6 NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008
High tempo
operations
take toll
Bye, Basra Part 2
Snapshot of
serviceability
BARELY half the Fleet Air Arm’s
front-line helicopter force was
available for duty as 2007
ANOTHER month, another
drew to a close, despite the
Naval Air Squadron home
best efforts of aero engineers,
IF YOU thought a punishing
from the sands of Iraq.
according to offi cial fi gures.
operational tempo was taking
In our January edition we
Armed Forces Minister Bob
its toll of RN assets, the Senior
featured 845 NAS’ return to
Ainsworth was asked to provide
Service is not alone in suffering.
Somerset after nearly five years
numbers of helicopters fi t for
The patrol craft which are
over the desert.
operations – either front-line
the backbone of the Iraqi Navy
Now the Junglies’ sister
missions such as in Afghanistan
are also becoming worn out by
squadron 847 are also back in
or search and rescue fl ights,
constant training missions and
the familiar surroundings of
or for training missions – from
operations in the northern Gulf.
Yeovilton.
what the MOD classes as its
Luckily, there are RN
The Lynx fliers spent four
‘forward fl eet’, operational
engineers on hand to save the
months at Basra on their latest
rather than training units.
day.
deployment to Iraq in support of
According to the figures
The biggest challenge at
Operation Telic.
he supplied to Parliament, in
present for the Royal Navy-led
The round-the-clock efforts of
November last year just 12 of
Naval Transition Team (NaTT)
the maintenance team ensured the
31 Junglie Sea King Mks 4 and
is to teach the Iraqi Navy the art
aircrews were airborne on average
6 were available for missions;
of keeping tired boats running
250 hours each month – more
25 out of 41 Lynx were deemed
(something we have a little bit of
than 1,000 flying hours in all
serviceable, as were 12 of 27
experience in).
– they were in theatre in the Mk9
Merlins, two thirds of the nine-
Iraq’s five Predator patrol
Battlefield Lynx.
strong ‘Bagger’ Sea King Mk
boats in particular need a lot of
It’s the first time the squadron
7 Airborne Surveillance and
husbandry (and toil, sweat and
has deployed with the Army
Control fleet, and six of the 11
perhaps even tears) as they suffer
variant of the famous helicopter,
SAR Sea King Mk 5s.
from a shortage of spares and
instead of the models with the
In all, of the 119 helicopters
under-funding.
more typical skids.
in the Fleet Air Arm’s front line,
“Basic maintenance has been
Skids or wheels beneath them,
61 were serviceable on average
happening, but with the high
the task of the squadron remained
during the month.
tempo of operations, the boats
the same: constant support for
Serviceability rates in the
are in a bit of a state,” explained
Allied ground forces.
RAF were slightly better – 48 of
LMEM Tormey.
That meant ferrying troops
its 79 helicopters were ready
“Hopefully, by working closely
around, conducting recce patrols,
– and markedly higher in the
with the Iraqis we can show them
offering ‘top cover’ for ground
Army Air Corps, 97 out of 154
how to do the job even more
convoys and being ready at short
serviceable rotary-wing aircraft.
effectively and then just keep
notice to carry casualties to
Mr Ainsworth also told fellow
an eye on them to ensure that
hospital.
MPs of the dates the various
standards are maintained.
The naval aviators found
FAA helicopters would end their
“It’s great fun and with good
themselves called upon to
active days.
leadership, the Iraqis can work
investigate rocket sites used by
The venerable Sea King – the
very hard.”
insurgents, interdicting fleeing
first flew in 1969 and the last
Supporting the boats is a
y logistical
vehicles carrying suspected
one rolled off the production
challenge for a length
chain – a chain made even more
terrorists and escorting Merlins
line in 1990 – will be phased
taut by an influx of new sailors
on flights around southern Iraq.
out over the next decade, Mr
and marines as the Iraqi Navy
In all, 56 personnel from the
Ainsworth said.
swells in numbers.
squadron were deployed to Basra,
The HAS6 Junglie variant
“The logistical chain is not
operating six Lynx.
is due to pay off this year; its
great – probably not surprising
At any one time, the 26-strong
sister HC4 flies on until 2012.
considering what has been
engineering team was expected
Search and Rescue Sea Kings
happening in Iraq,” explained
to have four of the aircraft
continue until 2017, while the
Logs(SC) Robinson.
serviceable.
Baggers will be the last to be
“A system is slowly being put
“The engineering effort on
decommissioned, making their
in place and the warehouses are
this deployment has been highly
final flights in 2018.
filling up finally.”
impressive,” said CPO(AET) Jase
The Lynx HAS3 will serve
Away from the Navy’s home of
Douglas, the senior maintenance
until 2013 and their ‘Super
Umm Qasr, the forward training
rating, who oversaw ten engine
Lynx’ sisters, HMA8, will be
‘base’ around the KAAOT and
changes in just three months.
decommissioned in 2015, by
ABOT oil platforms in the Gulf is
“The sustained effort ensured
which time their successor,
now provided by RFA Cardigan
that a remarkably high level of
‘Future Lynx’, is due to be in
Bay which has replaced RFA Sir
serviceability was maintained
service.
