There is a saying in the navy, that the subjects of sex, mail, religion and politics should be avoided at all costs for they all lead to trouble in some way or other. I would add (and very very carefully) that one should also avoid talking about or criticizing somebody else's war and that I will do, except to say that we interpret war today in terms of Iraq and Afghanistan. We shouldn't really, because compared to other wars post WW2 it really is small beer, and fortunately in terms of numbers versus years of engagement killed, the losses although dreadful and unacceptable, are light! These wars, unlike many with the possible exception of the Falklands, are media-driven, and were the media not so gung-ho in their search for "headlines" the war in Afghanistan would be seen for what it is, an un-winnable fight against a largely unseen civilian guerrilla army who kill using IED's rather than manly face to face fighting. It would appear then, that the pre-occupation of our troops is not in fighting but in being circumspect when patrolling roads whether as a pedestrian or part of a vehicles crew. Above all else, apart from a few pirates here and there, we don't appear to have an enemy at sea, nobody stalking us or threatening us with WW3 in maritime terms unless you count a few hot-head Muslims dashing around in fast motorised rowing-boats. Very recently, I found a Staff Paper on which there was a written brief on the 'Operation Telic/Iraqi Freedom' of 2003. I enjoyed reading it until I got to the part which mentioned the maritime forces, and a comparison with the Suez, then I ditched the paper and hurried to my keyboard on which I could vent my anger, sorry disbelief. I am going to ignore the non-naval forces involved because I can remember the skies over Port Said blackened by papa troopers dropping to secure the land masses after we the navy had 'softened' the Arabs up a little bit, and this was the very last time the para's were used from the skies in 1956. They would have out numbered many fold the numbers involved on the ground in and around Baghdad in 2003. Anyway back to the ships in this brief, but before I do that, please do not misunderstand me, for Baghdad was 'hammered' far greater than was Port Said by almost wholly air assets whether fixed wing aircraft (e.g., B52's at 60,000 feet ceilings dropping mega-bombs and cruise missiles), or by flying weapons like tomahawks for example.

  If you want to remind yourself of the ships which were at Suez in 1956 look here Suez but in the meantime here are the naval units involved in the removal of Saddam Hussein-

1 Carrier Ark Royal 1 LPH Ocean 2 Submarines Splendid and Turbulent 6 DD/FF Chatham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Marlborough, Richmond, York 8 MCMV Bangor, Blyth, Brocklesbury, Grimsby, Ledbury, Ramsey, Sandown, Shoreham 1 Survey Vessel Roebuck 14 RFA's

  Now what was that in my Suez file above? Was it SEVEN Aircraft Carriers etc etc?

  Now that is off my chest, let's look at the 20 years or so after WW2 i.e., from 1945 to 1965, or so.

  Stretching, stress, privations, separations are relative, and whether we have a large Fleet with thousands of men or a small Fleet with a vastly reduced head-count, each can be subjected to those morale-busters.

  In the years under scrutiny (or so), the Royal Navy's primary role was the COLD WAR, in short avoiding a WW3 by making sure that the great bear, Russia with its vast global combatant navy and equally ubiquitous global fleet of AGI's ( Auxiliaries Gathering Information - trawlers and merchantmen) was at all times monitored and shadowed. Believe me, it stretched our navy and its resources to the point of breaking and we had HUNDREDS of ships especially in the 1950 period. Have a look at this bit of text (re-typed):-

150 SHIPS REFITTED

  Half the three hundred warships in the Reserve Fleet have been refitted since the beginning of 1948 according to a report from Rosyth which also stated that the Director of Dockyards, Vice-Admiral Sir Claud Barry had announced that two-thirds of the work had been done in the Royal dockyards and one-third by direct contracts.
  Vice-Admiral Barry also revealed that the fleet carrier Vengeance will be refitted at Rosyth after she returns from her present experimental Arctic cruise. This work will be put in hand when the fleet carrier Victorious (23,000 tons) has been adapted for training short-service entry air cadets.

  ON TOP of this twenty four hour a day commitment against a REAL MARITIME enemy, we were subjected to war upon war with little respite and unspeakable death tolls: over a million souls in Korea alone not to mention thousands of prisoner-of-war who were tortured for many years before being released. In this period, to name the important wars and campaigns, we witnessed Korea, the Mau Mau, EOKA in Cyprus, major uprisings in Persia and Egypt, Berlin Airlift, Malaya Communist Insurgency, the Suez Crisis, the Yangtze Incident in China, and although slightly out of my stated time frame (or so), the IRA murdered 1100 service personnel and 630 civilians, and Iceland wanted, and got a naval punch-up which they lost. In Cyprus, soldiers wives were shot down dead in the street whilst out shopping in the Capital city of Nicosia. Whilst we were coping with these crises, Russia was attacking Hungary and the Israeli's were attacking Egypt. All in all, a bloody hazardous period, the likes of which with the fall of Russian-style Communism will not be repeated, and the Navy has no fear whilst at sea today. That said, looking ahead past this period (or so) and skimming over Aden, Borneo, Beira, and others to 1982, Falklands, a brilliant logistical war fought at the end of an 8000 mile long chain with success but mixed fortunes for the Navy, really was Britain's last shot at being a maritime power, and now, with absolutely nothing to match the Task Force of 1982, perhaps we should be fearing the Argentine Navy for Argentine's claim on the Falklands is as strong as ever and growing almost daily. Can we or could we stop their advances this time - I doubt that very much unless a third party assists us! Remind yourself of that 'fact' by reading The Chancellors Autumn Statement of November 2011:-

Defence Cuts November 2011

  In the late 1940's the British, fearing a major uprising in Egypt, set-up a massive General Headquarters (GHQ) which included a BMH (British Military Hospital) and an airfield at FAYID on the shores of the Great Bitter Lakes south of the Suez Canal. From this desert position they hoped to cover all the hot spots. The GHQ had various Army HQ's attached, plus an RAF HQ and a tiny (by comparison) RN HQ. This GHQ lasted until early 1956 when Nasser Nationalised the Suez Canal, and it is these people who quite recently (2010) finally won a Suez Campaign Medal (1947-1956) having been repeatedly turned down by various Governments. We know that in 1956 Britain and France jointly attacked Egypt, and for that a Campaign medal was issued at the time of the event.

