In 1967 the Survey ship, HMS DAMPIER, sailed from Singapore to decommission at Chatham after nearly 20 years service in the Far East. She holds the post-war record for continuous duty east of Suez.
After leaving Singapore to return to the UK, she arrived at Simon's Town, South Africa, on 17 November. A week later, after local exercises, it was discovered that the ship's starboard propeller shaft was broken. The ship was obliged to continue her voyage on only one shaft. At Freetown, Sierra Leone, she found that there was no suitable equipment available to make repairs. With only three weeks remaining to make the 3,000 miles back to England in time for Christmas, the ship took the unusual step of manufacturing and hoisting a set of sails. Three lug sails made from awning canvas were hoisted on 11 December, and four days later a set of square sails. With the assistance of this rig, Dampier arrived at Chatham on 23 December
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