HMS Ocean . Aug-Nov 1947.

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by Kevin Trott, Feb 17, 2023.

  1. Kevin Trott

    Kevin Trott Member

    Hi Everybody,
    I know this site is primarily about the Second World War (yes, the name WW2 Talk is a clue !) but can anyone advise me where I should look for information regarding Royal Navy ship movements for the immediate post-war period (1946-47).
    I am trying to find out the movement of the aircraft-carrier HMS Ocean during August to November 1947.
    Any information most welcome.
    Kevin Trott
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    And... "nr. Malta"...

    Accident Fairey Firefly FR Mk 5 VT435, 28 Sep 1947

    Date:28-SEP-1947Time:Type:
    Fairey Firefly FR Mk 5Owner/operator:804 Sqn FAA RNRegistration:VT435MSN:Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants:Other fatalities:0Aircraft damage:Written off (damaged beyond repair)
    Location:near HMS Ocean - MaltaPhase:Approach Nature:Military
    Departure airport destination airport:HMS Ocean
    Narrative: Aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea on the approach to HMS Ocean. There was one fatality.

    --- x ---

    There are a few book references that generally quote the Mediterranean Station, and others like the above that are a bit more specific, to a given date and place etc.

    See also - 1940s
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2023
  4. Kevin Trott

    Kevin Trott Member

    Many thanks Owen and Ramiles for your replies. All very helpful stuff.
     
  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Have you seen this, it is alas undated: Tom Lyons | Forces Reunited

    Two photos and the Captains names: HMS Ocean  Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier 1945

    October 1947: MaritimeQuest - October 1947 Aircraft Operations in the Mediterranean (taken by soldiers aboard)

    Jet trials aboard Oct '47 photo: The First Ever Jet-Aircraft Deck Landing Trials and Test on Aircraft-Carrier Hms Ocean...

    Possibly helpful:
    From: Supermarine Seafire Mk.XVII

    Time to stop and cook dinner. Good luck.
     
  6. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

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  7. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Tim,

    Slight snag for Kevin's request though, from your link:
     
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  8. Kevin Trott

    Kevin Trott Member

    Thanks guys for al your helpful suggestions. Much appreciated.
     
  9. Kevin Trott

    Kevin Trott Member

    I've tried searching that link but, yes, it seems that the records for that period are not available. It seems incredible that it is so difficult to pin down the movements of a RN ship at that time when the daily movements during WW2 are recorded in detail.
    I am trying to trace the the movements of a relative who served as a Naval Air Mechanic at HMS Daedalus shore base. From 7 September to 2 October 1947 his Service Record shows him with HMS Ocean. From 3 October '47 he is back at Daedalus and remained there until discharged in December '47.
    He always told us that he went to Malta (his only trip to sea!). It seems strange (to me, anyway) that Ocean would have made the round-trip to Malta in less than a month. I know it's possible to do it , but why would she do it?
    Any ideas most welcome guys & gals.
     
  10. Ewen Scott

    Ewen Scott Well-Known Member

    From McCart’s “The Colossus Class Aircraft Carriers 1944-1972”
    On 17 July 1947 Ocean left Malta in company with the cruisers Liverpool (flagship of CinC Med) & Leander, carrier Triumph and destroyers Chaplet, Chequers, Chevron and Raider destination Istanbul for a 7 day port visit.

    21 July met the old Turkish armoured cruiser Yavuz (ex WW1 German Goeben) off Dardanelles.

    25 July CinC held an official reception on Ocean

    26 July left Istanbul for port visits at Rhodes and Nauplia before participating in exercises off Cyprus including one towing the cruiser Mauritius and mass air attacks by FAA aircraft from the carriers and RAF aircraft based on Cyprus.

    22 Aug arrived Maltese waters

    26 Aug anchored Grand Harbour Malta

    Sept & first two weeks of Oct spent operating from Malta.

    20/21 Sept search and rescue of 3 man crew of a disabled yacht.

    5 Oct anchored Aranci Bay. Inspection by CinC Med of Divisions on the flight deck

    22 Oct while at Grand Harbour Malta FO (Air) Med inspected mess decks.

    23 Oct 0830 left Malta for Palestine, as part of RN blockade to intercept illegal immigrant ships, in company with destroyer Verulam.

    27 Oct arrived off Haifa. Rest of month during day spent on patrol with Verulam and Childers using her aircraft to spot immigrant ships as far from coast as possible. Nights at anchor off Haifa. Due to likelihood of terrorist attacks sentries posted and divers in the water during these stopovers.

    1 Nov left Haifa for Beirut for 2 day port visit.

    4 Nov President (?) of Beirut visited ship.

    5 Nov back off Palestinian Coast.

    8 Nov left for Malta with Cheviot. During the transit they pretended to be an unco-operative illegal immigrant ship for Cheviot to stop and board and take in tow

    12 Nov back in Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta. Followed by manoeuvres locally.

    20 Nov entered Grand Harbour to begin a 6 week refit, which completed at the beginning of 1948.

    During this time her air group consisted of 816 squadron with Firefly FR.1 and a “Black Flight” of night fighter Firefly NF.1. Her second squadron was 805 with Seafire F.17. (Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm).

    816 movements:-
    5 June boarded Ocean
    22 Aug to shore base Hal Far, Malta.
    2 Oct boarded Ocean
    11 Nov to shore base Hal Far until Jan 1948.

    805 movements:-
    As per 816 above.

    I hope this helps.
     
  11. Ewen Scott

    Ewen Scott Well-Known Member

    Ocean completed a refit at Rosyth in June 1946 and sailed for the Med on 10 July 1946 to join the Med Fleet. She did not depart the Med Fleet until leaving Malta for home on 18 June 1948 at the end of her Commission.
     
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  12. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Kevin,

    Could you subject have been deployed temporarily to HMS Ocean for the jet aircraft trials in October 1947? Returning by air clearly. After all HMS Daedalus was from Wiki:
     
  13. Ewen Scott

    Ewen Scott Well-Known Member

    This photo caption is wrong.

    The first landing on a carrier by a jet aircraft occurred on 3 Dec 1945 when Eric “Winkle” Brown landed a prototype Vampire on HMS Ocean.
    3 December 1945 | This Day in Aviation

    The aircraft in the photo is the prototype Supermarine Attacker TS413 which was first deck landed on the then trials carrier Illustrious in Oct 1947. It was the first jet propelled aircraft with a tail wheel to be deck landed on a carrier.

    Edit - I should add that the Attacker trials took place in the English Channel.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2023
  14. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Oops! Missed that. Thanks David.

    Tim
     
  15. Kevin Trott

    Kevin Trott Member

    Thanks Ewen and Patron for that detailed information, it's extremely helpful.
    It is now obvious that my great-uncle did not sail from England on HMS Ocean (as I had previously assumed) but must have been flown out to Malta . From the information you have provided, I'm guessing he was temporarily attached to one of the Fleet Air Arm squadrons. For what reason? it's very hard to guess at this length of time. According to his Service Record, he was away from Daedalus (Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire) for less than a month and was back there by 2nd October 1947.
    Thanks again everybody for taking the time to answer my enquiries.
     

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