This was our first SCP job at sea and additionally, our introduction to the Korean War. HMS Amethyst and her ship's company had done it before but most would say that each patrol was different. Certainly this one appeared action-packed, especially in the Han River. When the shore batteries opened fire and straddled the ship, I suddenly knew it was for real and that this was no boring 'shoot the drogue down' exercise, where no one fired back.

For those shipmates without experience of the Korean commission, I have extracted the article, "Han River Escapade" from the book, 'Stem to Stern’ and reprinted it in full later in this Newsletter. This gives a much more in depth description of this last patrol. Additionally, I have included "The Battle of Chang-ni-do", which took place in July 1952 and is wrongly named in the book as, ‘Changin-do’. Readers will note that in this latter article, our Mr. Norris assisted the doctor in carrying out a life saving operation on one of our Korean wounded but regrettably, he died due to a huge loss of blood.

From the 16th. December until 25th. May 1952 when we rejoined HMS Amethyst in Sasebo, Japan, our (SCP) time was spent aboard HMS Comus (D20) on both the East and West coasts of Korea.  We had a few new and unpleasant experiences, such as when the Radar showed 'blips', believed to represent aircraft drop tanks and we moved in to sink them with Bren guns. One cannot easily miss the target with Brens and when they did not sink, closer examination was necessary and this revealed the swollen bodies of men and woman, who had been tied back to back. They had been thrown in rivers and had then drifted out to sea. Another cruel example and a common sight, was that of cattle roped together and towed alongside Chinese Junks in an effort to starve the South Koreans. Many of these cattle drowned under such conditions. It was during this period that we suffered some bitterly cold weather and no-one looked forward to being 'On Watch' or 'Closed Up'  in minus 35 degrees. It was also bad of course for our soldiers ashore. However, "Comus" eventually made her way to warmer climates in Singapore and we disembarked into HMS Terror.  Mid May or thereabouts, we rejoined HMS Comus and 'worked our passage' back to Sasebo, Japan arriving on the 24th.May, where we (SCP) then embarked aboard HMS Ladybird.
 

25^th. May 1952: On the move again. Embarked once more aboard HMS Amethyst. (Seems like we never left her).

26^th: Sail for Korea in company with HMS Crane heading for the now infamous Han River.

27^th: Having left HMS Crane, proceeded up the Han River and anchored at 1800hrs.

28^th: 0900hrs - Engaged enemy targets and at 1700hrs proceeded down river. Fired 124 Rounds of 4".

29^th: Fired star shell during the middle watch to prevent invasion of the islands and engaged enemy targets during remainder of the night. Fired 43 rounds of 4" and 29 Rounds of 4" star shell.

30^th: Defence stations during middle watch. Carried out same procedure as on 29^th. Fired 6 Rounds of 4".

1st. June: Much activity in the Han. Fired 66 Rounds of 4"

2^nd: 1000hrs Moved down river to Yongpyong-do. Fired 11 star shell during night to deter invasion of islands.

3^rd: Oiled Ship from Wave Sovereign and rendezvous with HMS Ceylon at 1030hrs. 1400hrs - Covered for ship oiling with Wave Sovereign. 2030hrs - Island patrol.

4^th/5^th: Patrol in company with LST 1089.

6^th/7^th: Island Patrol.

8^th: 0345hrs Action Stations. With HMS Ceylon bombarded suspected gun and troop positions. 0900hrs - Returned to day anchorage and at 1400hrs weighed anchor & proceeded to Sasebo. Fired 202 4" & 123 40mm.

9^th: Arrived Sasebo. Berthed alongside "Joscoe".

13^th: Left for west coast patrol.

15^th: Arrived Inchon. In company with HMS Belfast, Ceylon, Ocean and Consort. Contingent from each ship addressed by Viscount Alexander aboard Belfast. 1900hrs - proceeded to Haegu.

16^th: Reached destination & relieved HMCS Athabaskan. During night, illuminated enemy positions with star shell.

17^th: 2000hrs - Left for night station & engaged enemy targets.

