Help with CANBERRA at Savo Island.

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by OpanaPointer, Jan 28, 2017.

  1. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer Pearl Harbor Myth Buster

    I'm digitizing the interview with LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN PLUNKETT-COLE, R.A.N., senior surviving officer of CANBERRA. He states at one point that he was on duty as P.C.O. Can anyone expand that for me? TIA
     
  2. Qu1ckn1ck

    Qu1ckn1ck Member

    In the US Navy it apparently refers to a "Prospective Commanding Officer".
     
  3. Kiwi REd One

    Kiwi REd One Junior Member

    Hi OpanaPointer, I don't come here very often but was reading the naval forum and saw your question.

    In the RN (and RAN) the P.C.O. was the principle (fire) control officer whose action station would be in the main armament director which targeted the ships main armament (in Canberra's case 8" guns) during surface actions. This would seem to be a good fit for Lt Cdr Plunkett-Cole's rank.

    A couple of links - from a wartime RN gunnery manual:The Gunnery Pocket Book - Part 3
    - from an naval abbreviations website: US Military Abbreviations, Acronyms, Terms and Organizations

    Hope that helps.
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  4. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer Pearl Harbor Myth Buster

    Thanks! I need a better Aussie-English/English/Aussie dictionary.
     

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