HMS Caprice 1972
HMS Caprice was the last WWII destroyer to remain in service with the Royal Navy. These pictures were taken in 1972 during her period as Engineers' training ship. The ship operated on a day running basis out of Devonport, normally flashing up from cold during the morning watch (0400-0800), putting to sea at 0900 after the Captain arrived on board, returning at 1600 to Slip Jetty, then shutting down and connecting to shore power. Friday was a day for routine maintenance in harbour. Every "term" we took a trip somewhere nice for a few days. In 1972 we went to Brest in the early part of the year and then to Oporto in June. There are photographs of the Oporto visit in this gallery. These trips afforded the possibility to stock the ship with good wine, port, cheese, etc. (This was well before EC membership - and Portugal was a fascist dictatorship anyway).
Some of the photographs were taken of other ships and submarines at Devonport; a distraction from long duty weekends, I suppose. If anyone can help me identify any ship, submarine or person in these pictures, I would be grateful! Use the comment box or contact me on djwilkes1@gmail.com. The final commission book covering this period is available at http://www.hmscaprice1968.org.uk/book.htm.
By the way if anyone wants to download anything from my album they can do so, at full resolution; there is a download icon on the bottom righthand side of each picture.
Read MoreSome of the photographs were taken of other ships and submarines at Devonport; a distraction from long duty weekends, I suppose. If anyone can help me identify any ship, submarine or person in these pictures, I would be grateful! Use the comment box or contact me on djwilkes1@gmail.com. The final commission book covering this period is available at http://www.hmscaprice1968.org.uk/book.htm.
By the way if anyone wants to download anything from my album they can do so, at full resolution; there is a download icon on the bottom righthand side of each picture.
