No | Subject | General Assessment Score * | Comments *Communication Subjects – General Assessment of ratings in the ‘Comms Group in their professional subjects – indicate by ticking the appropriate boxes as follows:- 1 = Very Poor 2 = Poor 3 = Adequate 4 = High None used in this report. |
COMMON SUBJECTS | |||
1 | TAPE RELAY | No comment. In refit | |
2 | MESSAGE PROCESSING | No comment. In refit | |
3 | CRYPTOGRAPHY | 580/660/KL7/SCOT and secure voice (fitted). The RS is the only person aboard in the ‘comms branch au fait with these equipments. | |
4 | VOICE PROCEDURE | ‘T’ Ratings attended CTT/OTT in Dryad in July and October 1980 and were said to be competent | |
5 | NBCD | Done by the ships NBCDI CPO (OPS)(S), Standards are low because of being in refit but there is a professional course available to the ship. | |
6 | TYPING and TAPE PERFORATION | TGN teleprinter fitted in MCO. Speed and accuracy took a dive but now on way backup to standard. Typewriter expertise is almost non existent but desired and needed. | |
G RATINGS | |||
7 | RADIO ORGANISATION | No training given. The RS is not happy with his operators as of now. He has arranged 6 fast passages on full strategic communications. | |
8 | MORSE RECEPTION (A) | Box of CW tapes held. Operators use own tape machines or exceptionally the CPO (Ops) (R)’s. Tapes are too noisy and very off-putting for young operators who find it difficult to read Morse with noise. Exercise 51 – notwithstanding noise is wrong and badly taped. Book disagrees with tape. | |
9 | MORSE TRANSMISSION (B) | Very little transmitting done. Internal exercises when POS commitments allow. | |
10 | RADIO TECHNICAL | No comments. RS not sure on levels of expertise because of lack of training (POS) and the gear not being available (Refit). | |
11 | W/T PROCEDURE | None done however four operators have been to Poole for NGS training. Satisfactory report. | |
T RATINGS | |||
12 | FLEETWORK | LRO (T) is very good. Did well at CTT when the CY was absent sick. The CO commented to the CY on his return that he was very pleased with the LRO(T). All RO(T)’s attended CTT but no proper assessment can be made. No proper FW done because of refit. Everything is fine now. However, the CY plus other key personnel in the ‘T’ Department are due to leave the ship soon and the with the stretching of the refit, the ship will now go for BOST with a new department, The CY’s relief joins 5 January 81 two months before BOST – good for the ship (probably) but might not be good for the new CY. | |
13 | FLASHING RECEPTION | Cannot be assessed. The signal lamps have only just been made available for use. POS commitments inhibit regular and efficient training. | |
14 | FLASHING TRANSMISSION | As above for FRX. See also section Masthead Flasher in this report. | |
15 | V/S POCEDURE & RECOGNITION | Comments re FW apply here. No official training – no assessment. | |
16 | CEREMONIAL | Masthead Ensign only . Dressing Lines . The CY says “ A good area to save money! Dressing ship stops the ship functioning in harbour when attempting to transmit or when testing and tuning . Very often dress ship cannot be done because of the testings. There is no stowage for dress ship spare flags, which have to bestowed in the funnel by the ETB. Therefore why not do away with dressing lines altogether.” | |
17 | CITY & GUILDS 777 CERTIFICATE | No takers. None up to standard. | |
18 | S442’s VETTING & PREPARATION | Done properly as per RNCP 15. One ‘T’ Rating attempted the Sept 80 exam and failed. No ‘G’ Ratings ready for the exam. | |
19 | PART OF SHIP PROBLEMS | Two communal party supplied, but one hand now returned to Department. The size of the POS precludes an efficient and continuous training programme of late. A very big POS and considered to be much too big for staff carried. | |
20 | ACTING RO1’S TASK BOOK 1 NOT COMPLETED FOR SERVICE REASONS. | On the ‘G’ side 1, and on the ‘T’ side 2. | |
21 | LH’S & ABOVE LEADERSHIP | No real problems although both the RS and the CY say that they have to push the LH’s at times to get things going. | |
22 | LH’s & ABOVE MANAGEMENT | As far as can be ascertained in refit – good news! RO’s attend both watches of the hands muster at 0805 daily. This is seen to be wasteful of manpower hours by the RS and the CY. | |
23 | OTHER OR NEW SUBJECTS MAST HEAD FLASHER | A Masthead Flasher (MHF) is fitted. The bridge position is normal. The Port and Stbd flag deck positions are unusable because the Morse keys are mounted in the vertical plane and not as they should be in the horizontal plane. | |
24 | SIGNAL INTERCOM | The signal intercom on the flag deck is totally inaudible because the speaker is sited alongside the engine room air intakes and at sea nothing in the area is heard. Should be moved to the port and starboard sides i.e. a dual system. | |
25 | G DEPARTMENT CONTINUITY | The RS hopes to extend his time in the ship for a further period. He is due to leave May 80. The captain wants him for the BOST. Now due to leave in May 81. Hopes for an extra four months on that. Now ERD Sept 81 after 33 months in the ship. | |
26 | PVR’s & BRANCH CHANGES | 2 ‘G’ ratings and 1 ‘T’ rating are PVR. Of these I is newly married. The other two are quietly slightly dissatisfied but very good men. Additionally there is one man an A/RO1 ‘T’, who has requested a change to Royal Marines because he is bored with being a communicator. The SCO thinks this will change when the ship becomes operational and we start running. | |
