After an intense exercise on the Indian Ocean the sailors are allowed some shore leave on the deserted tropical island of Pulao Tiomin. During the exercise I had been cooped up in the ASDICS room, headphones covering aboard years and my eyes glued to the circular screen in front of me.

I listened to the echoes returning to the ship from the being sent out by the transducer housed beneath our hull. Then there would be the excitement as I recognise the returning go from a submarine. I had to learn the difference between echoes from fish, rocks, whales and such like and the Echo returning from a submarine.

Saturday 5 September, 2009 7:34