NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007 5
Lyme Bay
completes
quartet
A Superb target
THE fourth and fi nal of the
support ships which have
helped to revolutionise
21st-Century RN amphibious
operations has been handed
over by her builders.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary took
the ‘keys’ to RFA Lyme Bay in
Portland harbour after a month
of trials around the UK.
In a marquee on the
sprawling flight deck, VIPs,
senior naval officers, including
the Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Admiral Sir James Burnell-
Nugent, gathered for a service
of dedication with music from
Poole Sea Cadets.
“We’re proud of all the ships
and the class they represent,”
said CO Capt Peter Farmer.
“They can do anything.”
Lyme Bay started life at Swan
Hunters’ yard on the Tyne.
When work on her stalled at
Wallsend, Whitehall ordered
her fi nished by BAE Systems’
Govan yard.
Barely a year after arriving on
the Clyde, the fi nished article
was ready for the RFA – nine
weeks earlier than BAE had
originally predicted.
The ship and her sisters
Cardigan, Largs and Mounts
Bay provide second-wave
support for amphibious
operations by the Royal
Marines from HM Ships Ocean,
Bulwark and Albion, carrying
troops and kit into battle.
“Lyme Bay has already
received glowing reports –
something I expect to continue
throughout her service with the
RFA,” said Vic Emery, head of
BAE’s Surface Fleet Solutions.
“Everyone at BAE has striven
tirelessly to deliver Lyme Bay to
● Superb leaves Clyde to begin training following her overhaul
such a high standard.”
Picture: FRPU Clyde
The quartet replace the
‘Knights of the Round Table’ THE image is a bit blurry but the lines are
which have served the nation
unmistakable.
since the 1960s; of the original
knights, only RFA Sir Bedivere
Below is the Royal Navy’s communications kit while out of
still remains in service,
newest weapon... as seen from action.
supporting training for the Iraqi
her oldest. Daring has not been Superb’s
Navy in the northern Gulf.
As destroyer HMS Daring sole prey.
merrily ploughed through Scottish She also played a game of cat-
waters on sea trials, she passed and-mouse with HMS Lancaster,
through the sights of HMS again in Scottish waters.
Superb, the ‘grande dame’ of the The frigate’s crew doffed shoes
Silent Service at 31 years of age. and banished stereos in a bid to
After seven months out of cut noise and avoid detection by
action undergoing an overhaul, the submarine (as we reported last
Superb was keen to prove herself month – although we couldn’t tell
to the team from the Flag Officer you until now that Superb was the
Sea Training. boat involved).
And so it was that she ‘came “Operational Sea Training was
across’ the Type 45 destroyer on hard work, really tiring. But hugely
her maiden voyage. satisfying,” explained the boat’s
Daring may be the centre of Weapons Engineer Offi cer Lt Cdr
attention in the maritime world James Richards.
presently, but that doesn’t mean a “The whole thing is about
venerable lady cannot teach her a getting the crew and the equipment
thing or two. back to sea and make sure that it’s
“It just goes to show that totally fi t for purpose. It gives us
Superb still has what it takes,” said the chance to be monitored while
Commanding Offi cer Cdr Steve we familiarise ourselves with the
Royal Michael
Drysdale. boat again and the various tasks
“She’s got plenty of life in her which we may have to undertake.
yet and the crew really pulled “It is a lesson in fl exibility and
‘an example
together to ensure the success of everyone really pulled together.”
our operational sea training. Cdr Peter Green, FOST
“I am proud of the Commander Sea Training, agreed:
to us all’
professionalism, team spirit and “Superb has just completed a
camaraderie displayed during successful period of training. She
the rigours of work-up, which came through with fl ying colours
ROYAL Marines lost an
obviously concluded with this very and the team on board performed
irreplaceable comrade when
satisfactory outcome.” well.”
L/Cpl Michael Jones was killed
The hunter killer, based at With summer leave now over,
in action against insurgents in
Faslane, received improved Superb is about to deploy on an
Afghanistan.
weapons systems and undisclosed patrol.
The 26-year-old commando
was fatally wounded tackling a
“formidable Taleban position” in
the province of Nimruz, in south-
western Afghanistan.
Hailing from Newbald in East
Yorkshire, Michael joined the
green berets in 1999, since when
he had served with distinction
in Kosovo and Iraq, as well as
Afghanistan.
“Michael was a truly
exceptional non-commissioned
offi cer – the best at his level,” said
his CO.
“He unfl inchingly stood
shoulder to shoulder with his
friends in the very worst of
conditions time after time.
“It will be impossible to replace
Michael. He will be remembered
as a genuine and loyal friend
whose selfl ess bravery whilst
assaulting a formidable Taleban
position is an example to us all.”
0005_NN_Sept.indd 105_NN_Sept.indd 1 220/8/07 17:47:110/8/07 17:47:11
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48