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8 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007
Divers’ cold play
A TEAM of specialist RN divers joined international counterparts
to lurk in some of the coldest waters on the planet.
Around 120 frogmen, including a 14-strong team from Fleet
Diving Unit 3 (FDU3), the RN’s Deep Water Warfare divers
from Horsea Island, converged on fjords near Tromsø for cold-
weather training.
And what cold weather. Temperatures during the divers’ time
in Norway never rose above -12˚C, ignoring the wind chill factor.
Nevertheless, the FDU3 team gradually acclimatised to the
extreme environment and built up the team’s ability to operate in
such low temperatures.
Their training included Arctic driving skills, cold survival
instruction, ice diving and an opportunity to test all the team’s
diving and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment in such a
harsh environment.
The preliminaries over, the divers (pictured below in the icy
waters with a CB90 for support boat) knuckled down to a major
ordnance disposal exercise with their international colleagues.
“The exercise certainly reminded us that a cold weather
environment is a serious proposition and should not be taken
lightly,” said Lt Cdr Simon Pressdee, Offi cer in Charge FDU3.
“This training, together with other exercises in hotter climates
later in the year, aims to ensure our worldwide credentials and
our ability to work in and overcome any environment to achieve
A
SEAL lolls on a
iceberg drifting i
the Weddell Se
as Antarctic surve
our aim.”
ship HMS Enduranc
In the past two years FDU3 divers have visited more than a
carries out her fourth an
dozen countries on exercises and operations from the Arctic to
fi nal spell on the edge o
Antarctic and from the South China Seas to the Atlantic Ocean. the frozen continent thi
season.
The mammal is not the on
thing basking in front of th
camera’s lens, for the Re
Plum herself has been featurin
● Edinburgh sends her sea boat to greet Sir Robin-Knox Johnston on some rather southerly liv
and his yacht Saga Insurance off the Falklands broadcasts from the ice.
Endurance hosted a team
from BBC South Today – th
regional news magazin
Opportunity Knox for
show which covers th
survey vessel’s home town o
Eddie and Exeter
HMS Edinburgh provided
about ten miles from Sea Lion ship’s companies part way through commemorations of the war for
a welcome lift to one
Island, off the south-eastern tip a deployment to keep the vessels the islands (Exeter is one of a
of the world’s most
of the Falklands, in fi ne austral on patrol longer, cutting down on handful of vessels from the war
summer weather. the amount of time eaten up by still in service).
renowned yachtsmen as
Eddie’s Commanding Offi cer getting to and from theatre. There is a smattering of
he ploughed the Southern Cdr Scott Verney offered to send
And so while Edinburgh’s Falklands veterans on the ship:
Ocean.
a bottle of whisky across to the crew missed out on a traditional Lt Cdr Pete Broadbent, WO2
The destroyer sent up her
yachtsman – but race rules forbid homecoming (they held a ball in Pat White, CPO Reid and PO
Lynx helicopter and sent out her
external help for the soloists. Portsmouth instead), Exeter’s Aniston.
sea boat to chaperone veteran
“It would have been good for sailors began their deployment in Twenty-five years ago, weapon
round-the-world sailor Sir Robin
my morale,” said Sir Robin, “but the unaccustomed surrounds of engineer officer Lt Cdr Broadbent
Knox-Johnston in his yacht Saga
I had to decline. Cdr Verney says RAF Brize Norton. served in destroyer HMS Bristol.
Registered Charity No. 1075015 Insurance off the Falklands.
he’ll keep it in his cabin until we The swap-over was completed Back then, he says, “the only
PATRON: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
The 67-year-old sailor was
meet again. Now there is an offi cer in mid-February, with Cdr Verney contact with the Army was when
somewhat exhausted after sailing
and a gentleman.” handing over the ‘keys’ to his they came on to Bristol to get a
The RN & RM Childrens is a National Charity
through the Beagle Channel
Cdr Verney said he and his team Exeter counterpart Cdr Paul hot meal and a shower. Things are
following a brief pit-stop in
were more than happy to provide a Brown. now reversed – today it’s the ship’s
based in Portsmouth. We care for children Argentina – so the sight of
morale lift to someone involved in Despite being sister ships, Eddie company who use Mount Pleasant
of men and women who have served or are
Edinburgh was a boost to his
the longest race on earth (30,000 and Exeter are not identical; the for rest and recuperation.”
morale.
miles in all). former is ‘stretched’ – 50ft longer, Beyond performing her patrol
serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
“I have always thought Batch
“It’s always a pleasure to meet so the Exeter sailors got used to duties in the South Atlantic, it
3 Type 42 destroyers were good
up with a fellow mariner and the facilities they don’t have aboard will be Exeter’s task to compile a
Originally set up as an orphanage, Monique Bateman looking and Edinburgh looked
timing of Sir Robin’s arrival off their more stubby vessel, notably detailed report on the Sea Swap
magnifi cent,” he enthused. “I the Falklands coincided with the the gym and the ‘Geek suite’ trial.
we now assist children with a wide or Laurene Smith
had my own ‘Navy Day’ – and it end of a joint exercise for us,” Cdr (internet cafe). The ship is back home in
range of needs and at times of
RN & RM Children’s Fund
certainly brightened my day.” Verney added. As the Exeter lads and lasses Portsmouth in the summer,
Sir Robin, a former RNVR The chance meeting between were getting used to their new when her crew will trade places
family crisis.
311 Twyford Avenue
volunteer who served in Britain’s yacht and warship was among surroundings, those nice chaps once more, including the very
Portsmouth
last battleship HMS Vanguard, is the last acts by Edinburgh’s crew from Flag Officer Sea Training last member of HMS Edinburgh’s
Applications can be made at any
PO2 8RN one of fi ve sailors competing in before they returned home to jumped aboard to whip the sailors ship’s company: Navy Moo, an
time. Those seeking assistance
Telephone: 023 9263 9534
the Velux 5 Oceans race (two of Blighty while HMS Exeter’s sailors into shape with a series of tests unofficial bovine mascot (not
the original seven starters have headed in the opposite direction and checks. a real cow, but a large orange,
can contact the office direct for an Fax: 023 9267 7574
dropped out). to relieve their comrades under Eddie/Exeter will remain purple and black model) which
application form:- Email: rnchildren@btconnect.com
The destroyer and yacht met the Fleet’s Sea Swap trial. around the Falklands until after the Exeter team will continue to
The aim is to switch over entire this summer’s 25th anniversary take on the town.
● Magnifi cent desolation... An aerial view of Edinburgh alongside at
West Jetty, Mare Harbour in the Falklands
08_NN_Apr.indd 1 20/3/07 10:40:48 09_NN_Apr.indd 1 15/3/07 09:27:55
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