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NAVY NEWS, APRIL LOtS

Atlantic -

Dominic Blake reports on a voyage which shows there's far more to a South Atlantic deployment than the Falkland Islands

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" TOP: The mountains above Rio emerge out of the early morning mist as HMS Brave approaches at dawn.

" ABOVE: LPT Brian Davies breaks to score through against Rio's San George Rugby club. Brave won 25-5. " LEFT: Sailors from Brave and Greenhaigh explore the city's botanical gardens. "

BELOW: AB Sinead LMEM Rab Connolly and Butler admire a breathtaking view of Sugarloaf mountain. Pictures: Dom,rsc Blake. Navy News

certainly favoured the Brave FORTUNE when it came to the timing of her visit to Rio de Janeiro. Her four-day stay coincided with the city's world famous carnival, and for many, their time in Brazil was the highlight of the deployment. The city's Samba schools spend all year preparing the fabulous costumes and floats and more than 20,000 take part. Sailors from HMS Brave mingled with the tens of thousands who turned out to watch the processions form up on Rio's streets on the first night of the carnival. And more were among the 85,000 people who packed into the purpose-built 'Sambodromo' for the all-night spectacle.

Sugarloaf

In the daytime the visitors enjoyed cable-car rides up Sugarloaf Mountain, ascended Corcovado to see the giant statue of Christ which dominates the city and relaxed on the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Excursions gave many the chance to explore the stunning, mountainous countryside around Rio and about 20 of the ship's company were invited on a day-long cruise on the schooner 'Dona Panela.' Her skipper, US navy veteran Seymour Marvin has been wel-

coming British sailors on board for over 20 years in return for 'the best six months' of his life while serving with the Royal

Cruz after losing an engine on their Lynx, but with help from the Brazilians and a lot of effort from the flight, the aircraft was

Both the ship's rugby and soccer teams were in action against local expatriate teams and played superbly despite temperatures of up to 40 C. Brave hosted a cocktail party on board and held open days for local people, and welcomed senior officers in the Brazilian navy on board, including the Commander of the First Naval District and Captain of the Second Frigate Squadron. Some of the busiest people during the visit were the ship's flight. Pilot Lts Chris Velland and Mark Brayson were forced to make a running landing at Santa

Cdr Harding said: "We have had a tremendous welcome from the Brazilian navy. "Carnival is an exceptionally busy time and Rio is, I think, one of the wonders of the world. "Seeing it from the inside from up on Sugarloaf or Corcovado, and as you come in by sea in the morning, is breathtaking. We have had a wonderful time here." From Rio, the ship sailed to Fortaleza In the North of Brazil and is spending nine days in Florida before heading home via the US Virgin Islands.

Navy in World War II.

Brazilian link dates back to heroic British admiral has had a profound influence on the BRITAIN of the development Brazilian navy and links that o hack 175 years continue to his day. The First Admiral of the Brazilian Imperial Navy was a Royal Naval officer who is still regarded as a hero in South America. Admiral Lord Thomas. C'ochrane, founded the Brazilian Fleet after a spectacular campaign against the Spanish in Chile and Peru. His exploits in the Napoleonic Wars had already earned him the nickname 'Sea Wolf' from the French, and such was the terror he in and inspired Spanish Portuguese seamen that he was known simply as 'El Diablo' -the Devil - in the New World. On July 2. 1823. Cochrane's flagship Pedro Primiero led the five-strong Brazilian squadron into battle with a Portuguese flotilla of 13 men of war and seventy merchant and troop carrying vessels.

('ochrane took half the enemy's army, their colours, vast quantities of military stores, cannon and baggage. without losing a single man. He pursued the flotilla half way across the Atlantic before breaking off and just 26 of the original vessels reached Lisbon. His success helped to put an end to Portuguese rule forever.

" Admiral Thomas, Lord Cochrane, founder of the imperial Brazilian Navy. The attack developed into a running fight, and then a rout. with Cochrane boarding ship after ship, cutting down main and mizzen masts, stoving in water casks and leaving his captives just enough sail to reach shore. With the Pedro Primiero attacking and the others marshalling the captured ships.

Reformer A political radical and naval reformer who spent much of his life out of favour with the Government and the Admiralty, Cochrane eventually returned to Britain alter further campaign in command of Greek navy. By the time of his death in 1860, Lord Coehrane was Admiral of the Red, senior admiral of the senior squadron. He has had a warship and shore

establishment named alter him and is buried in Westminster Abbey. On the 150th anniversary of Cochrane's victory, the Brazilian navy erected a memorial in his honour at the British cemetery at Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro. The cemetery has been the final resting place for hundreds of British servicemen since the early 19th century, including RN admirals John Taylor and Sir Michael Seymour. One of the many tasks that the very active Rio branch of the Royal British Legion is currently engaged in is restoration work in the cemetery, and the RBL intend to invite a senior naval officer to the re-opening. One of Lord Cochrane's descendants, the Hon Michael Cochrane, is the commanding officer of HMS Somerset.

back on board before the ship left Rio.

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HMS BRAVE was reunited with the former HMS Broadsword in a two-day exercise on route to Brazil. Broadsword, now BNS Greenhalgh, is one of four Batch 1 Type 22s now in service with the Brazilian navy, alone with HMS Brilliant, Battleaxe and Brazen. After exchanging more than a dozen personnel, the ships conducted air defence exercises, a major surface engagement and ASW exercises with a Brazilian submarine. Maintenance serials, damage control and Seawoll' tracking were of particular interest to the Brazilians while Brave found the suhni:irine contact time invaluable.' British Defence Attache Captain Roger Turner told Non, News: ---This exercise demonstrates how close the links are between our two navies. "It is the first exercise between a deployed Type 2 and the newly acquired Type 22s in Brazil, but I sincereR hope it will not be the last.' U lIMS lichen will become the 4th River Class Minesweeper to be handed over Brazil at a ceremony in Portsmouth on April 8. Itchen will be followed hr 1-IM ships Spey and Blackwater in July and I IMS Arun in September. The vessels alreads in Brazil are now buoy tenders, but the latest hatch are likeS,' to be used for patrolling the Amazon ni protecting ii rigs.

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