HMS IRON DUKE RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL ATLANTIC DEPLOYMENT

Royal Navy warship HMS Iron Duke returns to Portsmouth on Thursday (Dec 18) from operations in the Atlantic which included a £50m drug bust.

The Type 23 frigate began her seven-month deployment with counter drug operations in the Caribbean and in September headed for the cooler climes of the South Atlantic for patrols around the Falkland Islands.

With HRH Prince William on board as part of his tri-service military training, Iron Duke was in the thick of the action just four days after arriving in the Caribbean. The ship’s Lynx helicopter intercepted a speedboat laden with £50m of cocaine off the coast of Barbados. The 50ft boat was thought to be carrying the illicit cargo to be sold on the streets of Europe or West Africa. In a separate incident a vessel trying to smuggle fuel into Dominca was also apprehended.

In August Iron Duke was called on to support both the UK Overseas Territories of the Cayman Isles and Turks and Caicos Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. In Grand Turk more than 100 members of the ship’s company were sent ashore to restore essential services and provide shelter for the population of the devastated island.

Late September saw the ship head for the Falkland Islands where she spent five weeks on patrol, providing reassurance to the islanders and working alongside the Army and RAF.

Her Commanding Officer, Commander Mark Newland, said: “The last seven months have been among the most challenging and rewarding of my naval career. After the counter drug and hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean region, the change in tasking to the South Atlantic presented a subtly different challenge, one which Iron Duke rose to. I am immensely proud of my ship’s company for all they have achieved over this deployment and I delighted that we are now all back home in time for Christmas.”

• IRON DUKE has been nominated for a ‘Millie’ Award from the Sun Newspaper. The ship is nominated in the Best Unit category in recognition of the good work carried out during the diverse and rewarding deployment.

FROM CCF CADET TO COMMANDING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER - CAPTAIN JOHN CLINK, CAPTAIN OF HMS ARK ROYAL JOINS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT ST JOHN’S SCHOOL, LEATHERHEAD.

HMS Ark Royal’s Commanding Officer, Captain John Clink OBE Royal Navy, a former CCF cadet, was invited to take part in a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the Naval Section of St John’s School, Leatherhead, Combined Cadet Force (CCF). The CCF is one of HMS Ark Royal’s affiliated organizations.

Captain Clink was welcomed to St John’s School by Headmaster Nick Haddock MBE, CCF Contingent Commander Captain Nick Johnson-Jones and CCF Naval Section Leader Lieutenant Hugh Robertson. Captain Clink took the salute at the Parade from the ‘Coxswain Henry Message’- St John’s School’s equivalent of the formal colour ceremony – where a colour or regimental flag is carried along the massed ranks of the ship’s company. Naval Section cadets were inspected by the Senior Officer and then presented ten CCF Proficiency Awards. Several St John’s ‘Old Boys’ were also in attendance, including Mr Patrick Gardner, one of the school’s first ever cadets.

On completion of the parade, the CCF cadets demonstrated their presentation techniques and conducted practical exercises. The visit was completed with speeches from the Headmaster and Captain Clink before cutting the 50th anniversary cake. In his speech Captain Clink said:
“My own experience in the CCF was the springboard for my naval career and I attach great importance to progressing our affiliation, through not only by getting cadets on board HMS Ark Royal but by my team taking the time to visit the school.”

The ceremony further enhanced the bond between HMS Ark Royal and St John’s School and reaffirmed their already strong affiliation.

HMS Ark Royal has just returned from a lengthy period at sea having played a pivotal part in Exercise Joint Warrior, visiting Gibraltar on completion. In the New Year HMS Ark Royal will be visiting two of the UK’s major ports: Liverpool and Newcastle, before undertaking a Contract Support Period to enable her to inherit the Strike Carrier (Fixed wing embarked aircraft) role from HMS Illustrious.

ROYAL WELCOME FOR NAVY WARSHIP RETURNING FROM THE FAR EAST

Portsmouth warship HMS Kent will sail home to a royal reception when she returns from South Asia and the Far East on Monday (December 15).

HRH Prince Michael of Kent – brother of the ship’s sponsor Princess Alexandra and Honorary Rear Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve – will join the Type 23 frigate while at anchor in The Solent and meet some of her 174 crew. He will spend a couple of hours on board and disembark before HMS Kent begins her short journey into Portsmouth Naval Base.

The ship sailed from the UK on June 1 and has visited many countries including China, Japan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, demonstrating the UK’s ongoing commitment to the region. Kent conducted several high-level, multi-national exercises with navies from the United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.

