THE DOVER PATROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1941, Page 6

THE DOVER PATROL

NAVY’S “STONE FRIGATE.” ROLE OF H.M.S. LYNX. By courtesy of the officer commanding T have had the unusual experience of boarding and inspecting H.M.S. Lynx.'more familiarly known to naval men of the Dover Patrol as the Stone Frigate or Ship Ashore, writes a special Press correspondent from Dover. I was received on the quarterdeck of this remarkable ship, which, commanded by a Royal Navy captain with a full company of officers, has a ship's company which includes a number of ) very efficient Wrens. 0 The quarterdeck, from which the officer commanding directs operations, receives other officers, and metes out justice to the men under his command, is actually a bleak, stone-walled vault in a large stone underground building. The entire ship is indeed built of concrete and stone. Nevertheless the Lynx is very much a naval unit, with a vast ship's company on its books. She is parent ship to all H.M. vessels included in the famous and historic Dover - Patrol. The Lynx is responsible for everything affecting the well-being and the fighting efficiency of that patrol. The Lynx succeeds a long dwao of naval craft, including sloops, '•brigs, and a destroyer which served /n the last war. She is a craft on shore, but since in the traditions of the Royal Navy there must be an actual ship for every ship’s name, there exists a seagoing H.M.S. Lynx, which is a picket boat mid operates about the harbour as efficiently as any unit in our great fleet. I visited the armourers’ shops, the gunnery office, where there are Wrens at work, the regulating office, all underground, so that vital work of the base shall suffer no disturbance from enemy action. It will be realised that with everchanging disposition of our own and enemy minefields safe navigation on the English Channel is a ticklish business these days. And so upon this office every ship entering or leaving the Dover base depends for information which will ensure it a safe pasThe mixed male and female staffs in this nerve centre of the ship are also responsible for making clear to those at sea each and every change in the difficult roads which lie among the minefields. Each shipmaster must immediately advise of every change,