View from an Amphib's Bridge
A view from the bridge, looking forward over the flight deck of the helicopter carrier HMS Albion (R07).
Taken by a relative during a visit to her off the coast of Brunei in early 1971. Wikipedia reports the ship conducted a seven-week passage from Bombay to Singapore in May-June 1971, but the ship's commission book (extract at: www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/albion20.pdf) states she sailed to Singapore, loaded 40 Cdo RM for Exercise New Look II in Brunei and then sailed back to Singapore.
Other slides in this particular box show my relative flying to and from the ship aboard a Brunei-based helicopter, thus confirming the ship's general location.
I think the thing that strikes me is that small size of the flight deck, considering that this once accommodated jet fighters! The angled flight-deck is only marginally visible on the left of this shot.
Seven Wessex helicopters from 848 Naval Air Squadron were on the flight-deck, two visible forward of the bridge and the other five ranged on deck spots further aft. A variety of Land Rovers and other Royal Marines equipment was parked on the starboard quarter, aft of the bridge.
View from an Amphib's Bridge
A view from the bridge, looking forward over the flight deck of the helicopter carrier HMS Albion (R07).
Taken by a relative during a visit to her off the coast of Brunei in early 1971. Wikipedia reports the ship conducted a seven-week passage from Bombay to Singapore in May-June 1971, but the ship's commission book (extract at: www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/albion20.pdf) states she sailed to Singapore, loaded 40 Cdo RM for Exercise New Look II in Brunei and then sailed back to Singapore.
Other slides in this particular box show my relative flying to and from the ship aboard a Brunei-based helicopter, thus confirming the ship's general location.
I think the thing that strikes me is that small size of the flight deck, considering that this once accommodated jet fighters! The angled flight-deck is only marginally visible on the left of this shot.
Seven Wessex helicopters from 848 Naval Air Squadron were on the flight-deck, two visible forward of the bridge and the other five ranged on deck spots further aft. A variety of Land Rovers and other Royal Marines equipment was parked on the starboard quarter, aft of the bridge.