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loyal Navy and Royal Marines go through their paces in
Heat fails to blunt Fearless
VETERAN assault ship HMS Fearless is continuing to play a leading role as flagship of the Amphibious Task Croup for Exercise Saif Sareea in Oman.
Fearless underwent a sevenday maintenance period in Turkey prior to transitting the Suez Canal. giving the ship's company a chance to recharge hattcrie before the exertions ahead. The warship left Marmaris with her boilers given a clean bill of health, and around 2,0(X) sailors and Royal Marines can recommend the city, as they were wellentertained and left with no ErnuHe in their wake. 1-las log worked up off the Cornish coast in August and the Turkish coast in September, the troops on hoard Fearless have been gradually acclimatising themselves for the exercise assault in Oman.
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" A Land Rover goes ashore from Landing Craft Foxtrot 3, of HMS Fearless, on an Omani beach during Sail Sareca.
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" Royal Marines from 40 Commando go into a huddle as the Royal Navy Sea King helicopter that flew them in takes off. The Royals were taking part in manoeuvres during Exercise Salt Sareea in and around Oman.
The tipper gun decks were manned throughout the Suez transit and the passage through the Straits of Bah-al-Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea. But most sympathy rested with the marine engineers, who worked in the main engine rooms in temperatures of 45 degrees C. I tigh sea surface temperatures made cooling machinery difficult, and the 37-year-old ship's air conditioning sometimes struggled to keep living conditions comfortable. Sales of drinks on hoard have rocketed in the heat - the NAAFI has sold 45.11(X) cans of goffa' and (,(lt)l) bottles of water in four weeks. The Welfare Operational Package (see last month's Navy News) has proved popular, with telephone calls used to allay fears of families hack home, and the free laundry has become a very welcome addition to conditions of service. The ship's laundry reports that during September 75.0(J articles of clothing were washed, with ÂŁl.211(i of washing powder used. Fearless has continued to impress with her ability to cope with everything that has been thrown at her and the ship's company are showing the same resolve in situations which at times appear bizarre.
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" HMS Ocean launches her six helicopters during amphibious operations Sareea,
in
Exercise
Sail
For example, during the recent defence watch transit, the marine engineers were dripping with sweat, the gunners were baking in I lie heat of the upper deck. Royal Marines were exercising on the chiclc deck, while the Band of the Royal Marines. Plymouth, practised Yellow Submarine in the Junior Rates Dining Hall. En route to the Middle East Fearless and elements of her task croup conducted a number of port sits, including Cadiz, Lisbon. I artagena and Malaga. Icarless, carrier helicopter MS Ocean and the accompany 111g Landing Ships logistic. RFAs 'or Itediserc. Sir Galahad and Sir I ristrarn. have just under 1.5(X) Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade divided between them. Also with the group are stippl sill!) I-ti-A 1-on Rosalic and Iaiikcr Rl\ ()aklcal
Roll call of units involved in Oman
THE ships involved in Exercise Argonaut 2001, of which Exercise Saif Sareea is a major component. are split into three groups.
" HMS Fearless pictured at dawn off Oman
during Exercise Sail Sareea.
The Carrier Task Group is headed carrier HMS by Illustrious, who has the Commander of UK Maritime Forces, Rear Admiral James urnelI-Nugent, embarked. With Illustrious are Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall, Type 23 HM Kent, frigates ships Marlborough and Monmouth, Type 42 destroyers HM ships Nottingham and Southampton, and tanker RFA Bayleaf. Illustrious has Fleet Air Arm FA2 Sea Harriers and RAF GR7 Harriers on board. The Amphibious Group is led
by assault ship HMS Fearless, and also features helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, RFA landing ships Sir Tristram, Sir Bedivere, Sir Percivale and Sir Galahad. stores ships RFA Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin, and tanker RFA Oakieaf. With this are 3 group Commando Brigade, including Headquarters, 40 Cdo RM. 45 Cdo RM. Cdo Logistics Regt, and the Cdo Helicopter Force. The third element of the maritime force is the minehunter group. for which RFA Diligence is acting as mothership Sandown-class minehunters HM Inverness and ships Walney and Hunt-class ships HMS Cattistock and HMS Ouorn. Coastal survey vessel HMS Roebuck is also involved.