20^th: Taech-ong-do. Refuelled from Wave Sovereign and replenished 200 Rounds of 4" from HMS Belfast. Provided illumination during night over enemy coast.

22^nd: 1100hrs. Proceeded to Island of Mu-do having received word that it had been invaded. Supported landing of friendly forces with PC 703 and aircraft from HMS Ocean.

23^rd - 27^th: Illuminated enemy coast during night against possible invasion of islands. Engaged enemy shore targets on 26^th. & 27^th by day. Since 9^th. of month fired 280 Rounds 4" & 131 Rounds of star shell 4"

29^th: With HMS Ceylon & Comus returned to day anchorage. 1900hrs - sailed for Kure: 1030hrs.

1^st July: Secured to buoy - Kure.

2^nd: Proceeded alongside HMS Consort.

3^rd - 7^th: In Harbour. Likely to be our last stop at Kure, so 'rabbit runs’ essential. NB: A special epitaph has been written for those who went for that reason but stopped for another. "The flesh was willing but…….".

8^th: 1000hrs - Sailed for west coast patrols.

10^th: Arrived Taechong-do, refuelled & left for Paeng-yong-do. PM - Reached destination & sailed for night patrol.

11^th. - 13^th: On patrol.

14^th: Action Stations. Fired 197 Rounds of 4" at enemy shore batteries & 81 rounds of 40mm. Very successful, accounting for all shore guns including one 122mm. 0930hrs - Returned to Paeng-yong-do and reverted to four Watch Cruising Stations.

15^th: Oiled from "Brown Ranger" & sailed for island of Chang-ni-do, which had been invaded by North Koreans. (See separate article).

1000 -1600hrs - Action Stations - Chang-ni-do. Motorboat was fired on close inshore whilst searching for enemy boats. 4" engaged targets on the Island. 1700 - 1900hrs - Closed up Action Stations. Ship fired on by shore batteries. Roughly, 36 enemy shells straddled us. Ship returned fire & registered hits on one gun and ammunition dump. Fired 176 Rounds of 4".

16^th: Provided supporting fire for friendly troops who landed and retook the Island at 0700hrs. Rescued American pilot whose plane crashed nearby. 1300hrs - Three quarters of the Island now recaptured. Four wounded brought aboard but one died later that evening. Fired 164 Rounds 4".

17^th: 0900hrs - left Chang-ni-do with HMS Belfast for Paeng-yong-do arriving at 1030hrs. 2000hrs - Returned to Chang-ni-do for anti invasion patrol. Weather very foggy but Island completely in our hands.

18^th: 1900hrs - Returned to Paeng-yong-do, relieved by HMNZS Taupo and started for Sasebo. Briefly turned back for Chang-ni-do to investigate enemy junks then continued on our way.

19^th: At sea. Received signal regarding submarine. Went to investigate together with HMS Comus & HMAS Bataan. Carried out search but found nothing so continued towards Sasebo.

20^th: 100hrs -Arrived Sasebo, secured alongside Fort Sandusky.

1200hrs - We (SCP), our job completed, we said our final goodbyes, sadly in many ways. Not least amongst them, being somewhat envious of the fact that Amethyst and her ship's company were destined to leave for Hong Kong the next day and eventually "GUZZ" before Christmas. This time, UK "GUZZ".

For us, HMS Ladybird beckoned yet again and we simply carried on with "our Special Assignment". Up/down the east/west Korean coasts aboard HMS Crane and Mounts Bay, interspersed with periods aboard HMS Ladybird. Then, in late June 1953, our "assignment" completed, 'our watch’ caught sight of the troopship, Empire Fowey, soon to point her bows in the direction of the UK and somehow we secured a lift home. Our commission soon to be over.
 
 

As a matter of interest, the Empire Fowey and her sister ships were originally German built and owned. Towards the end of WW2, the British captured or commandeered them and commenced their present use as troopships. Previously, whilst in German hands, they were known as, "Strength thro’ Joy ships", carried a complement of females and were used by German Officers. Lower ranks were not welcome. No one made us aware of anything like that in the RN and certainly the practice had ceased aboard Fowey when we came home.