4 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2008
● The eyes have it... All smiles for one Royal Marine reunited with
his loved one at Exeter Airport Picture: LA(Phot) Steve Johncock
A IV for good
AS the RAF celebrated its 90th
birthday, the RN marked its own
milestone in air power: its latest
It’s goodnight
missile is ready for action – three
months earlier than anticipated.
Tomahawk IV (pictured above)
from them...
is the latest variant of the cruise
missile which can strike ground
targets hundreds of miles inland
ALMOST a decade of testing
with pinpoint accuracy.
the Navy’s newest helicopter has
Earlier versions of the missile
fi nally come to an end with the
have become a key weapon for
formal decommissioning of its
the Silent Service, which has
trials squadron.
fi red Tomahawks at targets in
Back in March 1998, the fi rst
Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo
personnel began to arrive at
over the past decade.
RNAS Culdrose to form 700M
The latest Tomahawk has a
NAS, the Merlin Operational
longer range than its predecessors
Evaluation Unit – ten years after
(in excess of 1,000 miles), can be
the helicopter itself fi rst fl ew.
directed to a fresh target in mid-
Since that date, the squadron
fl ight, and can also beam back
has operated around the world:
images of the battlefi eld to its torpedo and sonar trials and
mother submarine. It will be fi red noise ranging were conducted in
from Trafalgar and new Astute- Scotland, electronic warfare and
class submarines. sonar tests were conducted near
HMS Trenchant successfully Stavanger in Norway, and, for
fi red a Tomahawk IV at a test the ultimate in testing submarine
range in the USA last summer. hunting capability, the AUTEC
Following that test and other ranges in the Bahamas.
trials, weapons experts have Some 150 personnel from
declared the improved missile fi t 700M’s past and present gathered
for combat.
in the squadron’s hangar at
The RN ordered 64 of the
Culdrose, joined by Rear Admiral
enhanced missiles from the US
Simon Charlier, the Chief-of-Staff
Government four years ago for
‘Fighting men do not
Aviation.
£70m. The fi rst batch of new
For half a century, 700 in its
Tomahawks were delivered to the
various guises has been used to
Submarine Service last autumn
test and evaluate new aircraft
with the rest handed over by the
entering service with the Fleet
summer of 2009.
Air Arm – Wasps, Wessexes,
Among the Block IV-ready
Buccaneers, Phantoms, Sea
boats is HMS Torbay which has
Kings, Sea Harriers, Lynx and
finally completed her year-long
fi nally Merlin (hence the ‘M’
revamp (officially a Revalidation
get any better...’
tagged on to the end of the
Assisted Maintenance Period) in
Faslane and returned where she
squadron’s title).
belongs, Devonport.
The squadron now disappears
Engineers and shipwrights
from the Fleet Air Arm order
on the Clyde fitted new
of battle – but not for too long.
communications – the boat can
It will re-form when the next
receive email and even access the
chapter begins in the Merlin
internet whilst dived (albeit on
story, the arrival of the Mk 3.
Group added: “It was very full on at times. We
a limited basis) – and upgraded
AN embrace and a loving smile
kilometers of the centre of Sangin in any
made regular contact with the enemy and were
her sonar.
as the fi rst Royal Marines of 40
direction – and it is almost never attacked.”
fi red on regularly.
They also ensured the boat Commando return to the UK after
“Throughout the Marines of Bravo Company
have been magnifi cent. Fighting men, thinking “It was tough – as tough as I’d heard about,
kept her unique blue hue;
six months in Afghanistan. soldiers, do not get any better.” but Sangin is a much better place than when
Torbay was painted a different
The men of Bravo Company were among the Hand-in-hand with taking the fi ght to the we got there.”
shade from the rest of the Fleet
fi rst green berets home from Helmand, touching enemy came restoring everyday life in Sangin 3 Commando Brigade’s CO, Brigadier David
a couple of years ago – ‘Single
down at Exeter Airport to an unforgettable – its market, its school, its amenities. Capewell, who greeted the returning Royals on
Colour Better Than Black’
welcome from loved ones. “We worked very hard and did a very the Exeter tarmac, said 40 Cdo had “served
(Snappy title – Ed).
Bravo were deployed around the town worthwhile job,” said Mne Michael Harding of with distinction” in Helmand.
“It has been a long time
of Sangin, once a Taleban stronghold and his fi rst operational tour of duty. He continued: “They have had a superb
coming, but I think I speak
heartland of the insurgents’ drug trade. “We have made things better in Sangin tour which has made a signifi cant contribution
... and from
for all of the crew when I say
The result of their deployment? – we’ve provided security, people are coming to security and stability in Afghanistan and
how fantastic it is to be back in
“The Taleban have been pushed out of the back to live there, shops are opening, schools made a huge difference to the lives of the local
Devonport,” said CO Cdr Chris
area almost completely,” said Bravo’s Offi cer are opening and clinics are being set up – all people.
them too
Goodsell.
