During the course of writing, I had cause to look at the BoI report into the tragic loss of XV230 (RIP), and saw that the wet team were referred to as S1 and S2 (S for Sonics?) and the dry team as R1 to R4 (R for ???).

I don't know why I ask the question, other than an anally retentive desire for completeness......

Radar................................

Radio......................

Rupert.........................

Don't tell me - Ree Ess Emm and Rartel,



........... Rad!

Hmmm I much prefer the Rupert....... I can just imagine the intercom...


"Rupert 2 this is Rupert 3 over"

I have no idea but with the MR2 came more sonobuoys and more channels and therefore a more complex signaling system, so maybe the concept of an ordinance man was thought prudent. Just like the USN except we would use a sensor op.

Always though R stood for Radio. Rupert? Surely not, that was used instead of 'Roger' if you were feeling really bored.

Did have a Nav who had problems with his 'R's, always wanted the pilots to turn left for some reason.

I do remember there was talk that with the dry men just moving from ESM to Radar there was no chance for a break and concentration levels would fall, maybe that was it.