Operation Blackcurrant
Encyclopedia
Operation Blackcurrant was a Royal Navy
peacetime operation carried out in the winter of 1947. During this period a combination of low coal stockpiles and the effects of the cold weather on the transport network led to a shortage of fuel reaching power stations, forcing many to shut down or reduce their outputs. The Royal Navy responded by authorising the Submarine Service
to carry out Operation Blackcurrant. The operation involved mooring submarines at harbours and docks and using their onboard diesel generators to provide supplementary power to dockyards and coastal towns. By February conditions had improved and power stations began to receive sufficient supplies of fuel.
s at the time. This was partly due to low stocks of coal being kept in the aftermath of the Second World War but was also caused by the government relying on over optimistic production reports issued by the National Union of Mineworkers.
The cold weather caused a higher than normal demand for coal and power as the tried to keep warm. At the same time it became more difficult for coal to reach the power stations as it was frozen solid in stockpiles. Where coal was available it was hard to transport with many roads impassable, 750,000 railway waggons
of coal trapped by snow and sea conditions too rough to allow transport by collier. As a result many power stations were forced to shut down or reduce their output due to a lack of fuel. In an effort to reduce electricity consumption the Minister of Fuel and Power, Emanuel Shinwell cut electricity supply to industry completely and reduced the domestic supply to 19 hours per day across the country. Television services were suspended completely, radio broadcasts were reduced, some magazines were ordered to stop being published and newspapers were cut in size to four pages.
s occurred across large swathes of the country with even the staff at Buckingham Palace
, the Houses of Parliament and London's Central Electricity Board
reduced to working by candle
light. The Royal Navy
responded by launching Operation Blackcurrant. The operation saw the deployment of all available submarines to ports and docks where they were moored up and their on-board diesel-powered generators used as an electricity supply. The operation was used to supply power to the navy-owned bases of Devonport Dockyard
, Plymouth
and Chatham Dockyard
, Kent
. As part of the operation the T class
submarine HMS Truculent
was deployed to Brighton
to provide power to the town. The job was uncomfortable for the submarine crews involved as it required them to work in cold and draughty conditions as the submarines diesel engines required a constant flow of air. By 27 February sea conditions had improved and more than 100 coal ships had managed to unload their cargoes at the power stations, easing the fuel crisis.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
peacetime operation carried out in the winter of 1947. During this period a combination of low coal stockpiles and the effects of the cold weather on the transport network led to a shortage of fuel reaching power stations, forcing many to shut down or reduce their outputs. The Royal Navy responded by authorising the Submarine Service
Royal Navy Submarine Service
The Royal Navy Submarine Service is the submarine element of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the "Silent Service", on account of a submarine being required to operate quietly in order to remain undetected by enemy sonar...
to carry out Operation Blackcurrant. The operation involved mooring submarines at harbours and docks and using their onboard diesel generators to provide supplementary power to dockyards and coastal towns. By February conditions had improved and power stations began to receive sufficient supplies of fuel.
Background
The United Kingdom was subjected to a period of cold temperatures and heavy snowfall that began in late January 1947 and would last into March. During this period the country also suffered from a shortage of coal, the principle fuel used in power stationPower station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
s at the time. This was partly due to low stocks of coal being kept in the aftermath of the Second World War but was also caused by the government relying on over optimistic production reports issued by the National Union of Mineworkers.
The cold weather caused a higher than normal demand for coal and power as the tried to keep warm. At the same time it became more difficult for coal to reach the power stations as it was frozen solid in stockpiles. Where coal was available it was hard to transport with many roads impassable, 750,000 railway waggons
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
of coal trapped by snow and sea conditions too rough to allow transport by collier. As a result many power stations were forced to shut down or reduce their output due to a lack of fuel. In an effort to reduce electricity consumption the Minister of Fuel and Power, Emanuel Shinwell cut electricity supply to industry completely and reduced the domestic supply to 19 hours per day across the country. Television services were suspended completely, radio broadcasts were reduced, some magazines were ordered to stop being published and newspapers were cut in size to four pages.
The Operation
Despite Shinwell's measures the fuel supply remained insufficient and blackoutPower outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
s occurred across large swathes of the country with even the staff at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, the Houses of Parliament and London's Central Electricity Board
Central Electricity Board
The United Kingdom Central Electricity Board was set up under The Electricity Act 1926 to standardise the nation's electricity supply. At that time, the industry consisted of more than 600 electricity supply companies and local authority undertakings, and different areas operated at different...
reduced to working by candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
light. The Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
responded by launching Operation Blackcurrant. The operation saw the deployment of all available submarines to ports and docks where they were moored up and their on-board diesel-powered generators used as an electricity supply. The operation was used to supply power to the navy-owned bases of Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. As part of the operation the T class
British T class submarine
The Royal Navy's T class of diesel-electric submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P and R classes. Fifty-three members of the class were built just before and during the Second World War, where they played a major role in the Royal Navy's submarine operations...
submarine HMS Truculent
HMS Truculent (P315)
HMS Truculent was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P315 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 12 September 1942.-Service:...
was deployed to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
to provide power to the town. The job was uncomfortable for the submarine crews involved as it required them to work in cold and draughty conditions as the submarines diesel engines required a constant flow of air. By 27 February sea conditions had improved and more than 100 coal ships had managed to unload their cargoes at the power stations, easing the fuel crisis.