NAVY NEWS. FEBRUARY 1991
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Gulf ships race ahead PICTURED making preparations for a "sail past" during Prime Minister Mr John Major's visit to HMS London in the Gulf are, from left, the Type 22 frigate HMS Brazen, the Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester, one of the Navy's Mine Countermeasures vessels and the destroyer HMS Cardiff. Picture by PO (Phot) Stuart Antrobus.
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HMS Onyx, the last ot the 'O' class submarines to be b u i l t , has finally paid off after 23 years of service, ret u r n i n g to her home at HMS Dolphin. Gosport, a f t e r her last deployment wludi took her to the Eastern Atlantic. wilh visits to Halifax. Nova S c o t i a . St. J o h n s . N e v. fo u nd 1 a n d and Boston. Massachusetts. During t h i s time she also participated in three e\crcises, one of which unoKeil the competition for the p r e s t i g i o u s Fincaslle I rop h \ . with a i r forces from Britain, Canada, Australia a n d N e \v Z e a l a n d . ;i n d w h i c h was won h> the RAF. In a competition of a different kind in Canada, Ony x ' s S e n i o r R a t e s " Mess managed to "Steal the Shovel" -— an age-old tradition in the Submarine Service. a n d t h e I r o p h > i s iui\\ proudly held in HMS Dolphin's Senior Rates" Mess.
RN team on tour TOR their Spring, programme, the R u \ a l N a \ > Presentation Team, u n d e r the command of Capl. Peter Cowling, and operating in tour teams, are visiting the South. South West, Wales, West M i d l a n d s , and the North West. Two teams will visit secondary schools and some societies, while the teams of the ( apt a i n a n d C o m m a n d e r ( < 'dr. Nick Harris) w i l l present to a variety of audiences, i n c l u d i n g civic, universities, industry and s o c i e t i e s , as w e l l as s o n itschools.
DUKE IN COVENTRY WHEN the Duke of Kent visited HMS C o v e n t r y during weapon-training operations off Portland, he was able to witness a packed programme, which included a close-range gunnery shot, helicopter operations, a fire-at-sea exercise and replenishment at sea, conducted with RFA Blue Rover.
Renown renews old ties THE close lies between HMS Renown and 32 (Scottish) Signals Regiment were strengthened when 2 I members of the ship's company look part in a parade 10 mark the presentation of a new pipe banner to 52 (Lowland) Signal Squadron in Glasgow. During the parade the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mrs. Susan Baird, presented LS and GC medals to two of Renown's personnel.
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Fleet operations progress • from page 1 Skua missile but was ordered to hold off — they helped cover an American A-6 fighter a t t a c k . The I r a q i s sculiled the \cssel after three had been killed and 22 taken prisoner. The ships' helicopters are also involved in searches to counter the threat posed by Iraqi patrol boats and d r i f t i n g mines. A n u m b e r of mines f o u n d drifting near the K u w a i t i coast — believed to have broken free of their moorings in bad weather — have been sunk b> gunfire from I I M S Gloucester and US warships. All the ships deployed will now have taken the precaution of scaling their inner protective citadels, in which recycled air is used to p r e s e n t gases entering the system, against the threat of
chemical attack. Ships' companies have also been issued with nerve agent prc-ucaimem tablets. Commodore Chris Craig. Senior Naval Officer Middle Fast, said he was satisfied w i t h the wav operations were progressing. These include escort work by the Type 42 d e s t r o y e r s Gloucester and Cardiff, whose anti-air missile capability provides cover for the big US units wilh t h e i r arsenals of the deadly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Falklands veteran, who commanded i l M S Alacrity in ( I >82. said he was, confident of "the morale, conviction and determination" of his people. "We have marched on eight \ears." he was quoted. "We h a v e newer ships, newer systems and newer capabilities." His flagship, the Type 22 frigate HMS London, is com-
CHAOS AT COLLINGWOOD NEWLY-commissioned HMS Chaos has many of the features and attributes of the Batch 3, Type 22 frigate, including the first letter of her name — but it is extremely unlikely that she will ever put to sea!
