40
NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 1983
One, two,, -three
THREE more pictures illustrate vividly the various forms of Royal Navy firepower during Exercise Springtraln. HMS Battleaxe launched the Exocet (left) at the old RMAS
all systems go
tug Faithful and the Seawoif submarine missile. As well as three Ikara and The Battleaxe has been pre(centre) at a Rushton target many Seacat firings, the Ajax and both found their mark. has had a busy year of exerparing for her future proThe picture on the right shows 'gramme, expected to include cises and was looking forward HMS Ajax firing her main service with ships on South to her summer leave in armament, the ikara antiAtlantic duty. Devonport. Battleaxe pictures: AB(M) Steve Johns. picture: Ueut.-Cdr. A. S. Peacock.
Ajax
ICE SHIP From front page.
Diving skills lift Scillies helicopter
"In addition, her ship's company has helped to relieve the loneliness of isolated communities by providing sport and entertainment. "In 1981-2 the Endurance completed a full and successful Antarctic season, making a significant contribution to the scientific work of the British Antarctic survey and the Scott Polar Research Institute. In the process, she often found herself operating in extreme weather conditions in largely uncharted waters," the citation adds. FIRST REFIT Meanwhile, the Endurance's first refit in Portsmouth for many years is on schedule and progressing well. Her longserving engines are being completely reconditioned, and a 2ft. gash sustained 5ft. below the water line from an iceberg in the Antarctic last March is being repaired. The ice patrol ship is due to leave dry dock early in September to begin a programme of trials and work-up, culminating in a visit to the north-east and rededication at Portsmouth on October 14. Later she is expected to leave for more South Atlantic service. " Wilkinsons are replacing the sword which was awarded to the Royal Marines detachment in the Falklands several years ago, a presentation being arranged for late July. The original sword was among property and possessions which disappeared during the Argentine invasion.
ROYAL NAVY divers and helicopters from RN air station Culdrose played a prominent role in operations which followed the crash of a British Airways Sikorsky helicopter off the Scilly Isles in July with the loss of 20 lives. A Wessex 5 of 771 Squadron and Sea King of 706 Squadron searched in poor visibility. LACMN Stephen Wright (who was Mentioned in Despatches for service in the Falklands war) made a circling dive to the sea bed after the
ORIENT EXPRESS, the Royal Navy's major deployment out of the NATO area starting this autumn, will take RN ships to the Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand, and the Far East.
HMS
Led by the carrier Invincible, the group next April. deployment before returning to the Vessels involved will be HMS Andromeda and RFA HM ships Aurora, Rothesay Grey Rover. In November HM and Achilles, supported by ships Glamorgan and Brazen, RFAs Olmeda, Regent and supported by RFA Blue Rover, will sail to join the group, and Appleleaf. The ships will sail will relieve the Andromeda, from the UK on September Achilles and Grey Rover. 1. The Flag Officer First Flotilla Once in the Indian Ocean, (Rear-Admiral Jeremy Black) the group will be joined by will fly his flag in the Invincible.
I......
UK
will
spend seven months
on
Detailed planning of the deployment is still in progress, but it has already been agreed that the Invincible and her escorts will carry out a series of goodwill visits to Australia and New Zealand.
Exercises
These will take place between November and the beginning of January, and it is planned to conduct a series of maritime exercises with the Australian and New Zealand armed forces. Intention to resume sending naval task groups on long detachments for visits and exercises in the South Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean of further East was announced in 1981. But the deployment planned for 1982 had to be cancelled because of the South Atlantic operations.
1.
had sunk on new passenger in Despite about 200fthelicopter of water. these depths,as long he wasas possible at searching submarine
unable to locate the aircraft. Meanwhile six survivors had been picked up by lifeboat. Later divert were flown to the scene to boost the RN diving team on board the chartered diving support ship Seaforth Clansman. By skilful work divers located the fuselage, lifted it and brought it back to the mainland. SUNK " In late June, cannon fire from the frigate HMS Tartar sank an offshore supply vessel which had become a danger to shipping off the Isle of Wight. The stricken ship Spearfish collided with a gas drilling rig and became entangled in one of the rig's four legs. The Tartar got a line on board the ship and towed her clear before sinking her. Earlier, a Wessex 5 rescue helicopter from HMS Daedalus had winched to safety the Spearfish's six-man crew. The aircraft had to be flown so close to the rig by Sub-Lieut. Rob Cuthbert that the rotor blades were clipped by the rig's superstructure.
Stand at squeeze
HANDS TO BREATHE IN ... AB(R) Shaun Lee and P0(M) Bill Amiltage keep a close eye on the anchor as HMS Glasgow (bean 46t} slip, through the Corinth Canal (width, 70ft.) after sailing from a four-day visit to Athens. From the canal, wwhich the ship transited with no bumps and the aid of a Greek tug, the Glasgow made a swift return passage to the UK to complete a nine-week Mediterranean deployment. Picture: AB(M) Do Shy..
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WITH 11 nuclear-powered Fleet submarines in service, five more on order and tenders invited for another, MOD now expects to order the first of the Navy's new type of conventional submarine later this year.
This was reported in a White Paper, presented in July, which showed a defence budget for 1983-84 approaching ÂŁ16 billion and containing no major shifts of policy or changes of direction. It was made clear that the Government will continue with its plan for Trident as replacement for Polaris. FALKLANDS Defence Secretary Mr. Michael Heseltine said valuable conclusions were still being drawn from analysis of the Falklands experience. In the equipment programme the White Paper showed the Fleet is being provided with an interim airborne early warning system by fitting Searchwater radars to Sea King helicopters. An order for replacement of RFA Sir Galahad is expected this year, and it is hoped that Sir Tristram can be repaired. Arrangements are being made to complete the change of Portsmouth Dockyard to a fleet operating and maintenance base by September 30 1984, although it is now planned "additionally to retain a measure of docking and refitting capacity at Portsmouth."