Mixing up two series. The one you describe was aboard HMS Northumberland, a T23 frigate and skippered at the time by one of our posters.

There's currently an RN ad on FB which says if you serve 4 months at sea, you get 3 months off.....to do whatever you like...with the strap line "work-life balance "

Now for anybody seeing the ad, and then watching the series, that's a pretty enticing recruitment offer really

That sounds more like the RFA than the RN, they work to merchant navy rules for basically the same pay.

You're right, my error. Never was any good at identifying grey jobbies.

Yep, you're correct. Saw the ad with RN on and the bits I mentioned, but didn't watch until the end. Still not a bad recruiting ad for the RFA though.

I thought it was a good first programme and I'm a big fan of the 70s 'Sailor' series. The only thing missing is a cracking soundtrack, Phantoms, Buccs and Gannets - oh and of course the lovely plane guard Wessex 1.

To my mind it seems to have taken some hints from Sailor - you might remember the original series followed 'Twinkle Powell', the 40 year old AB who was constantly getting into trouble... ring any bells? The Exec Commander has also featured quite heavily, as per 'Sailor'.

First episode - give it a chance chaps!

Had previously vaguely heard of him. Just googled to find the Argies awarded him one of their highest honours for his war conduct. Extremely impressive to say the least.

One of life's genuinely nice blokes. His book I have a copy of is this one:
Essential reading for anyone not of the dark blue persuasion. Renders their language slightly more comprehensible to the rest of us.

I agree - the similarities between the two series, separated by 50 years, are striking. Main difference I guess is the presence of females. I thought it showed that there is a core of experienced mariners who know how to do this stuff, supported by a large number of junior crew members, many at sea for the first time. During the cruise they will find out if this is the life for them or not, and that is well worth portraying from a recruitment point of view. In all, very interesting.

Agrajag you'll enjoy too. He clearly deserved all those awards.

Thanks for that - ordered!

Interview with Rick Jolly:


Longer documentary:


If you can’t see the YouTube links, click on Quote.

I am surprised to see no comment about the second episode that was shown last night. F-35B Lightnings being launched on missions against terrorists in Syria and into the Black Sea, jets being launched in response to approaching Russian aircraft under the control of one of the destroyers, and Merlins being launched for surface search and for ASW - presumably cued by one of the frigates with towed array sonar. Talk of 'protecting the force', as opposed to the over simplified 'protecting the carrier'.

We've just watched it on iPlayer. MUCH better than the first one!

I'm looking forward to the Second Series

"Defending Rosyth"

lots on the dangers of Edinburgh by night :eek:

I remember reading Rick Jolly's first book 'For Campaign Service' in my SHDNI days. Some wag on the NAS had fed him the line that when a twin-engine Wessex started up, the first engine started the tail-rotor then the 2nd started the main - shame really, because it was a good attempt at a first book. Am still in awe of the gentleman and his achievements - our lives are made much better for having had such people among us.

Episode 3 - depressing and uplifting in equal measure.

In one sense, yes, but, it's proving to be a very revealing programme, one that shows a contemporary view of life in the RN and, as such, is a pretty good recruitment advert.

However, it was nice to see no expense was spared on either the quantity, or quality, of the paint spec !....some lovely shots showing handrails flaking as if they'd been in service for 20 years.

​​​​​​​Yes - it really jumped out of the screen!

It gets worse!

Why would any sane man (person) send 1000+ mateloes on a "run ashore" in Cyprus during Covid?


If a Risk Assessment had been done it would have certainly shown that Covid would be bought onto the ship with unknown consequences!


If The Mission was so important it was put at risk by some poor decision making, IMHO.