A key role for the frigate has been maritime security, which encourages security and stability at sea by combating challenges such as drug-trafficking, terrorism and international crime.

HMS Kent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Hopper, said:
“I am extremely proud of the hard work my team have put in over the last seven months. They have done everything possible to ensure that HMS Kent has represented the UK and the Royal Navy with absolute professionalism half-way around the World.

“We have visited some fascinating countries during our deployment, but nothing beats the feeling of coming home to see families and friends waiting on the jetty and the chance to see Pompey playing live at Fratton Park again.”

For many of the crew, it was the first time they will have deployed to the Far East, for some it was their first deployment away from home. In between a busy schedule of operations, exercises and defence diplomacy visits, they took the opportunity to explore and experience the surrounding area and diverse cultures of each port. From scaling the heights of Mount Fuji to elephant rides in the Sri Lankan jungle, HMS Kent’s sailors have been kept busy both on operations and adventurous training and return to a well-earned period of leave.

HMS EDINBURGH SAILORS RAISE £10,000 FOR HELP FOR HEROES IN COAST TO COAST SPONSORED WALK

The population of Scotland gave generously when three members of Royal Navy destroyer HMS Edinburgh’s ship’s company undertook a charity walk from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The ship has recently conducted successful regional engagements in Scotland visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In between the two port visits, the three men, Lt Colin Marshall, PO Andy Gibbs and PO John Charlesworth trekked 60 miles across Scotland raising £10,000 from a generous public and local sponsors. Throughout the walk the three carried a stretcher to symbolise the wounded returning from action to help raise funds for Help for Heroes, the charity set up to provide better care for wounded servicemen and women returning from front line operations all over the world. The stretcher was emblazoned with the names of the local companies who sponsored them (Glasgow Argyle Street Premier Inn, Grange Hotel Coatbridge, Falkirk North Premier Inn, South Queensferry Premier Inn, Corstorphine Holiday Inn, NVT IT solutions, SOCOMEC and Hydrasun). Their route took the trio through Glasgow, Airdrie, Falkirk, South Queensferry, Corstorphine and Edinburgh where they collected money as they passed through.

One of the participants in the walk was local Glaswegian Lieutenant Colin Marshall, who recently returned from operations in Basra, Iraq. He said: “Men and women are putting their lives on the line on a daily basis. The charity Help for Heroes has been set up to ensure that if they get injured, they are provided with the best available care.”

The Commanding Officer of HMS Edinburgh, Commander Gavin Young said, “This is an incredible achievement and I would like to thank all those in Scotland who contributed towards the total. The money raised will be donated towards the care of our injured servicemen and women and will be very much appreciated.”

ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE TO VISIT SOUTHAMPTON

A Royal Navy submarine is making a five-day official visit to the city of Southampton, giving hundreds of sea cadets, scouts and other youngsters a rare opportunity to sample life on board.

HMS Trafalgar is due to arrive at Associated British Ports’ Port of Southampton at around 12 midday on Friday (December 5), berthing at Eastern Docks.

The nuclear-powered submarine is hosting 18 visits by cadet and scout units – plus college students on public service courses - from across the city and Hampshire. Civic dignitaries and senior city council officers will also visit the vessel and meet her crew.

The Royal Navy has been working closely with Southampton City Council in advance of Trafalgar’s visit. It is the first visit to Southampton by a nuclear-powered submarine since HMS Tireless arrived for a five-day stopover in July 2006.

Trafalgar’s Commanding Officer, Commander Charlie Shepherd, said today: “I am delighted to bring HMS Trafalgar into Southampton, particularly as it is over two years since the previous submarine visit. My ship’s company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and meeting with the people of Southampton.  And I am sure the sea cadets, scouts and college students will enjoy their tours of the vessel.”

HMS LEDBURY'S FINAL SPLASH BEFORE RETURNING HOME AFTER A VARIED AND DYNAMIC DEPLOYMENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

Last week, Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Ledbury concluded her deployment with a splash when the NATO group she was operating with were tasked to clear historic ordnance that still litters the seabed near the northern French port of Dieppe. Despite high winds and rough seas, Ledbury located numerous WW2 German mines and bombs, and was ordered to the blow up the two largest and most dangerous mines. The ship returns tomorrow on Wednesday 3 December following a four month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Force 1. Since leaving home at the end of July, the ship has travelled as far afield as Greece and southern Morocco. Ledbury has been part of an integrated Mine Countermeasures Force of other mine hunters from Germany, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, France, Italy, and Spain.

