They say an army marches on its stomach - well the UK Royal Navy sails on its alcohol and other vices, in excess.
Pre
1815 to 1970
From
before the end of the Napoleonic Wars copious beer and over proof rum rations led to drunken sailors.
1970 rum ration abolished
Due to DUI concerns not to mention nuclear weapons handling concerns. Crew
instead allowed to purchase beer, with
amount limited to how much could be stowed.
1986 on HMS Resolution
(SSBN)
Seaman Richard Humphreys in Under
Pressure: Living Life And Avoiding Death On A Nuclear Submarine, September 2019 paperback edition reports, page 175: the “crew of 143 men could
drink roughly the equivalent of three cans a day for an average patrol length
of, say, 60 days [= A grand total of 25,740 cans of beer per patrol, on patrol.] "...of an evening, some of the crew and I could easily be drinking at least nine to twelve cans of beer each.”
Do times change?
2011, April 8 on HMS Astute (SSN)
One
naval officer killed and another injured in a shooting on board HMS Astute berthed at Southampton Docks. During
a changeover of armed guards, 22-year old Able Seaman Ryan Donovan opened fire
with an assault rifle in the sub's control room, hitting two officers before
being overpowered...In the 48 hours before going on guard duty, Donovan had
drunk 20 pints of cider, lager, and spirits, leaving him well beyond the
drink-drive limit when on duty. Heavy drinking before duties was common
practice amongst the crew.
2017, October
3 and 2017 October
9 HMS Vigilant (SSBN)
Submarine Matters reported that the Captain
and his XO were removed for “inappropriate” relationships with 2 female crew members
causing 5 officers to threaten to resign.
What
is it about HMS Vigilant?
2020, October 14 Daily
Mail reports:
“...dubbed
“HMS Sex and Cocaine” has seen a coronavirus outbreak among its rule-breaking
crew. Highly-secretive HMS Vigilant saw more than 35 crew
members test positive after several left the Kings Bay US Navy [SSBN] base in Georgia,
a source has revealed. Among those who tested positive - a quarter of the
vessels team - was a doctor and an executive officer.”
2020, October 19 Daily
Mail
again reports:
A Royal
Navy Lieutenant Commander in charge of the HMS Vigilant’s nuclear missiles was
found to be drunk while on duty when he turned up for a shift with a bag of
barbecue chicken. .
Stay tuned for nuclear missile armed, HMS Vigilant's, next misadventures.
That's a staggering array on issues. If you go to any RN site, they members are patriotic as heck about the RN skill and professionalism. But mention anything about the subs, and it's all ad hominem.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
Hi Andrew
ReplyDeleteIn Australia even submariners of the old Oberon class, let alone current Collins class, are prevented by naval law and custom from commenting on public blogs, like this.
Commentary is only unofficially permitted for Admirals, it seems.
Regards
Pete