D’you Hear There!

A unique approach to describing life at sea in the Royal Navy.

Despite the introduction of modern-day technology, Ships and Submarines of the Royal Navy still operate on the basis of main broadcast announcements, known in the Royal Navy as Pipes. Before the introduction of main broadcasts, a Crew (or Ship's Company) would be alerted to forthcoming ship's activity either using a Bosun's Call (which is a small pipe or whistle) or a Bugle. Whilst those methods are still in place, and still used, a Pipe is now the term for any verbal announcement made over a ship's main broadcast in the Royal Navy.

This book aims to translate their meanings, not simply to make the seemingly incomprehensible understandable, but also to conjure up often humorous anecdotes that provide an insight into life at sea in the RN. Each Pipe is provided with a brief description of its meaning followed by longer observation of what it meant to different members of the Ship's Company.

About the Author

Richard Harris served for 31 years in the Royal Navy; joining the RN Reserve as an Able Seaman, and leaving the Regular Service as a Commodore in 2023. He served at sea in nine ships and undertook operational deployments to the Arabian Gulf, South Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic Circle. He commanded the RN New Entry Training Establishment, HMS Raleigh, as well as being responsible for training Officer Cadets at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Preface – scene setter
• Alongside – individual pipes associated with basic life alongside in baseport
• At sea – individual pipes associated with life at sea and deployed (including training for war)
• Abbreviations and translations
• Index