Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Of course. Thank you.

Finally all done. What a slog. Just one query: can anyone explain 33. The only word I can see to fit is onion, unless I've made a few errors.
One question for all: if this was a cold solve puzzle, how many answers would you solve? About 4 for me.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Xij, ONION results from replacing the R (middle of afterdeck) in ORION with N.

Perhaps someone could enlighten me about 17a. It's the only clue I don't understand. I had no idea what the extra letter was until I worked out what had to replace 29d. How does 'group of British warships' equal RED with an added E? I'm assuming the answer is DIVER and that 'I see' equals IV.

All done, but for the life of me cannot parse 22 down (with an extra r?)

There is no extra letter in 17. RED is "a former squadron of the British fleet".
22: sign (cross), i.e. (namely), eur (Europe) where either E is the extra letter.

dryden amongst many in Chambers it has red as" a former squadron of the British fleet". No extra letter.

Feeling a bit stupid - I can see 38 is an anagram of sorts but just can't make my mind up in letters 5 and 7 even though I have the rat. 18 I feel embarrassed not to be able to see the 4 letter word for pierce. Cold solving I'd have maybe 6 :-(

Xij – Dryden explained the parse – but if the problem was the definition – upperworks and onion both slang terms for brain.
Dyden – no extra E – Red was a former squadron of the British Fleet (In Chambers)
Eenk – I have it with an extra E – Signieur (alternative for seigneur) feudal lord – sign (archaic) making sign of cross .. ie namely .. (e)ur (abbrev Europe)

rrrobbo - tusk (verb) to pierce with a tusk...

I know the feeling rrrobbo. Some clues make one appear like Einstein, others make one appear like ein stein (German for a stone). Don't understand your query about 38 and rat.