HMS Ledbury’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Chris Nelson RN, who joined the Ship at the beginning of her trip, said;
“Ledbury has had a cracking deployment to the Mediterranean. It has been fantastic to operate closely with our NATO allies and get to practise mine hunting – the Ship’s raison d’etre – in dynamic and intense environments that have really tested the Ship’s Company. Ledbury has achieved every task asked of her and it was brilliant to finish the deployment with a real ‘bang’ – when we destroyed two huge World War 2 mines off the French coast. Everyone is now looking forward to some well-earned time at home with our families and friends.”

Throughout her time away, HMS Ledbury exercised her capabilities as a mine hunter in conditions and environments that have challenged her team and their equipment. The ship has hunted exercise mines laid off the French, Italian and Greek coastlines using the remote controlled submersibles while her Mine Clearance Diving Team has been deployed and have found a variety of sea and air dropped mines. Ledbury even found the wreck of a WW2 German bomber aircraft off the Italian port of Taranto.

Ledbury has also been very busy with other exercises that have tested her ability to function as an all-round warship. Ledbury’s gunnery teams have continually proved themselves to be deadly accurate during many gunnery shoots. One highlight was when the Ship’s gunners sank all four targets laid for the whole group to shoot at. The Ship has carried out manoeuvres and replenishments with her counterpart units, transferred stores and personnel by helicopter winch. Numerous internal exercises have made sure that Ledbury’s ability to fight fires and repair damage remains top line.

Members of the Ship’s Company, many of whom have never been away from UK waters before, have savoured the opportunity to practise their professional skills and work with other navies. They have also enjoyed the numerous weekend visits the Ship has made around the Mediterranean – like sightseeing in Pisa, paint-balling in Cartagena, or scuba-diving near Toulon.
Other highlights have included leading the group through the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily at night, hands-to-bathe in the gin-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, and spotting hammer-head sharks in the Atlantic.

ROYAL NAVY ENGINEER TAKES COMMAND OF PORTSMOUTH NAVAL BASE

A senior Royal Navy engineer is to take command of Portsmouth Naval Base.

Commodore Rob Thompson, who was Chief Staff Officer (Surface Engineering) to the Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Fleet before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies this year, succeeds the current Naval Base Commander, Commodore David Steel on November 25.

Cdre Steel took command of the Naval Base in November 2005 and will now take up the post of Director Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances) at the Ministry of Defence in London.

Cdre Thompson, aged 50, joined the Royal Navy in 1979. After graduating from the Britannia Royal Naval College he served on board the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Norfolk.

He then read engineering at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon, in Plymouth, graduating in 1983.

After serving on board HMS Rothesay in the South Atlantic, he served for two years in Scotland as an Engineering Staff Officer at Rosyth Royal Naval Dockyard.

Sea appointments followed in HMS Intrepid and HMS Argonaut, before heading to Cambodia as a UN Naval Observer in charge of a five-nations, six-craft naval party on the River Mekong.

Returning to the UK, he gained an exchange appointment to Australia, joining the Royal Australian Navy’s Technical Training Centre as second-in-charge.

Further career highlights included drafting the Ministry of Defence’s immunisation policy against biological weapons while based in Whitehall and serving as Commander Engineering on aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during the Kosovo campaign.

In 2001 he returned to the Ministry of Defence in London and won a Minister of Defence Procurement excellence award for his leadership of a study on the future of the destroyer and frigate force.

And as Captain Nuclear Propulsion Research at the MOD, he co-authored a nuclear propulsion capability study. In January this year he joined the Royal College of Defence Studies and will take his final MA exams in International Studies after taking up his new post.

He said: “It is a great pleasure and personal privilege to be appointed as Naval Base Commander Portsmouth – the historical and ‘actual’ home of the Royal Navy. I hope I can repay that honour by helping to sustain and build on the heritage that we are all fortunate enough to be part of.”

Cdre Thompson enjoys most sports and has played rugby for both the RN and Combined Services representative sides. He took over as chairman of Navy Rugby in May. Married to Fiona, they are keen hill walkers and theatre-goers.

RN BIKERS RAISE A TON FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

Over the past 21 years the Royal Navy’s Motor Cycle Club has raised a staggering £231,100 for the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal by visiting military establishments the length and breadth of the UK.

This week a team of ten hardy motor bikers cruised into Portsmouth Naval Base boarding ships with collecting buckets and also seeking donations from office based stakeholders in “Team Portsmouth”, the consortium of industry and military organisations based within the Naval Base. Many individuals dug deep into their pockets to help raise money for this worthy cause.

