8 NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008
Focus shifts to
unsung heroes
WHEN flagships are “And because we have lost the
mentioned, HMS
sweep gear we have got a lot of
Chiddingfold is perhaps not
room for extra capability in the
the first ship’s name which
future.”
springs to mind.
He was also pleased to be
away from fishery protection
And, to be fair, she was
duties: “It is really nice to be
not claiming the glory of
on a mine countermeasures
flagship of the Orion 08
vessel which is doing mine
deployment, nor even lead-
countermeasures work
ship status.
– particularly one that is
But as she and her
right at the cutting edge with
Hunt-class sister HMS
Seafox.”
Atherstone entered the
Lt Nekrews said Orion 08
relative shelter of Grand
would be hard work for the
Harbour in Valletta, there
small ships, but would prove
was a palpable sense of
to be well worth the effort.
satisfaction that the mine warfare
“This is good for the guys,
task unit element of Orion was
getting out to the Gulf and
going pretty much according to
getting stuck into some
plan.
interesting tasking,” he said.
Exercises in which Chiddingfold
Some of that effort went
and Atherstone used Seafox
into force protection – for
off Gibraltar are described
ships which have been pretty
opposite, but Chiddingfold’s
much part of the UK scene
Operations Officer Lt
for years, these skills had to
Alan Nekrews said the
be honed before the Suez
minehunter’s involvement
Canal.
was entirely appropriate.
Atherstone’s
“We have been heavily
Commanding Officer,
involved; last year on trials
Lt Cdr David Morgan,
to bring Seafox into the
was also pleased to be in
MCMV community, we were unfamiliar surroundings.
the first to be fitted and the “It’s excellent to get out of
first to do a live firing,” he said. UK waters,” he said.
Chiddingfold’s CO Lt Cdr Tom “The whole ship’s company is
Tredray said the Hunts were versatile ships. looking forward to operating as part of a
“The good thing about fibreglass is major task group and the chance to see
that it doesn’t rust, which gives them an new places, which for the mine warfare
advantage over metal hulls,” he added. group does not happen very often.”
● RFA Diligence approaches her berth in Grand Harbour, Valletta (above) where she
joined the two Hunt-class ships Chiddingfold (pictured left alongside) and Atherstone,
the two having been delayed outside the breakwater by heavy seas
Sludge, skips and
sport: ‘no problem’
SHIPS have been calling into the fortifi ed How much water would each ship need?
Grand Harbour of Valletta in Malta for Tonnages were calculated, and tankers
centuries, so there it’s a fair bet that the would provide it.
locals could cope with the modest vanguard A sailor popped his head round the
of the Orion 08 deployment. door. Is the water chlorinated? No, pure
Even so, the etiquette and negotiations spring water would be supplied. Satisfied,
that involve such visits are a fascinating he dashed off to ask his colleague on
glimpse of the ‘brotherhood of the sea’ at Atherstone what their needs would be.
work, with the Maltese effortlessly seeing A chandler went off with Chiddingfold’s
to the needs of the two Hunt-class vessels chef to sort out fresh food supplies, while
which rolled alongside Pinto Wharf on a keys and insurance details were sorted out
long swell driven by brisk north-easterly for hire cars and MPVs for the two ships.
winds. Transport arrangements were finalised
Within minutes of arriving the local for an officer leaving Chiddingfold for the
shipping agent Anton Buttigieg was on airport that day, then bags of goodies for
board with a couple of the sailors were handed over, including
Landmark appeal
colleagues, as was the
vouchers for free drinks at a tourist resort
Naval and Air Attaché at
bar which has ‘Naval leanings’ (and came
the British Embassy in
highly recommended after that night’s run
Rome, Cdr Sean Steeds,
ashore).
A LANDMARK – and seamark church” and a retired RN officer,
and Third Secretary
‘Sludge’ would be removed from both
– on the island of Malta is seeking Cdr Geoff Fosberry, sits on the
Political at the Maltese
ships on halfway through their visit, while
help to restore one of the great appeal committee.
High Commission, Andy
the same day would also see divers going
church organs of the world. Plaques and memorials around
Hamilton.
into the water for some training.
St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral the walls recall the great and
Sitting in the cosy
“That should be no problem – we
was built on the site of the Auberge greatly-missed of the Senior Service wardroom of Chiddingfold,
just need to let Valletta Harbour Control
d’Allemagnewith funds provided over two centuries, and Mr Turner the men ran through
know,” said Andy, who was straight on to
by the Dowager Queen Adelaide, said that many a ship’s company some essentials, then on
his mobile to set the ball rolling.
The 144th Annual General Meeting
widow of King William IV. attended services at the Cathedral to the ‘nice to haves’ –
After mail pick-ups and times for calls
It was completed in 1844, but it over the decades. none of which caused the
to local VIPs were settled, it was on to the
of the Royal Maritime Club, Queen
is believed the organ pre-dates it by “We do still play it – in fact we slightest problem to the
important stuff.
more than a century – it is thought had one of the best organists in accommodating hosts.
“For the rugby match; we need to get
Street, Portsmouth, will be held in the
Handel played the instrument in the world here over Christmas, Chiddingfold’s Liaison
there a good hour early to teach them how
Chester Cathedral while on his way and he plays very loud and very Officer Lt Alan Nekrews
to play. You think I’m joking …” said Lt
Trafalgar Ballroom of the club on
to Dublin for the first performance hard, so we were terrified it would
was told a skip would be Nekrews, a PTI in a former Naval life.
of The Messiah in 1742. break down,” said Mike.
provided for each of the With only 45 men in each ship, even
Tuesday 22nd April 2008 at 1030.
Now the cathedral, the slender The £90,000 will rebuild
Hunts, and emptied as and a combined team was not easy to rustle
spire of which acts as a mark elements of the machine using
when needed; does the up, but even their lack of a kit was swiftly
Commanding Officers are requested to
to mariners approaching Grand modern equipment, ensuring
gash need to be separated sorted by Andy Hamilton.
Harbour, is seeking £90,000 to many more years of music.
encourage maximum attendance from
for recycling, wondered A pitch was also requested for an inter-
restore the organ to its former For further details contact
the officer? ship football match, and it was established
glory before it fails completely. Canon Tom Mendel, Chancellor,
their ships and establishments.
Back came the answer that the jetty and a nearby stadium could
Mike Turner, who is one of the St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral,
minutes later, not a be used for PT and RN Fitness Tests.
ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
leading players in the fund-raising Independence Square, Valletta VLT
problem, but no engine With that the meeting ended, and the
drive, said St Paul’s is a “maritime 12, Malta, tel 00356 21 225714.
room waste, please. visit could begin.
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