18 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007
Plane academy
Up and atom
WHAT’S several thousand feet THE eerie wail of sirens
above the Cornish countryside across Devonport signalled the
and the bedrock of the future beginning of a major exercise
Fleet Air Arm? to deal with a potential nuclear
Why foundations, of course. accident.
For in the skies above the All three of Britain’s naval
West Country naval aviators bases regularly stage variations of
of tomorrow are earning their Exercise Short Sermon to test not
wings… and a foundation degree merely the response of the Royal
to boot, courtesy of the new FAA Navy, but also the emergency
Military Aviation Academy.
services, government bodies
The new course – the Military
and local councils, in the event
Aviation Studies Foundation
of a radiation leak from one of
Degree, which is validated by the
Britain’s nuclear submarines.
Open University – is aimed at
In all, 28 different agencies and
students leaving college or sixth
organisations were sucked into
form with their A-Levels.
Short Sermon – making it the
● Rescue PO ‘Jay’ O’Donnell makes for the Napoli’s life raft and (middle and right) the cargo ship’s crew look relieved once safely aboard
The students spend three terms
the Sea King
largest such exercise yet organised
at Britannia Royal Naval College
by Devonport.
in Dartmouth for fl ying grading
Naval base staff were ushered
and training, before joining the
academy at either Culdrose or
Yeovilton.
There they learn about aircraft
systems, meteorology and
oceanography, navigation, radar,
sonar, radio communications, and
So others may live
into emergency shelters, while
officials simulated handing out
potassium iodate tablets to
homes, businesses, schools and
other premises within a two-
kilometre (2,200-yard) radius of
the base (sailors dropped letters
the art of naval aviation in the
rather than the actual tablets
classroom, in the simulator, and
through letter boxes).
in the air, courtesy of the Fleet
THE most demanding –
aircraft and stricken sailors alike. and unpredictable. for the Italian port of Ancona
“The Royal Navy has an
Air Arm’s training aircraft and
and high-profi le – rescue
To lift all 26 crewman to safety, All 26 Napoli crew were saved when a passenger suffered severe
exemplary nuclear safety record
helicopters.
“The fl ying and the
of the year by Fleet Air
it was decided to lower rescue and PO O’Donnell was safely respiratory problems.
– there’s never been an accident
diver PO James ‘Jay’ O’Donnell recovered. The sailors were given Fort George’s medical technican
involving one of our nuclear-
opportunities for travel are
Arm fl iers earned them into the water to climb aboard the warm drinks, food and blankets initially dashed across in a sea
powered submarines which has
great,” said Sam Yarker, a one of the country’s top
lifeboat. back at Culdrose. boat.
caused any release of radioactive
trainee observer with 750 NAS
life-saving awards.
He fought against successive As for their ship, she was His quick diagnosis was that the
materials into the environment or
at Culdrose. “Picking up a
The crews of Rescue 193 and
troughs to eventually get into the towed towards Portland before passenger needed urgent medical
posed any risk to public safety,”
foundation degree along the way
Rescue 194, two of 771 NAS’ Sea
boat, where he found 26 worried being beached in Lyme Bay; her attention, so the Merlin operating
said Naval Base Commander
is an extra bonus.
Kings based at Culdrose, battled
sailors, most suffering from breaking up (and subsequently from Fort George was hurriedly
Cdre Simon Lister, himself
“The training is demanding but
ferocious winds and treacherous
seasickness and some suffering widespread looting of her cargo scrambled.
a former nuclear submarine
I am fl ying in hi-tech aircraft all
seas to pluck all 26 sailors of the
from hypothermia. from the shore) made international The helicopter crew placed the
engineer.
over the world, seeing fantastic
merchantman MSC Napoli from
Over the next 50 minutes, headlines. patient in a stretcher, carried him
“Nevertheless, the MOD,
sights and gaining tremendous
their liferafts in the Channel on
Rescue 194 picked up 13 men then Nine months down the line, to the top deck of the ferry and
DML and Plymouth City
experience.”
