PAST EVENTS

At our February get-together "The Soviet Navy and the East/West Naval Confrontation" was the theme for yet another Darrell Hall presentation. There is no longer any need to employ superlatives, the name "Hetro Goldwyn HALL" speaks for itself and has become a HALL-mark for quality!

This meeting was marked by, possibly, our largest audience ever, because the Durban Branch of the World Ships Society had been invited to attend and was strongly represented. The lecture took the form of a slide-show and a dialogue between Darrell (speaking for the Soviet Navy) and Ken Johnson (speaking for the West).

The aim was to tell the story of the growth of the Soviet navy and to contrast its strength with that of the navies of the West to-day. This aim was admirably realised. The first part dealt with the origins and growth from 1700 to 1953. Starting with Tsar Peter the Great, the legendary founder of the Russian navy, the story took us to the humiliation of the Russian fleet by the Japanese in the war of 1904/5, through an inconspicuous role in WWI to WWII. The Russian navy again contributed little to victory in WWII, but it is interesting to note that in 1939 it had the largest submarine fleet in the world - an ominous sign for the future.

After the war, with Stalin's death, plans for an ocean-going fleet were shelved. Khrushev was against a big-ship navy. In 1956 a new naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, was appointed. He was told to develop a small-ship navy to defend the Soviet Union against possible Western aggression. He is still there - 26 years later. Under his leadership and guidance, the Soviet Navy has developed from an insignificant coastal force to the massive global force it is to-day.

Major Hall proceeded to outline in illustrated detail the types of naval vessels and their armaments developed in competition between the Soviet and the West. Developments by one side inevitably called for counter measures by the other. Economic and political considerations did not always make it possible for such calls to be met and disparaties arose.

Terms like Kildin and Krupny class destroyers, ballistic missiles SS-N-4s, Komar and Osa missile boats, SS-N-2 Styx and SS-N-3 Shaddock missiles, Kynda class cruisers and November class submarines rolled off Darrell's and Ken's tongues as if they were household words like Omo, Surf and Goldenflo! But everything was perfectly clear and intelligible, although it must be admitted that our guests from the World Ships Society presumably had an edge on the landlubbers, even if among the latter there were past and present gunners, air- and infantrymen!

Special attention was given to submarines and some of the statistical data was staggering, if not frightening: Typhoon class submarines with a displacement of 27 000 tons and missiles with a range of 8 000 km!

Then followed a fairly detailed review of surface ships and associated aircraft, and, very interesting and revealing, geographic distributions and global strategies.

Darrell concluded modestly by saying, this had been "a quick review of the Soviet Navy", and then came to some final conclusions.

After a number of questions had been put, the Chairman of the Durban Branch, World Ships Society, Mr. David Hughes, moved a unanimous vote of thanks to the speaker and his aide.

OBITUARY

It was with deep regret that we heard of the death of Joe Stallard, one of our long-standing members, who passed away on 1st February, 11 1983.

FIELD TRIPS

Some members have suggested that a field trip should be organised during this year. This matter will be discussed at the next meeting and members are requested to consider whether this should be a day trip or include an overnight stop (weekend), and also the area to be visited.

MONTHLY GET-TOGETHER

MARCH 10TH MAJOR M. SHIEL-SMALL author of the recently published book, Green Shadows: A Gurkha Story will give a talk on THE GURKHAS.

The venue for the meeting will be the Lecture Room, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Port Natal Administration Board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, on Thursday, 10 th March, commencing at 8 p.m. There is ample parking, under guard, in the grounds. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own canned or bottled refreshments. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO COME ALONG.

FELICITATIONS

We extend heartiest congratulations to fellow-member KEN GILLINGS on his promotion to Regimental Sergeant-major.

WELCOME

We extend a warm welcome to Mr. I.D. Sclater, a former Johannesburg member, who has been transferred to Pietermaritzburg.

(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv