NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 1991 Options
17
Ambuscade in the firing line HMS AMBUSCADE, holder of both the Fleet Naval Gunnery Support and Surface Gunnery trophies, completed a successful week of Principal Warfare Officer firings in the Gibraltar exercise areas. The Type 21 frigate, commanded by Cdr. Mike Knowles, fired 350 rounds from her 4.5 inch gun, scoring a direct hit on a hi-star surface target, as well as firing six Seacat missiles and a large quantity of close range ammunition. Ashore, a team from the Wardroom won the Top of the Rock race, with LSTD Martin Buckingham the fastest runner. An unexpected visitor in Gibraltar was Natalie Hitchcock, who celebrated her tenth birthday visiting the ship on which she was christened in the ship's bell. She was accompanied by her father, POMEM Dave Hitchcock, who was serving in the Ambuscade at the time of the christening. HMS Ambuscade returned
to Portland to join HMS Ariadne in a re-enactment of the Swordfish attack on Taranto Harbour as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. The ship was back in Devonport for Christmas leave
having completed a busy programme since her return from the South Atlantic in the summer which included visits to Copenhagen and Hamburg and the ship's affiliated town of Crewe and Nantwich.
WHILST on routine patrol in Hong Kong waters HMS Plover was called in to help tackle a serious fire raging throughout the tiny settlement of Po Toi island. WO Jock Copeland and CPO Charlie Jennings, among those sent ashore to assist with the evacuation of the villagers, heard a dog whining as they carried out their search and, on investigation, found a puppy tied up, with its fur already partly singed by the flames. As they untied the animal a violent explosion hurled them into the air, CPO Jennings still clutching the hapless dog. They were all shaken, but fortunately WO Copeland, CPO Jennings and the dog were uninjured. The village on Po Toi, however, did not fare so well as the spectacular fire, fanned by strong winds, destroyed almost every building there.
ICED WATER FOR LEEDS CASTLE WHILE attention is understandably focussed on those sweating it out in the Gulf, the ship's company of HMS Leeds Castle are faced with temperatures at the other extreme, deep in the South Atlantic. The Leeds Castle has now spent over two years patrolling the icy waters of the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone with her ships company changing over every four to six months. Her task is to provide a Navy presence in the area, exercising with the RAF, resupplying the Army garrison in South Georgia, and maintaining the effective radar cover of the Islands
whenever one of the land-based radars is down for maintenance.
Sea King helicopters conduct regular exercises in the Zone, and her ability to provide a land-on facility is a very useful one. With a relatively small ship's company of just 52 (somewhat less than a quarter the number of that of a Leander class frigate) everyone is kept extremely busy during these patrol periods, and the ship regularly steams about 3,000 miles each month. The Leeds Castle has strong previous connections with the area, having served with distinction in the Falklands Conflict, acting as a long range despatch vessel between Ascension Island and the Falklands, as well as operating in South Georgia.
> Chipping ice from the forecastle during a calm spell on a passage back from South Georgia.
Russian admiral looks to the future Soviet Admiral Vladimir Ponikarovsky tries out his shooting skills under the watchful eye of CPO(OPS)(R) Mick Lavin, of HMS Manchester. The "weapon", a close range engagement simulator on the 20mm GAMBO, came under scrutiny during a visit to the Type 42 destroyer. The Soviet group included five students from the Kuznetson Naval Academy and the visit was sponsored by the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, as part of a larger programme for furthering better relations with the Soviet Union.
Promote the image of your ship, regiment or association with your own logo or message embroidered or screenprinted on our top quality range of
• SPORTSWEAR • SWEATERS • POLO SHIRTS • T-SHIRTS • TRACKSUITS • PENNANTS • BANNERS Design service available Telephone
0705 822436 NOW!
For FREE brochure and Price List
HARGREAVES PROMOTIONS Rodney Road Fratton Industrial Estate Portsmouth PO4 8SY