel were measured by the officer and you had to report the results by your radio to that destroyer. To measure the impacts the officer used a wooden construction much alike a rake. This job became known as rake at the aft. When it was your ships turn to fire you had to report every shot over the radio with "shot!" and so close standing to the turret aft I can tell you there was no urge needed. Bless the radio head set over your ears.
A lot of SEAMEX (seamen exercise) came after the shooting. Sailing close together in the same course and speed connecting the ships with cables to hand over all kind of stuff. During the seamex it was very important to line up the radar aerials from each others ship to prevent electronical damage. That is why you see the aerials always in that position - see picture left. Tenerife was in a festival mood, a kind of carnival. I remember the band of the Hr Ms Doorman walking trough the streets of Tenerife dressed like Dutch farmers; no wooden shoos! After a week we left. The Hr Ms Doorman and the cruiser left for Holland. The destroyers and the submarines remained in the area of the Canary Islands for more exercises. The weekend our ship went at anchor in a bay near Grand Canary. With the motor boat we went to the beach of a hotel. Last part you had to swim in the breakers. It was there that I noticed one of our colleagues swimming with a pick-up player and records on top of his head keeping it in balance with one hand while he disappeared in a huge breaker...-))))). The beach was owned by a hotel and we had a nice time with all the people there.

October we were back home in Den Helder. The next trip was already on the program. This time only with the destroyers and a frigate. The theme was anti submarine warfare in different circumstances. Harbours to visit were: Funchal - Toulon - Gibraltar twice - Ceuta. I remember very well the trip from Funchal to Toulon as we came in heavy weather. For days it was only possible to use the highest deck (G deck). I slept aft below and we were only allowed to use G-deck with our life-jacket to make our way amidships. Never seen waves so high. Once we passed the Strait of Gibraltar the sea became more calm.

                                                  - Silver Tower -







   Ahead in time - September 16th 1968 - still on Hr Ms Limburg. The Dutch navy was participating in a large NATO exercise Silver Tower. Other participating nations were England, Canada, America, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, Italy and Greece. At the Atlantic and North Sea convoy protection against submarine attacks and air raids was the theme for which a lot of merchant vessels were chartered. Hr Ms Limburg took part in the convoy protection at the Atlantic and North Sea together with other Dutch and British destroyers and frigates. Watch was done in 12 hour shift for days with little sleep...-:). During a night a Russian ocean going tug was spotted right in the centre of the convoy. No one had seen this vessel approaching in the bad weather. The ship was of the class that was well known as spy ships for the Russians loaded with all kind of radio antenna's and were often seen in the time of the cold war. During new courses to the convoy given by the convoy commander she smoothly joined...-))) Below a story of another eye witness from the Canadian navy sailing on the "Provider" as he watched the manoeuvres of a Dutch destroyer.
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My personal observations of naval activities included several asides of Exercise Silvertower back in 1968. Silvertower, incidently, was touted as the largest military operation (to that time of course) since the Second World War and co-ordinated activities worldwide with NATO, SEATO, SATO, and involved all three service branches land sea and air. Riding aboard the 'Provider' in the North Sea of course, didn't give me much of a view of the 'big' picture (or much of the little one either for that matter). We were part of a NATO military convoy and I remember remarking one afternoon that our escort was so far out that if this were an operation there didn't seem like much to stop a submarine penetration. And lo, next morning, the bridge announced that during the night a submarine had slipped through the outer screen, penetrating the convoy and sinking the British tanker ahead of us and an American tanker astern (the lucky buggers - meant they had to leave the exercise and return to port for the duration). I also clearly remember watching the roll of our DDE's and being an ultra-weak sailor knew I would have jumped ship in mid-ocean if I had been drafted aboard one of them. I swear that at times it looked as if the topmast were splashing water on both port and starboard rolls. Compare that to the Dutch destroyer of classic destroyer lines that came alongside to fuel. In the same sea there was no roll as it just cut through the waves. Might also drop a note here that the Dutchman gave a demonstration of seamanship that left an indelible impression on my mind. When she had completed fuelling, instead of pulling off in the usual arc turn, she revved up and cut hard rudder and veered off at speed leaving fueling station at a 90 degree angle in seconds - never saw that trick before or after............................. [read more]
C Cliff McMullen RCN serviceman















*) In Cadiz harbour somewhere in a corner a small Dutch Groninger coaster was moored. As she had taken in her bunkers she had an oil spill. Her aft and starboards side was covered with oil. As we went ashore and passed the ship in our uniform some one from aboard the coaster called us in Dutch: "Heeee Jantjes....! come aboard! Aboard we were taken to the small bridge and were surprised to see our skipper there too. We were asked for help for the next morning to clean the ship from the oil. The captain was a acquaintance of our skipper. The three of us agreed to help and the captain told us that we would be paid for it. The next day we went aboard the coaster and cleaned the ship from all the oil with hot steam in about 6 hours time. The captain told us that he had 2 man sick of his crew and was waiting for replacement. After the job done he made us a fantastic meal and served beer. As we started to leave he gave us F 100,00 each and a carton cigarettes; a lot of money for 6 hours work in that time.

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