3 frigates and a carrier

eric the red · 3 frigates and a carrier

FOF3, HMS Hermes 1979. After several weeks at sea, we put into Gib, all eager to ease our frustrations via the Main Street drinking emporiums. Eddie McDermott was concerned that he would be so pi$$ed on his return that he may not find the ship (??), so he formulated a cunning plan... Hermes had berthed alongside the outer mole, a large gap then a frigate then another frigate, so Eddie's plan was to count the gangways and walk up the 3rd one along, sure to be the 'happy H'. The booze flowed freely that night and everyone made it back safe. Except Eddie. Search parties were sent out and he was eventually found in the company of a pair of crushers, looking much the worse for wear. It transpired that his cunning plan had gone awry- while we were in town, another frigate had berthed in front of us, Eddie duly counted the gangways, stuck to the plan and walked up the 3rd one along. When he asked for his station card it couldn't be found, so he was asked for his dept.
"Royal Marines"

"We don't have Marines, this is a frigate. Which ship do you think it is?"
"Hermes"
"How can you mistake a frigate for a carrier?"

"Well, they're all the same fcuking colour!"

Good old Eddie- bless!!

Smuggling Sam

Eric, I remember it well. Was that the time I was on 9's? I'm pretty sure as it was my birthday, Dave Stonebridge asked if I could postpone the last few days so I could go ashore! Didn't get away with it, still, think of the money I saved!!

lesbryan

Did we realy have three frigates and a carrier at one time ?????

eric the red

Sam, as I remember it, you were ALWAYS on 9's you naughty little man..! good try by Stonehenge on your behalf though!

Bomber

Those were the days lol.

Didn't it take Sam 3 times to go to Gib before he was allowed ashore. lol

Smuggling Sam

It might have done....but it wasn't my fault it was you, Bradders and Henge if memory serves me right, I was just the new boy following orders!!!!

Those were the days

Bomber

I seem to remember it was the blind leading the blind.

or was it the blind drunk leading the blind drunk lol

eric the red

Sam, that excuse didn't work at Nuremburg and it won't work here.....

mahler1

"Hello everybody"as Dr Nick would say. Yes I was that man, great run ashore. I would still make the same mistake, they still paint them the same colour.

eric the red

Ah, Paddy. Can you remind us who puked over the bass drum on 'colours' in Hamburg...? He-he...

mahler1

What me never,what bass drum, O!, you mean the rainbow one, ok I lie, bugger to clean though. I just wonder if the guys and, of course the gals these days get up to the same sort of skulduggery,love to know.

Smuggling Sam

Talking of skulduggery, wasn't it your knicks that were being passed around the bar in Gib, after you'd had a little accident in them? I think that was Gerry Long's first view of his new band!!!

mahler1

Hi Sam, they remember it well, although they did seem to see more of Gib than you normal did.

mahler1

Thinking of FOF3. Should we start thinking about a reunion for next year,after all it will have been 30years since we formed up at Deal and I know, that there are quite a few of us oldies still out there.

admin

FOF3... now what a band to have been in! See the world and get paid for it. Genius whoever thought that one up

Smuggling Sam

Don't you start making it sound like fun, fun, fun!!! It was bloody hard work trying to keep up with the likes of Dave Stonebridge! If I remember rightly, it was a bit of a baptism of fire for a young 'un like me, fortunately Bomber and Bradders managed to steer me away from any potential pitfalls.............or have I got it all wrong????

mahler1

Sam you did manage to find lots of pits to fall into.

Bomber

I think we all managed to fall in our own pits at 1 time or another, usually pi$$ed

Bomber

Just thought I'd let you guys know I come across another old FOF3er the other day,
Heir Lobersturmleutnantfuer or Pete the Lob for the rest of em

Going round his place next week to catch up.

Smuggling Sam

What, Delirious Pete the Lob? Get on!! Remembering FOF3, I seem to remember Bomber asking the people behind the food counter on the Invincible, when they were flying the chefs on!! Made me laugh and who could ever forget the burial at sea of Crunchy the Frog?

Bomber

Remember it well Sam.

Stirred the chief chef up no end.

And Crunchy the Frog, Lest we forget.

eric the red