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NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2011
Bish on a mission at Lympstone The art
Air-sea rescue lauded A LYNX aircrew who displayed great skill and gallantry in a high seas rescue have been acknowledged at an awards ceremony. The crew of HMS Chatham’s helicopter, from 815 Naval Air Squadron, were alerted by a distress call from the freighter MV Dubai Moon, whose cargo of trucks and cars had broken loose during a tropical storm in the Indian Ocean in May 2010. The 5,800-tonne ship with a crew of 23 was rolling heavily, unable to manoeuvre and was at risk of capsizing or running aground. While Lt Cdr Peter Higgins fought to maintain steady hover over the wallowing ship, with expert assistance from Lt Craig Castle RAN, AET Richard Wilmot – a newly-qualified winchman – was lowered onto the oily, rolling deck. Wilmot’s exertions on the stricken ship made him violently ill, so Lt Cdr Graham Chesterman, who had been visiting Chatham to conduct an aviation audit and who had not flown for 15 years, was asked to take over. The officer went on to make 22 difficult and exhausting transfers over three hours. The team’s efforts won them the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’s Edward and Maisie Lewis Award, while Lt Cdr Chesterman also won an individual commendation for his bravery. The Society’s Chief Executive, Cdre Malcolm Williams RN, said: “Lt Cdr Graham Chesterman and the crew of HMS Chatham’s Lynx helicopter showed outstanding professionalism, superb teamwork and courage in rescuing the crew of the MV Dubai Moon. “The rescue demonstrated all that is best in the seafaring tradition.” Founded in 1839, the Society helps merchant mariners, fishermen and their dependents who are in need. For more information see www. shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
l ABs Ryan Sladden and Aaron Powell lift weights in front of the urban art at Nelson gym Picture: LA(Phot) Gary Weatherston
EARNING the green beret is (a) a tremendous badge of honour and (b) really very hard to attain, as any commando will tell you.
So hats – or perhaps berets – off to Paul Andrew, the newest chaplain in the Royal Marines who can don that coveted headwear. And all at the ripe old age of 41. The padre has come through more than three months of arduous physical and mental training so he can give spiritual and morale support to the men of the Corps on the front line. Although the Commando Training Course – widely acknowledged as the most gruelling test of any basic military training in the world – is slightly different for a chaplain from that undertaken by wouldbe fighting commandos (there’s no weapon handling or drill, for example), staff at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, near Exeter, did not allow the father-of-three any special treatment. Paul’s first visit to Lympstone was in 2006 whilst on placement as a Church of England Ordinand. Following ordination and time in parish ministry, he joined the Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service last year. After completing training at l Royal Marines padre Paul Andrew tackles an assault course at Lympstone, where he earned his green beret
‘Evacuees’ explore Dartmouth
A LONG, straggling line of children in 1940s garb made their way through the gates of Britannia Royal Naval College as part of a school project on World War 2. The pupils, aged between four and 11 and from Stoke Gabriel Primary School, walked through the town from the Lower Ferry carrying their home-made gas mask boxes and wearing name labels. Once inside the college, the visitors had a World War 2-themed tour with college lecturers Drs Richard Porter and Jane Harrold, who are also the college museum curator and archivist. “The pupils were genuinely interested by
Hydraulics powerhouse THANKS to a concerted effort by a senior rate, Morrell Block – part of the RN School of Marine Engineering (RNSME) – has been appointed a fully-approved hydraulic training centre. The seal of approval comes from CETOP (the Comité Européen des Transmissions Oléohydrauliques et Pneumatiques) – the European Fluid Power Committee, the umbrella organisation for national fluid power associations across Europe – and the BFPA (British Fluid Power Association). This not only raises the profile and scope of the Sultan-based training facility, but also means the school can become more active in the commercial world, opening training services to civilian companies and allowing the training of technicians from a wide range of organisations. And it was CPO Steven Petty who shouldered the burden of making this happen, and who led a tour of the establishment for BFPA staff.
all they saw in the college,” said Dr Porter. “I was impressed by the range of questions that were asked.” During the tour the ‘evacuees’ were taken into one of the air raid shelters in the grounds, were told about the bomb damage sustained in a raid in 1942 and studied an inert, unexploded bomb which is on display at the college. School staff member Selene PaxtonBrooks, who organised the visit, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be able to take the children into BRNC. “It was a great start to the long-term project, really bringing it to life for them.”
