8 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007
Farewell to the FFar Eastar East
THE BLACK Duke has
The next port of call was the
bidden farewell to the Far
American base at Yokosuka.
The more adventurous made
East and is making her way
the hour-long train journey to
home – though there is still Tokyo, but it was soon time to
plenty of work to be done.
concentrate on Pacific Shield 07.
The latest stage of her Volans
Monmouth was the UK’s
07 global deployment saw her
contribution in the annual
slip into Hong Kong under a
multinational Proliferation
Security Initiative, hosted by the
thick blanket of fog.
Japanese Maritime Self-Defence
So it was not until the cloud
Force – one of the key elements of
lifted the following morning that
the frigate’s deployment.
the ship’s company got their first
Seven countries took part in
glimpse of the spectacular skyline.
the sea phase, the other five being
The frigate remained at a buoy
the US, France, Australia, New
in Victoria Harbour, one of the
Zealand and Singapore, while 20
busiest stretches of water in the
countries sent observers.
world, but her sailors still got
Monmouth took centre stage
to explore the city and territory
in the boarding demonstration at
which was handed back to China
torrential rain and set course for
sea – as the only country to insert
ten years ago.
the South Korean naval base at
boarding teams by helicopter
And despite plenty of building
Pyongtaek.
rapid roping there was a great deal
work, old hands who were
An advanced party of Korean
of interest from the national press
returning felt that the vibrant
VIPs was flown out to meet the
as well as the other navies.
spirit of the place was still intact.
frigate in Monmouth’s Merlin, and
Monmouth’s boarding team did
The ship welcomed hundreds
toured the ship before she arrived.
a sterling job, deploying two teams
of visitors, ranging from scouts
British sailors travelled to see
simultaneously by helicopter and
and naval cadets to members of
the demilitarised zone between
sea boat on to a 50,000-ton US
the Hydrographic Society and ex- the two Koreas, while the ship’s transport ship, then disembarking
Servicemen’s associations. football team took on the Korean both teams by boat, all in just 20
In addition, trainee chefs from forces (see page 47). minutes.
the Stanley Sailing School went Following exercises with the On the final afternoon the ships
on board and cooked a Chinese South Korean navy the Black were open to the public, and the
meal for the ship’s company – in Duke headed south and took a Black Duke welcomed more than
return they were shown how to short-cut across the Inland Sea of 2,000 eager visitors.
cook a traditional roast dinner. Japan to the Pacific coast. The final task was to top up
The frigate’s CO, Cdr Tim The bridge team said the 15 with fuel and stores in preparation
Peacock, laid a wreath at a British miles of constrained pilotage for one of the longest open ocean
war grave, and later presented a between the main Japanese island passages of the deployment –
medal to Chiu Yiu Nam GC for of Honshu and the smaller Kyushu destination Hawaii.
his conduct in the Falklands War. was “like driving the frigate marina See next month for a report
Monmouth slipped her buoy in through the centre of a city.” on the Black Duke in Honolulu
Words and deeds
IN Britain’s colleges and schools, bridge the language gap, he devised the
‘English as a second language’ courses course to teach the Iraqi naval infantry
are ballooning. a set of standard English phrases to
Tokyo. Warsaw. Barcelona. Kuala use while conducting board and search
Lumpur. Hong Kong. Beijing. Moscow. operations. And having devised the
All are high on the lists of ‘in places’ to course, he promptly delivered it.
teach the tongue of Shakespeare and Most of Lt Ritsperis’ time is spent not
Wordsworth to eager foreigners. in the classroom, however, but on the
Probably not on that list is Umm Qasr, water, either with Iraqi patrol boats or
Iraq’s principal deep-water port whose the patrolling Allied warships.
nightlife and sights struggle to compete Not all the interpretation and
with the great cities of the world. translation is focused on the front line.
But here, in a classroom, you will find ‘Hearts and minds’ work is vital too.
Lt Athos Ritsperis. Sometimes. The officer spent a fortnight with
After 18 months studying Arabic at an Australian battle group based at
the Defence School of Languages in Tallil, between Basra and Karbala, close
Beaconsfield, the junior naval officer is to the ancient city of Ur – reputedly
now an official interpreter for the Naval the birthplace of Abraham, and toured
Transition Team, the educators and surrounding villages with his Antipodean
mentors of Iraq’s Navy and Marines. comrades-in-arms.
