NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2007 7
Continuation’s
● Rescue 708 of HMS Gannet races low over the hilly Scottish terrain Picture: WO1 Ian Arthur, FRPU Clyde
Students set
what you need
an Example
SEARCHES for missing divers
invariably have unhappy endings.
UNIVERSITY boat HMS
So we can report good tidings
Example left her native Tyne
from HMS Nottingham whose
behind to sample the bright
hunt for a frogman ended
lights of London, Dieppe and
successfully.
Bruges during a busy summer
The ship was readying herself
deployment.
for Directed Continuation
The craft, normally based at
Training – top-up instruction
HMS Calliope in Gateshead,
from the Flag Officer Sea
serves the Northumbrian
Training before a major
University Royal Naval Unit
deployment – when she received
– using the students’ summer
a distress call from Brixham
leave to take them to sea.
Coastguard.
This year that deployment took
The dive vessel Black and
the boat into the Channel and
Blue reported a diver overdue
North Sea.
from a visit to the wreck of the
The highlight of the summer
merchantman Manor, off Berry
was undoubtedly a three-day visit
Head.
to London in company with six
Lifeboats were scrambled, so
other P2000 patrol boats.
too a helicopter training with
London has been just one of
RFA Argus, while Nottingham
ten cities visited by Example
was also asked to scour the
during a hectic few weeks;
Devon seas.
stops in Dieppe, Brugge and
The diver thankfully
Scheveningen (The Netherlands)
reappeared about 2½ miles from
were particularly memorable.
the spot where he went down and
The majority of the
was picked up by a passing vessel.
deployment was spent in
As for Nottingham, she went
company with other URNUs
through her two weeks of DCT
– in particular HMS Explorer
as planned, where the FOSTies
(Yorkshire) and HMS Archer
concentrated on fire-fighting,
(Aberdeen) – which allowed a
damage control and ‘warfighting’
broader range of training than
expertise.
would normally be the case, as
The Portsmouth destroyer is
well as stronger camaraderie and
working her way up towards a
some friendly banter.
South Atlantic deployment later
Another P2000 straying from
this autumn, when she sails to
her typical waters was HMS
the Falklands to relieve her sister
Charger.
Southampton.
Normally based at HMS
Eaglet on the Mersey, Charger
Crazy gang
Bad summer = busy summer
serves students at university in
Liverpool.
She left Brunswick Dock
on Cattistock
behind, however, to cross the
Irish Sea bound for the County
THE poor summer did not deter month to date – and missing lady and lowered her back on to 244 times this year, with call-
Antrim town of Portrush (a
THE latest piece of kit in
holidaymakers from hitting the divers accounted for one in six of dry land – the quickest rescue in outs climaxing between June and
stone’s throw from the Giant’s
the arsenal of mine warfare
beaches and coastal waters... the call-outs. recent history. August (roughly 37 missions each
Causeway) for Northern Ireland’s
specialists continues to be put
promptly ensuring a busy summer Both the Gannet and Culdrose “Despite the bad weather this month).
International Air Show.
through its paces around the
for the Fleet Air Arm’s two rescue SAR helicopters are at 15 minutes’ summer, we’ve still had many We recounted the (rather
The aerial spectacular drew
UK.
units. notice to scramble by day and 45 holidaymakers enjoying the amusing) tale of a stranded bull
around 200,000 people (not all,
SeaFox is replacing the
Both 771 Naval Air Squadron, minutes by night. Cornish coast, swimming in the earlier this summer.
of course, could squeeze aboard
existing ‘yellow submarines’
based at Culdrose, and HMS They invariably beat that time, sea and taking part in various
Most of the Gannet rescues
Charger when she opened her
used by Sandown and Hunt-
Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, but few rescues are perhaps as water sports,” said Lt Cdr Chris
have, of course, been rather more
gangway to visitors).
class mine countermeasures
based at Prestwick, saw sorties quick as that performed by 771 Godwin, Commanding Officer of
serious: chiefly searches for missing
The patrol boat was not the
vessels to dispose of
reach their peak over the summer when a woman was washed into 771 NAS.
walkers (or winching injured ones
only RN participant in the
underwater explosive devices.
months. Mounts Bay when a wave crashed “This has resulted in a much
to safety), divers with the bends, waterfront show; the Fleet Air
When a ship discovers a
The Culdrose Sea Kings have against the sea wall at Porthleven, busier summer than last year for
injured sailors, pregnant women Arm’s Black Cats helicopter
suspicious object on the sea
been called out 182 times (as of a stone’s throw from Culdrose. the squadron.”
going into labour prematurely, display team could also be seen
bed, SeaFox is launched to
the end of August) – up 24 on Within a dozen minutes, the North of the border, the
and someone who got stuck on a pirouetting across the sky in their
find, identify and destroy the
2006. August has been the busiest 771 fliers had safely recovered the Gannet team have been scrambled
weir in the middle of a river. Lynx.
mine (it also destroys itself in
the process).
HMS Cattistock has been
testing the new device
Afghan life begins at 40
– it rather looks like a stumpy
torpedo with smaller torpedoes
THE task of quashing the Taleban in Britain and Denmark, and exercises
fixed to its hull – throughout the
in northern Helmand for the next six alongside the troops of 52 Brigade who
spring and summer.
months rests upon the shoulders will lead the six-month deployment.
