The Royal Navy’s last Cold War warrior has retired after battling enemy submarines for 50 years.
Steve Murray served 35 years in the Royal Navy full-time, another seven with reserves and eight more as a contractor, passing his vast experience in submarine hunting to a new generation of aviators.
The 68-year-old had flown 35 types of aircraft, operated from at least eight aircraft carriers, seen active service in the Gulf and commanded a helicopter flight, two squadrons and Merlin Helicopter Force.
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And though aircraft, equipment and systems used in the fight against the enemy below have changed over his five-decade career, he said the basics of determination, dedication, and painstaking thoroughness had not.
“I am one of the last Cold War anti-submarine warriors, and I’ve really enjoyed the tactical challenge and the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to the next generation,” the former commander said.
“The old principles are still valid and effective today.”
Steve is retiring from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall.
He joined the Royal Navy aged 18 in 1975, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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He was selected for observer training at 750 NAS at RNAS Culdrose in 1976.
He then learnt to operate Wessex helicopters before converting to Sea King and was appointed to 814 NAS the following year.
Steve said: “I had a lot to learn about anti-submarine warfare – but I got a lot better, very quickly.
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“You find your position right at the bottom of the pile and you quickly do what you’re told, listen, learn and work hard.
“You also find out who the talented guys are and learn from them.
“I’ve still got some very close friends from that period.
“In the Fleet Air Arm, you make some fantastic life-long friendships.”
Steve said those early years instilled in him an ethos which he carried throughout his career – earning him a reputation for demanding the highest standards.
“I’ve always said you should be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be,” he said.
“That means never being found wanting professionally.
“Be proud and do the spadework.
“Just enough is not good enough.”
His time with the Fleet Air Arm covered every anti-submarine helicopter squadron, time on Search and Rescue with 771 NAS, a three-year exchange with the US Navy, and work as a trials officer for Sea King and Merlin helicopters at Boscombe Down, notably for the first Gulf War enhancements.
He helped introduce the first-generation Merlin into service as a senior observer of 700M Squadron in 1998, then commanded 814 NAS operating those same new helicopters aboard HMS Ark Royal.
Steve was still in command of the Flying Tigers in the spring of 2003 when the squadron embarked on RFA Fort Victoria for the second Gulf War.
He said: “Our task was to establish the surface picture and identify every unit in the northern Gulf close to the Al Faw Peninsula.
“But we also moved people and stores ashore, and remained ready to back lift injured troops to embarked medical facilities.
“It showed the flexibility of the Merlin and its crews.
“We didn’t need to role-fit or retrain.
“We could do all of that.
“My ‘head mark’ was always to command a squadron at sea, doing what I was trained for.
“I was very honoured and privileged, and I really enjoyed it.
“It was a tremendous time, made by great people on 814 and Ark Royal.
“We had a very, very happy squadron that all worked hard and played hard.”
Steve went on to become the fifth ‘Commander M’, commanding the maritime Merlin Helicopter Force before retiring from the full-time RN in 2010.
He remained at Culdrose as an instructor in the Merlin Training Facility, first for the Royal Naval Reserves and then under contract with Babcock and later Serco.
Steve said, “There comes a point when you do have to pass on the headset to someone else.
“I know that the guys coming through are good and perform well on operations.
“I also know that anti-submarine capability is in really good hands with some outstanding instructors in the Merlin Training Facility.
“That gives me a lot of comfort as I retire.”
Lieutenant Commander Kevin Murgatroyd of Royal Naval Air Station Culdros said: “The word legend is often thrown around too much.
“But for Steve, it is very apt.”
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