Navy News October 2008

NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008 23
and amphibious wand amphibious warfare traininare trainingg, though it is though it is “a close relative of the e of the bbobbed around on a 20,000-tonne
damage control and firefightingdamage control and firefighting, most dangerous spormost dangerous sport on Eartth – h – warship – you?’
and a vand a varietiety of tasks designed to y of tasks designed to mixed hockeed hockeyy,” said Lt Parry. “Most colleagues don’t bother
improimprove command and leadership ship And the reservists even found en found aasking anymore. I wonder why?”
skills. time for thatime for that all important naval al Cdr David Kay, Maritime
MemberMembers os of the RNR’f the RNR’ss Above tradition on Saturday evening – RReserves Staff Officer for the
Water Force Protection (Aorce Protection (AWFP)WFP) the SODS (Ship’s Operatic andtic and SSouth West, said: “This was a most
branch trained on board to furbranch trained on board to furtther her Dramatic Society) Opera – which tic Society) Opera – which ssuccessful training event for the
devdevelop their welop their weeapons and combaapons and combatt proproveed to be a huge success,d to be a huge success, despite despite SSouth West’s Maritime Reserves,
techniques,techniques, a allollowwing them to proing them to provide vide (or perhaps because of) the v(or perhaps because of) the variableiable aand hugely enjoyable.”
a detera deterrent force capable of guarding rent force capable of guarding quality of the parquality of the particiticipantspants. Cdre Miller added: “Nothing
ships anships anywhere in the wywhere in the world in times orld in times By SundaBy Sundayy lunch-time the whole lunch-time the whole bbeats training naval personnel
of heightened threaof heightened threat levels. thing was over. aafloat, no matter if they are regular
The RNR Air Branch took oveer r
“EEveveryone is shattered but t
oor reserve.
RFRFA FA Fort Austin’s flight deck for s flight deck for
itt’’s time to chaannge he hats and
“RFA Fort Austin, as the RFA
the wthe weekend,eekend, a and more than 20 nd more than 20
becbecomeome a civilia civiliann again,”
‘‘flagship’f training ship, was the
reservists expervists experienced the terriifying fying
saisaid Lt Pa Lt Parrrry.
idideal platform for my requirements
but exhilarating feeling of being ting feeling of being wwith the ship performing superbly.
suspended osuspended over the ocean on a light er the ocean on a light
“Soon I will be heading off back “Soon I will be heading off back
“The professional and
jackstay between Fort Austin and
home and then to the office for the
enthusiastic participation of her
HMS Cumberland as the two ships
normal Monday morning routine.
ship’s company in all the weekend’s
steamed along the Channel.
“Sometimes it’s just a bit surreal
activities has made this the success
Sport also had a place, including
– ‘good weekend – what did you
it has been.
a fiercely-contested deck hockey
get up to?’ most colleagues ask as
“And HMS Cumberland, despite
competition which ostensibly
part of the post weekend return to
the rigours of OST, provided a
aimed to develop teamwork.
work ritual.
fantastic range of services too.
The RN sport features a rope
“‘Flew in a helicopter, hung
“This has been the best regional
ring for a puck, making it closer to
out in the middle of the Channel
training exercise since the days of
ice hockey than the field version –
(literally), put out a few fires and
MCM 10 mustering off Gibraltar.”
0022-023_NN_oct.indd 222-023_NN_oct.indd 2 119/9/08 13:51:469/9/08 13:51:46
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