Bedivere.
throughout.”
The much newer Merlin HM1
The latter arrived at
Somehow the engineers also
will be in service until 2029.
Marchwood military port in
managed to find time to clock up
Southampton Water for the final
2,847km on the cycling, rowing
and running machines in the
Tyne meets
time last month.
She was greeted by the
gym at Basra – one of the few
Commodore RFA Cdre Bob
recreational facilities available to
the 847 NAS team.
the Thames
Thornton and the titular head
of the auxiliary navy, the Earl of
One major event during the
three-month tour was the handover
AFTER a lumpy start to 2008,
Wessex – Commodore-in-Chief
of control of Basra province to the
fi shery protection ship HMS Tyne
of the RFA.
Iraqis.
left the open water behind for the
For the final leg of her journey
● ‘He wears the rose of youth upon him’... CPO Jason Douglas lifts his daughter Bethan aloft
The 847 fliers provided aviation Picture: PO(Phot) Susan Emery
shelter of the Thames.
home from the Gulf, the Knight
expertise and top cover for Iraqi
The River-class ship spent four
of the Round Table carried
Air Force Mi-17 ‘Hip’ helicopters,
where they were reunited with will work up towards yet another Kandahar in September. days berthed outboard of HMS
families of her ship’s company.
sent from Baghdad to cover the
loved ones. front-line deployment amid “Our departure from Basra Belfast after a spell on fish duties
ceremony. We would like to tell you that the sand and dust, this time to marks a milestone in the history in the Irish and North Seas
New role
“It was a unique experience for the Lynx men and women are Afghanistan “where their steely of the Commando Helicopter and English Channel enforcing
us,” said Lt Graham Humphries. enjoying a well-deserved break determination and sense of Force as the focus firmly shifts British and European fi sheries
for Brecon
“It not only allowed us to fly after their exertions. humour will once again be tested to operations in Afghanistan,” legislation.
alongside our Iraqi counterparts, We would, but we can’t. on operations,” says Maj Lenny said 847’s senior pilot, Maj Jaimie During her stay the 30-strong
but also to share their experiences The day after the team returned Brown RM, 847’s Commanding Roylance RM. crew hosted a number of events
FORMER minehunter HMS
and tactics over a traditionally from Basra, the remainder of the Officer. “The lessons learned and on board, including visits from
Brecon has a new lease of life
British cup of tea.” squadron flew out to northern That means a fortnight of experience gained over the past few civic dignitaries and local Sea
as a training vessel for rookie
They were treated to a Norway to conduct Arctic warfare mountain–flying training in months will stand the squadron in Cadets, plus an offi cial reception
ratings.
homecoming party in the training. southern France, six weeks in the good stead for what will be another attended by Cllr Bob Skelly, the
The Hunt-class ship
squadron’s hangars at Yeovilton Once back, the whole squadron heat of Arizona, before heading to busy, but rewarding, year.” Mayor of Southwark.
most recently served in “After four busy weeks of
Northern Ireland, but with the pitching and rolling in typical
increasingly stable security
GGo Wo Weestst(minster)
winter weather, we were very
situation in the province, she much looking forward to enjoying
was decommissioned. all the capital had to offer,” said
Now she’s in use again at Lt Cdr Ian Clarke, Tyne’s CO.
HMS Raleigh. HMS Westminster’s ship’s company
Externally, Brecon looks man the upper deck as the frigate
almost identical to the prime leaves Portsmouth on a glorious
Bristol in the
of her life; inside, however, – and admittedly unseasonal
engineers have removed her – February morning bound for the
props and shafts, overhauled Mediterranean and beyond.
thick of battle
her mess decks and created a The Type 23 frigate is one of two
classroom. escorts attached to the Orion 08 LONG-retired destroyer HMS
The ship will be used to give deployment led by HMS Illustrious Bristol found herself attacked
basic entry trainees an idea (see pages 8-9 for more details). by raiders on jetskis.
of living aboard a warship; Destroyer HMS Edinburgh is the The Falklands veteran, which
at present, rookie sailors at task group’s air defence guardian and serves as a youth training and
Raleigh sleep on board a yacht has also left Pompey. accommodation ship at the foot
and trot up a jetty for food She endured some top-up training of Whale Island in Portsmouth,
and ablutions, which isn’t an from the Flag Officer Sea Training was used by experts from
accurate depiction of life in an team before leaving UK waters. the Maritime Warfare Centre
RN mess deck. The FOSTies threw ten fires, six at HMS Collingwood to test
Brecon will also be used floods, four intruders, one helicopter theories of defence against
by more experienced sailors crash on deck, two helicopter terrorist attack by fast craft.
for seamanship and boarding ditchings, one simulated disaster, one Two jetskis and around 30
training. simulated grounding and two all-out personnel took part in the four-
She is now moored in the wars at the Fortress of the Sea to day exercise which did not
River Lynher, replacing an old keep her sailors on their toes. involve the discharge of any
fueling barge, Ajax. Picture: LA(Phot) Pete Smith, FRPU East live ammunition.
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