On
the sunny morning of 27th June 1983, in the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean
near the Gulf of Oman, there was a miscalculation during a series
of ship manoeuvres.
HMS Ambuscade collided with USS Dale resulting in serious damage
to the Ambuscade's bow and minor damage to USS Dale.
The
ship was called to emergency stations (some of the crew were in
bed because they were in defence watches).
Damage control teams
and divers ensured that compartments next to the damaged area were
made watertight.
The USN offered help and their Sea King Helicopter managed to blow
Flight Deck Officer (Master At Arms Phil Hudson) overboard with
it's rotor down-rush whilst hovering over the flight deck.
A large number of crates of beer had fallen through the hole in
the forward rope store. Most were rescued by the Gemini and taken
to the Seaman's Mess for safe-keeping!
A
decision was made to sailto Bombay (4 days' sail away) for repairs.
Luckily the sea remained calm for the journey.
There followed a six week stay in Bombay (now Mumbai), where the
crew were housed in the President and Ambassador hotels.
Everyone was also flown to Goa for a week's RNR. (We had it tough
the RN)!
photo
© Richard Gough HMS Avenger www.rgough.com