Picture: PO(Phot) Sean Clee
Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and spending time at sea in the recentlydecommissioned Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall, he arrived at the commando ‘school’ in January, beginning recruit training with 128 Troop. There he completed Phase 1 Training, which consists of the first 15 weeks, plus the four commando tests which are the seal of a green beret: h a nine-mile speed march carrying full kit, which has to be completed inside 90 minutes; h a six-mile endurance course through demanding terrain and obstacles; h the Tarzan assault course, which rookies have to finish inside 13 minutes in full combat kit; h and the legendary ’30 miler’ – a yomp around Dartmoor, once again with full kit, which a trainee must finish in under eight hours. Paul – like all chaplains in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines known simply as ‘bish’ – passed all four tests first time. The 30-miler, says Paul, “was the most evil thing I have ever faced. “I have prayed a lot during my time here, and I am grateful for all the support I have received, especially from Maj Dai Phillips, the remedial instructors in the gym and of course my family. The chaplain is now due to join 40 Commando, who are currently training in California during the early stages of their work-up to another tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The RN in a week
MORE than 70 students from the Plymouth area were given a taste of the Royal Navy during a week’s work experience at HMS Raleigh. The week-long summer programme gives students an insight into the RN’s ten-week initial training course, and they learn the practical skills of firefighting. They learn how to march, take part in physical training sessions and get the chance to save their ship in the establishment’s Damage Repair and Instructional Unit (DRIU), a simulator which rocks from side to side and floods with water. The students, aged between 14 and 16,
get out on the river in Pacific 24 sea boats and tour the training ship Brecon, a decommissioned minehunter. The RN Submarine School and Defence Maritime Logistics School are also on the programme, which is put together with the help of the Tamar Education Business Partnership. Cadet Hollie Hardwick, aged 15, of Stoke Damerel School, said: “I want to be a weapons officer in the Royal Navy. “This has given me an insight into what the recruits have to go through during training and has made me want to join even more.”
Scanning the Tyne for wildlife
HMS ECHO. HMS Enterprise. HMS Example. All Royal Navy survey ships. Well, technically, the first two are survey ships, and the third is a University RN Unit patrol boat. But Example’s recent activities include a cruise down the River Tyne and into the North Sea to help a group of conservation experts conduct a survey of marine wildlife off the coast of North-East England. The Durham Wildlife Trust aims to protect wildlife and promote nature conservation in County Durham, the City of Sunderland and the Boroughs of Gateshead, South Tyneside and Darlington, managing nature reserves and initiating projects while providing education and volunteering opportunities for thousands of adults and children every year. So the Commanding Officer of Example, Lt Nelson McMillan, and his ship’s company set off from their base at HMS Calliope, in Gateshead, to give the boffins – equipped with waterproofs,
binoculars and clipboard – every opportunity to record the wealth of wildlife in the region. “Although we didn’t see any on this voyage, the North Sea has many harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and even minke whales,” said Jim Cokill, the director of the trust. “We did, however, see an abundance of birds including gannets, common terns, guillemots and cormorants. “It has been a very worthwhile and rewarding experience for us to see the birds in their natural environment.” Lt McMillan said: “This was a tremendous opportunity to use the ship to help the local community and at the same time train our students in seamanship and navigation. “We all have a duty to protect our wildlife and I am happy to help the Durham Wildlife Trust with their work.” HMS Example is attached to the Northumbrian University RN Unit.
l Volunteers from the Durham Wildlife Trust on board HMS Example off Sunderland
of phys at Nelson
INSTEAD of being covered in the blood, sweat and tears of exercising sailors, the walls of HMS Nelson’s gym at Portsmouth Naval Base are now flooded with colour, thanks to a local graffiti artist. Fark – the artist’s street name – spent several days at the base to decorate the bare, white walls of the gym with the urban art at the invitation of CPOPT Clayton Patilla. And as part of Portsmouth City Council’s Passport to Success scheme, Fark was given a helping hand by local schoolchildren who adorned the walls with inspirational messages and pictures. LPT Paddy Stephens said: “I never thought I would be stood watching people spray paint a military gym. “It’s brilliant – it was amazing to see the kids come in and get on with it. “There were a couple of things we wanted on the walls but everything else the artists have come up with themselves – it looks great. “HMS Nelson gym is the envy of other military establishments because we have the best equipment – and now we have the best walls as well. “It’s a big community initiative for us, and from a Royal Navy perspective that is what we at the gym wanted to do. “For someone like myself, I look at this place like it’s my home so it’s nice for them to come in to do this for us.”
Cleaning the sands
IT WAS hardly beach weather, but it didn’t stop a party from RN Air Station Culdrose heading down onto Praa Sands. The group of students from 849 Naval Air Squadron were not there with towel and swimsuits, however – they were joining other volunteers from Helston Baptist Church and local residents for the annual Beachwatch at Hendra Beach, to the east end of the sands. Their survey recorded 1,127 items of rubbish along a 100m stretch of beach, the most common being polystyrene or plastic such as net, rope or fishing lines – all particularly hazardous to wildlife. Although this year’s haul of shame was less than half the level recorded in previous years, recent strong winds and sea surges were thought to be a significant factor. The teams removed 24kg of detritus from the sand, bringing the 13-year total to 33,047 items (almost 670kg), despute the fact that the local authorities regularly clean the beach and provide litter bins. The main sources of rubbish continue to be beach users, fishing and shipping. The annual Marine Conser vation Society’s Beachwatch litter survey and clean-up event takes place across the UK every autumn, covering more than 350 beaches.