In the early 1950s, the British fishing industry employed over 50,000 fishermen, but for a number of reasons, including loss of the right to fish Icelandic waters and more effective catching systems, it had declined significantly in size, like the Royal and Merchant Navies. Most of the great fishing harbours of the past, such as Grimsby, Hull and Fleetwood, had in effect ceased being fishing ports.
During his time Conley was to witness further downsizing, as the catch quota system imposed by the European Common Fisheries Policy bit harder each year, driving boat owners out of business and perversely causing tens of thousands of tons of perfectly good fish to be dumped at sea each year. Another colossal enigma involved the decommissioning of fishing boats in some countries, including the United Kingdom, while the European Union subsidised the building of new vessels in other countries, most notably the Republic of Ireland and Spain. The fishing villages of the northwest of Scotland were particularly badly affected, such remote communities as Mallaig, Lochinver and Kinlochbervie losing not only jobs but a centuries-old way of life. Towards the end of his time in the Fishermen’s Mission, on return to his childhood town of Campbeltown, Conley observed that its fleet of boats had also virtually gone. It was a truly depressing sight.
The coalition government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010 heralded more draconian reductions in the armed forces with entire areas of capability, such as the maritime patrol aircraft squadrons, being disestablished. The Royal Navy was reduced to a mere nineteen frigates and destroyers, its aircraft carriers either mothballed or disposed of, and its manpower decreased to about 30,000 personnel compared to the 100,000 when Conley joined in 1963. The Submarine Flotilla was spared the worst of the cuts and a force level of four Trident SSBNs and seven Astute-class SSNs is envisaged.
Reviewing his career, Dan Conley reflected that he had been very fortunate in being an officer in a navy which had had a worldwide outreach. He also considered himself privileged to serve in the Royal Navy’s Submarine Flotilla during the height of the Cold War, at a time of continuous tension when there was a clear and evident threat, and when maritime matters were much more prominent in the national conscience. However, he is certain that today’s submariners face similar challenges to those he had confronted, that there is probably still a ‘Black Pig’ somewhere within the Flotilla, and somewhere close by are young men capable of mastering her.
Glossary
Whiskey — diesel-powered, 1,100 tons surface displacement, torpedo-armed patrol submarines built in large numbers between 1951 and 1957. Total in the class: 236. Later some hulls were converted to carry cruise missiles. Went out of service in the late 1980s.
Foxtrot — diesel-powered, torpedo-armed patrol submarines which succeeded the Whiskey class. Total of fifty-eight were built between 1958 and 1983. Went out of service in 2000.
November — first type of Soviet nuclear attack submarine (SSN). Torpedo-armed, a total of fourteen were completed between 1958 and 1963. Went out of service in 1991.
Hotel — a first-generation, nuclear-powered, ballistic missile submarine — SSBN. A total of eight were completed between 1960 and 1962. Was armed with three medium-range ballistic missiles but initially needed to be surfaced to launch them. This was rectified in later modernisations of the class. Went out of service in 1991.
Echo — nuclear, anti-ship cruise-missile armed submarines (SSGNs), the prime role of which was to attack NATO strike carrier forces. There were two variants Echo I and Echo II and a total of thirty-four were built between 1960 and 1967. Fitted with eight missile launchers but required to be surfaced to launch missiles. Went out of service in early 1990s.
Juliett — a large diesel submarine of 3,200 tons surface displacement, armed with four anti-ship cruise missiles (SSG). Required to be surfaced to launch missiles. A total of sixteen were built between 1963 and 1968. Went out of service in early 1990s.
Yankee — a second-generation SSBN of 7,500 tons surface displacement which carried a total of sixteen intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Built in response to the American Polaris submarine threat. Thirty-four were completed between 1967 and 1974. Went out of service in the early 1990s.
Victor — second-generation SSN. Three types — Victor I, Victor II and Victor III. A total of forty-eight were built between 1967 and 1991. The Victor III was much quieter than its predecessors and was capable of launching anti-ship cruise missiles. Four Victor IIIs remain in service(2014).
Charlie — second-generation SSGNs which could launch their cruise missiles whilst dived. Two variants, Charlie I and II — a total of seventeen were built between 1968 and 1980. Went out of service in the 1990s.
Delta — third-generation SSBN of four variants — Delta I to Delta IV — which could carry between twelve and sixteen ICBMs. A total of forty-three vessels were commissioned between 1972 and 1990. As of 2014, approximately ten remain in service.
Alfa — torpedo-armed nuclear attack submarines. Very fast — 42 knots — deep-diving, and highly automated, a total of seven built between 1977 and 1981. Very difficult to maintain, went out of service in 1996.
Typhoon — a third-generation class of SSBNs. At 26,000 tons displacement, by far the world’s largest submarines; six were built between 1981 and 1989. They carried a total of twenty intercontinental ballistic missiles. The last of this class went out of service in 2012.
Mike — prototype SSN completed in 1983 — the Komsomolets — which sank in 1989.
Akula — third-generation class of SSN capable of firing anti-ship missiles. Very quiet acoustic signature on a par with USN Los Angeles class. Fifteen completed between 1984 and 2009. Eight still in service (2014).
‘S’ class — a class of sixty-three submarines of 750 tons surface displacement built in the late 1930s and during the Second World War. Had a maximum underwater speed of 10 knots. Post-war a few were streamlined for the ASW role and fitted with snort (snorkel) masts. All were paid off by the early 1960s.
‘T’ class — a class of fifty-three submarines constructed in the late 1930s and during the Second World War. Post-war many were streamlined and converted to the ASW role and fitted with snort masts. Eight had their hulls extended in length and greater battery capacity fitted, giving them burst speeds of 15 knots dived. All were paid off by the late 1960s.
‘A’ class — a class of sixteen submarines built for the Pacific campaign, but all were completed post-war, a total of sixteen being built. Most were streamlined for the ASW role, but with a maximum dived speed of 8 knots they had limited capability and often were used as training targets. All were paid off by the early 1970s.
‘P’ and ‘O’ classes — virtually identical classes, these very quiet submarines were designed specifically for the ASW role and were completed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, twenty-one being built for the Royal Navy. Had a top underwater burst speed of 17 knots. Torpedo-armed for both for anti-ship and ASW tasks, could be fitted with the anti-ship cruise missile Sub-Harpoon. All were paid off by the early 1990s.