NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008 7
(Storm) force for good
Royal killed by
‘friendly fi re’
A ROYAL Marine who died in an
assault on a Taleban stronghold
was probably killed by a comrade.
L/Cpl Mathew Ford was
fatally wounded as men of 45
Commando stormed Jugroom
Fort in Helmand in January last
year.
The attack provoked headlines
around the world as the
Beavers, fi sh
commando’s comrades clung to
the sides of Apache helicopters to
recover his body.
and hamsters
Twelve months on from the
Royal’s death, a Board of Inquiry
studied the attack on Jugroom.
WHILE much of the Fleet
The board considered
enjoyed summer leave, there
statements from 87 witnesses
was little break for the men and
and other documentary material
women of the Fishery Protection
before deciding that L/Cpl
Squadron, epitomised by HMS
Ford was most likely killed by a
Tyne.
burst of machine-gun fire from
Save for crew changes every
a gunner in a Viking armoured
fortnight or so, the River-class
vehicle, convinced he had seen
patrol ship has been at sea
the enemy shooting from where
constantly since June – and will
his comrade was located.
remain there until Christmas.
“There is no suggestion of
We could tell you that it’s
negligence on the part of the
been business as usual for the
gunner,” the board reported,
Portsmouth-based warship.
saying the commando’s briefing
But we’d be lying – new marine
had been “hurried” and that he
conservation regulations mean
had become “disorientated” in
there’s an additional burden
the heat of battle.
to bear for the entire fi shery
The board also found that
squadron.
although 3 Commando Brigade
“As well as following our
had received comprehensive
normal boarding procedure,
NOT a January storm lashing The destroyer sailed as an segment of her deployment, Indian Ocean – one of several training before heading to
we’ll now be watching out for
the shores of Old Portsmouth, escort for HMS Illustrious in the which saw her take part in major successful busts by RN vessels Helmand, that training was based
protected species such as black
but a rather fearsome fi rst day Orion 08 task force initially, but exercises in the South China Sea along the ‘Hashish Highway’ on Iraq and Northern Ireland –
bellied hamsters or Eurasian
of August 2008. broke away from the carrier in with Commonwealth navies. this year. entirely different theatres.
beavers, although more likely to
Actually it did brighten up later the Indian Ocean and continued The Type 42 also spent “My ship’s company should The result, said the board, was
be protecting seals, sturgeons and
on, thanks no doubt in part to eastwards. some time off Burma with be justifiably proud of all that that “lessons were learned the
a little-known fi sh called a twaite
the warm welcome for the men She visited Sri Lanka, an international task group they have achieved,” said hard way” – lessons which have
shad which has a pleasant smell
and women of HMS Edinburgh, Malaysia, Singapore and prepared to offer aid to the Edinburgh’s Commanding now been incorporated in training
of cucumber,” explained Tyne’s
home after six months away. Pakistan on the Far Eastern Burmese in the wake of Cyclone Officer Cdr Gavin Young. and operational procedures.
XO Lt Joanna Black.
Nargis; the call for help never “We’ve taken part in a number The inquiry also found that
In another change to traditional
came, however. of operations and exercises – Zulu Company, who led the
fi shery protection work, Tyne has
Just for good measure all very successfully – and this attack, had not worked with
taken part in two operations with
Edinburgh popped into the Gulf has further reinforced the Royal Vikings before which caused
European patrol vessels.
on the way home to conduct Navy’s excellent reputation “friction”
Sailing with French and Dutch
security patrols and found three around the world.” An edited version of the Board
fi sheries inspectors embarked,
and a half tonnes of drugs
Picture: LA(Phot) ‘Simmo’ Simpson,
of Inquiry report can be found at
Tyne operated in the southern
stashed aboard a dhow in the FRPU East
news.mod.uk
North Sea checking that special
cod recovery measures were being
adhered to.
All of this is demanding
enough, but Tyne has also had
Basic Operational Sea Training
to contend with. The ship was
the fi rst River class to undergo
the new lengthened training
package in which every watch
combination is fully tested in a
full range of possible tasks.