Commanding Maj Dan Cheesman proudly. with the Marines’ help.” “Ultimately, we will all be more secure as a
The Trafalgar-class boat is now
“There are now no safe havens within fi ve Mne Tom Elliott of Bravo’s Fire Support result of the diffi cult job they have done.”
AFTER 31½ years of providing
undergoing thorough training daily support for the ships and
ahead of a deployment later this
year, by which time, says Cdr
Goodsell, she will be “at the
forefront of global submarine
... but tears for two ‘central characters’
submarines of the Royal Navy, the
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
is no more.
The service’s anchor-defaced
capability”. Blue Ensign (pictured above) was
A ROADSIDE bomb claimed Dave because of his ability to
hauled down on the salvage vessel
Carriers
the lives of two exemplary Royal
lift his fellow green berets’ spirits
Moorhen as the strains of the
Marines as 40 Commando
– joined the Corps in September
Last Post from Royal Marines
2002.
buglers drifted across Portsmouth
get a lift
came to the end of their tour
He served with distinction
of duty in Helmand.
Naval Base.
in 45 Commando in Northern
Lt John Thornton and Mne
RMAS, which was formed
Ireland, then was attached to Fleet
David Marsh both died of their
in 1976 from various harbour
ANOTHER piece in the jigsaw
Protection Group RM in Faslane,
wounds despite frantic efforts by
and port organisations, ran a
that is the Navy’s future carriers
before specialising as a ‘tankie’ – a
medical teams both at the scene
large fleet of harbour vessels in
has slotted into place with the
heavy weapons anti-tank expert
and later at British headquarters
Portsmouth, Devonport and
ships’ lifts being ordered in a
– in 2006.
in Camp Bastion.
Faslane – tugs, lighters, barges
£13m deal.
“For David, the glass was always
and the like.
MacTaggart Scott of Loanhead
The two men were on patrol
half full – regardless of conditions
For the past dozen years
in Scotland will build four huge
with their comrades around
he remained positive. His smile
marine services have been
lifts – two each for HMS Queen
Kajaki when insurgents detonated
appeared to be ever-present,” said
overseen by Serco Denholm.
Elizabeth and Prince of Wales – to
an explosive device as the marines
Maj Manning.● Irrespessable men who
As of April 1, Serco took on
ferry men and machines from the
rolled past in their vehicles.
stood shoulder-to-shoulder... “If any member of his troop a 15-year contract to manage
hangar deck to the fl ight deck.
Lt Thornton, known by friends
(above) Mne Dave Marsh and were to find themselves in a all RN marine services, which
The lifts will be capable of
as JT, yearned to be Royal Marine
(right) Lt John Thornton difficult and dangerous situation, meant the end for the RMAS as a
raising and lowering loads up
from the age of 13. His wish came
it was Dave Marsh they wanted distinct branch of the service.
to 70 tonnes – that’s two Joint
true in 2005 when he earned the
to the men under his command,” Sergeant. by their side.” A message of gratitude from
Strike Fighters, or half the ship’s
coveted green beret.
said his CO Major Duncan Killed alongside him was 23- WO1 ‘Brum’ Warrington, 40 the Queen was read out to
company of 1,450 souls.
Since then the 22-year-old from
Manning, Officer Commanding year-old Mne David Marsh, Cdo’s assistant adjutant, added: some of RMAS’ 266 personnel
The lifts themselves weigh
Ferndown in Dorset has served
Charlie Company. originally from Sheffield, but more “‘Crazy Dave’ had a streak gathered for a disbanding
around 500 tonnes and their
on attachment to 1 Battalion The
Comrades said the young officer recently living in Taunton. of devilment in him that kept ceremony in Portsmouth.
platforms cover about 400 metres
Devonshire and Dorset Light was inspirational at all times, even “David went through life with everyone on their toes. He loved
“While this is a sad day as we
(almost the size of a tennis court).
Infantry in Iraq and, since last when the weather or the mood a smile on his face, which will to play pranks on anyone who let
say farewell to the RMAS, I know
They will be in place throughout
autumn, with 40 Commando in was grim. continue through our beautiful their guard down.
that the Royal Navy remains in
the ships’ 50-year careers. Afghanistan. “He was a true leader for his daughter Molly. The Royal “He was the character that every good hands because those who
In all, orders worth £160m “JT was a central character men – always ready to stand Marines were his passion and love. Royal Marine company needed today work with us will provide
have been placed for the two within the company – his good shoulder-to-shoulder. He will be He will always be our hero,” said and every sergeant major loved to the same excellent service in
vessels which will be based in humour and ability to laugh at sorely missed,” said Sgt Darren his widow Claire. have around. This man loved life a different guise,” Portsmouth
Portsmouth from the middle of himself was balanced by high ‘Daz’ Joyce, Charlie Company’s Mne Marsh – known and everyone who knew him will Naval Base Commander Cdre
next decade. professional skills and a devotion Fire Support Group Troop affectionately as Crazy or Comedy always smile at that thought.” David Steel said.
004_NN_May.indd 1 21/4/08 16:17:02
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