There was a saying, which asked a sailor if he had been to the Rock (Gibraltar)? Many would be keen to say yes to make it known that they were bonafide mariners, but jack 'me tickler-tape' would retort NO!, but I have passed it many times when going abroad or, in Jack's speak, when going foreign!

  It was the first recognised "going away port" east/west and south of the Western Approaches, and likewise coming home from an exciting time in any of those compass-point directions, particularly those pointing East of Suez via the Cape or the 'Med/Suez Canal. There were however, in-fillers for a run-ashore like Brest, Nantes/St Nazaire, Lisbon or Oporto but most warships went from Gibraltar to UK (Plymouth/Portsmouth) direct. Wherever one went in a capital ship, one dipped-out berth-wise, with the smaller ships and submarines getting the alongside berths with a walk-off-gangway direct to shore-leave via the dockyard/docks. The capital ships were berthed inboard (sheltered side, protected from the open sea) on one of two Moles at Gibraltar, South (hopefully) or Detached (please not),(SM, DM) with smaller vessels on North Mole (NM). This picture shows the best view of the moles with SM on your left, NW on your right, and clearly, DM in the middle. In other ports, they usually ended up mid-stream between buoys or anchored outside breakwaters.

  Note the two breakwaters. Contrary to common belief the township and dockyard of Gibraltar (and thus the breakwaters) face directly opposite the Spanish town of Algeciras and not North Africa. I suppose, if there has to be a Mosque on the Rock, it is fitting that it is in the south of the Rock, opposite North Africa, but no doubt facing east. At the opposite end of the Rock directly facing Spain is the airport - North Front; again the name making sense of the Rocks geography. Most people think that Gibraltar is at the bottom of the rocky outcrop directly facing the tip of North Africa protecting the Gibraltar Straits, but this isn't the case. Gibraltar is on the Mediterranean coast of Spain quite some distance into that sea and some distance north of the famous Straits: in fact, by the time you are abreast of Gibraltar you are well and truly through the Straits! Escaping the Rock into Spain, one can go north by car/bus or walk to the area of La Linea, or cross by ferry to Algeciras which is quite a pleasant area, from where you can taxi or bus it north to other Spanish towns. If you wanted to go to North Africa, to Morocco, there is a regular ferry from Algeciras to Ceuta (1 hour approx) and cheap! Once in Ceuta you have the choice of three big towns all within a four hour cheap taxi ride - Tangier one and a half hours; Rabat three hours; Casablanca four hours. Marrakesh?....well that is quite a bit further!

  When capital ships call in at Gibraltar they are berthed on a seniority basis so the admiral and his officers can come and go to the flag ship(s) without too much trouble. Being berthed on the DM required a boat routine which is tedious for virtually all, unless you have your own private boat!

This picture is looking almost due west.

  In this rather ancient drawing of 1929 you can see which ships have the best south mole berths. The ships are taking part in the 'Atlantic Fleet Spring Cruise' in January to April. The Fleet was in harbour from the 26th March to the 2nd April when it set sail for UK Ports. Benbow was decommissioned as soon as she arrived home, was taken out of service in 1930 and sold for scrap in 1931.

On the Detached Mole:-
Repulse	Battlecruiser (North)
Hood	Battlecruiser (Middle) with flag of VA Commanding Battlecruiser Squadron, Sir Frederick Dreyer
Marlborough	Battleship (South)
On the South Mole:-
Emperor of India	Battleship (North)
Benbow	Battleship
Rodney	Battleship
Nelson	Battleship
plus a small vessel in front of Nelson just by the dry docks. Once those big girls are berthed there's little room left for anything else.

  Note the senior ships on the SM. Marlborough (on the DM) is also a battleship with a captain or flag junior to either of those on SM. Some of these ships fought at Jutland thirteen years previously!

  Note the many buoy moorings, and the large ship at the buoy directly opposite the southern harbour entrance.

  Hood, in particular, spent every year from 1921 to 1929 doing Spring Cruises, chiefly to the Mediterranean.