NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2008 9
picture: la(phot) des wade, naval strike wing
Lusty hosts Air Force 1
RACING low over the Irish Sea, two
Exercise Taurus 09 – so it was vital her flight comprehensive report next month) fresh from to none – they assess ships to the highest
Harriers of RAF 1 Squadron head into
deck team worked up with an air group (Sea King several weeks of Operational Sea Training under standards,” he added.
the sunset – before returning to HMS
airborne surveillance and control helicopters from the team at FOST – her second major examination “To leave with a ‘sound satisfactory’ assessment
857 NAS were also aboard). by the Devonport organisation in 2008. is a real achievement and demonstrates the
Illustrious. “The skills and type of training required for our Her first (rather fraught) test at the beginning professionalism of the crew and their ability to
The jets of Joint Force Harrier, based at RAF operational role in Afghanistan are different from of the year was captured on camera by the work as a team.”
Cottesmore, joined the aircraft carrier for a mix the skills and training required for our maritime documentary team producing Warship. Her There’s little break for the Portsmouth carrier
of at-sea training and the latest Joint Warrior strike role,” explained Cdr Adrian Orchard, Deputy second wasn’t recorded or quite so fraught, but it post-Joint Warrior. The ship will be in London,
exercise (formerly Neptune Warrior and before Force Commander of Joint Force Harrier. was a relief to come through. her affiliated city, between November 4 and 12,
that Joint Maritime Course). “During the last five years, we’ve been rightly “OST was challenging – and difficult at times,” mooring in the Thames at Greenwich for the
With the Naval Strike Wing committed to focused on operations in Afghanistan, but by said PO(MEA) Tom Burnham. “It’s a relief to duration of her stay.
supporting Allied forces in Afghanistan, it’s down taking part in Joint Warrior we can fully integrate finish.” Although the ship won’t be open to visitors,
to the Air Force to deliver the punch from Britain’s our pilots and develop their skills – and the ship’s CO Capt Steve Chick said his 600-plus men and sailors will be participating in the Lord Mayor’s
strike carrier. – to conduct maritime strike operations.” women richly deserved their endorsement from Show on Saturday November 8 and 50 of the ship’s
Illustrious will lead a major amphibious task Lusty arrived in Scottish waters for the the FOSTies. company will attend the Remembrance Sunday
group to the Mediterranean in the new year – international war games (we’ll have a more “The training provided by FOST is second service at St Paul’s Cathedral the following day.
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