NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007 7
● Spanish fl ew... An AV8 of 9 Escuadrilla prepares to roar down Lusty’s
fl ight deck Pictures: LA(Phot) Darby Allen, HMS Illustrious
TThe sum of all peershe sum of all peers
THERE’S been a Latin
“It’s all about blending different For Illustrious’ team Noble successful one, we might add, as buried. New gates were dedicated their guides navigate a treacherous
revival aboard Britain’s
national capabilities to make the Midas was another small stepping AB ‘Seb’ Coe claimed the title during a 40-minute ceremony, led series of rapids alone (nine people
strike fl agship.
whole more than the sum of the stone on the long road to Britain’s by hooking in a plastic bottle by a padre from HMS Illustrious had apparently lost their lives on
parts.” next-generation carriers. (the sole ‘bite’ of the contest). and a bugler. that stretch).
No, not -bam, -bas, -bat. More
Like their American (Relatively) normal service is Insult was added to injury when As for Noble Midas, it began Then it was back in the boats
bang, bang, bang.
predecessors who raved about resumed this month as British Chatham returned to Split later in with Chatham in charge of all for more exertions; two crew who
Hot on the heels of American
Illustrious, the Spaniards were Harriers re-join the carrier in the exercise and fish could be seen anti-submarine forces – something opted to paddle down the river in
AV8 Harriers joining the strike
impressed by the British carrier home waters. Not Fleet Air Arm dancing on the surface next to the she was designed and built to do. kayaks suffered regular dunkings
carrier off the Eastern Seaboard of
– and by the cosmopolitan fl avour jets (they’re in Afghanistan) but frigate... with her crew closed up Of course, coping with as their craft capsized regularly.
the USA, Spanish and Italian jump
of the entire exercise. the RAF’s 1(F) Squadron, before at action stations and unable to submarines wasn’t the only threat The waters of the Adriatic
jets flew aboard in the Adriatic for
“It’s a great experience,” said Illustrious returns to the Med for get their rods out. thrown at Chatham as she also proved rather calmer for York; the
a huge NATO exercise.
Spanish pilot Lt Eduardo Lopez. more work with the Spanish. Other sporting activities proved had to fend off enemy air raids. skies, however, were threatening.
AV8s from 9 Escuadrilla
“Right now, all these countries Of course, there is more to no more successful. After two weeks at a constant The Type 42 was charged
Armada Española Arma Aérea, 9th
are working together. You realise Noble Midas than Lusty and her Chatham’s cricketers visited state of readiness, the frigate finally with not merely protecting HMS
Squadron Spanish Fleet Air Arm,
you can operate as a joint force.” visiting Harriers. the island of Vis, where locals bade farewell to the Adriatic, Illustrious from air attack... but
and ‘The Wolves’ – Gruppo Aerei
And it’s fair to say that the Brits For a start, there were three dismissed the sailors for 102 all heading first for Cyprus, then on the entire friendly task force of
Imbarcati of the Marina Militare
too quite liked the cosmopolitan other British vessels attached out, before clocking up 105 runs to Egyptian waters for another 30 vessels.
Forze Aeree, Embarked Air Group
flavour of Noble Midas. to the exercise: frigate HMS in return for the loss of just two exercise, Bright Star. The ship This placed especial demands
of the Italian Fleet Air Arm – set
“You don’t have to look any Chatham, destroyer York and wickets. returns to Devonport this month. on the destroyer’s two fighter
down on Lusty’s flight deck for
further than the fact that we floating warehouse RFA Fort Perhaps the defeat isn’t too Also in Split was destroyer controllers, who had to identify
Noble Midas, NATO war games
had a French fighter controller George. galling, however, as the sailors HMS York, whose sailors fancied every aircraft and helicopter
off Croatia involving more than directing a US Marine Corps pilot After a brief stop in Gib, were beaten by a team with a fine something rather more rigorous entering the task force’s air space,
30 vessels. in a Spanish Harrier on to a Chatham’s deployment began in English and RN pedigree, the Sir than a spot of leather upon separate friend from foe, and
“Being part of such a large Royal Navy flight deck to see earnest in Split where planning William Hoste Cricket Club. willow. inform the remaining ships.
exercise brings out the best in our what we can do,” said Lt Nick for Noble Midas was conducted The eponymous naval captain Two coaches crammed with Of course, York and her Sea Dart
ships and our people. This is what Geneux, Lusty’s Education and ashore. defeated a superior Franco- sailors wound through the Croatian missiles alone could not defend
we do,” explained Illustrious’ CO Development Officer. Afloat, around half the crew Venetian force off the island in mountains then disgorged the such a large group of warships
Capt Tim Fraser. For NATO Noble Midas was a stayed aboard Chatham at any one 1811, famously hoisting the signal: matelots by the side of a river, scattered across the Adriatic.
“Bringing together Spanish chance to test its ability to forge time to safeguard the frigate and Remember Nelson. where eight rafts were waiting for Instead, it was her task to pass
and Italian Harriers, flying from an international strike force at sea keep her systems ticking over. On a more sombre note, the them. on the information – and orders
a British carrier, is the perfect and then deploy it on a complex They found time, however, cricketers then gathered outside After a relatively easy first to shoot down foe – to other air
example of what NATO can mission. The exercise has been the during the four-day stay to stage a cemetery in Vis where men who stretch of water, the Yorkies defence vessels such as the USS
achieve. largest staged in Croatia. a fishing contest. A not very fell in the liberation of Crete are climbed out of the rafts and let Laboon.
● Golden age... A Sea King is silhouetted against the Adriatic sun at
dusk and (left) Spanish ground crew work on their AV8s on Illustrious’
fl ight deck
0007_NN_Nov.indd 107_NN_Nov.indd 1 117/10/07 13:41:237/10/07 13:41:23
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