8 NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007
Busy Bee’s buck starts here
F
OR every ton HMS Manchester
Dwight D Eisenhower led a second group and HMS
displaces, USS Harry S Truman
Illustrious was placed in charge of the third force.
displaces 20.
The fi rst task set the Busy Bee was defence of an
oil rig from enemy attack, which meant the ship’s
... and Nightmares for Lusty
For every sailor aboard the British
boarding party were at ten minutes’ notice to move.
destroyer, there are 20 crammed into the American
The Americans use a mock-up oil platform (similar
carrier.
to those found in the Gulf) to practise and it is an
Yet the latter entrusted her safety to the former as
invaluable asset.
the David and Goliath joined forces in the Atlantic.
Ranged against the destroyer and the platform
And they will do so again before the year is out
were all manner of small raiding craft and larger
as the Portsmouth-based warship is attached to the
dubious vessels which either needed parrying or
Truman’s task force on deployment.
boarding, while Manchester’s 815 NAS Lynx ‘Sting’
We last caught up with the Busy Bee in New York,
(named not after the pop star but the insects on the
her first port of call Stateside.
ship’s badge) was continually in the skies scouring the
The destroyer’s visit coincided with July 4
Atlantic for suspicious contacts.
celebrations and her waterfront location afforded
For most Mancunians, however, the highlight was
Manchester a magnificent view of the traditional
the chance to close in on the Truman as the carrier
firework display paid for by department store
launched its complement of aircraft.
Macy’s.
The Busy Bee was charged with ‘plane
“The people of New York welcomed the
guard’ – sitting about 3,000 yards off the
ship’s company as if they were their own
stern of the carrier and being in a position
military,” said Lt Phil Bent, Manchester’s
to react to any incidents (ie crashes) which
Deputy Weapons Engineer Officer.
might occur whilst the fl at-top goes through
“We had preferential treatment at all
its ‘deck cycle’.
the major sites, including free and direct
A deck cycle involves the majority
access to the top of the Empire State
of her aircraft taking off on fl ying
Building.”
operations before landing back on.
When in the States, it is, of course,
For those members of the ship’s
obligatory to try some of the local sports:
company who had not seen this
cricket and soccer.
before, it was an ideal camera moment,
Cricket and soccer? Yes, apparently,
– especially as Manchester was ideally
the sound of leather upon willow could
placed for the jets to fl y straight over the
be heard in New Jersey, where the ship’s
top of the destroyer on fi nal approach.
team took on a local side (and lost) while the
With the fi rst phase of the exercise over, the
New York Police Department ladies challenged a
ships entered Port Everglades in Florida – a ‘liberty
Manchester/HMS Illustrious team to a game (also
port’ for the US Fleet, so a good time was had by
resulting in an American triumph).
all...
The true purpose of the six days at Pier 7 in South
Then it was back to sea for the climax of Bold
Brooklyn was not sport or R&R, however.
Step, this time with Manchester returning to a more
US Navy engineers wandered aboard the destroyer
traditional bosom, protecting HMS Illustrious – and AMERICANS and Britons alike Osprey particularly impressed Fortunately, the reality is
to fit vital pieces of kit which would allow Manchester
also the tanker USNS Laramie, labelled a ‘high value’ have been taking ‘bold steps’ the Brits. rather more enjoyable, likened by
to ‘talk’ to her American comrades in arms.
target by task force planners. aboard HMS Illustrious. “The more we’ve seen the Marine fliers to a Superman
“Our visit to New York was a resounding success at
That task successfully achieved, Bold Step drew to For the US Marine Corps of it and spoken to its crew, theme park ride (which hurtles
every level, reinforcing the extremely positive image
a close with most of the ships involved making a bee- AV8B Harriers, this was their the more we can see it has thrill seekers along at 100mph
the Royal Navy enjoys in the US,” said Cdr David.
line for Norfolk, Virginia, spiritual home of the US first time en masse aboard a a phenomenal, very exciting to create six seconds of
Dominy, Manchester’s Commanding Officer.
Navy and the world’s largest naval base. British carrier. future,” said Cdr Henry Mitchell, weightlessness apparently).
And so with the sailors suitably rested and the
So the fortnight or so spent in company with the And for the British sailors the Lusty’s Commander Air. “We’ve learned an enormous
relevant equipment fitted, Manchester left the Big
Harry S Truman has proved to be invaluable for Bold Step war games proved And while the American amount,” said Cdre Alan
Apple behind and sailed into the Atlantic for an
Manchester as she gears up to deploy with the HST’s to be an exciting chance to see ‘AV8ers’ loved their time Richards, in charge of the
ocean rendezvous with the 100,000-ton American
task group; the way the US Navy and its task forces the Marines’ Osprey tilt-rotor aboard Illustrious (see pages 16 Illustrious Strike Group.
leviathan.
operates differs from the way the Senior Service does aircraft in action. and 17) they were somewhat “Not least we’ve developed
Named for the affable president, USS Harry S
things. The British carrier was placed apprehensive about launching bonds of friendship and trust
Truman (or HST in the wonderful world of American
in charge of two cruisers (USS their jump jets; Lusty’s flight which will undoubtedly endure.”
acronyms) heads the potent Carrier Strike Group 10,
● Unmistakable outlines... (Below) HMS Monterey and San Jacinto), deck is considerably shorter Also vital were tips,
which currently comprises the surface ships USS
Manchester heads for Brooklyn past the two frigates (USS Nicholas and than the US flat-tops the Corps suggestions and ideas picked
Winston S Churchill, Hue City, Oscar Austin, plus
skyscrapers at the southern tip of Manhattan and Simpson), and one destroyer is used to – hence the ‘ski jump’ up from the Americans which
the hunter-killer submarine USS Montpelier.
(above right) checks at sunrise on a USMC AV8B (USS Carney) as she led one of to give the Harriers that extra will be woven into the planning
Manchester slipped seamlessly into the American
Harrier on Illustrious’ fl ight deck three task groups. lift. surrounding Britain’s next-
formation, one of three carrier groups formed for
Pictures: LA(Phot) Darby Allen and PO(Phot) Christine Wood, Lusty’s force was tested “It definitely had an aura about generation carriers which will
Joint Task Exercise ‘Bold Step’; HST’s older sister HMS Illustrious
with strike missions, boarding it,” said Maj Grant Pennington of enter service next decade.
operations, thwarting submarine Marine Attack Squadron 513, As for Lusty, she’s been
attacks and warding off attacks aka the Flying Nightmares. back in Pompey briefly through
from surface foe. “It looks like a wall sitting August for summer leave.
The rather ungainly-looking in front of you and is pretty This month she departs for the
intimidating when you first Mediterranean on exercises and
approach it.” she remains on call by NATO as
the organisation’s current strike
carrier should a global crisis
arise.
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