24 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2007
● An Iraqi patrol boat on duty in the northern Arabian Gulf
under the guidance of the Naval Transition Team
Not lost in transition
THE training of Iraq’s new navy “Bedivere allows much more training
The Naval Transition Team has Experts from the Flag Offi cer Sea
has stepped up a gear with
to be conducted at sea,” explains Capt been an ever-present feature in Iraq Training in Devonport threw pretty
the arrival of RFA Sir Bedivere
Tim Stockings, the RN officer currently following the fall of Saddam Hussein, much everything bar the kitchen sink at
in charge of the Naval Transition Team since which time the new navy has Argus’ ship’s company, from relatively
as the fl edgling fl eet’s mother
(NaTT) which is training the Iraqi Navy. made considerable strides. straightforward manoeuvres such as
ship. “She allows lessons in fire-fighting,
“In a country where bad news often refuelling with tanker RFA Black Rover,
The venerable landing support ship damage control, navigation, command
dominates the headlines, the work done to coping with collisions at sea, fi re and
has replaced RFA Diligence as the and control. The ‘sea sense’ the Iraqi
by our small coalition team stands out a helicopter crash on her sprawling
training vessel used by Iraqi sailors sailors and marines are developing is
as a truly ‘good news story’,” Capt fl ight deck.
to hone their skills ahead of assuming all part of building for the future.” Stockings added. Argus has been out of action for the
defensive duties in the northern That ‘building for the future’ will “Living and working with the Iraqi past 12 months while A&P in Falmouth,
Arabian Gulf. eventually mean the Iraqi Navy will Navy is an extraordinary experience the ship’s home port, revamped her
Anyone who has sailed the Khawr patrol its own waters and defend the – and a great privilege. Here at NaTT hospital facilities, communications
Abd Allah (God’s Highway) into Umm two oil distribution platforms at the we are delivering today and building systems and aviation support.
Qasr knows that it’s a lengthy (and head of the Gulf.
● Iraqi offi cers receive navigational for tomorrow.” Although the hi-tech hospital is
fairly tedious) journey. It’s a task which will be aided next
instruction from a NaTT sailor You can follow the work of NaTT at probably the most eye-catching aspect
Using a mother ship stationed in the year by the arrival of the first of 21 new www.royalnavy.mod.uk/NaTT of the ship to visitors, most of Argus’
Gulf saves transitting time – and hence patrol ships. The 60-strong NaTT team comprises ■ FRESH from her £12m refi t, aviation time is spent training helicopter crews
allows more time for training. “The Iraqis are fast learners and are experts drawn from the RN, RM, British training and casualty treatment ship in the art of living and operating at sea.
But Bedivere is more than a floating determined to succeed so that they Army, US Army, Navy and Marine RFA Argus has begun intensive trials The 28,000-tonne ship is due to
pontoon or garage – although the can play a bigger part in the future Corps and the US Coast Guard, all and exercises to prepare her for deploy to the Gulf and Indian Ocean
Iraqis make full use of her for refeulling security of their country,” said Capt based in Umm Qasr, Iraq’s principal a mission to the Gulf towards the in the autumn in support of anti-
and re-supplying. Stockings. deep-water port. year’s end. terrorism work.
Ne
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