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NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2008 5
● Iron Duke’s 815 NAS Lynx hovers above the ‘go fast’ as the 72-hour drugs
busting operation reaches its climax Picture: LA(Phot) Jay Allen, FRPU East
IIron Duke’ron Duke’ss stormy seize stormy seize
THESE are the fi nal
speedboat – or ‘go fast’ – streaking can see above – were pretty aboard) being on the ship company who are “cock a hoop” impact on the fl ow of cocaine
moments of a ‘go fast’
across the open ocean, far from choppy and it took several at present. The second in at their success which, in total, into Europe just four days after
speedboat crammed with
typical waters for such vessels. hours to shift all the bales line to the throne is on took 72 hours. we arrived in theatre shows the
The Lynx immediately ordered of drugs to the warship. a two-month attachment “People will be interested in benefi t the Royal Navy can have in
cocaine before the waves the boat to stop, then hovered Once tallied by the to the RN and was in Prince William but there are counter-drug operations.
of the Caribbean closed
around it until Iron Duke could ship’s company, the the Lynx during the 189 other sailors who deserve “From the fi rst moment our
over it.
catch up and send her boarding cocaine was estimated operation. recognition for taking these drugs Lynx discovered the suspect
party of US Coast Guard across. to have a street value But while the media out of circulation, including guys vessel, my sailors, working hand
Shortly after frigate HMS
The American law enforcers of £40m. focus on the prince, of 19 or 20 driving the boats that in glove with our US Coast Guard
Iron Duke snared the traffickers
found five people aboard – and 45 Iron Duke’s seizure Iron Duke’s CO Cdr made the boarding possible,” he colleagues, turned this opportunity
– and £40m of their vile cargo
bales of cocaine weighing 900kg received international Mark Newland prefers added. into a certainty and ultimately a
– the boat sank several hundred
(just under 2,000lb). They also media coverage – when to praise all 180-plus “This is a fantastic start to our successful seizure. I am immensely
miles north-east of Barbados. found a vessel in such a poor state larger busts by the RN or members of his ship’s deployment. To have had a direct proud of all their efforts.”
Iron Duke was just four days that it was taking on water. RFA often go overlooked.
into the drug-busting phase of The drugs – and the speedboat’s That media coverage (some 400
her North Atlantic patrol and sent crew – were taken across to Iron stories worldwide in the 24 hours
her Lynx up to scour the sea for Duke to be detained before the after the bust) is largely down to
suspicious activity. craft sank. Although it’s the height the presence of Prince William (or
The helicopter found a 50ft of summer, the waters – as you S/Lt William Wales as he is known
Liverpool and Clyde
test cruise control
DESTROYER HMS Liverpool headed for the snow All the ship’s company managed to get ashore to
and ice as she delivered soldiers to South Georgia. see the sights of Grytviken: the post offi ce (to receive a
A detachment of the Roulement Infantry Company stamp in their passports), the old whaling station, the
and the Falkland Islands Defence Force squeezed island chapel for a church service, and a short service
aboard the venerable Type 42 for the trip south. of remembrance at the grave of Sub Ofi cial Primero
The RN and local troops regularly exercise in and Felix Artuso, the Argentine offi cer killed during the
around the remote islands both to practise island’s recapture.
their defence (South Georgia was briefl y Before heading to South Georgia, the
occupied in 1982 before the Argentinians destroyer arrived in the Falklands in time
were forced to surrender) and to test the for commemorations to mark the islands’
authorities’ response to an accident involving liberation in 1982.
a tourist ship. This year’s events were rather lower
Of course, to either fi ght in South key than the 2007 ceremonies which saw
Georgia or help stricken tourists, you major public displays in both the UK and
fi rst have to get to South Georgia, a South Atlantic remembering the 25th
‘mere’ 860 miles from the Falklands. anniversary of the confl ict.
And you can’t just hotfoot it there June 14 remains an emotional day
either. Although Type 42s can make in the islands and is marked by the
upwards of 30kts – and the Crazy Red liberation day parade, with Liverpool’s
Chicken (a nickname Liverpool takes from sailors joining personnel based at Mount
the colourful Liver bird on the ship’s badge) Pleasant in a march-past of the memorial in
did put on a burst of speed initially – once she Stanley.
came within 200 miles of South Georgia, it was time Liverpool wasn’t the only one of Her Majesty’s
to take the foot off the gas pedal as the fi rst icebergs Ships in South Georgia.
were sighted. The Falklands’ ever-present guardian, HMS Clyde,
From there on, the destroyer weaved in and out paid her second visit to the islands.
of icebergs, some large, some small, with the ship’s The last time the River-class patrol vessel made the
company closed up and with iceberg lookouts trip to the snow-capped wildlife paradise, the South
constantly on, er, lookout. Georgia Heritage Trust asked the sailors to adopt
Once within range of the islands, Liverpool’s them as one of their good causes... which Clyde
Lynx began offl oading the troops – a a duduly did.l
laborious exercise as the carrying capacity of of TThe trust looks after both South Georgia’s
the helicopter is rather limited. ricich wildlife and its enh vironment, plus the
With the soldiers safely ashore, the destrooyeyer r iisland’slan s whaling and exploratory heritage,
made her way down to Grytviken where she he inincluding the museum.
dropped anchor. “Many members of the Naval Service
Here a ‘table-top’ exercise was held have visited South Georgia over the last
aboard the destroyer to see how the small 26 years and will have been impressed by
British Antarctic Survey team – based at the stunning scenery and wildlife on this
King Edward Point – might cope with a isolated island,” said Lt Andy Scorer.
major incident before help could reach “We can report that if anything this
the island from afar. has improved rather than deteriorated
“With cruise ships visiting South with time.”
Georgia in their droves during the summer er The 39 Clyde sailors handed over a
and winter, there is always the possibility – cheque for £300 to the trust... then got straight
however small – of hundreds of people requiring back into fundraising once more courtesy of a
assistance in one of the most remote places in beard-growing contest and penguin racing.
the world,” said Cdr Craig Wood, Liverpool’s To provide a balance between the Southern and
Commanding Offi cer. Northern Hemispheres, the ship also raises money
Not all the time was spent on exercises. for a charity on the river which bears her name.
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