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Rat was a dreadful typo, sorry. Should have said rest. I just can't see the correct answer that makes everything work. To fit my replacement in 6d I need an n from 35, but my answer uses both n's in what I think is an anagram although I'm not sure about the Australian being there! I now think I am one submarine short so I have to use the s. But that gives me intwins and untwins and a very spinny head!

Thanks, guys.

I see my error - I had made a silly mistake in 20, which left me with the wrong extra letter in 22.

Hi rrrobbo
Couldn’t fully follow where you are at. But 35A is intwine – wind (verb) – isn’t = aint less the a for Australian plus wine for port. When amended the first letter changes.
38A across was covered in much detail very early on in posts – genista (broom) – anagram of ratings plus e from new with r as extra letter.

Ah. Of course. There is no spare letter. The spare is in 40. Doh! Thanks

Thanks to those who explained RED. I missed that definition in Chambers. I had also parsed 32a differently so that it generated no extra E (it sort of works), so I was looking to get the necessary E from 17a.

Thanks to you all . There's no way I could have tackled this without all the hints given here. However I have all the battleships bar one which is a destroyer (DE). The three i have are in 3D, 10D and finally in 31D . Must have a mistake somewhere but wifey and me can't find it . A hint gratefully received ! Cheers ! A Happy Xmas to you all !

Uncle_w - first d in 14a reading to left. 6d is a changed word from group 3. Happy Christmas!

So grateful to you Smartie for relieving the frustration ! Happy Xmas !

Merry Xmas to all - I know we have had a 'tester' when we get to page 7....

Page 8 for more festive wishes and thanks for all the help throughout my first year. Hoping to be able to finish next week's on xmas evening with a first Chambers.