Evening star., 1945-04-29
British Fleet Train
Active in Pacific
Enables Warships to Operate
Despite Loss of Shore Bases

Enables Warships to Operate
Despite Loss of Shore Bases
By 1t. Comdr. Peter CranshaU
OF the Royal Navy.
In their recent strikes against the
Sakashima Islands, which lie a few
hundred miles from the Japanese main
land, the warships of the powerful Brit
ish Pacific feet were operating for a
long period far beyond the reach Of their
nearest home base in Australia, 1000
miles away
Without an accessible shore base, the
British Pacific fleet was able to carry on
lengthy operations at sea by the build
ing up of a great fleet train"-an es-
sembly of large and medium sized re-
pair ships and supply ships, tankers and
variety of other vessels, which accom-
panies the fleet whenever it sails the
Pacific in search of action.
This train" is fleet within fleet,
floating general store and repair shop.
1t provides everything a modern battle
fleet needs to keep it at sea, when neces-
sary, for months on end. The fleet train
also caters for the comfort and general
welfare of the men in those ships and
keeps them in fighting trim.
Building of the fleet train began early
last year "in ORDER as Mr.. Churchill
recently told the House of Commons,
that our feet may.have degree of mo-
bility which for several months together
will make it largely independent of main
shore bases
The fleet train Is already of consider
able size. It is steadily growing as ships
built or fitted out in British and Ca
madam yards are sent out for service
with the British fleets in eastern waters.
Among its units are depot ships, repair
ships equipped with large workshops and
carrying skilled engineering stats COM
petent to deal with major warship re-
pair work, ocean-going tugs, "amenity
ships" for officers and men Of the feet,
oil tankers, water boats, colliers, frozen
meat ships which are floating refriger-
ators, ammunition ships, provision ships
dli0 cCOlC olllpo VI val lOuS
The fleet train is wonderfully COM
plete for its purpose. Take, for in
stance, the repair ships, all of which are
fitted out to deal with specialized jobs
Carrier-borne aircraft damaged by
enemy action are now made serviceable
again on board the aircraft component
repair ships when the workshops In
their parent carriers cannot cope with
them directly. These repair ships han
die major repair jobs which hitherto
could be done only at shore bases.
A typical ship Of this type has a staff
of more than $50 skilled filters, 80 elec-
tricians and $50 highly-skilled crafts
men such as blacksmiths, timers, fabric
workers and metal workers Eighteen
large workshops have been created out
of the ships holds; one of these is
machine shop fitted with equipment
ranging from an 8-inch lathe to
watchmaker's lathe and an engraving
machine.
The feet train will also include
floating brewery. This will be part Of
one Of the large "amenity ships" which
will shortly be joining the British Pacific
fleet. Two 15,000-ton vessels are now
being fitted out as floating entertain
ment centers.
On board the "amenity ship" officers
and men will find q brewery capable
of producing 5000 gallons of beer
week, as well as soda fountains, ice
cream bars, restaurants, reading and
restrooms and theater which will seat
400 people. Barber shops, tailors and
cobblers shops and similar facilities will
be provided. Men returning to forward
bases from Pacific action will find there
the relaxation they need.
Included in the fleet train are the
depot ships, with vast quantities of spare
gear and specialized tools. There are
also the fueling ships, without whose
help the fighting units could not stay
long at sea. Recently Royal Fleet
auxiliary tanker fueled dozen ships in
"a hours while they and the other
vessels in the convoy continued to steam
through one Of the toughest stretches
OF sea in the world. The operation was
routine; it was completed in rough seas,
and in an area where the ships ran
the constant risk Of attack by Jap air
craft and submarines.
In European waters, home bases, with
their ever-ready supply of skilled man
power and all their resources for ship
maintenance and repair, were conven-
iently near at hand. And until 1912
bases were also conveniently placed for
ships operating with Britain's Far East
ern fleet. But when Singapore fell, the
situation was radically altered.
British warships operating in, for in
stance, the Bay of Bengal, had to 60 to
Durham, $500 miles away, for the nearest
craving dock; to get to the nearest first
class naval dockyard they had to go to
Malta, which was 1000 miles away, and
at that time under constant air attack.
So Britain created the fleet train.