12
NAVY NEWS, MAY 1996
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BRAZEN BREAKS ALL BOARDING RECORBS «,«/. e Wt
HMS BRAZEN returned to Devonport to pay off on April 26 having broken all Operation Sharp Guard records in her final deployment to the Adriatic. Sharp Guard is a joint operation by ships of NATO's Standing Naval Forces
Mediterranean and Atlantic and the Western European Union Maritime Contingency Force, to enforce the arms
embargo on Yugoslavia.
the
former
It involves stopping and searching ships as they enter the Adriatic to ensure that arms and ammunition are not being smuggled to the
opposing factions.
Team effort
Above: LPTI Jason Wallace stands guard while a merchant ship is searched for weapons and ammunition. Right: Most of Brazen's board-
ing were achieved using her seaboat. The coxswains put to sea in all weathers and many boardings were made at night.
Brazen's boarding tally reached 104, an all time record for any ship of any nation in a single deployment. "It has been a real team effort" Brazen's CO Cdr Alan Adair told Navy News. "It takes more than just a boarding party to achieve a boarding, there is a whole team of supporters that make it happen as well as keeping the ship running for seven months - it is a whole ship effort."
Few ships exceed 50 boardings in their time on station and Brazen's total is all the more
remarkable as it has been achieved through one of the worst Mediterranean winters on record. And boarding can be a dangerous business. Two members of foreign navies were killed in the course of boarding operations during Brazen's deployment alone. Although Brazen had the flexi-
Fast roping: Marine Mclghan descends from Brazen's Lynx
bility to use her Lynx helicopter to rapid rope the teams in, most of the boardings were conducted by boat, at night, in all weathers. Cdr Adair said: "There are many reasons for our high total. Our standard of training is very high and my seaboat coxswains will go out in almost any weather.
Many nations will only conduct boarding in calm conditions by
Brazen's ship's company took a well earned break from patrol duties to visit the historic city of Istanbul. Despite abysmal weather - it snowed! - they received a very warm welcome. During the deployment the ship raised £2,500 for charity and cheques for £1,000 each will be presented to the Trinity School and
day." "We also spend a lot longer in theatre than any other nation.
Cheshire Home in Durham. A further £500 will help to support the families who suffered in the
Seven months away from home is a
Dunblane tragedy.
long time in anybody's language and we have spent both Christmas and Easter periods at sea. But we have kept very busy and the time has flown."
duties to HMS Nottingham and will be sold to the Brazilian Navy in August.
• Brazen hands over her NATO
Gulf patrol ends Brilliant HMS BRILLIANT arrived back in Devonport for the
last time as a Royal Navy warship in April after a sixmonth deployment in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean on Armilla Patrol. Later this year the frigate will
be transferred to the Brazilian Navy and in accordance with naval tradition she flew a 70 metre paying off penant as she sailed up Plymouth Sound. HMS Brilliant left Devonport
Kenya, Saudi Bahrain.
Arabia
and
Among the highlights of the
deployment were Brilliant's visit to Maputo in Mozambique where she became the first RN ship to visit for ten years, and a visit to Kuwait on their National Day and the fifth anniversary of their liberation from Iraq.
High mileage Since leaving UK under the
command of Captain Angus Sommerville Brilliant has travNaval Base in October and has elled more than 32,000 miles. been helping the multi-national One sailor was particularly naval force to implementing glad to get home - Cook Simon trade sanctions against Iraq. Long was presented with a new The ship also visited ports in Mini Cooper car on the jetty, Gibraltar, Kuwait, UAE, having won it in the ship's Mozambique, Crete, Dubai, deployment raffle!
Chatham takes over HMS Chatham has taken over the Command Task Group in
the Arabian Gulf from HMS Brilliant and has been busy fly-
ing the diplomatic flag. The Type 22 frigate returned to the Middle East from Singapore for the last three-month stint in the Gulf and has already seen a string of visitors including Arab leaders, local navies, businessmen and most demanding of all, hoards of local school children. A particular success was a visit by 40 disabled children from Doha's rehabilitation School. All
hands were on deck to lift, carry, push and entertain the four to 14year-olds from the flight deck to the fo'c'stle. COMUKTG Rear Admiral Alan West joined the ship to host an ambassadorial lunch alongside in Doha with guests from India, Pakistan and Qatar.
• Chatham has won the Inaugral World Batill Sailing Championships in Muscat.
HMS Brilliant waves goodbye and heads for home
A team of eight sailed the traditional Arab fishing boat across the finish line after only six days of building, rigging and training. Her victory was a hard fought battle between the RN and the French and Omani navies.