10 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008
● Run, that big red thing’s back... Gentoo penguins waddle on the ice as
HMS Endurances breaks her way through the Erebus and Terror Gulf
Ice to see you again
PENGUINS. Ice. Yep,
basics, even if it seems a survey work, provide boats and conducted various
HMS Endurance is back
little odd in an ice survey accurate forecasts, and sonar scans of Yankee Harbour
where she belongs.
ship rather than a Type train the most junior of and McFarlane Strait (between
42 or 23. survey ABs in the use of Greenwich and Livingston islands,
The Navy’s Antarctic survey has
And so the FOST the ship’s hi-tech kit. if you were wondering).
begun her second stint amid the
team provided the And if all this wasn’t There was more survey work
bergs and ice fl oes after a summer
usual mix of fire and quite enough to occupy in Bransfield Strait (between
in the warmer climes of Africa.
flood. Normally it’s Endurance, there was the Shetlands and the Antarctic
The Red Plum is two-thirds
air attack which the small matter of peninsula) and Antarctic Sound
of her way through an 18-month
sparks the chaos. a crash on deck by (at the tip of the peninsula),
deployment which has striven to
Down here, it’s the one of the ship’s before punching her way through
give her more time doing what
environment which Lynx – which proved the ice in the Erebus and Terror
she does best – surveying – and
is Endurance’s gravest to be a challenge for Gulf on the south side of Antarctic
less time sailing the 10,000 or so
foe. the relatively new flight Sound.
miles from Pompey to the frozen
As firefighters dealt with deck team. The icebergs and snow are now
continent.
a (fake) blaze in the engine Meanwhile on the bridge, as regular sights for the ship’s
Before Endurance could return
room and the medical team treated the officers of the watch, navigator company as a team of fi lmmakers.
to the ice, however, she had a visit
six burns casualties, c-r-u-n-c-h: Lt Shani Dyer and seamen Endurance will be the star
from the mobile FOST team (they
the survey ship ran slap bang into specialists were kept busy with (alongside the odd penguin...) of a
do get around, don’t they? – Ed).
an (imaginary) iceberg. man overboard exercises, fl ying six-part documentary programme
It’s been more than 12 months
More fires. And three floods. serials, machinery and steering on Channel 5, following up the
since Endurance received the full More casualties too. gear breakdowns, while Lt Dyer success of Wa r s h i p earlier this
FOST experience and given crew So quite a bit of pressure on safely guided Endurance through year.
changes (not least a new CO in deputy logistics officer Lt Craig the Hecate Passage for the fi rst Ice Patrol is due to run for
the form of Capt Gavin Pritchard, Hastings, also the Red Plum’s time – at night. upwards of six hours and the series,
who’s just taken over from Bob damage control officer. Normally And with that the FOSTies produced by a new documentary
Tarrant), plus that summer in it’s his boss who performs the were done and Endurance could team, Spiderlight, will aim the
Africa, a bit of FOSTing was function, but due to the rotational return to the ice... spotlight at the work of the Red
ideally timed. manning system on Endurance, ...which she’s now done. Plum and her sailors, plus the
“Having spent the Southern there are times when the boss is Work period number six around British Antarctic Survey.
winter months away from on leave... and his number two the ice began in the South Shetland “The crew of the Endurance are
Antarctica, it was important must step up to the mark. Islands, the remote chain just off a unique bunch by any standards
for us to take some time to To attain full ‘damage control the Antarctic peninsula. and Ice Patrol gives us a chance
prepare ourselves and our ship officer’ status, the junior officer Despite their isolation, the to really get to know them as
for the rigours ahead,” said Capt had to cope with the engine fire Shetlands are heavily populated they experience one of the last
Pritchard. and iceberg-sparked flood at the with scientists – 16 nations have great adventures on earth,” said
Endurance’s FOST package same time. Sounds like fun... research bases scattered around Spiderlight’s Martin Kemp (not
is unlike any other in the RN And while all this was going the archipelago (none of them UK, the one from Spandau Ballet but
(probably because Endurance on, the ship’s hydrographical and oddly, given that the Shetlands a documentary maker with two
herself is unlike any other ship meteorological department – are part of Britain’s Antarctic decades’ experience).
