On board the Type 81 frigate Gurkha (1960) alongside the fitting out berth of John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd at Woolston, Southampton. The photographer is in the hawser reel compartment between C and 5 stations on 2 deck looking forward and to starboard showing three full hawser reels on the centreline with awning stowage space around the forward hawse pipe. Wire coils are stowed against the ship's sides and an empty cable reel is against the starboard side.