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NAVY NEWS, JUNE 1993
Highland farewell for HMS Scylla
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IT was on occasion tinged with sadness when HMS Scylla paid her final visit to her affiliated city of Aberdeen. During her long career in the Royal Navy — she first commissioned 23 years ago — Scylla has forged strong links with the "Granite City" and during her previous visit in June 1992 she was honoured to receive the Freedom of the City. At a Civic Luncheon, hosted by the Aberdeen City Council, each sailor who was on board for the Freedom ceremony received a video of the occasion. The following day Cdr. Michael Booth, Scylla's Commanding Officer, along with members of the ship's company, joined the civic procession through the streets of Aberdeen before attending the Sunday service at St Nicholas Church. As she sailed from Aberdeen for the last time, in stormy weather conditions, the Grampian Police Pipe Band provided a rousing send-off and the evening sky was lit up by a fireworks display. The Leander-class frigate fired a nine-gun salute to signal the end of her long and happy association with the city and the 19th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (The Highland Gunners) replied from the Tony Battery. • HMS Scylla has now departed UK waters, heading for her final deployment in the South Atlantic. Photos: Top, — members of Scylla's ship's company at the service at St Nicholas Church. Right — HMS Scylla, floodlit alongside at Aberdeen
Sea Kings rolling deep
ALDERNEY MAKES A COMEBACK
WHILE Sea King helicopters from 845 Sqn are busy with the United Nations in Bosnia andi others of 846 Sqn are embarked in HMS Ark Royal, in the Adriatic, back in the UK ten aircraft, from both squadrons, home based at RNAS Yeovilton, took part in Exercise Rolling Deep, supporting Royal Marines of 3rd Commando Brigade on Salisbury Plain. The exercise included training in Airmobile Operations, with 40 Commando's Charlie Company carrying out hover jumping and fast roping descents. Aircrew training included night flying exercises, using night-vision goggles and NBC training, flying in aircrew respirators. While participating in the Exercise, a Sea King of 846 Sqn carried out the first underslung lifting of the Saka light strike vehicle which is under trial with the Marines in the reconnaissance role.
Picture, right — Navy Sea Kings operating with 40 Cdo RM on Salisbury Plain
WHEN the Duke-class frigate HMS Marlborough visited Nassau, by coincidence, also there, holidaying in the Bahamas, was the Duke of Marlborough, so he was invited to spend the day at sea in the ship of his name. Accompanied by Prince Michel de Bourbon, the Duke spent the morning touring the ship and disembarked back to Nassau in the Lynx helicopter. This was the Duke's first visit to HMS Marlborough, and followed a very successful visit by 40 members of the ship's company to Blenheim Palace, the Duke's home, back in March. Prior to her deployment to the Western Atlantic, Marlborough had been the venue for the AGM of the Royal Film Corporation during her visit to London, when the Prince of Wales, President of the RNFC, took the opportunity to present LS and GC medals to POAEM(R) Terndrup (since promoted to CPO), POMEM(M) Jones and LS(S) Hayhoe. Photo: left: On the forecastle of HMS Marlborough, the Duke (left), Cdr. Peter Eberle, the Commanding Officer, and Prince Michel de Bourbon.
THE ISLAND-CLASS offshore patrol vessel HMS Alderney has been rededicated, following her seven-month long refit at Rosyth Naval Base. Guests of Honour at the ceremony were Vice-Admiral Sir James Junguis and his wife, Lady Junguis, who launched the ship at Aberdeen, back in 1979. Commanding Officer of HMS Alderney is Lieut.-Cdr. Steve Turner, Royal Australian Navy, and in keeping with naval tradition, it was his wife, Robin, and the youngest member of the ship's company, RO Andy Scruton, who cut the rededication cake. (Photo above).