And after being put under
pressure, it was time to apply ● Many nappy returns... Four new additions to the Somerset family
it, chasing down potential with their dads (l-r) CPO Fraser Thompson, Lt Cdr Steve Quantrill,Lt
submarine commanders John Conlin and PO McCafferty Picture: LA(Phot) Sean Barlow, FRPU West
undergoing the Perisher course.
Despite such a hectic
programme, it hasn’t been all
work. Tyne made the most of an Going ga-ga in Guz
opportunity to visit London to
strengthen links with her affi liated AS THE lines were cast and the a NATO task force prowling the
Livery Company, the Worshipful gangway lowered into place on Mediterranean for ne’erdowells,
Company of Butchers. HMS Edinburgh in Portsmouth monitoring maritime trade
The entire ship’s company Naval Base, 180 miles to the west and promoting international
were treated to a fi ne luncheon – and under slightly-less leaden co-operation on the high seas.
at the Butcher’s Hall and skies – the welcome was no less A chunk of her time was
enjoyed behind the scenes tours warm for HMS Somerset. devoured keeping tabs on shipping
of Smithfi eld Market, working Around 500 friends and family off the shores of North Africa,
alongside the butchers long before were waiting for the frigate on the compiling a comprehensive picture
most Londoners were awake. jetty in Devonport, at least half a of movements to ensure that no
A thoroughly successful dozen more than had waved her vessel carried an illegal cargo.
period of patrols was capped off on a bleak mid-January day, The NATO deployment is
by the award of the Jersey Cup, The warship has welcomed six among the most varied in the
presented annually for the ship new additions to the extended naval calendar: 28 port visits
which has made the outstanding Somerset family, born just before in nine nations (including rarer
contribution to fi shery protection. or during her seven-month NATO places such as Koper in Slovenia
As the award was announced, tour of duty in the Mediterranean. and Albania, alongside the more
Tyne was in action mediating The ‘little uns’ were waiting for usual stop-offs in France and
between quarrelling French and dads and aunts as the frigate Italy), plus major international
British fi shing vessels following returned. exercises where Somerset used her
a dispute over the destruction AB Lisa Campbell, one of state-of-the-art sonar to hunt (and
of gear off the South-west Coast Somerset’s supply team, was fi nd) ‘enemy’ submarines.
and, in separate incidents, handed two-month-old niece There were no new additions
her fi rst aid team of PO Ollie Rhiannon as she stepped off the to CO Rob Wilson’s family while
Donovan and Logs Rachael Hine ship. away, but there was an extra
provided medical assistance to “She’s gorgeous – exactly Wilson on board. The captain’s
two injured fi shermen in the what was expected,” said the 12-year-old daughter Tabitha
infamous ‘trouser leg’ – the 21-year-old, enjoying her first sailed into Devonport with her
narrow stretch of the British deployment. dad’s ship.
Economic Exclusion Zone which “It was wonderful – I really “She had a wonderful time
extends 200 miles off Land’s End. enjoyed meeting the Italians, playing on all the equipment and
The ship also co-ordinated a Greeks and visiting Malta.” having a go at operating all sorts,”
Search and Rescue operation to Logistics Officer Lt Cdr Steve Cdr Wilson said. “I’d say she
fi nd a missing fi sherman from Quantrill was able to fly home for would be an asset to the Navy.”
the FV Tourmalet; it was called- the birth of his son Ruari. Five As are the rest of his ship’s
off after 24 hours in which the months later dad, mum and son company already, of course.
lifebuoy was found but not the were reunited. “This deployment has been
missing crewman. “It might be mixed feelings for challenging, fun and rewarding
There was a another brief him though,” said his wife Natalie. and it’s demanded much of my
break from ‘doing fish’ when the “Now he has to get used to all sailors – and they have delivered in
ship sailed up her namesake river those nappies, just as I have.” every regard,” Cdr Wilson added.
into the heart of Newcastle. One And on that point, let’s leave “They have proven themselves
of the highlights was a visit by babies behind and return to more to be excellent ambassadors for
children with special needs from steely, nautical matters. Somerset the Royal Navy and the nation.
Hadrian’s School, Tyne’s affi liated slipped away from the West I’m fi ercely proud of each and
school. Country in mid-January to join every one of them.”
0007_NN_Sept.indd 107_NN_Sept.indd 1 119/8/08 15:36:159/8/08 15:36:15
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