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Navy News FEBRUARY 1993
30p
ARRIVAL of the RN Task Group led by HMS Ark Royal has added a lot of extra weight to the international armada building up in the Adriatic. The carrier, accompanied by the Type 22 frigates HMS Coventry and HMS Brilliant and the aviation training ship RFA Argus and supported by RFAs Fort Grange, Olwen and Sir Bedivere — the latter soon to be relieved by RFA Sir Percivale — brings an air group of Sea Harriers and Sea King helicopters together with a light gun battery and specialist Army units to protect the UK's humanitarian operation in Bosnia. manding officer Capt. Paul But Defence Secretary Stone told Navy News. Malcolm Rifkind has said Unless previously cleared, all there are no plans to deploy vessels bound for any of the any of the units embarked former Yugoslavian states are to Bosnia itself — unless boarded for inspection. Since they are needed to offer she took over from HMS Glouextra protection or cover a •' cester before Christmas, the York has herself challenged withdrawal of the existing nearly 100, a dozen of which British presence there. have been boarded or diverted "Our position remains that it to an Italian port for inspecarms being shipped to the fightis not appropriate to intervene tion. ing factions in the former Yuin what is essentially a civil Capt. Stone said policing of goslavia, with patrols shared by war,' he told the House of the area had been considerably six more ships provided by the Commons. "Our overriding strengthened by Albania's coWestern European Union. concern, as always, is to ensure operation with NATO, allow"I am convinced that with the safety of our forces." ing unrestricted access to patrol the number of warships we Meanwhile the Type 42 deAlbanian waters. have in this area, we have a stroyer HMS York, serving • The Road To Bosnia — pretty tight handle on what is with the NATO force in the see page 17. going on," the York's cornAdriatic, is working to prevent
poof their resources/
NAVY fliers flipped when British diving champion Tracey Miles agreed to be adopted as 820 Naval Air Squadron's official pinup girl. She is seen here practising pool survival drills at RN Air Station Culdrose a few days before the squadron's Anti Submarine Warfare Sea King helicopters embarked for Bosnia in the RFAs Fort Grange and Olwen. Meanwhile their "Junglie" counterparts, the Mk IV troop carriers of 846 Sqn, and the Airborne Early Warning aircraft of 849 Sqn were on their way to the Adriatic in HMS Ark Royal (see back page). Already on station in the strife-torn region was 845 Sqn, operating out of Split as part of the United Nations aid force. LACMN Oaryl Morris (right) is seen here watching over the supply route into Bosnia Herzegovena (see page 17). Picture: PO(Phot) Tel Harding.