27 | LIQUIDATION | As a general comment the RS said that many of the RO’s who are used as the RIC (have to be used) are quite ”useless.” He said that very inexperienced RO’s who pass and pick up the RO1 title thereafter to be made complement staff are disastrous without sea experience. Age should not be a criterion and he felt strongly that sub specialist course (SUBSPEC) should be reintroduced. | |
28 | 15” SIGNAL LAMPS | The CY complained that the 15” signal lamps were wrongly sited. They are sited half way down the signal deck precluding flashing direct astern or 15 degrees either side of the bow from the ships central datum line. He suggests that they would be better placed for everybody’s benefit if the 15” lamps were taken away and replaced by 10” lamps on either side of the bridge wings. | |
29 | TASK BOOKS | 1. Are the administratin arrangements satisfactory for obtaining Task Books? | Not always. The RS claimed that at times it was difficult to get hold of Task Book 1 and 2. This is difficult to understand and not a common complaint. | |
2. What is your opinion of Task books? | Both the RS and the CY said that they're good, comprehensive and very valuable. | |||
3. Who signs off the Task Books in Sheffield? | LRO's T & G - the RS and the CY | |||
4. How much time per week is spent on Task Book training? | 5 hourse on practical's. Books have just come back. Training is progressing as the refit comes to an end. | |||
5. How many ratings have been loan drafted? | All the ratings except for 1 RO1(T). | |||
6. Examples of times to complete in months? | TB 1 & 2 approximately 6 months. No TB 3's. | |||
7. Have you had any refusals to do TB's? | No. | |||
8. Junior Rates Questions:- a. Do you think TB's are adequate? b. Do you get enough instructions time? | Yes. No. All ratings asked, understood the reason for this. Refit/POS. | |||
30 | ON JOB TRAINING | 1. What problems do/did you encounter when conducting OJT's for the following? a. Practical's b. Communication subjects. c. NBCD 2. Did you find a lack of opportunity (due to constraints) to complete some of the tasks for the junior ratings, If yes, give constraints and tasks not completed? 3. Did you consider that any of the OJT subjects should be taught in Mercury before the ratings go to sea? 4. Did you consider that any subject at present which is taught in Mercury could be done on a PJT? | None done, ship in refit. Refit constraints but operators put out to other ships in the yard By CY. RNCP 9 no known of by trainees. By RS. RO2(G)'s are taught ICS1 in Mercury. Without a PJT they are lost if drafted to an ICS2 ship and require much training. No problems Yes, because of the refit and very large POS commitment. Many not completed Generally too much pressure is put on the ship to complete the mans training. Courses ashore should be lengthened. More NGT is required particularly in personal hygiene. Typewriter keyboards should be taught as well as those on teleprinters. No comments. | |
31 | JOB DESCRIPTION | 1. Does RNCP 15 reflect the correct job description for Communication Ratings? 2. Are there things changing in the fleet and do you consider that:- a. There is a requirement for additional tasks. b. There is a requirement to delete some tasks. 3. Can communication ratings be employed on other duties without detriment to their existing ones? 4. Are communication ratings sometimes employed outside their job description? | The RS and the CY said that the old system of recognition of operators i.e. JRO/RO3/RO2/RO1 was a good system because one got a general picture of each rate ability. Now however, with the RO1’s of today it was impossible to assess a man’s efficiency rating until things were put under pressure and then it is too late to cry about low expertise. An RO1 should be able to do what RNCP 15 states but MANY CANNOT No. Need better training and then consolidate on present tasks. No. But there’s a need for a radio department TT (like the tactIcal sub branch CTT/OTT after a lengthy refit/DED etc. No Yes. The ship supplies staff to communal party (currently 3) and also to the gangway staff and HQ1 on demand. | |
32 | PROVISIONAL EXAMINATIONS | 1. Do you have any ratings passed provisionally for higher rate? 2. Do you find the rules for advancement comprehensive. 3. Are the provisional examination rules clear to you. 4. Do you find the communications group of conducting provisional examinations:- a. An ideal way. b. Needs adjusting. 5. Would you/or do you employ provisional ratings in the same position as ratings professional qualified? | Yes. just ONE for LRO(T) Yes Yes Ideal with reservations. Both branch SR’S thought the old idea of feet boards fairer as still exercised by all other OPS ROOM branches Yes. The LRO(T) is a provisional killick, Both LRO(G)’s are professionally qualified. No comment. | |
33 | PJT COURSES | 1. Have all your Senior Rates and Leading Rates completed PJT before joining the ship? 2. Do you consider that the PJT's given were:- a. Not relevant to the ship. b. Over taught in some subjects. c. Under taught in some subjects. 3. What in your opinion would help to ensure that maximum advantage can be made from PJT. 4. What were the disadvantages and advantages you found with your own PJT. | Not applicable. RS and CY yes. 1 LRO yes but done as a selfhelp basis. 1 LRO based on previous knowledge of the ship borne as a RO1 before being advanced. No comment No comment SCOT – CDMA – LINKS 14 and 10 The RS was a former Mercury Instructor and was pleased with what he got. He admits that is very much up to the individual to make the best of the PJT and to ask the right questions on ‘grey areas’. None. |