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NAVY NEWS, JUNE 1998
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New frontier in the war against drug smugglers
Members of the US Coast Guard law enforcement detachment embarked in HMS Newcastle's two sea boats prepare to board a sailing vessel during the anti-drug smuggling operation Frontier Lance in the central Caribbean. On inspection, nothing suspicious was found and the craft was allowed to go on her way. picture: LA(PHOT) Chris Brick.
IN A BID to stem the increasing traffic in hard drugs in the central Caribbean, West Indies Guardship HMS Newcastle and the tanker RFA Black Rover have been taking part in Operation Frontier Lance. Aim of the operation is to ships with Haiti and the intercept and deter drug Dominican Republic, and to smugglers in an area where improve reciprocal co-opera90 per cent of cocaine is tion throughout the central moved at least partly by sea Caribbean: drug-smuggling from Columbia through countermeasures would be Puerto Rico and the Virgin more effective without the limIslands into Europe and its normally associated with America, through Mexico to law enforcement operations the USA, or directly to that extend into other counContinental America. try's territorial waters and airThe British ships have been space. working with the US authoriA USCG operation, Frontier ties, including the US Coast shield, has been going on Guard and USN, as well as around Puerto Rico since with vessels and aircraft from 1996 and has reduced drug Haiti and the Dominican trafficking in the eastern Republic. Caribbean. Frontier Lance The operation is also now seeks a similar result in intended to build relation- the central area.
Navy boost HMS Somerset on Royal duty in Petersburg for civilain maritime volunteers THE ROYAL Navy is giving formal recognition to the Maritime Volunteer Service, a civilian, uniformed organisation dedicated to the maintenance of Britain's maritime skills. The move was announced by Armed Forces Minister Dr John Reid during a visit to Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth. The MVS, a registered charity, will not get Navy funding, but it will have access to RN advice on a range of maritime affairs, including Naval career opportunities. Closer association between the Navy and the MVS is seen as contributing to the Government's 'New Deal' initiative by enriching the pool of training opportunities in me community, and helping young people to get jobs.
'Great tribute' Dr Reid said: "The Royal Navy's recognition of the Maritime Volunteer Service is a tribute to the important role they play in the education and training of young people in nautical skills." Chief Staff Officer of the organisation, Capt Richard Stenlake, told Navy News he was delighted at the announcement. "It is a great tribute to the achievements of our volunteers all round the country," he said. "Starting from nothing only four years ago, they have demonstrated the potential of this young Service." The MVS was established in the wake of the disbandment of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, a 3,000-strong force of unpaid, uniformed civilian volunteers trained to support the RN in wartime.
Expansion Over 1,000 of them joined the independently run MVS, which is developing a training curriculum to offer its members a progression of practical skills. Plans are in hand for the Service to double its coverage to 100 training units within the next five years and attract 5,000 members Many former Royal and Merchant Navy personnel are on the Council of the organisation and are among its governors and vice presidents. Membership of the influential organisation also includes MPs and major business representatives.
Star role in the great Tsar event
THE 300th anniversary of historic links between the navies of Russia and Britain is being marked by a high profile deployment to the Baltic by the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset.
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O Getting on top of his lob - the Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset Cdr the Hon. Michael Cochrane, takes in the view from the topmast as the ship transits the Kiel Canal on her way to the Baltic, picture: LA(PHOT> Paul smith
The celebrations were to include the launch of a full-size replica of Tsar Peter's ship the Standart at Smolny shipyard. HMS Somerset left Devonport
A HERITAGE grant of £37,500 has reinforced hopes that Britain's last wartime destroyer can be saved as a museum ship. The money, given by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, will pay for a feasibility study which will examine the technical and financial implications of establishing HMS Cavalier in Chatham dockyard. At present she is in dry dock in South Shields under threat of being scrapped if an alternative plan cannot be found.
Climax of the series of visits was due to take place at the beginning of June when the Duke of York was to fly his royal standard in Somerset during the ship's five-day visit to St Petersburg. It was in 1698 that Tsar Peter the Great, the founder of the Russian navy, made a fact-finding visit to Britain to learn how warships were built and operated so that he could use the knowledge to create his fleet. On board Somerset, Prince Andrew was hosting a reception for 160 guests. Also embarked were Flag Officer Surface Flotilla, Rear Admiral Peter Franklyn and a 40-strong Royal Marines band who were all joining the ship at Helsinki on May 29.
Heritage grant bolsters hope for Cavalier
on May 5, arriving on May 11 for a five-day visit to the Latvian capital, Riga, where 79 years before the destroyer HMS Scotsman came to the aid of the state's government. Until German invaders were repelled, President Karlis Ulmanis and his Ministers were given sanctuary in the destroyer for two months. Coincidentally, today's President of Latvia, Gustav Ulmanis, is Karlis's great nephew,
Princess sees entry of HMS Penzance PRINCESS Michael of Kent was guest of honour at the commissioning of HMS Penzance, the minehunter she launched in March last year. The ceremony, at Portsmouth on May 14, was conducted by the new Chaplain of the Fleet, Dr Charles Stewart. Penzance is the latest of the Navy's advanced Sandownclass vessels to enter service, and will join the Third Mine Countermeasures Squadron at Clyde Naval Base. Her Commanding Officer is Lt Cdr Chris Ashcroft.
a fact which may have reinforced the overwhelming welcome Somerset received. President Ulmanis attended a lunch on board and in a rare gesture, opened his palace for a tour by the ship's company. In all, the frigate was visited by 14 ambassadors, 15 defence attaches, the heads of all the Latvian Services, and almost the entire Ministry of Defence staff. She was featured daily on the country's TV, and for the three days the ship was open to the public, 5,000 visitors were welcomed on board. The ship's magician, Emmazdad - alias POMEM Clive Hemsley gave two shows at orphanages in the city. In a solemn ceremony, 60 of the ship's company, including a ceremonial guard and Colour party, accompanied by a Latvian platoon and band, paraded to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Freedom Monument in the heart of the city. Before her visit to Russia, the ship also visited Aarhus in
Denmark from where she took part in Exercise Co-operative Jaguar, a Nato Partnership for Peace exercise involving 16 nations and 35 warships The ship is due to return to Devonport on June 8.
Air station's grand finale for veterans OVER 100 Royal Navy personnel from RN air station Portland will for the last time take part In one of Britain's biggest annual parades of veterans. Weymouth Military and Veteran Festival on June 13-19 will give special attention to the Navy, as it is the last time the event will be held before the air station - HMS Osprey - closes at the end of March next year. Osprey Is providing a 24strong Guard and three platoons of 30 each for the parade by 2,000 veterans on Sunday, June 19.
In a response to a Select Committee report on the warship, the Government has confirmed that it is not prepared to fund her preservation - but that has not come as a surprise to campaigners who are working to save her. "We knew there was little likelihood of Government money," said chairman of the HMS Cavalier Association, Sid Anning. "The feasibility study is being prepared to put up a case for a National Lottery grant - and we have high hopes of that."
Consortium A consortium pushing the plan forward includes the Association, as well as Medway Council, Chatham Historic Dockyard and the Friends of the Cavalier Trust. President of the Cavalier Association, Rear Admiral John Hervey, said the Government response has not been unsympathetic and recognises the importance of conserving a collection of World War II fighting ships. "But the final outcome is by no means yet certain," he said. "A lot will depend on the outcome of the feasibility study work, and on converting that into a thoroughly professional submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund." • Twenty-five Canadian veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic took part in Britain's 55th anniversary commemoration of the campaign, held in Liverpool on May 16.