Ormeside28 (#10752),
Your: ".... We flew on exercises with the school's tame frigates and submarines, and also went out in them to see what went on from the other side ...."
In my p.220 #4383 & #4385, I give a full account of a Submarine Instructional Visit (aka "Jolly"), ca. 1959, to which we (Thorney Island ATC) were kindly invited by the True Blue of HMS Vernon (Portsmouth). Very interesting - but alas no WRNS aboard then. But having married one (ex) by then, perhaps shouldn't be greedy.
Safer on top of the water, for me !
Danny.