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44 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2002 Options
Princely partners HMS ARK Royal (top) in company with HMS Sheffield and the Spanish carrier Principe de Asturias at the end of the NATO Exercise Dynamic Mix in the Mediterranean. Asturias' typical air wing would include Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters, including two Airborne Early Warning aircraft.
First woman earns Green Beret
A CAPTAIN in the British Army has become the first woman to win a coveted Green Beret, as worn by the elite Royal Marines Commandos. Capt Pip Tattersall of the Adjutant General's Corps, completed the arduous All Arms Commando Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone, Devon.
The course is open to trained ranks from all three Services, male and female, who wish to serve with 3 Commando Brigade. She passed her Commando tests on May 31 and was awarded her Green Beret - although that does not qualify her to join the Royal Marines; qualification for the Green Beret does not automatically confer membership of the Corps on the successful candidates. Capt Tattersall first attempted the course in March last year, but was withdrawn in Week 7 of the eight-week course. Her second attempt in July 2001 ended when a back injury prevented her from continuing the training. She returned for a final attempt in May, rejoining the course at Week 5. Her success means Pip is now eligible for work in either combat support or combat service support areas of 3 Cdo Bde. As is traditional, she will continue to wear her parent unit's cap badge, but on her green beret. In order to join the Royal Marines, a candidate would have to join the Corps as a recruit or an officer, and complete a six-month basic training course (for recruits) or a year-long course for officers. J Five RN personnel have lately passed the Commando Course. They arc Surg Lts Graham Bryce (45 'Cdo. Arbroath) and Callum Arthur (40 Cdo. Taunton). Lt Roger Green (42 Cdo. Bickleigh), Lt Steve Clarke (RM Barracks. Stonehouse) and MA David Milne (Fleet Protection Group. HMNB Clyde.
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Early trial torpedo TWO DIE IN blown up HELICOPTER in Solent CRASH
A RN bomb disposal team (SOU 2 at Portsmouth) carried out a controllled explosion of what was believed to be a trials torpedo dating from around 1900. It was located 19 metres under The Solent, buried deep into the seabed about two miles north of Ryde, Isle of Wight. A fishing trawler had caught its nets on the device. Although trials torpedoes are 'dummy' devices which do not contain explosives, it was decided to detonate this one as it caused an obstruction to trawlers and fishing vessels. It was buried too far beneath the seabed to have been easily retrieved A 1km exclusion zone around it was in place for about 30 minutes while the disposal team blew it up with 41b of plastic explosives.
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> Lt Cdr Rod Skidmore
• Lt Jenny Lewis
TWO aircrew died when a Lynx helicopter from HMS Richmond crashed in the Western Atlantic. They were the aircraft's convened. Lt Skidmore was marQ Trials torpedoes such as these pilot, Lt Rod Skidmore, and ried with two children. Lt Lewis are not an uncommon find in The observer, Lt Jenny Lewis. was single. The ship's Lynx flight Solent as Gilkicker Point off Despite an extensive search by was based at Royal Naval Air Gosport was used as a trials area in the late 1800s/early 1900s. UK and US ships and aircraft, Station Yeovilton. they could not be found and it was presumed they had died in Chosen by most of the world's elite the accident.
• Capf Pip Tattersall crosses the 6ft wall during the final stages of the All Arms Commando Course at CTCRM Lympstone
The other member of the crew, an RN photographer, was rescued by a US helicopter without serious injuries. A Board of Inquiry has been
Naval base partners sign £650m deals CONTRACTS for partnering services at Portsmouth and Devonport Naval Bases were signed last month by the Ministry of Defence, Fleet Support Ltd (FSL) and Devonport Management Ltd. The 11-year contract at Portsmouth is valued at about £35()m for the first five years, with the further period being subject to satisfactory performance review. In addition. FSL - a 50-50 joint venture between BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft - has secured an extension to its RN ship repair and maintenance contract at Portsmouth valued at up to £25 million a year, with potential for considerably more. In placing the contract with FSL, Commodore Paul Boissier. Portsmouth Naval Base Commander, said: "I welcome this partnering agreement wholeheartedly. "It will do much to increase the competitiveness of Portsmouth Naval Base as a centre of excellence for ship repair." It was a final act by Cdre Boissier in overseeing plans for the
modernisation of warship support at Portsmouth. Promoted Rear Admiral, he is succeeded by Cdre Amjad Hussain and is now appointed NATO's Deputy Commander Naval Strike and Support Forces Southern Europe. At Devonport, where a similar deal was made, Cdre Ric Chcadle said: "Here we have a long and successful track record of working
military units, traser watches have proven themselves in every extreme condition throughout the globe
closely with DML and this contract further cements this important relationship. "I look forward to working with DML to ensure that together we provide the very best service to the Fleet and best value for the taxpayer." A comparable contract has been signed with Babcock Naval Services at Clyde Naval Base.
Two more years for widows' pilgrimage VETERANS Minister Dr Lewis Moonie has agreed, at the request of the Royal British Legion, to extend the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme by another two vears to March 31, 2005. The scheme is administered on behalf of the MOD by the RBL. It was introduced in 1985 to provide financial assistance to Service widows whose husbands were buried overseas during the period 1914-67. to allow them to visit their graves. It pays nearly 90 per cent of the cost. So far over 4.000 widows have taken up the offer and demand has been such that it has already been extended four times. Said Piers Storie-Pugh. head of RBLs Remembrance Travel service: "We are delighted that the Government funding will continue because it means so much to the wives of men who died serving their country." Q Contact Remembrance Travel on 01622 716729/182 for details.
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