Vice-Chairman of the RN Motorcycle Club is George Bunkin, who served in the Royal Navy for 27 years and now works as a civilian at HMS Sultan in Gosport. George said:

“We’ve already raised £8,000 so far in this year’s campaign. We’re visiting military establishments just across the South this year owing to the rise in fuel costs. The weather has been challenging driving up through the gales and torrential rain from the bases in the South West but now we’re off to London and Northwood for the final leg until Friday when we have an feature appearance on the BBC Children in Need TV show. I’d like to thank everyone for their excellent support especially Portsmouth Honda Centre based in Farlington who kindly loaned us eight motorbikes to support the ride this year.”
Accompanying the team was the mascot, Pudsy Bear Junior, complete with leathers and helmet created by George’s grandson Kyle in the early 80s. He is pictured being held by Able Seaman Steve York from HMS Hurworth who assisted with collecting for the Children in Need campaign.

Among the members of the RN MCC in Portsmouth was Paul Gordon (39) from the MOD Police and Guarding Agency based at Southwick’s Defence Police School. A member of the HMS Sultan based motor cycle club, he has been taking part in the marathon charity event for the last four years.

“We’ve braved weather of biblical proportions this year but we’re fine now that the sun is shining in Pompey, he said. “Our best year for fundraising was last year when we raised a record £16,900. All funds raised will benefit children in need in the South and South West so we really hope we will be able to match last year’s efforts despite the downturn in the economy. People have been very supportive so far.”

The RN Motorcycle Club is open to new members who fill the following criteria; they must be either service or ex-service personnel and their families or MOD or former MOD employees and their families. There are branches in Portsmouth at HMS Sultan, HMS Drake in Devonport Naval Base and RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The Portsmouth club meets at HMS Sultan clubhouse from 1700 on Wednesdays. Anyone interested in applying for membership should contact George Bunkin on 01329 288658.

Caption for photograph:
The Royal Naval Motor Cycle Club on the jetty beside HMS MERSEY in Portsmouth Naval Base prior to their collection around the base for Children In Need.

SAILORS SCALING THE HEIGHTS FOR CHILDREN-IN-NEED

Sailors based in Portsmouth will be scaling the heights of one of their accommodation blocks to abseil down the side of the building to raise funds for this Friday’s BBC charity marathon Children-in-Need. Sam Dawes, a 20 year old Logistics specialist from Birmingham who recently served with the Royal Marines at the RM Training Centre in Lympstone was inspired by their daring activities to arrange this challenge and was keen to provide an opportunity for regular sailors to take part in the sponsored abseiling activity.

“It’s an ideal time to overcome a fear of heights for a great cause!” Sam said.
“I saw the TV advertisements, sent off for a fundraising pack and then decided to arrange something suitably exciting to get involved with Children-in–Need, I’ve always wanted to do something for this particular charity and am really pleased that my mates are supporting the challenge.”

Royal Navy Stewards and an Army nurse currently serving in the Naval Base Medical Centre will be amongst those demonstrating their Commando-like qualities this Friday morning between 1000-1200. Individuals need to raise at least £25 minimum to take part in the abseil that will be fully supervised by mountain leaders qualified in Adventurous Training.

Earlier that morning The Royal Marines School of Music students will be marching and playing band music around the Nelson accommodation site and also collecting for the BBC Children-in Need Appeal.

HMS LIVERPOOL RETURNS TO UK AFTER SEVEN MONTH SOUTH ATLANTIC WINTER DEPLOYMENT

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Liverpool completes a successful seven month deployment this Friday after a long journey home to Portsmouth from the South Atlantic. Altogether she has spent over nine months away from her base port since setting sail for operational sea training earlier this year and the southern oceans on 2 April.

Returning to the first frosts of the UK winter, the ship’s company of HMS Liverpool have already endured force 11 storms in the austral winter of the South Atlantic, navigating safely through many fields of icebergs. It wasn’t all snow and ice because the ship also visited 11 countries en route, including Lisbon in Portugal, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, South Georgia, Montevideo in Uruguay and Santos in Brazil. Rarer port visits have included Cape Town in South Africa, Lobito in Angola, Sekondi in Ghana and Dakar in Senegal. The ship’s helicopter also made flying visits ashore to Tristan da Cunha and Sierra Leone. Her last port of call in Gibraltar earlier this week gave family members the exciting opportunity to sail back across the Bay of Biscay on the last leg home.

