We are now only a fairly short distance from the COA (Carrier Operating Area) out to the east of the Falklands, and it is in recognition of the fact that we are now approaching an area in which a shooting war can commence, quite literally, at any time, that we are now going to Defence Watches with effect from 1800 today, and all compartments and spaces are to be secured for action from 2000.
This means that all loose gear is to be stowed away securely, so that in the event of Action Stations being piped unexpectedly, there will be a minimum of delay before we can get closed up. We have also been getting issued with the proper safety gear for this area, principally a ‘Once-Only Suit’, which is a thin rubber suit designed to be worn once, as the name suggests, and which will keep us dry if we have to enter the water. In the sort of temperatures we are likely to be encountering down here, anyone who goes into the water without some sort of protection is going to live a very short time indeed, so we are carrying the suits (they come in small rubber packages) everywhere we go.
We have also been issued with ELSA sets – Emergency Life Support Apparatus – which are very small compressed-air breathing sets, and which are intended to be used in the event of fire starting, in order to give you enough time – roughly 8 minutes – to get out of the fire zone and onto the upper deck. Finally, uniform rules have been drastically altered, and we are spending all day now in 5(J) – normal working dress with Woolly Pully – and are required to sleep wearing at least one complete layer of clothing. Most people are opting for wearing overalls at night (I am), and the intention here is that if you are in bed when the ship gets hit, you have at least some clothing to wear under your rubber suit, without hunting round looking for things to put on.
On a slightly brighter note, I hosted the final ITV LIVE show this evening, which was again quite well received, although it went on rather longer than planned, due to all sorts of last-minutes ditties turning up. The routine from now on will be that two films and a very abbreviated news broadcast will be shown each day, with no live programmes at all, and this routine will be continuing until we revert to cruising watches again, which won’t be until we leave the Falkland Islands area.