NAVY NEWS, JUNE 1994
Ark makes a dynamic impact AN ARMADA of 93 warships from 10 NATO countries recently took part in the largest NATO maritime exercise of its kind since the end of the Cold War. Exercise Dynamic Impact 94 was designed to test NATO's ability to protect her sea lines of communication in the Mediterranean and carry out a major amphibious operation. HMS Ark Royal, now back on station in the Adriatic, led the RN contingent which included HM ships Edinburgh, Coventry, (see also page 15), Avenger, Fearless, Beagle and Sandown supported by RFAs Fort Austin, Orangeleaf, Sir Tristram, Sir Geraint and Sir Galahad. The exercise marked the last major deployment for the Navy's remaining Type 21 frigate HMS Avenger. During Dynamic Impact she demonstrated the versatility and accuracy of her gunnery system, firing 200 rounds in support of the amphibious landings. Last month, the ship's company of HMS Ark Royal finally
made it to Corfu, a visit delayed earlier in her deployment when she was called on to support UN deadlines in Gorazde. One of Ark Royal's two bells was inadvertently offered up for auction last month — and recalled after protests from the ship's company. Many took advantage of the good weather to take part in a four-day sailing expedition while others visited the memorial to sailors killed when the destroyers HMS Saumarez and Volage were sunk by mines. The ship's last night in Corfu was enlivened by the medical evacuation of a diving casualty from the submarine USS Cincinnatti who was taken to hospital in Italy by a helicopter from 820 Sqn. The following morning Ark Royal was again on hand to provide further medical assistance to USS Cincinnatti when one of her sailors developed a heart complaint. After treat-
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ment he was transferred by an 820 Sqn. • A helicopter from 845 Sqn, called upon with two other Sea Kings to help evacuate casualties from Gorazde, had its fuel tank ruptured by a small calibre round while carrying out its mission. "Although losing fuel, we were able to make it back to Kiseljak." said Lt Neil Thompson, pilot of the damaged aircraft. "The crews were initially apprehensive at flying into Gorazde so soon after the ceasefire but were proud and eager to be able to play such an important and humanitarian role on the world stage." Operating alongside Puma aircraft of the French Army Helicopter Squadron the Sea Kings helped in the evacuation to Sarajevo of over 190 casualties and their families.
Trigger happy READY with her finger on the trigger is Lady HillNorton who claimed two firsts during HMS Richmond's Contractors Sea Trials off Tynemouth — she was the first to fire Richmond's 4.5in gun and the first Lady sponsor to Join the ship during trials. Also on board the 10th and latest Type 23 frigate was Commodore Naval Ship Acceptance, Commodore Taylor, who conducted one of the firing serials himself.
Carrier performs starring role FRESH from her relit at Devonport HMS Illustrious returned to her home port of Portsmouth last month to take pride of place at Navy Days over the late May Bank Holiday.
LIEUTENANT General Robin Ross, Commandant General Royal Marines, is pictured above presenting an "honourable" Green Beret to the incoming COMAW, Commodore Richard Bridges.
Alongside HM ships Liverpool, Active, Avenger, Hecla, USS Normandy, BNS Wandclaar and HMCS Toronto she was open to visitors during the three-day event. HMS Illustrious was also due to play an important role during the D-Day commemorations at the beginning of this month, firing a 42-gun salute and heading the line of British and foreign ships anchored at Spithead when they were reviewed by The Queen and other Heads of State embarked in Britannia. (• Liberty ship on view — see page 9)
JACIG OPENS ODESSA FILE INSPECTING one of 64 T-64 tanks at the 84 Mechanised Brigade based at Perevalnoye, in the Ukraine, is POA(AH) Will Scarlett from the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG). tion inspection in Russia while guage training in Garmisch, The visiting group, which PO Scarlett led a reduction Germany. WO2 Jopling joined had a distinct naval feel to it, a French-led team on a reducteam in Romania. was led by Cdr Ron Edmonds and also included Major Viv Gwillim, RM, WO2 Paul Jobling RM and POA(METOC) Nev Townsend. As part of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty they were in the Ukraine to inspect active army units, and along with the T-64 tanks, they examined 77 BMP1 Armoured Infantry Fighting vehicles.
HMS Tiger On completion of the inspection the team took a cultural tour of Odessa and visited a cannon from the wreck of HMS Tiger which was sunk off the Ukranian coast by artillery fire in 1854. On return to RAF Scampton, where JACIG is based, the group dispersed again with Cdr Edmonds carrying out a Vienna Document evaluation in Azerbaijan and Major Gwillim undertaking further lan-
New head at RFA COMMODORE David Squire has taken up his new appointment as Commodore Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service replacing Commodore Richard Thorne who retired last month after 38 years with the RFA. Commodore Squire joined the RFA in 1963 as a Deck Apprentice and served worldwide in many RFAs. In 1993 he became the first CO of RFA Fort George (which, along with her sister ship Fort Victoria, are the RFAs latest and larger AOR class ships) following a period as trials Master for both vessels.
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H.M.S. VICTORIOUS To commemorate the commissioning of the fifth HMS VICTORIOUS a lOin fine bone china plate has been commissioned with Spode, in a limited edition of only 500. The plate depicts the ship's "Guardian Angel" crest and is inscribed with her eleven Battle Honours together with her moUo - Per Coelum el Aequorum Victrix - Conqueror Through Sky and Sea. The cost of each plate is only £35.00 (inclusive of insurance, carriage and VAT). Further details and sample artwork can be obtained from:
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