To continue the subject of ‘lights’. Looking for more fixed ports or portholes in
the deckhouse to correspond with the nine BL circles on the blueprints, I can
find only the two obvious ones close together on the starboard side, each with
its torpedo vent above it. Not surprisingly these illuminated and vented two
toilets (Master and Pilots only!). However, there are a number of portholes/
fixed ports down near deck level in the coaming, each with a protective hinged
cover.
Now I thought this a strange place to have ‘windows’, but the clue is in
their label – BL (Borrowed Lights).
Eskimosailor sent me a helpful fact that a window between
two internal spaces is often called a borrowed light. In this case however, things are a little
more convoluted. My theory is that these low ports let daylight into the
deckhouse at a low level – near the deck – and set into the deck under the ports
are deadlights, probably of a letterbox shape as Simon still has two of these.
One is a double square made by Hayward and is probably older than the
rectangular one.
I would think these transmitted more ‘borrowed’ light below
deck than the grapefruit squeezer type.
The Pilots had six BLs in their quarters; the Engineers
had one; and the machinery room had two. The crew’s quarters had the two 5” DLs
and the officers had one (Simon tells me he does have the third grapefruit
squeezer, but it is badly chipped). The 8” DL must have been a handsome piece
of glass and has been ‘souvenired’! By a
grapefruit fanatic?? If anyone out there
comes across an 8” version of the squeezer, Simon would love to hear about it.
Meanwhile, I have still found no information, let alone
photos of Cormorant before she was converted in 1943, apart from where and when
she was built and her dimensions………
David
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