“Although they were very keen, the “Part of the military interpreter’s role
English language ability of the marines is to act as a cultural adviser to ensure
was very basic,” said Lt Ritsperis. that no offence is caused to the Iraqi
Not merely did the officer help to hosts during official receptions.”
● Hong Kong by day (above), with the ship at buoy in Victoria
Harbour, and by night (top right) looking astern from the main mast
of the frigate
Medals
Picture: LA(Phot) Brian Douglas (FRPU(N))
Key to learning is in their hands
replaced
IMAGINE the scene. Group at Collingwood. created a maths course on there,
specialist legal advice
You are about to start a Weapon “We thought about looking using a piece of software.
FIVE medals stolen from a World
Engineering course at HMS at how we can remedy this and “But it is a full PSP – if they
War 2 hero have been replaced by
Collingwood, and a great big make them more excited about want to use it to play with for fun,
Veterans Minister Derek Twigg.
to forces personnel
wadge of paper lands on your lap coming on course rather than that is fine.
Mr Twigg presented Harry
– your pre-course preparation. intimidated. “It means they will be using it
Francis (82), county chairman
Your heart sinks… “If they can learn before they – so long as they do the maths. It
of the Gloucester Royal British
Suffered a Military Injury?
Now let’s try that again. get there, there will be more means they can sit in a corner, or
Legion, with replacements for
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
You are about to start a interaction on course. on their bunk, and do the work.”
his missing 1939-45 War medal,
Weapon Engineering course at “It is beneficial to both the The initiative comes as a result
1939-45 Defence Medal, 1939-45
the military.
HMS Collingwood, and you are lecturer and to the class.” of feedback from trainees at
Star, Burma Star and Italy Star.
We can assist you with your claim under the
invited to come and pick up a
In the middle of last month
Collingwood.
Harry joined the RN at the
new AFCS and advise you on whether to fully-working Sony PlayStation
the fi rst 16 of 30 or so
“We chatted to previous courses
age of 16 in 1941 and served in
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our Portable (PSP) – your pre-course
PSPs were handed out
that have come through and asked
the Special Boat Service attached
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
preparation.
– on a strict loan basis for a
why the existing system doesn’t
to 40 Commando of the Royal
advice scheme.
Sound better?
month – to each killick who
work,” said Lt Stubbs.
Marines.
Well, thanks to Lts Ian Stubbs
was a member of a PO(ET)
“We hadn’t considered that
He took part in Operation
Police Interview/
and Alex Smith, that is the way
course.
they were overwhelmed by this
Husky, the amphibious invasion of
pre-course preparation is going great wadge of paper.”
Courts Martial
Sicily, and later fought in Burma.
– and they expect good results.
“The idea is to trial the
If the maths course proves a
The medals were stolen last
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
The secret is that these PSPs
technology to see if it improves
success, other subjects may follow
year.
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
are loaded with bespoke software
their pre-course learning,” said
– the software is easily tailored to
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm
which contains all the elements
Lt Stubbs.
what they want to deliver.
that the sailors will need to learn
“It is a Gucci piece of kit, and
Not forgotten
expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
“It is possible to use it as a
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm
and brush up on before they head
for this generation of sailors, who
revision aid for other things on CHANNEL 4 are planning to
to Fareham.
are used to games consoles, it will
board, from changing a fuse to broadcast a documentary next
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
We can also advise on:
By putting it on to a familiar
encourage them to learn and to
changing a bit of a black box,” said month on the war in the Pacifi c.
and fun medium, they hope that
enjoy the process.”
Employment Issues
Lt Stubbs. A number of British Pacific Fleet
the tasks will be attempted and
Lt Smith added: “We found
“We hope to provide a whole veterans have been interviewed
Family Problems
completed with relish rather than
when we put it down in front of
database of these resources.”
for the 90-minute documentary
House Purchases
reluctance.
people they would look at it, pick
The idea has been tried in
entitled The Day of the Kamikaze.
Wills “At the moment they get a thick
it up and want to play with it.
schools already, and the results
Details of the date of broadcast
document to read through, and it is
“They would not do that with a
there were such that the two
are not yet finalised, but it is
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW
sometimes a bit intimidating,” said
bundle of papers.”
officers are confident it will have a
expected to air around the end of
Lt Stubbs, of the WE Principles
Lt Stubbs said: “We have
beneficial effect on RN trainees.
this year.
008_NN_Nov.indd 18_NN_Nov.indd 1 119/10/07 15:07:159/10/07 15:07:15
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