January 18.
departed for Culdrose leaving her the 771 fliers were invited to the winched him on to the Merlin.
Council have developed detailed
The RN is competing with
‘Windstorm’ Kyrill – basically a
sister to complete the mission. Fishmongers’ Hall in London, He was then flown to Split
plans to ensure a swift, effective
big business and the land’s top
wintry hurricane – caused Napoli’s
The rescue of the remaining where Admiral Sir Peter Abbott, airport, but when an ambulance
response to such an accident in
universities to reel in the brightest
hull to crack; water gushed in,
13 was going relatively smoothly president of the Shipwrecked failed to arrive to collect him
Plymouth.”
brains – but the fact that tuition
the engines failed and her crew
until a wave caused the lifeboat to Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal and the passenger’s condition
One hundred miles to the east,
fees are paid and students earn
abandoned ship fearing the cargo
spin wildly – in turn causing the Benevolent Society, presented worsened, the Merlin took off
one of Devonport’s nuclear boats
up to £25,000 a year and are
vessel would founder, a good 40
highline and winch to tangle with them with the Edward and Maisie again and five minutes later
put in to Portland to test the
guaranteed a career in naval
miles from the Lizard.
kit on the roof of the boat. Lewis Award for the outstanding touched down at the hospital’s
port’s ‘Z-berth’.
aviation if they graduate has
Rescue 193 was immediately
Alertness by 194’s winch air-sea rescue of 2007. landing site.
Various bases, docks and ports
around the UK have designated
proved a draw.
scrambled to rescue Napoli’s crew;
operator LACMN Justin Radford ■ NOT to be outdone on the Surgeons performed an
Z-berths which can accommodate
“When deciding upon my
her crew realised she alone could
and the skill of the pilots Lt Kevin rescue front, RFA Fort George emergency operation on the man,
visits by hunter-killer or strategic
career, the subject of top-up fees
not complete the mission and 30
Drodge and Capt Damien May and a Merlin of 700 NAS rushed who had a hole in his left lung (as
missile submarines (they are not
was a big consideration,” said minutes later Rescue 194 took to
RM managed to un-snag the lines, to the aid of a ferry passenger in diagnosed by the RFA medic).
to be used, however, to carry out
Caroline Oakes, also training as the leaden sky.
allowing the rescue to proceed the Adriatic. He is now recovering; it’s highly
repairs on the boats).
an observer with 750 NAS. The two Sea Kings found both
although as it became lighter The Riviera del Conero unlikely he would have survived
It’s been 16 years since any
“The opportunity to be paid the lifeboat and the Napoli rocking
with fewer sailors on board its flashed a distress signal as she the ferry journey had it not been
submarine called at Portland.
while working towards a degree terribly in mountainous seas with
movements became more erratic ploughed through the sea bound for the RN/RFA intervention.
It fell to fleet submarine HMS
was too good to miss.” gusts in excess of 50kts buffeting
Tireless to test the newly-
● Deceptive perspective... 8in tall Mighty Mouse prepares to join HMS Chatham
designated Z-berth and soak
up seven days of Dorsetshire
Separating? Divorcing?
hospitality.
Specialist Armed Forces The submarine’s crew also
coffin
spread the word about the
pension advice...
Silent Service and RN, hosting
mew
If you are considering a separation or
more than 100 school children,
LLP
divorce call our Family Helpline for students, business people and
more details of our Free Half Hour civic dignitaries from Portland
and Weymouth during their stay Consultation which can be by phone
(but not all at the same time
or in person. We also have a dedicated
given the rather cramped confines
Armed Forces area on our website
of the boat...).
with comprehensive information on
Tireless has spent the early
a whole range of family matters,
autumn hosting five potential
including pension advice. You can find out more
submarine commanders on the
We can help you through... details and email us
infamous Submarine Command
regarding Family
Course (better known as the
0800 827168
matters via our
Perisher) – widely regarded as the
website world’s most challenging test of a
www.coffinmew.co.uk
Fareham, North Harbour Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport future boat commander.
coffinmew.co.uk
Regulated by the Law Society. Lexcel Accredited.
