10 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007
Clyde unveils
ambitious
savings plan
Aman for all nations
AA lelessons in the classics
ANYTHING an Englishman
can do, so can a Scotsman.
Perhaps even better. T
HE force assembled
at Portsmouth wa
formidable.
Naval base bosses at Faslane Ten major warships – and
are hoping to emulate their large supporting fl eet of transport
counterparts on the Solent by and supply ships – were hastil
slashing the running costs of brought together to carry th
the establishment.
troops half way across the world
Portsmouth Naval Base
Portsmouth Dockyard was a hiv
has managed to shave more
of activity as ships were hurriedl
than £13m off its budget this
equipped for war service.
fi nancial year alone, largely
Then the order came to se
helped by energy-effi ciency
sail. And it was at that point tha
measures such as turning
disaster struck. One of the large
lights, computers and heating
ships in the fl eet, HMS Invincibl
off.
snagged her anchor and jamme
Now senior offi cials on the
her rudder. In strong winds, sh
Clyde have revealed ambitious
was driven onto the Dean Sand
plans to cut their yard’s running
off St Helens on the Isle of Wigh
costs by one sixth within fi ve
and although her entire ship
years – part of a wider ‘tail
company was saved, she eventuall
to teeth’ initiative across the
capsized and sank, taking all he
Senior Service aimed at giving
weapons and stores with her.
the ‘teeth’, the front-line Fleet,
Don’t worry. This is no
more bite… and cash.
an extract from a secret, an
Clyde is home to the
hitherto unrevealed, history of th
‘bomber’ fl eet of Vanguard
Falklands War.
nuclear missile submarines,
The Invincible in question wa
the handful of Swiftsure-class
not the aircraft carrier of 1982; sh
hunter killer boats still in
was a 74-gun sailing battleship an
service, and all Sandown-class
the expedition in which she wa
minehunters.
supposed to be involved happene
It is also the principal port
nearly 250 years ago, in 1758 – th
used by ships involved in
attack on the French-held fortres
Neptune Warrior war games. In
of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia.
all, around 6,000 civilians and
The rest of the fl eet continue
military personnel are employed
on its mission and, six month
at Faslane.
later, the troops were safel
landed and, within three week
The Clyde Forward initiative
Louisbourg had surrendered t
aims to cut the base’s running
the British.
costs by around £30m per year
The French defenders fough
by 2011-12.
gallantly but were overwhelme
To do so, the base will work
by a huge concentration of lan
ever closer with Babcock
and maritime force – much of
Naval Services, which currently
performs many of the support
functions at Faslane.
By the end of the fi fth year
of the Royal Navy-Babcock
partnership this summer, the
● HMS Sutherland’s Flight Deck Offi cer watches the impressive sight of the
Senior Service will have saved
THE constant vigil against
harbour with cultural and sporting Aman task force in formation and (above) the frigate’s crew line the decks for a
upwards of £100m (when the terrorism and criminal
bonds between the various nations ceremonial sail-past Pictures: LA(Phot) Shaun Preston, FRPU Whale Island
deal was signed savings of
activity on the waters of
forged.
£76m were the target).
While tours of the Pakistani
Other savings can be made
the Arabian Gulf continues city were popular, as were football
by making better use of the
in British hands as the
matches, the lingering memory
workshops and offi ces on the Royal Navy takes charge
of the visit for Sutherland will
site.
of an international task
be the international food gala,
As with all three Naval bases
where chefs from the respective
force.
in the UK, Faslane suffers
countries cooked various national
Fresh from commanding
from too much waterfront
dishes (so that would be chicken
Antarctic survey ship HMS
and support facilities with a
tikka massala for us – Ed).
Endurance, Cdre Nick Lambert
shrinking Navy.
Their stomachs suitably filled,
has ‘set up shop’ with his team
And better commercial use
the sailors did what they do best
aboard frigate HMS Cornwall
of some of the base could
– taking their ships to sea.
– the new fl agship of Combined
generate fresh income.
An impressively potent line of
Task Force 158.
“There is more capacity
warships steamed out of Karachi
Cornwall has just taken up
across the three UK Naval
for the maritime phase of Aman –
station off Iraq, where Type 23
bases than we need for the
the emphasis fell upon defending
frigate HMS Sutherland is half-
size and shape of the future
vessels against suicide attacks on
way through a demanding nine-
Fleet,” explained Naval base
the water and conducting board-
month tour of duty.
commander Cdre Carolyn Stait.
and-search operations.
Perhaps the highlight so far of
“We simply cannot carry on
Aman concluded with a sail past
the latter’s deployment has been
supporting the associated costs
review of the force by Pakistan’s
her participation in Exercise Aman
without prejudicing the front
President Musharraf.
