NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008 3
● Calm after the storm... HMS Iron Duke’s Lynx heads off on a recce of the
Turks and Caicos Islands in the wake of Hurricane Ike
pictur
es: la(phot) jay allen, frpu east
Riders on the storm
TWICE in a week was man
remaining 24 hours behind potent storm struck, considerable knew what to expect from the on Grand Turk had severe damage They handed out bottled water.
reminded of his impotence
the hurricane, waiting to offer assistance from the RN-RFA Navy... and the Navy knew what of some kind – either completely They restored power to Grand
in the the face of Mother
assistance to islands struck by the duo would be on hand almost to expect from locals should a destroyed or the roof had been Turk’s reverse osmosis plants,
storm. immediately. hurricane strike. removed,” said Iron Duke’s CO source of the island’s fresh water.
Nature’s merciless fury. Those included the Caymans Even as Gustav was still Which it did. Ike smashed into Cdr Mark Newland. They restored power to the health
And twice in the space of a week – mercifully not exposed to the barrelling northwards, a more the island chain with winds of up “The scene was complete clinic. And all the while the Lynx
did British sailors bring ing g fulffull force of Gustal v, but potent storm – Ike – was brewing. to 135mph ravaging buildings. devastation in our eyes – s s – bbuuzzed around,uzz ferrying
aid – and hope – to baatt-- wawaas still battered by winds Ike ‘enjoyed’, if that’s the word, As soon as the hurricane had and we’re not experts aatt fuel,fuee food and water to the
tered island communities iess whwhich topped 100mph.h considerably more media attention passed, an eight-man team was this.” outlying islandsoututl .
as first Hurricane Gustastasts v TThe frigate arrived than its predecessor. landed by Iron Duke initially Not experts perhaps,ps, “We made significant
then Ike tore throughh ooff the islands the It proved to to assess the but the RN and RFA are e e progprp ress,” said Cdr
the Caribbean before morning after the be considerably damage. masters of improvisation n Newland.N
venting their wrath on hurricane struck and more devastating “Ike hit Grand Turk very “Ike hit and ‘can do’. “Water, food and
mainland USA. immediately took the too, certainly for
hard.”
Grand Turk As proved by Grand shelter were all at a
The world’s media district commissioner the people of
– Lt Cdr Dean Bassett
very hard,” said Turk’s hospital. satisfactory – and
– and, to be fair, the up in the ship’s the Turks and Iron Duke’s Within three hours sustainable – level.
emergency services – Lynx to survey the Caicos Islands. Executive of the first sailors “The mood in our
were all geared up for damage. The ill-fated chain had already Officer, Lt Cdr Dean Bassett, one arriving, once ward group was buoyant.
Gustav bludgeoning That flight – and been lashed by Hurricane Hanna, of the first sailors ashore – barely was fit for use one more re I’m exceptionally proudI’m’mm
its way through Neww w tthe photographic data which did little damage, but did ten hours after the storm struck. and patients and staff wwereere ree of both ships’ooff bott companies.”
Orleans much as Katriina iit collected – allowed the flood some of the landscape. “All areas were without enjoying warm meal. Hurricanes passed, the two
did three years before with ship and the commissioner to Ike was less forgiving – but at electricity and most areas without Further afield, the 815 NAS ships resumed their counter-drugs
devastating consequences. assess what aid would be needed. least some good fortune was on running water or food.” Lynx was ferrying food and clean operations, and joined the Dutch
It did not. But Gustav was far It was followed by a similar recce the side of islanders. As in the Cayman Islands, the water to isolated communities, frigate HNLMS Van Speijk for
from a damp squib, as communities of Little Cayman and Cayman Just a fortnight before Ike ship sent her Lynx aloft to gather while a team from Iron Duke exercises.
across the Caribbean will testify. Brac with the islands’ governor, struck, Iron Duke had been in the information about the extent of cleared the runway at the island’s
Frigate HMS Iron Duke and Stuart Jack, aboard the Lynx. Turks and Caicos. The subject? the devastation. airport to allow aid flights to ● Cometh the wrath of God...
tanker RFA Wave Ruler – both He left assured that progress Disaster relief in the event of a The results of the recce flight arrive. (Below) sailors grapple with the
in the region on anti-drug patrols was being made in clearing up hurricane. were sobering in the extreme. For three days the sailors toiled. devastation caused by Ike in
– hung on to Gustav’s coat tails, – and assured that if a more So, broadly speaking, the island “About 85 per cent of all houses They put up temporary roofs. Grand Turk
0003_NN_Oct.indd 103_NN_Oct.indd 1 119/9/08 12:57:059/9/08 12:57:05
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48