The Last Commission:

The Damp & Work Up

16 December 1977 to 4 April 1978

For most of us first leave was the important feature of the period. However not everyone was lucky as the Firemen’s Union was still taking industrial action and some of us were “volunteered” to go and perform fire fighting duties throughout the country in the renovated Green Goddesses. Fortunately, by the third week of January 1978, the dispute was over and men began to return to the ship after doing a splendid job for the community.

Over the weekend of 21 and 22 January, Ark acted as host ship to the visiting Dutch frigates HNLMS GRONINGEN and JAGUAR. Unfortunately because of bad weather and the state of the pitches, all outdoor sporting activities were cancelled. However our Dutch comrades were made most welcome and enjoyed their weekend.

From the evening of the 26^th January there would be no more BEANO as Commander W. H. H. McLeod was quietly relieved by our new Executive Officer, Commander J.L. Weatherall.

Commander J.L. Weatherall.

During the DAMP, our Harbour Administrative Inspection  was carried out by CINCFLEET and FOCAS Staff during the week starting the 13^th February. As usual there was a continuous stream of individuals and groups visiting the ship. On the 15^th February Professor R. Mason, the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Navy, came to see the old lady.

The final weekend before our departure for another work up proved to be quite eventful. Heavy falls of snow and blizzards isolated parts of the southern counties and made travelling very difficult as roads and railways were blocked. Weymouth and Portland natives as well as those from Dorset were completely cut off for several days. Despite all the odds, Cdr Weatherall managed to make his way from Portsmouth to Plymouth by a longer than usual route, but it took him 10 hours.

Tuesday 21^st February, the day of departure for the short work up and post DAMP acceptance sea trials.

Except for a few people still snow bound in Dorset most of us who had travelled during the previous weekend managed to reach the ship. On the morning of sailing the BBC TV Nationwide team was on board to follow up the “Save the ARK ROYAL Campaign” started by 14 year old schoolboy Richard Crease. The TV cameras followed him as he toured the ship, talking to members of the ship’s company, and he watched 4 Sea Kings and the 2 SAR Wessex embark about midday.

The sailing went as planned and by 1630 we were on our way to the sea again. The first night was spent trying and testing systems in Lyme Bay.

While off Portland on the 22^nd the men who had not reached Plymouth were helo lifted on board. We also embarked 4 Gannets and 7 Phantoms, but the Buccaneers remained at fog bound Honnington. That evening we passed through the busy Dover Straits and into the North Sea. During the passage northwards off the east coast of England, the Buccaneer left East Anglia on the 23^rd and recovered safely on board.

Week starting Monday 27^th February saw the start of our Sea Inspection. FOCAS Staff embarked and FOCAS himself arrived on Tuesday, The Director General of the BBC, Mr Ian Trethowan also came on board and was most impressed by our performance. Throughout the week FOCAS and his staff inspected RFA’s OLMEDA and RESOURCE and visited HMS LEANDER, all of which were in company with us.

As seems to be the case, the weather plagued the ship or our diversion airfields during our work up. Low Stratus or the Haar Fog, and hence poor visibility, were regular occurrences which curtailed some of the flying. Generally flying took place in the forenoon and evenings leaving the afternoons free for seamanship and departmental evolutions in preparation for the Sea Inspection Day on Saturday 4^th February. The drills began at 0600A and right from the start departments were involved in numerous exercises and evolutions ranging from baking a cake, fires, crashes on the flight deck, to the aid and salvaging of a stricken Spanish Tanker OLE (in the guise of OLMEDA0. From a weather point of view, it was a lovely day for a cruise with blue skies and excellent visibility.

In general the Inspection went well and FOCAS congratulated us on our efforts. He commented on the happy family spirit on board and the pride in our ship which  his staff had encountered, and said that we had done well and hoped to see the same spirit and pride when next he paid us a visit.

FOCAS departed early on the 5^th, and the fixed wing squadron, except for a few aircraft which were to remain on board for Families Day, followed during the forenoon

In the afternoon and the following forenoon, 824 Squadron did a magnificent job in disembarking the fixed wing ground crews to Leuchars, and by midday of the 6^th the task was complete as we headed south for the English Channel.

On Wednesday 8^th the Sea Kings disembarked to Culdrose from Falmouth Bay, and the ship returned to Plymouth Sound to spend the night at ‘C’ Buoy in preparation for the influx of our families and friends.

Thursday 9^th March and the ship’s final Families Day had arrived. The guests began arriving soon after 6 am and by 9 am, after they had breakfasted, the ship slipped from the buoy with about 1500 extra people. Once in the English Channel our guests were able to witness from 03 deck the launch and recovery of the Gannets, Phantoms and the Buccaneers.

Unfortunately the low stratus and fog which had been expected arrived during the afternoon and prevented the final flying display from taking place. Despite this disappointment most people enjoyed their day touring the ship. Just being in ARK ROYAL was a memorable occasion in itself.

As the ship approached Plymouth Sound the weather improved a little and the decision to go up harbour was made. In deteriorating conditions we berthed alongside by 1900A with the entry being witnessed by a large number on the flight deck. Although it had been a long day our families thought it well worth while.

In March we all took our leave in UK before our final deployment. However the ship remained as popular as ever as visits by individuals and groups continued. One such visit was re-union of about 200 embers of the Ship’s Company of the Wartime third ARK ROYAL and their families. This happened over the weekend of 18/19 March and included a tour of the ship and a non-denominational Commemorative Church Service.

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