H.M.S. Warrior sailed from Portsmouth on 2 February, 1957, during a typical Pompey drizzle and made her way to St Helens roads, the ship's flight aircraft landed on route. By the time the Warrior had reached open sea a gale of considerable force was blowing. Throughout the next few days there were times when the ship was almost blown to a standstill; the needle of the wind speed indicator being " right off the clock" The Queen Mary, some miles ahead to the north of the Warrior, reported wind speeds of over 80 knots- we however, with typical Service reticence settled for a mere 64 knots.

Many were the victims of the mal de mer; the ships boats suffered considerable damage and many of the life rafts were washed away. The mess decks lost all dignity and decorum as the mess traps and supposedly permanent fittings went flying through the air.

Once past the Azores, the hopes of better weather were envisaged. On reaching the Caribbean these hopes materialized; the weather eased and allowed for squaring off of the mess decks and flats prior to arrival in Kingston Jamaica. The Warrior stayed in Jamaica for 2 days before sailing for the Grapple area via the Panama Canal.

Once clear of the Canal, Christmas Island was the destination. During the trip across the Pacific the Air Boys spread their wings, and one of the choppers succeeded in bringing on board a turtle which had been caught in the Sproule net. After 2 weeks of steaming the Warrior arrived at Christmas Island on 4th March 1957. Soon after its arrival, the Warrior embarked about 400 soldiers and airman for a quick "Jolly" to Honolulu.

During its stay in the Grapple area the Warrior was more or less on the move all the time, and must have cut quite a "rut" in the Pacific ocean by the number of times we travelled the 400 miles between Christmas Island and Malden Island. We must certainly have set up a record for H.M. ships in the number of times we have "crossed the line".

On the days of the three megaton weapon tests in May and June we were, of course, rather "keyed up". Our position in the front row of the stalls" gave us all a wonderful view of these spectacular bursts and of the mushroom clouds.

So reads a brief story of H.M.S. Warrior for 1956/7. perhaps her part in Operation "Grapple" may best be summed up as the story of the ship who lived up to her motto - "HAUL TOGETHER".