During the deployment, HMS Liverpool conducted routine maritime security as Falkland Islands Guard Ship, protecting, supporting and providing visible reassurance to the residents of the islands while underlining the UK’s ongoing commitment to the security in the region. HMS Liverpool also took part in the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, where she provided the platform for UK Trade and Industry to promote British products at the exhibition. The ship was berthed in the centre of the Victoria and Alfred Dock, Cape Town’s answer to Gunwharf Quays. The warship was also the centrepiece for the Defence Industry Day in Angola, where she was very warmly received and drew admiring glances from all who attended.

In all, the ship has travelled nearly 30,000 nautical miles since the beginning of April and her generators have created enough electricity to keep Southsea in lights for the entire time.

Commander Craig Wood, her Commanding Officer, said,

“HMS Liverpool and her Ship’s Company have been away from home for a great deal of time this year. Whilst we have grown together and faced challenges together, it’s wonderful to be back in Portsmouth. We have achieved a great deal in 2008, from an arduous training package back in January, to a demanding deployment to the South Atlantic, but we have come through as a team. I am immensely proud of my ship and her people, as I am certain that their families are too. People who join the Royal Navy do so for the promise of going to sea and experiencing a varied, unique career. In 2008 HMS Liverpool has certainly delivered on that promise and, while the last seven months have been extremely rewarding, often challenging and thoroughly enjoyable for everybody on board, there is no substitute for coming home.”

NAVAL BASE SIREN TEST

To avoid any undue alarm, we ask you to bring to the attention of listeners and readers in the Portsmouth and Gosport areas that the nuclear emergency siren in Portsmouth Naval Base will be sounded for a routine test at 9.30 am on Friday (October 31). The sound, a wavering tone, will last for one minute.

By agreement with the local authorities, the siren is tested three times a year – on the last working days in February, June and October – as part of the nuclear accident response plan for the Naval Base and in accordance with Portsmouth and Gosport councils’ nuclear safety plan.

AWARD FOR HISTORIC NAVAL BASE BUILDING

An historic building at Portsmouth Naval Base which has just undergone a £2.5m conservation programme has won a top architectural award.

The 19th century Grade 1 Listed Block Mills – a scheduled monument – won a top prize in the 2008 Georgian Group Architectural Awards sponsored by Savills.

The building – built in 1802 to manufacture wooden rigging blocks for the Royal Navy – triumphed in the Architectural Restoration of a Georgian Building in an Urban Setting category.

The awards recognise exemplary conservation and restoration projects in the UK and were presented by the Archbishop of York in London.

Judges praised the project, saying: “One positive feature is the lightness of touch. Much of the conservation work is visually unspectacular but is no less solid for that, and those undertaking it have done well to remember that Block Mills is a robust industrial building whose hard-edged roughness needs to be carefully and deliberately preserved.”

Defence Estates - working alongside English Heritage - recently completed remedial work on Block Mills and a conservation management plan has been drawn up to ensure its future care. The Naval Base is now exploring a suitable use for the building.

The project, which took 18 months to complete, included work on its North Range roof and remediation work to its Centre and Southern Range roofs.

A parapet destroyed during WWII has been reconstructed, brickwork has been re-pointed and remediation work to the timber structure – including all the windows – has been carried out.
Sue Batting, of the Naval Base Estates Team, said: “The Georgian Group said the field for this year’s awards was remarkably strong so to win a prize is testament to the work that has been carried out at Block Mills.”

Graeme Wildridge of Defence Estates, who managed the project, added: “Awards and commendations like this raise the profile for the work Ministry Of Defence has to do in conserving the nearly 800 listed buildings and more than 700 scheduled monuments that are situated on the defence estate."

HMS VICTORY HOSTS COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY FOR TRAFALGAR DAY

The Royal Navy’s most important anniversary will be marked for the 203rd year by a ceremony in HMS Victory on Tuesday 21 October 2008 at 8am. This also coincides with the 250th Anniversary of Lord Nelson’s Birthday, which the Royal Navy celebrated last month.

October 21 is the anniversary of the most decisive naval battle under sail in British history - Admiral Lord Nelson's triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The anniversary also marks the death of the Royal Navy's most revered leader when he was fatally wounded during the action which decisively defeated a Franco-Spanish Fleet.

The hoisting of the Colours (Union Jack and White Ensign) and Nelson's signal 'England Expects' will mark the start of the commemoration on HMS Victory on Tuesday. A team of ratings and staff from HMS Victory will hoist the 33 flags in sequence on Victory’s three masts.

The central act of the commemoration is the laying of a wreath on the spot where Nelson fell by Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Alan Massey. The wreath-laying will be accompanied by a service which will encompass readings and prayers. Further wreathes will be laid on the orlop deck, where Nelson died, by the Second Sea Lord, Commandant General Royal Marines and Victory's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Oscar Whild.