Deckies Recalling the old DEMs Gunners

The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is roughly akin to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) in that they man naval auxiliaries with civilian mariners on contract. While the MSC’s CIVMARs kinda “go native,” the RFA wears a very RN-like blueberry coverall complete with badges and patches, and they run their own ship’s defense. All RFA ships have a small arms locker, and many also have larger mounts as well. Take these recent shots of the MNTS Gunnery Teams on RFA Mounts Bay (L3008) conducting quals on mounted FN MAG GPMGs into account. The ship carries six GPMGs and has the weight and space to carry two CIWS, two 30mm guns, and two M2 50 cals as well. The RFA’s “trigger pullers” are civilian Able Seamen (Deck), or “Deckies,” who are trained in the use of arms during their 12-month military-style apprenticeships, which include 11 weeks of classroom work ashore at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint. While the RFA was only established in 1905, British merchantmen carried arms for self-defense…