My dad was an RN Submariner in the 50's/60's. Dakar was originally HMS Totem and I was told a story about her transfer to the Israeli Navy. The story goes that HMS Totem had a Totem Pole on board given as a gift by Canadian Indians. The RN offered to lend it to the Israelis as they though it would be bad luck to remove it. Not that sailors are superstitious. The Israeli Navy declined and the rest is history.

As I was an impressionable young lad when I was told this story I've no idea how much, if any truth there was in it or if I was on the receiving end of some Matelot humour. I suspect the later.

According to Wikipedia the Totem Pole was stolen during the 1950's so it couldn't be true. But then again......

Terry