For Chaos is actually HMS Collingwood's new operational training simulator, designed to provide a facility for officers training to prepare for sea-duties in a four-day "real-time" exercise, conducted in a ship environment with problems presented as they would occur at sea, needing
to be dealt with "at the rush" in ship-board fashion. The commissioning event, conducted with due ceremony by Capt. Peter Wason, commanding officer of HMS Collingwood, included the traditional cake-cutting by the crew's youngest member, WREN Lisa Lee. Why the name "Chaos"? Well, Chaos was selected ". . . since research indicated that there is a science of chaos which at times matches the frantic activity involved in the exercise"!
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manded by Capt. lain Henderson, He was first lieutenant of H M S PI y m o u t h d u r i n g t h e F a l k l a n d s War — and has the benefit of the experience of many officers who also served in t h a i campaign. A l t e r his v i s i t to HMS London just before hostilities began, the Prime M i n i s t e r sent the following message: "We arc clearly entering a difficult and dangerous period and the discovery of the increasing number of mines in the Gulf only underlines that. But I know if it comes to the worst and there is a conflict, all those on HMS London and her sister ships will match up to the highest traditions of the Navy," Prince Charles, who spent the night on board M M S Brazen between v i s i t i n g troops and
Red noses on parade C O M I C R e l i e f is b a c k on March 15 w i t h Red Nose Day 3, and funds raised wil! be devoted to projects in Africa and the UK, Those wishing to become involved should contact Pam M i l m a n at Comic Relief. BBC TV. Room AGO9. C e n t r e House. Wood Lane, London. W12 7RJ (enclose sae for participation pack).
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the RAF Tornado squadron at Dahran, was another VIP visitor to the Task Group while Sir Harry Secombe. Paul D a n i e l s and Bob Carolgees uere among the welcome representatives of the uorld of entertainment who have helped l i g h t e n the tension on board. 1 he Bra/en re\caled her penchant for the native delicacies of her home port when PO Cook Kev Lund wrote asking for a pair of Ivor Dewdney's P l y m o u t h p a s t i e s f o r each member of the crew. The firm was happ\ to oblige — 300 "oggies" are now on their way out in R F A Ba\!eaf
The presentation consists of a 45-minutes talk, \ \ n l i film and slides, followed b> a period for questions and discussion. The c i v i c p r o g r a m m e for February and March is: February: 5 Winchester. (S Honiton. 7 Wells, 12 Exeter. 13 Bodnun. 14 Truro, 25 Warwick. 25 I.landrindod Wells. 26 Lampeter. 27 Colwyn Bay, March: 4 Bridgnorth. 7 Lcominster, I I Jersey, 13 Guernsey. 14 Oswestry. 20 Present, 2 f Rochdale, 25 Ormskirk, 27 Pcnrith, 27 Lancaster. Requests lor further details, and t i c k e t s , should be addressed to: The Team Staff Officer, RN P r e s e n t a t i o n Team, Room 2120. St. Christopher House. Southwark Street. London SEl OTD. Tel: 071921-2056. Fax: 071-921-1356.
In peak condition AFTER previously loading their 4000 kg of stores and equipment into HMS Endurance, the ten members of the Joint Services Expedition to Smith Island flew to Port Stanley for onward passage south. Team leader WO John Kimbrey RM rejoined the expedition after a short illness and base camp was established at Camp Foster last month. The tri-Service team aims to explore and climb all the mountains of Smith Island, which lies to the west of the Antarctic peninsula, about 750 miles south of the Falklands.
GULF FORCES "SPECIAL OFFERS" for UK Forces in the Gulf. Pewler tankards, flasks etc. engraved with military badge/inscription from £7. Details, colour brochure and free 'GULF DESIGN' sample from:CORIVO PRODUCTS 190 Rockingham St., Sheffield, UK (0742 754168)
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