- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

Anni · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 2

Hi

I'm hoping that your experise and knowledge can help find out if the Royal Navy WWII Submarines had a Bell.

I have recently read an article on the internet that the HMS Token had a ships Bell.

My question is did they? and why?

I would love to know as this would help in my research.

Thank you

Anni

walrus · Posted: Fri 24 Jul 2009 09:58 am Post subject:

it's a diving bell

Bernd B. · Posted: Fri 24 Jul 2009 10:04 am Post subject:

I suspect that Anni means a ship's bell, as in that shiny brass thing you ring - not sure whether Brit subs had any. Traditional thinking would say "yes" though. German subs had them, so why not other nations?

walrus · Posted: Fri 24 Jul 2009 10:15 am Post subject:

was a joke

obviously not a good one

would have thought bells on subs was not a good idea

Bernd B. · Posted: Fri 24 Jul 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

@ walrus - No prob ... thought so and had to laugh, but better to clarify to help newbie. Thankfully you didn't add "and a butterfly" as well ...

Bell on a sub, good or bad? Well, as log as it does not ring it should be OK even when hiding from enemy. Maybe they had special "dampeners" or so.

Anni · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 2

Now, Now boys, play nice!!!

I ask as I have recently seen pictures of HMS Token a 'T' class sub which had a brass bell. No I don't think for a minute that it was a working bell, just a tradition I assume.

I am reseaching a wreck of a sub, nationality as yet unknown, but a local says a bell has been recovered and I thought you guys would be above to help. I have researched German U-boats, no bells on them.

I was hoping that I would be able to find a model of a 1939-1945 Royal Navy Sub. as these have been of great help in my research of the U-boats, but I can't find any????

Any further help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Anni

walrus · Posted: Fri 24 Jul 2009 18:33 pm Post subject:

Sorry Anni

seems they did:

from this web site:
http://www.parthia.com/ships/parthia_05.htm

linux · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 9

dockyard matey · White Star Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 50

anni , all comissioned vessels in the RN have a working ship's bell . for subs it is attached to the front of the fin . I can recall that in the 60/70s a ship's bell was used , it depended on the skipper , submariners where the best for that . cheers john .

feanor · Posted: Sun 23 Aug 2009 20:43 pm Post subject:

Ayup Matey...

Wouldn't there have been one used for issuing the Rum Ration, or 'Splicing the Mainbrace' for a VERY special Occasion ?

Pussers used to sponsor them didn't they at some point?
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Airfix Member 022... Jolly Boy.

Remember: 'The Dude Abides'...

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dockyard matey · White Star Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 50

feanor , rum ration / 'splice the mainbrace' would be called by a 'bosun's call' ( whistle ) .
'pusser's' was just a brand name . when rum was abolished , lots of people bought up the remaining stocks of rum . some good some bad
depending on where it was brought onboard , even different islands in the windies could be told . the term 'pusser' simply meant navy or naval stores . hope i'm not teaching 'granny to suck eggs' cheers john

RedhillPhil · White Star Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Rehill

Pusser was/is a corruption of the word "purser" ie the person who controls the purse, in this case the stores. Navy rum? It could be any one of a dozen brands ranging from real good sippers to stuff that would remove crab fat from the foc'sle.
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I wish it was 1962 and I still lived in Malta.

feanor · Posted: Thu 03 Sep 2009 18:40 pm Post subject:

Ayup DM...

In a sense you are and you aren't. Mine is a Navy House, and dad did a full tour in the Andrew in Malaysia, during 'The Crisis' and in Hong Kong, etc. He was a diving Instructor and Charge Hand Turbine Driver on Brave Borderers...

I disappointed him because i refused to go to sea in his footsteps, as he refused to be a Butcher in my Grandads...

But Although there's this History, we are more like Brothers than Father and son, and the amount of times we've got drunk together on Pussers (proper Navy Rum) and Walter Hicks's (Officers Rum- not for ratings so i was told.) is well, uncountable. I appreciate that to 'Splice the Mainbrace' would require a whistle, but as it's a VERY special celebration, i thought the bell might be rung too.

Pussers I believe, used to 'Sponsor' some kind of TOT until it was ended as it's branded barrel and bell I'm sure I saw in Navy News many a time... and they merely looked like the ones we saw in Belfast on our now Famous JBO.

I realise i could have made a few errors in what i posted, and i know I never joined up but I am proud of my Dads Service even though i refused to follow him, and make my own 'Mistakes'... But as the Immortal Popeye said: 'I Yam what I Yam'... and i know you're not nitpicking...

I just wish i could find some more 'Good Sippers' ! (and i'd try a few 'Bad' ones if the opportunity came up !)
_________________
Airfix Member 022... Jolly Boy.

Remember: 'The Dude Abides'...

'It's GOOD to be the King !'

dockyard matey · White Star Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 50

redhillphill ; what where crabs doing on your forcastle ???????????? .
cheers john ..

markcaroe · Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 1

Anni,

All British submarines had ships bells, they are normally quite small, the first world war bells are normally 9inches in diameter, the seocond world war ones 10 or 12 inches in diameter and the modern ones only 7-8inches. As ships bells go they are all fairly pretty. That said early submarines only had numbers.

The bell would be mounted in the coning tower when the boat was in port (just under the ships badge), the bell and badge were then stored when they went to sea. I can let you have a few photos if you need some.

Regards

mark