Category: Flashback Friday - HMCS OJIBWA - THE MUSEUM

HMCS OJIBWA - THE MUSEUM

Pigeon Accepts a Tot

1/27/2020

During our 2019 season, Larry Belzac, a former photographer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, visited HMCS Ojibwa. We were able to fill in some memories that had been lost to the demon rum during a previous visit in 1966. Here is the story in his own words:

Benefit of Integration

Thanks to the integration of the Armed Forces, I was posted to the Navy Photo Section in Halifax, NS. I had the honour of being one of the first pigeons (Air Force guy) to grace the halls of any Navy Photo Section if not the Navy itself.

Duty Photo Assignment:
HMCS Ojibwa – Saturday, June 11th, 1966

The sailors were a good bunch of guys and they made me feel at home; but, I cannot remember any of their names now. However, I won’t forget my time there! Come meal time we all ate in the area where the photographs were taken. I was still on standby to photograph part of one of the engines as soon as they were able to shut it down.

Prelude to Up Spirits

9/12/2018

Preface

Long referred to as the ‘demon’ rum it has nevertheless been used for hundreds of years to discourage the ravages of cold, wet, lack of sleep and depression along with most other maladies faced by serving men. Rum rose to prominence because it did not ‘turn’ or ‘go off’ as beer and wine did. Our Facebook entry regarding the location of the rum stores aboard HMCS Ojibwa jogged the memory of Jim ‘Lucky’ Gordon – and helps us understand the nickname ‘Lucky’.

The Cox'n's Stores located on the deck between the gash ejector and the Chiefs &Petty Officers Wash Space.

Needs Must

1/4/2018

Set Up

Our original website included a Photo of the Day feature. On Wednesday, March 11, 2015, the Photo of the Day was a picture of a torpedo being loaded aboard HMCS OJIBWA.

Alongside in the background was a large ship. This took former submariner Jim 'Lucky' Gordon on a trip down memory lane. Before you follow him there, it will help to know that a 'target' to a submariner is any surface ship and a 'skimmer' is someone who sails on a surface ship.

Dress Sense or Lack Thereof

7/22/2017

Jim 'Lucky' Gordon

Ours Not to Reason Why

As a matter of interest, the Navy formally changed from winter dress to summer dress regulations 1 May. (The date really varied from 15 April to 15 May depending on the Commander of the day.) And back into winter dress regulations end on October. It did not matter if winter persisted into early June. All items of winter rig, great coat, gloves, over shows, and black jerseys were not to be worn during "summer dress period"

How do I get out of here?

1/20/2017

You can bet your buttons that visitors to HMCS Ojibwa, as enthralled as they are, want to know how submariners could get out of the submarine in the event resurfacing was not an option - and neither were the doors that visitors use today! Such trepidation is not a matter of too many scary movies; it is a matter of too many lives sacrificed to the deep. Former submariner Paul Connolly, had a moment of fame in the midst of HMCS Ojibwa's role in the development of Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) to serve that purpose.

Slackers in 1970 + Sub School 1989

1/13/2017

Slackers 1970 - NATO Exercise Steel Ring

Still at it in 1989

Refit 1986 - Synchro Lift

1/6/2017

Here's a little flashback to 1986 when Ojibwa went in to refit in the synchro shed. Just how high is that roof? Well Ojibwa is approximately five storeys high.

This refit was not as drastic as the 68/69 leap of faith when she was cut in two so her engines could be removed and replaced. Follow the link below to read Gilles Poirier's inside story of that event.

The Synchro Lift used to Access the Shed

Go to: Ojibwa Cut in Two

Under the Casing

11/3/2016

The casing is not what it used to be when Lucky was the Scratcher's Dickie. All the heavy bits and pieces under the casing were removed to lighten the submarine so it could navigate the shallow waters in Port Burwell harbour.

October 28th, 2016

10/28/2016

1967 Ojibwa looks on as 4 minesweepers pass by. Left to Right: HMCS Thunder 161; HMCS Fundy 159; HMCS Chignecto 160; and HMCS Chaleur 164.

All work and no play... Suffice it to say, there are no dull submariners.