● Surprisingly sleek from this angle... HMS Endurance ploughs
through the brash ice of the Erebus and Terror Gulf
in the RN) – ice penetration is Endurance’s raison d’être – were territories).
Pictures: LA(Phot) Kaz Williams, HMS Endurance
among the manoeuvres on the also under the FOST microscope; Some of the research stations
agenda. the assessors were keen to judge received a visit from the sailors,
Block party
But you still have to master the the section’s ability to conduct while the ship launched her survey
specialist legal advice
Last salute for Exeter
for Pompey
ONE of the most historic
to forces personnel
buildings in Portsmouth Naval
Base picked up an architectural
award following a £2.5m revamp.
Suffered a Military Injury?
FOR the fi nal time, the sailors of HMS Exeter enjoyed musicians, plus Sea Cadets who also took part in the The Block Mills, built in 1802
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
their day in the sun as the destroyer celebrated the parade, to join him for an offi cial reception inside. for the manufacture of wooden
the military.
freedom of Devon’s capital. He was also presented with the famous wooden rigging blocks for the RN of
The Falklands veteran is on the verge of of name board which Exnam eter has carried for the the day, were deemed to be the
We can assist you with your claim under the
entering extended readiness in Portsmouth uth past three decadespas . finest example of the restoration
new AFCS and advise you on whether to
Naval Base ahead of formally decommissioning ng Satiated by the food at the reception, of a Georgian building in an
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our
in the spring. the ship’the s company moved on to the city’s urban environment, according
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal So before her ship’s company scattered to to cathedral for a Trafalgar Day service. to judges of the Georgian Group
advice scheme.
the four corners of the RN, they headed Even then the day was not over, for Architectural Awards.
west to Exeter for a day celebrating an the sailors were the guests of the White They were particularly
Police Interview/
association going back three decades. Ensign Club where they shared dits of impressed that the sensitive
Courts Martial
It’s been two years since the sailors naval escapades with veterans before the restoration celebrated the mills
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact last marched through the city’s streets. club members celebrated ‘up spirits’ in industrial heritage, rather than
They formed up outside the civic centre, traditional attire. trying to hide it.
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR where Lord Mayor Cllr Paul Smith, the The evening closed with the Defence Estates spent 18
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm Lord Lieutenant of Devon Eric Dancer, presentation of fi ve framed pictures of months restoring the building –
expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact and Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral the previous Ext eter, loaned to the club, which is currently awaiting new
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm Sir Mark Stanhope inspected Exeter’s Guard rd and a photogand raph album dating back to occupants. The roof, a parapet,
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
of Honour. the 1930s which was handed to a relative of its brickwork and every window has
We can also advise on: Suitably impressed, the mayor then permitted the original owner. been refurbished as part of the
Employment Issues
sailors to march off, celebrating their freedom in “It’s always a great honour for a ship’s company to delicate overhaul.
Family Problems
time-honoured fashion. be granted the right to march through their affi liated “The Georgian Group said
The Band of HM Royal Marines Lympstone town or city,” said Exeter’s Commanding Offi cer Lt the field for this year’s awards
House Purchases
provided the musical accompaniment, while the good Cdr Mick Broadhurst. was remarkably strong, so to win
Wills
folk of Devon provided the applause, lining the route “In Exeter’s case, the affi liation with the city from is testament to the work that
of the march. which she took her name has been a particularly close has been carried out,” said Sue
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW
The lord mayor was on hand again to take the bond enjoyed by many over the course of the last 30 Batting from the Naval Base
salute outside the Guildhall, before inviting the sailors, years.” Estates Team.
010_NN_Dec.indd 1 20/11/08 08:54:03
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