Lyttelton- Sydney By Submarine

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31128, 3 August 1966, Page 7

Lyttelton- Sydney By Submarine

Three naval volunteer reservists from H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus flew back to New Zealand at their own expense after travelling in the submarine H.M.S. Tabard from Lyttelton to Sydney. Sub-Lieutenant B. E. W. Galilee said he thought it was well worth paying the return fare of more than £33 in order to make the submarine cruise.

“It was a very valuable experience as far as training is concerned, and one that reservists don’t usually get,” he said.

Sub - Lieutenant Galilee, Petty Officer Machinist D. G. Shepherd and Able Seaman D. S. Bowie left with the Tabard on July 25 after the British submarine had paid a fourday visit to Lyttelton at the end Of exercises with the Royal New Zealand Navy and Air Force.

Travelling on the surface, the Tabard reached Svdney on Saturday evening. During the trip, the three men shared duties with the crew.

For Sub-Lieutenant Galilee,

this meant keeping watches and, following the instructions of crew officers, assisting with operations peculiar to submarines—-blowing the tanks (“What they did, I’m not sure”) or charging the batteries. Able Seaman Bowie took the place of other ratings on watches and Petty Officer Machinist Shepherd was at home with the engines after a week.

“It wasn’t uncomfortable aboard, apart from rough weather, which you get on any ship,” Sub-Lieutenant Galilee said.

He did not feel cramped or shut in on the trip; there seemed to be not much less room than on a surface vessel.

At Sydney the three reservists stayed at the naval centre, H.M.A.S. Penguin. "I’m very grateful to the Royal Navy fof presenting us with this rare opportunity,” said the commanding officer of H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus (Commander R. F. Sanderson) “I am sure the officer and ratings benefited from it.”