NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2007 5
Overhaul for
A call to
HMS Ocean
arms once
THERE’S feverish activity
more
surrounding Britain’s biggest
warship – but not involving her
THE biggest military exercise
crew.
of the year in home waters was
HMS Ocean is out of action
reaching its climax as we went
for the next 12 months as she
undergoes a £30m overhaul in
to press.
her home base of Devonport.
Forces from 12 nations were
In the fi rst nine years of her
committed to the seas, skies
life, the helicopter assault ship has
and terrain of western Scotland
been heavily in demand, playing
for Neptune Warrior, the twice-● HMS Northumberland’s Merlin races over silvery seas Picture: LA(Phot) Darren Macdonald
key roles in Sierra Leone and the
yearly war game run by the
invasion of Iraq in 2003. Most
RN to test joint and coalition
recently Ocean took the fi ght to
drug-runners in the Caribbean.
All that action, however, has
taken its toll on the ship and some
TLC is now needed, courtesy of
Northumberland
warfare.
The Royal Navy’s input to
the exercise was submarine-
centric, with four boats and
three anti-submarine frigates –
Devonport support fi rm DML.
HM Ships Montrose, Lancaster
Beyond generally giving
and Westminster.
Ocean’s machinery and
combat systems a revamp, the
DML team will also improve
the accommodation areas,
particularly for the embarked is still Standing
In all, 17 warships and 100
aircraft were committed to the
war games (which coincided
with a major RAF exercise,
Sky Lance) with the battle
force of Royal Marines (the ship
raging from Cape Wrath to
can carry up to 800 commandos
Campbeltown and the Firth of
prior to an amphibious assault)
TWO days after summer
Much of 2007 has been passing merchant vessels not simply sit on the defensive.
Clyde.
– including providing mess desks and board any should Her boarding team and Merlin
Ships and aircraft from
for the green berets.
leave, the men and women
spent in home waters,
suspicions not be allayed. helicopter, both of which are at the
the USA, Germany, France,
The galley and food storage
of HMS Northumberland
although the frigate did
head to Gibraltar for As of mid-September, forefront of the NATO mission,
Denmark, Sweden, New
areas will be given a makeover, joined the war against training then hopped the group NATO were called on day and night to
Zealand, Canada, The
there will be better facilities
terrorism.
across the Straits force comprised conduct missions.
Netherlands, Spain and Norway
for storing troops’ kit, and
The Devonport-based Type
to Algeria, before Northumberland, After the warm-up exercises,
joined the British air and naval
on the aviation side of things,
23 frigate left the south-west
returning to Blighty Bulgarian frigate the sufficiently-honed force put
formations.
enhancements will allow Ocean to behind and is now bound for the for an engine change, Draski, ITS Aliseo, into La Spezia for three days’ rest
“We train in a realistic ‘train
better operate the Army’s Apache Mediterranean to take up station new kit, and a SPS Cananis, HS (which for the Northumberland
as we intend to fight’ scenario
attack helicopters. with NATO’s 2nd Standing Naval
fortnight of intensive Aegean, flagship sailors either meant the beach or,
that exploits feedback from
Following extensive sea trials Group Mediterranean.
pre-deployment Turkey’s TG Orocreis for the more historically minded,
current operational theatres,”
Ocean is due to return to the NATO has run Operation
training from those nice and the Spanish tanker Pisa and Florence).
said Capt Paddy McAlpine,
Fleet in September 2008. Her Active Endeavour continually
chaps at the Flag Offi cer Marquise de la Ensenada “There is an enormously-
overseeing the nautical side of
role in the meantime will be since the September 11 2001
Sea Training organisation. providing logistical support. exciting time ahead for
Neptune Warrior.
performed by HMS Ark Royal, atrocities, hoping to snare
The bulk of her Active The first few days of the Northumberland,” said CO Cdr “The exercises provide
whose recent refi t was designed terrorists, fundamentalists, people
Endeavour work will be conducted deployment were spent ‘gelling’ Martin Simpson, who has recently a unique collective training
to prepare her for the commando and drug traffi ckers and other
in the eastern Mediterranean to ensure the multinational force taken charge of the ship from Cdr opportunity for all Services
assault role rather than as a criminals using the sea lanes of the
where Northumberland and fellow could operate safely and effectively Tom Guy. – UK and Allied – to prepare for
traditional Harrier carrier. Mediterranean.
Allied warships will interrogate as one. “I have inherited an enthusiastic future deployments.”
And that meant trying to sink ship’s company and I’m sure their This was the 72nd Neptune
Northumberland. A lot. AV8B thoroughly-deserved reputation Warrior (and Joint Maritime
Harriers and Tornadoes were for professionalism will serve Course in its previous guise);
thrown at the British warship. them well during our autumn the exercises are run each
Northumberland did, however, deployment.”
spring and autumn.
● Do not adjust your set... Lt Cdr Ben Dickens, Westminster’s PWO(U), kisses the Blarney Stone
The topsy-turvy world
of HMS Westminster
HANGING upside down over a 120ft precipitous than one, was a visit to Cobh, one-time RN base and
drop to kiss a block of stone is not normal. today home of the Irish Navy. It was also the last port
Unless you’re in Eire, you’re a sailor and you’re of call for the Titanic on her ill-fated maiden voyage.
visiting Castle Blarney. Also of a historical nature was Cork County
The legendary Blarney Stone is supposed to give Cricket ground, built by the Royal Engineers in the
those who kiss it the gift of the gab. 1870s.
Some might argue that many of HMS Westminster’s It saw the first outing for Westminster’s cricket
sailors already possess that ‘gift’... but they kissed the team (the ship has never fielded an 11-strong side
stone anyway. before) against the Irish Navy. The hosts posted 91-5
The Westminster team visited the castle and other off 30 overs; the visitors fell short of the target by 21,
sights in the Republic of Ireland when their ship paid all out for 70.
a short visit to Cork. The locals couldn’t muster a football side, so
The frigate berthed at North Customs House Westminster’s over 30s took on her under 30s; age
Quay and once official duties were dispensed with – triumphed over youth 5-4.
there was a reception for around 100 local dignitaries, Upon leaving Cork, the frigate headed for the
including Cork’s RNA and Royal British Legion, the Clyde and the multinational naval force mustering
sailors dispersed around County Cork to catch the for Neptune Warrior (see above right).
sights. The remainder of the year will be spent in home
Strangely, many seemed to gravitate towards the waters honing training before Westminster departs
Jameson whiskey distillery (the tasting room was on the Marstrike08 deployment in the new year with
especially popular). More sobering, in more ways HMS Illustrious, heading east of Suez.
005_NN_Oct.indd 1 18/9/07 17:13:08
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