Dear webmaster,
I was one of the divers, Leading Diver Ray Suckling ( changed name to Sinclair) on Operation Blackleg.
Dive 003 second dive, first dive recorded as a camera survey of D118.
I now hold a Bachelor of Journalism and feel it incumbent of me to get facts recorded correctly.
PO Micheal ( Harry ) Harrison was awarded the QGM. Harrison was in my team , which included Leading Diver Graham (Tug ) Wilson later Lt Cdr.
Harrison was diver (1) myself diver (2) Harrison was making his way back from the Operations room with crypto tapes, his arms were full, I was in the lobby of the wreck tending his umbilical as is the job of diver(2).
Dive control via comms informed me Harrison was trapped and I needed to go to him and free him. I got to Harrison he was struggling to free himself and was entangled with electrical wiring and wedged between a locker and the ships bulkhead. I informed dive control to tell Harrison to remain still. I removed the cables and grabbed him by his bailout bottle and harness and pulled him free. Harrison had his arms full of NATO sensitive tapes. I led the way back to the lobby took the tapes from Harrison and he went back to the Opps room as he was diver(1) on another occasion when Wilson was diver (2) Harrison got stuck again but managed to free himself. Later awarded the QGM.
The diver who was cutting into the wreck and had a blow back ( explosion) and his diving helmet face plate cracking was Leading Diver Steve Clegg. In a seperate incident Leading Diver Chris (Ginge) David suffered a blowback and ruptured both eardrums forcing him to decompress and return to UK for treatment.
The โ Cross of Nails โ was recovered by Canadian Lt Charles ( Chuck) Edwards and Leading Diver Kevan ( Dickie) Daber.
The SeaDart missile had a 4lb plastic explosive charge strapped to the war head by Leading Diver Ray Suckling and detonated from topside.
The Captainโs safe was cut into by Leading Diver Ray Suckling retrieving NATO Top Secret war orders and the Captianโs silver heirlooms.
Note: no petty cash was in the safe. Your text to link...
Any further clarification or information please donโt hesitate to contact me.
Best regards
Ray Sinclair( Bachelor of Journalism (BJourn)