  Meanwhile, over in Persia (now Iran) at Abadan, the Persians had Nationalised Britain's largest over-seas asset, namely the Anglo-Persian Oil Company which increased the British coffer by billions of pounds each year. Fearing the worst for the tens of hundreds of British and Commonwealth people working in the Persian oilfields, the British, already stretched to the limit with supplying warships to the United Nations for the Korean War, despatched many ships to the Persian Gulf ready, if needed, to evacuate the British workers and their families. As a post script, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company became BP (British Petroleum) in 1954.

  At the same time, they reinforced the RNHQ at Fayid with communicators and their equipment, building three more Nissen huts into the bargain. Many of these communicators were Wrens who replaced the men needed for an ever increasing role at sea. The Wrens were accommodated in the WRAC Barracks but in a self contained unit, and the men, what was left of them, kipped down in the Nissen huts. The communication medium was Morse Code (using SWB transmitters known as SWABS and army-type field receivers) and it was the job of RNHQ Fayid to communicate directly with the Flagship of the East Indies (the cruiser HMS Mauritius, international radio callsign GBML*) standing by in the Gulf with other ships awaiting orders to evacuate. One of the reasons for keeping back four RN male telegraphists was that the Wrens could not be left alone at night when on watch in the Communications Room and so had to have bodyguards.

  *....and all this in 123º F and NO air conditioning....have a look at this (re-typed):

HMS Mauritius - Kenya

  Mauritius recommissioned in Walker's Dock at Colombo last April and few, if any of us, will forget the trials and tribulations of 'finding our feet' and the subsequent work-up, which was carried out from Trincomalee.
  After arriving at Bahrein on 7th June we had plenty of work and one Banda machine (presumably to keep things turning), but no Communications staff. However, a Yeoman and Tel. arrive at a later date by kind permission of the Drafting Commander and suitable help from B.O.A.C.
  Our stay at Abadan where the ship remained moored opposite the town for three weeks is history now, but a point of interest (which again we aren't likely to forget) is that the hottest day in the Persian Gulf for five years was recorded whilst we were there - 123 degrees. Euryalus relieved us on 21st July and we arrived back in Trinco on 8th August.
  Even as we enjoyed the amenities of the Rest Camp though an announcement was made to the effect that Mauritius was returning Abadan. However, the weather proved to be cooler during our second period of duty and in this respect conditions were easier.

  In 1949, the recorded strength of GHQ was in excess of 3000 people, but on the 2nd November 1951, 6000 more fighting troops from infantry regiments were flown into the Fayid RAF Station.

  At first being stationed at the RNHQ Fayid was fun, and they were able to cadge lifts on warships which were queuing in the Bitter Lakes awaiting a north bound transit through the Canal into the Mediterranean, where they would take leave on Cyprus either in the Troodos Camp or the Famagusta Camp. The route back to Fayid was also by warship or RFA. Fayid had many dances with lots of girls from the WRAF, WRAC and WRNS stationed in GHQ. However, as things came to the boil and the threatened revolts both in Persia and in Egypt came to fruition, attacks on personnel became regular features and the Base fortified itself ready for war.

  One feature which is greatly reported upon, was the journey home of the London and the Amethyst* (ex Yangtze Incident). The entrance to the Canal in the south was heavily lined with personnel from GHQ who cheered themselves silly whilst the RAF gave a flying display ending in a fly past salute, witnessing with some emotion, these brave ships on their way home to the UK. For the record, they made many stops on the way home and when they got to Malta, the Lascaris Wrens were among many diners at the C-in-C's residence at Marsa who threw several of these dinners in order that as many as possible could see these brave men and wish them God Speed for the UK. All in Lascaris were particularly please to be able to meet and chat with Telegraphist Jack French who had been awarded the DSM for his watch-on-stop-on stamina and bravery during Amethyst's arrest period.

  *Just a little ditty. Many moons later they decided to film the Yangtse Incident as a major movie. By this time the Amethyst had been laid up awaiting her journey to the breakers yard, but they decided to reprieve her just to achieve a bit of authenticity to the movie. However, during filming some over enthusiastic props man, endeavouring to make credible shell fire, blew a bloody great hole in the ship below the waterline and it started to leak, a trifle. The original Captain of the Amethyst, whose services had been secured by the film director, Commander John Kerans RN, ordered everybody off the ship which included 150 actors and technicians while a steel plate 8 foot by 4 foot was welded over the damaged area. Only then could the camera roll again, and take (whatever number) could be 'clapped' again.

  Those sent to Fayid were drafted to NP (Naval Party 1102). However, it was called HMS OSIRIS after the Egyptian Male God (the little green man) called OSIRIS. At that time there were no seagoing vessels using that name (there has only been one ship and two submarines with that name). The next user of the name Osiris was the Oberon Class submarine, and she used it from 1962 until being sold to Canada in 1992. Finally, in 1955, GHQ was disbanded with the Naval Contingent going to Nicosia (minus the WRNS) in Cyprus to HMS Aphrodite, rapidly becoming another hot-bed centre with the onset of Eoka terrorism. See HMS Aphrodite.