AG and MM Board

USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Jacob Crabtree on June 21, 2022, 9:09 pm

Were there barracks and dockside facilities for AGs when the gun crews ships were at dock in Glasgow?

My father was often in Glasgow and Scotland during the war and even met a high School buddy in Glasgow who was also in the NAGt. They left the pub, with a quantity of beer, and talked till morning when they both had to return to their ships.

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Bob Taylor on June 27, 2022, 4:44 am, in reply to "USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Dear Mr Crabtree
It seems that your Dad had a full and varied time
in the navy. I wonder if you would be kind enough
to relate more info on his sea time.
Thanks
Bob Taylor

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Ron Carlson on June 25, 2022, 9:25 pm, in reply to "USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Jake,

I'm willing to be proven wrong but I strongly doubt that there were barracks for Armed Guard crews in Glasgow or any other port. After all, each visiting ship in effect carried its own barracks: the cabins and bunks assigned to the merchant marine and Armed Guard crew members. Operating barracks would be both redundant and represent an unnecessary financial and administrative responsibility. And it would be unwise for the Armed Guard crew to be absent from their ship in case of potential or actual attack (unlikely in Glasgow to be sure but a real possibility in other ports).

Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Craig Staley on July 1, 2022, 8:15 am, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

I agree with Ron Carlson's description.
State side AG personnel stayed at the AG Centers. Brooklyn NY had to build a two story wooden barracks to hold all the sailors due to the main building running out of room.

The only instance I have read about of AG personnel staying ashore was in Russia. Due to being iced in for months. Some officers stayed in a hotel ashore for short periods of time. This being the exception and not the rule.
Craig

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Bob Taylor on July 1, 2022, 12:11 pm, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

A good proportion of merchant ships plowing the Atlantic waves
at the time would have been British I wonder these ships had
Royal Navy equivalent AG’s.
Bob Taylor

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Ron Carlson on July 4, 2022, 8:58 pm, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Bob, the British Merchant Navy depended on a program (programme to you) known as DEMS: Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships. DEMS could refer to the ships, to the weaponry installed on those ships, and/or the personnel trained to man those weapons. It appears that some crew were originally from the Royal Artillery while in many other cases merchant seamen were trained as gunners. Details at https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/archivesheet71.

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Bob Taylor on July 5, 2022, 3:57 am, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Ron. Great research, you covered everything regarding my question. When you’re in one branch of the forces you have
no idea what’s going on overall and there was so much happening
as your delving shows.
Thanks
Bob

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Bob Taylor on June 22, 2022, 1:17 pm, in reply to "USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

In October 1945 my ship HMS Activity
was flying a long Paying Off Pennant
as we docked in Glasgow after almost
a year in the Far East.
I spent a few days in the area before
going home on leave. I don’t remember
seeing any facility for the USN there.
Best regards
Bob Taylor

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Jake Crabtree on June 23, 2022, 3:16 pm, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Thanks Bob.

Good luck to you and regards.

Jake

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Bob Taylor on June 22, 2022, 3:01 am, in reply to "USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

Very interesting Mr Crabtree but I wonder
if you could explain the meaning of NAGt.
Thanks
Bob Taylor

Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow

Posted by Jake Crabtree on June 23, 2022, 3:32 pm, in reply to "Re: USN Armed Guard In Glasgow"

NAG, represents 'Naval Armed Guard'. This was a unit consisting of US Navy Gunners, Signals, and Pharmacists Mates commanded by an Ensign or Lt. These Ensigns or Lts were subordinate to the civilian ships Capt. These USN personnel were assigned to merchant ships fitted with deck cannons and anti-aircraft weapons.

The t was a typo.

Thanks again for responding to my question. My Dad was often in Glasgow and Scotland as he was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and convoyed the Atlantic and Murmansk Run. Even so he sailed around the world three times during WWII.

Regards,

Jake

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