Posted on 01/09/2006 9:16:40 PM PST by SmithL
A SUBMARINE captain berated his subordinates with such rage that his face became "gorged" with blood and his tirades made a lieutenant ill and reduced him to tears, a court martial heard yesterday.
The case, being heard at Portsmouth Naval Base, relates to Capt Robert Tarrant's period of command of the nuclear-powered Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Talent, based at Devonport.
Judge advocate Jack Bayliss ruled that a substantial part of the case is to be heard in secret because the evidence is likely to include information relevant to national security.
Commander Alison Towler, prosecuting, said Capt Tarrant's behaviour towards his subordinates could not be excused by the stress of being involved in top-secret missions.
Cmdr Towler said that Capt Tarrant would embark on a "ritual" of shouting and abuse, sometimes personal, which was disproportionate to the complaint and would often leave the crew member in tears and afraid of him.
She said: "The prosecution accepts a commanding officer has the right to admonish his subordinates and an operation may require forcible and immediate action which leaves no room for tact.
"However, the prosecution says Captain Tarrant's conduct was unwarranted and far beyond robust leadership and management."
Cmdr Towler said Capt Tarrant's conduct towards his crew would remain civil and appropriate while in dock, but within days of being at sea or on operation he would become increasingly abusive.
The first of five charges, which all date back to between February 1998 and July 1999, involves Lieutenant Ryan Ramsey, who claims the constant "tirades" made him physically sick when he had to begin his shift and led to his becoming withdrawn and losing weight.
Cmdr Towler said that Lt Ramsey claims Capt Tarrant would shout at him for up to 20 minutes with his face only 5cm away from his own.
She added: "Lt Ramsey felt scared of Captain Tarrant. His verbal abuse left him in tears. Lt Ramsey noticed his [Capt Tarrant's] face would gorge with blood during these shouting episodes.
"He considered himself to be abused, harassed and bullied by Captain Tarrant."
The second charge relates to Capt Tarrant's conduct towards Chief Petty Officer Cosxwain (Submarines) Neil Maitland, who claims he would be the subject of shouting and intimidating criticism for no reason.
Captain Tarrant, 44, denies four charges of ill-treating officers under his command through repeated, unjustified, verbal abuse, and a fifth charge against a rating.
The hearing continues.
Mentaly abusing troops? You got to be kidding me!
Any troop feeling mentaly abused needs to get out and take care of little women... damn, there are people in this world alone as one-men-armies who are daily abused of the worst sort and do not back down and feel no guilt to God Himself.
As much as I like Churchill and his quotes, the idea that at any time in the Royal Navy, especially the age of sail, sailors were getting the lash left and right routinely is a myth.
It was no tea party and sailors weren't coddled, but there was a lot less flogging and physical punishment than a lot of people think. Many good ships had almost no flogging.
Yeth?
NCO's and officers have different roles - as they should. This guy didn't know his.
"Dammit I told you the torpedos are supposed to point THIS way, not THAT way! And your mother wears army boots."
Similar charges were made in an attempt to derail John Bolton's nomination as US ambassador to the UN as I recall, charges that proved to be bogus.
Offense in UCMJ: ..using insulting or defamatory language to another officer in that officer’s presence
Thery should reinstate the daily ration of grog.
This ain't McHale's Navy!
relived = relieved.
"And this is the same Royal Navy that used to routinely abuse the daylights out of every midshipman they had? Hmm."
Midshipmen were specifically invented to be abused. They serve no other useful function.
When you are elevated to Midshipman your first response is terror.
Your second response is to be demoted or promoted as soon as heavenly possible.
Don't take my word for it. Ask Russell Crowe
Brokeback Navy.
I can see how someone screaming abuse at you for no good
reason with his face right up to your own could "get old"
real quick, though. The captain might be slightly deranged. His face looks like it's permanently engorged with blood, by the way.
Well put.
Some wussies would demand George S. Patton's court-martial and seek to have him sentenced to take remedial sensitivity training.
There's a right way and a wrong way of doing things & screaming at a person for 20 mins. at a time is the wrong way.
Who ate the strawberry ice cream.
Tears? Tears? There's no crying in the British navy.
I know, I left plenty of them in the woods.
"Follow me, Men!"
"Men?"
.............crickets............
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