(which means peace in Urdu)
line – which is the only reason
Aman has not been the sole high-
– major war games organised by
we have bases in the fi rst place.
profile event involving Sutherland;
the Pakistanis.
the ship has also played host to
“I understand that these are Vessels thrown into the Aman
the Prince of Wales and Duchess
very challenging issues as they ‘pot’ came from France, Italy,
of Cornwall in Bahrain.
involve the numbers and type USA, China, Turkey, Bangladesh
The couple, accompanied by
of jobs that will be required in and Malaysia as well as from the
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al
the future. But we need to get host nation and from Blighty.
Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of
this right.” The exercise began in Karachi
Bahrain’s Defence Force, were
Cdre Lambert and his came alongside. The Brits promptly lost over
given a comprehensive tour of
team of 31 experienced An official reception the 2,600-yard course, while the
the Devonport-based warship,
personnel from the saw numerous victors were presented with a
specialist legal advice
while crew members outlined
Maritime Battle Staff dignitaries including sailor’s razor as a souvenir.
the frigate’s role in helping Iraq’s
in Portsmouth will Split’s mayor, the Three generations later and the
reconstruction.
be in charge in the British Ambassador result was the same (minus the
to forces personnel
“The timing of the royal visit
Gulf for fi ve months to Zagreb Sir John razor presentation).
was perfect – just 24 hours
having taken over Ramsden, and senior In fact, the Croatians triumphed
after a long and busy period of
from American Rear Croatian military at every sport they challenged the
operations,” said Sutherland’s CO
Suffered a Military Injury?
Admiral Garry Hall and figures entertained. Cornwall teams to, despite the
Cdr Paul Romney.
his staff. On a more personal best efforts of the British sailors.
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
“It had a very positive impact
Two of the key commands level, the frigate delivered vital Once through Suez, the frigate
the military. on morale.”
in the war on terror are now held fire-fighting aid to the islanders of briefly took part in Operation
We can assist you with your claim under the The royal visit concluded with
by Royal Navy personnel; sister Brac. Calash – the anti-terror mission off
new AFCS and advise you on whether to
a reception, attended by British
task force CTF 150 in the Indian Much of the fire brigade’s the Horn of Africa – in company
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our
Forces personnel based in Bahrain
Ocean is led by Cdre Bruce equipment was destroyed during with RFA Fort Austin (also home
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
and members of the ex-pat
Williams with Cornwall’s sister the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, presently to the Sea Kings of 857
community.
advice scheme.
ship HMS Campbeltown currently such that the Foreign Office, NAS on anti-terror duties).
Sutherland and Cornwall
attached to the group. London fire-fighters and the EU And it was off Africa that the
form the long British arm of a
“We are privileged to command raised £18,000 to buy new cutters, two ships came across Gipsy Moth
Police Interview/
force which can comprise up to this essential task force – and hoses and other equipment for the IV, the yacht of legendary round-
Courts Martial
a dozen warships and auxiliaries, proud to be part of the ongoing people of Brac, all of which was the-world yachtsman Sir Francis
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
charged with sweeping terrorists, challenge to restore peace and handed over by Cornwall’s CO Chichester.
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
smugglers, people traffickers stability in the southern region of Cdr Jeremy Woods. Four decades on from the
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm
and other rogues off Gulf waters Iraq,” said Cdre Lambert. Among the more interesting sailor’s exploits, his yacht has been
expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
– and safeguarding the Iraqi oil On her way east of Suez, sporting contests lined up for the restored and now takes young
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm
terminals at the foot of the Shatt- Cornwall made a small piece of Cornishmen (and women) was the people to sea.
al-Arab waterway. Senior Service history when she recreation of a 74-year-old race. Gipsy Moth was sailing with
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
We can also advise on:
At present, Britain, America, became the first British warship to Back in 1933 light cruiser HMS around 30 other vessels between
Australia and Iraq are committed visit a naval base in Croatia. Ceres anchored off the town Djibouti and El Gouna in Egypt.
Employment Issues
to the task group. The ‘ice cream frigate’ (pennant of Vela Luka on the island of After locating the vessel with
Family Problems
In the long term, the aim is to number F99) stopped in Split; Korcula. her Lynx helicopter, Cornwall
House Purchases allow the Iraqi Navy to take over although British warships have So impressed was the ship’s sent her sea boat across to the
Wills many of the patrol and protection visited Croatia before, they have captain by the friendliness of the yacht and brought some of Gipsy
duties and to that end a key part not berthed in the local bases. locals that he suggested a rowing Moth’s crew back to the warship
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW
of the RN’s work is to pass on So quite a fuss was made in regatta, a race between his sailors to enjoy a hearty RN meal and a
centuries of naval experience. Lora Naval Base when Cornwall and Vela Luka fishermen. steaming hot RN shower.
10_NN_Apr.indd 1 20/3/07 15:06:31 11_NN_Apr.indd 1 16/3/07 14:59:19
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