The latest series of tests
of several hundred Royal Marine The commandos have also been
were conducted around
Commandos. learning the lingo and have been
the Isle of Skye and Kyle of
The green berets of 40 Commando, taught about the culture of the country
Lochalsh before the Hunt-class
based outside Taunton, have in which they are now serving.
ship returned to her native
relieved their Army comrades in the Like their aerial comrades in the
Portsmouth.
Royal Anglians as part of the six- Naval Strike Wing, 40 Cdo – the ‘jewel
There her ship’s company
monthly roulement of British forces in in the crown’ of 52 Bde, as one Royal
prepared to hand over the keys
Afghanistan. dubbed them (see opposite) – received
LWell placed in the heart of Mayfair, the Naval Club
to Cattistock to the men of the
40 Cdo did not deploy last year a visit from First Sea Lord Admiral Sir
provides a comfortable and secure environment where
‘Crazy A’.
when the bulk of 3 Commando Brigade Jonathon Band on the eve of their
members can feel at home.
As part of the ongoing ‘sea
headed to Helmand (and the brigade departure from Somerset.
swap’ initiative intended to
returns to Afghanistan in force again next And like their Corps comrades, 40 Cdo
L The Club has a range of reasonably priced bedrooms,
keep RN vessels in operational
autumn). will set up base in Camp Bastion, the British
with special weekend rates. The magnificent Dining
theatres longer, HMS
Instead, the Somerset Royals have been fulfilling headquarters in Helmand, but elements of the
Atherstone’s crew are taking
the Corps’ amphibious role off West Africa and in commando will be scattered throughout the north
Room is open for all meals, and private function and
over the ship... and Cattistock’s
the Baltic, as well as conducting live-fire training of the province.
meeting rooms are available.
sailors in turn will look after the
L It is NOT necessary to have been a Naval Officer to
Crazy A.
Evolution not revolution
become a Member. We welcome all those with an
Golden autumn
interest in maritime affairs and the sea in general.
LLadies welcome, both as members and as guests.
beckons
THE Navy’s vital auxiliary fl eet auxiliary fl eet were considered by the Royal Navy of 2020. For more information visit our website at www.navalclub.
will largely remain as it is, top brass: do nothing; use a Maritime trade unions and
co.uk or contact
senior offi cers have ruled commercial support fl eet; all the RFA’s personnel will
Commander John Prichard, Royal Navy, Chief Executive,
THREE warships, one auxiliary
after a two-year review. use a mix of commercial/ be consulted about any future
and Merlins of 700M NAS lead
The Royal Fleet RN/RFA; bring some changes to the auxiliary fl eet’s
on 020 7493 7672, Fax: 020 7355 2644
Britain’s input in a rapid-fi re
Auxiliary – which operates of the RFA Fleet into the structure.
email: cdr@navalclub.co.uk
NATO exercise off the Croatian
repair vessels, tankers, RN, notably the Bay-class
coast this month.
training ships and landing support ships;
Strike carrier HMS Illustrious
fl oating warehouses bring the RFA entirely
provides the punch (courtesy of
to support the RN’s under RN control and
half a dozen Spanish AV8B jump
global operations – has manning; or go for an
jets), escorted by HMS York and
found itself increasingly evolved RFA.
HMS Chatham and supported by
fulfi lling front-line roles The Navy Board
THE ROYAL ALFRED
RFA Fort George.
in recent years. has decided that the
France, the USA, Spain, Italy
Auxiliaries can RFA – founded in SEAFARERS’ SOCIETY
and Romania are also throwing
currently be found 1905 – should remain a
vessels into the melting pot of
conducting anti-drug separate service and should
Providing quality long term edge of Banstead. Donations Head Office, Weston Acres,
Exercise Noble Midas, which
operations in the Caribbean ‘evolve’, with RFA practices
(RFA Wave Ruler) and serving as a increasingly mirroring those in
nursing care for Seafarers and their and legacies are vital to us and Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead,
runs for three weeks, close to
Split.
mother ship for Iraqi Navy trainees the Senior Service; wherever
dependants. The nation owes a help ensure that our residents
Surrey SM7 3HA.
The aim of the war game is to
in the Gulf (RFA Sir Bedivere). possible, training for RFA sailors
great deal to its seafarers and our continue to receive the best
test the force’s reaction to attacks
Such roles are very different will take place alongside their RN home provides them with a safe possible care.
Tel: 01737 353763
from land, sea and air.
from the ones the fl eet carried counterparts. haven in old age and adversity.
There’s a busy autumn
out two decades ago – and The ‘Evolved RFA’ idea has now
For further information about the
Fax: 01737 362678
programme for Lusty; barely is
prompted senior offi cials at Fleet been endorsed by the Navy Board
We offer modern en suite rooms services we provide, or for advice
Headquarters in Portsmouth to but a lot more work is required
www.royalalfredseafarers.com
she back from the Adriatic than
look at the long-term future of the as Fleet HQ looks to plan for an
and sheltered flats set in 14 acres on tax efficient giving, please
she’s steaming around the North
Sea next month, practising with
RFA. ‘afl oat support fl eet’ which will be
of lovely Surrey countryside on the contact: The Chief Executive, Reg Charity No 209776 Est 1865
Joint Force Harrier.
Six options for the future capable of meeting the needs of
007_NN_Oct.indd 1 19/9/07 17:24:08
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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52