Revision time
NEED initial FREE
at Dartmouth
LEGAL ADVICE?
Then contact:
THE defi nitive history of the
naval offi cer corps’ spiritual
Of mouse and men
home is now ‘more defi nitive’.
The official historians of
Britannia Royal Naval College,
Drs Jane Harrold and Richard
Porter, have updated and
IS IT a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s quite obviously Chatham’s site at www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/ enhanced the critically-
a plastic mouse wearing a tight yellow suit and red show/nav.1580) to recount his deeds around the acclaimed original volume to
A Nationwide network of highly experienced Independent Solicitors
cape. globe. take into account the 100th
Introducing Mighty Mouse, the official mascot of So far those have included racing to the top of the anniversary celebrations at the
Who advise and represent Service Personnel, Reservists, the
Her Majesty’s Ship Chatham, who’ll be accompanying Rock (apparently he flew while his shipmates ran...) Dartmouth landmark and other
the frigate and her fine ship’s company on all their and regularly accompanying Chatham’s weapons recent events, including then
Civil Service and their Families
escapades. engineer officer Lt Cdr Chris Smith who can never be prime minister Tony Blair’s
A mouse has long been a symbol of the ship (he’s seen without his jumper, even when it’s visit – the first, amazingly,
Contact:
painted on the foc’s’le and you’ll also find him on warm. by a serving PM in BRNC’s
officer’s cummerbunds). There is, of illustrious life.
Now he’s taken on a more tangible form, courtesy course, a serious The first edition of the book,
0845 601 1260
of an 8in (well, he’s a mouse, after all) figure who side to these produced by Dartmouth firm
goes wherever the Devonport frigate – motto Up and vermin-related Richard Webb, earned the
or
At ’em – goes. shenanigans – to Sir Robert Craven Trophy for
The RN hasn’t had ‘real’ mascots for three decades bring the actions outstanding contribution to
www.forceslaw.com
when rabies regulations put the kibosh on cats, dogs, of the Royal naval research but every copy
rabbits, bears and other creatures (HMS Lancaster Navy to as wide an has now been sold.
for a Local Lawyer who
did, however, have Sunny the Parrot, but she’s now audience as possible. The revised volume, which
retired). As for Chatham includes a new preface by First
But sailors being sailors, they can get around herself, she’s currently Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon
SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE
the small inconvenience of Admiralty regulations: in the Mediterranean Band and a postscript by
COURTS MARTIAL • DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES • EMPLOYMENT
a number of ships have taken Flat Stanley (the and Adriatic alongside BRNC’s present Commodore,
and REINSTATEMENT of RESERVE FORCES PERSONNEL • SERVICE
squashed youngster) to sea, and HMS Newcastle HMS Illustrious Cdre Martin Alabaster, was
INVESTIGATIONS • CRIME • HOUSE or BUSINESS PURCHASE
got miles of publicity out of Salty the Bear, a cuddly and HMS York unveiled at last month’s
or SALE including LSAP’s • DIVORCE CHILDREN PENSIONS and
toy who was the mascot of a Whitley Bay school and on Exercise passing in/passing out parade.
TERMINAL GRANTS • ACCIDENTS and COMPENSATION • ARMED
sailed the world, telling children of his adventures. Noble Midas, The book, Britannia Royal
FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME PREVIEW • WILLS or
That’s something Mighty Mouse is keen to do an international Naval College Dartmouth: An
DEATH of a RELATIVE
too; as yet he’s not affiliated with any particular exercise off the Illustrated History is priced £25,
school, but he does have his own web page (part of coast of Croatia. ISBN 978-0953636174.
0018-019_NN_Nov.indd 118-019_NN_Nov.indd 1 117/10/07 10:16:407/10/07 10:16:40
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