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A PAIR OF STEAMING BATS: Life in the Royal Navy
Ever wondered what it’s really like in the Royal Navy? Then you’ll love this hilarious, entertaining and very personal portrayal of the author’s 1980s’ experiences.
The author – known as ‘Rocky’ on his first seagoing ship – joined the Royal Navy aged 17 in September 1982, shortly after the Falklands Conflict, and served until 1990 when he left the Senior Service to start a family.
A Pair of Steaming Bats captures the author’s training period, first taste of life at sea on a frigate and subsequent drafts including further life at sea on board an aircraft carrier. His experiences both on board and ashore are recounted as he sails from Plymouth and Portsmouth to various corners of the globe. From Mombasa’s seedy backstreets and the red-light districts of Hamburg and Amsterdam through to the glorious sandy beaches of the Seychelles and the Bahamas - there is coarseness, sex and drunken shenanigans. The people he encountered – from the poor beggars on the streets of Karachi to the millionaires of the Gulf states – are still fresh in his memory today.
This witty, behind-the-scenes account of life in the Royal Navy combined with the author’s stories of his Irish Catholic roots and his upbringing in a Peterborough pub will have you laughing, reminiscing and reflecting on for a long time after you read the final page. You’ll find everything in this compelling, no-holds-barred memoir.
The author – known as ‘Rocky’ on his first seagoing ship – joined the Royal Navy aged 17 in September 1982, shortly after the Falklands Conflict, and served until 1990 when he left the Senior Service to start a family.
A Pair of Steaming Bats captures the author’s training period, first taste of life at sea on a frigate and subsequent drafts including further life at sea on board an aircraft carrier. His experiences both on board and ashore are recounted as he sails from Plymouth and Portsmouth to various corners of the globe. From Mombasa’s seedy backstreets and the red-light districts of Hamburg and Amsterdam through to the glorious sandy beaches of the Seychelles and the Bahamas - there is coarseness, sex and drunken shenanigans. The people he encountered – from the poor beggars on the streets of Karachi to the millionaires of the Gulf states – are still fresh in his memory today.
This witty, behind-the-scenes account of life in the Royal Navy combined with the author’s stories of his Irish Catholic roots and his upbringing in a Peterborough pub will have you laughing, reminiscing and reflecting on for a long time after you read the final page. You’ll find everything in this compelling, no-holds-barred memoir.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2020
26 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 27, 2020
A slice of life in the Navy in the 80s
A very well written and not particularly sentimental account of youth in the Navy that is written in a conversational style that grips and entertains, without ever tarrying too long on any aspect. Thoroughly reccomended to those with or without an interest in the armed forces. Something about the authors style reminds me of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Silitoe. I'm sure it could have or could be adapted into a rip-roaring fictional account, rather than the humorous but truthful autobiographical account given.
A very well written and not particularly sentimental account of youth in the Navy that is written in a conversational style that grips and entertains, without ever tarrying too long on any aspect. Thoroughly reccomended to those with or without an interest in the armed forces. Something about the authors style reminds me of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Silitoe. I'm sure it could have or could be adapted into a rip-roaring fictional account, rather than the humorous but truthful autobiographical account given.
March 7, 2020
Repetative
As an ex matelot I was initially hooked but after a couple of chapters lost my enthusiasm.
Join a new ship or establishment, make new friends, to ashore, (foreign or home), drink beer, meet girls, repeat.
I suspect that this book was written as a 'dad's after a reunion.
It did make me laugh with recalled similiar memories though.
As an ex matelot I was initially hooked but after a couple of chapters lost my enthusiasm.
Join a new ship or establishment, make new friends, to ashore, (foreign or home), drink beer, meet girls, repeat.
I suspect that this book was written as a 'dad's after a reunion.
It did make me laugh with recalled similiar memories though.
August 8, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable read..
Really enjoyed reading this book about Rockys career in the RN,very funny in places.
Found it interesting as I was due to join the RN in 1988 straight from school but “options for change” and an MO at the Birmingham recruitment office saw to that dream..
Really enjoyed reading this book about Rockys career in the RN,very funny in places.
Found it interesting as I was due to join the RN in 1988 straight from school but “options for change” and an MO at the Birmingham recruitment office saw to that dream..
April 11, 2021
It was fun. Thanks for the memories
I enjoyed this read. Covers all the aspects and more for a Junior rating. I joined at Gangies as a baby Jack Dusty. It was fun and an eye opener all in one. Finally ended up as a Senior Exec now retired with the same as the author. TH is the bathroom ding for life.
I enjoyed this read. Covers all the aspects and more for a Junior rating. I joined at Gangies as a baby Jack Dusty. It was fun and an eye opener all in one. Finally ended up as a Senior Exec now retired with the same as the author. TH is the bathroom ding for life.
November 23, 2025
Great Memories
I joined the 'mob' (navy) in 1967 as a 16 year old 'tiff' across the road at HMS Fisgard (we looked down on you Rocky!). The memories flooded back reading this story, all so true, especially the early days as a sprog, deployments and shipboard life. Oppos for life. Bit too much on the sexual exploits but then I'm jealous. Great read for ex-matelots. Well done 5*
I joined the 'mob' (navy) in 1967 as a 16 year old 'tiff' across the road at HMS Fisgard (we looked down on you Rocky!). The memories flooded back reading this story, all so true, especially the early days as a sprog, deployments and shipboard life. Oppos for life. Bit too much on the sexual exploits but then I'm jealous. Great read for ex-matelots. Well done 5*
March 29, 2020
What a fantastic read ,me being an ex sailor as well ,having served in 80s/90s I can relate to this book ,absolutely fantastic read ,couldn’t put it down
April 16, 2020
Only for those who like naval life.
I found it boring all it concerned with was sex. Very disappointing could have been better.if dialogue was used also.
I found it boring all it concerned with was sex. Very disappointing could have been better.if dialogue was used also.
April 30, 2020
Glad I didn't pay for this book
pleased you enjoyed your cruise on the grey funnel line while the rest of us real matelots had to 'dig out'.
pleased you enjoyed your cruise on the grey funnel line while the rest of us real matelots had to 'dig out'.
July 21, 2020
a really interesting insight into life in the Navy
November 29, 2020
Memory provoking read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it brought back a lot of memories from my own time serving in the RN, albeit ten years after this time. Once started it was hard to put down. Humour just as I remember it. BZ Rocky.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it brought back a lot of memories from my own time serving in the RN, albeit ten years after this time. Once started it was hard to put down. Humour just as I remember it. BZ Rocky.
September 12, 2022
Enjoyed the read and the banter funny in a lot of places brought back lots of memories for this old salt joined 1966.
May 1, 2023
Memories
Find memories of my.time.in the mob and of some of the places.I visited and loved or hated for many reasons
Find memories of my.time.in the mob and of some of the places.I visited and loved or hated for many reasons
May 30, 2023
Life and times if a you g lad joining the Royal Navy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews