MoD and Navy News

An energetic group of Royal Navy sailors from the Devonport based frigate HMS Campbeltown have been taking time to see some breathtaking scenery while visiting Norway. The ship was in Stavanger to meet up with a group of NATO ships she would be joining as part of the annual Baltic Operations exercise, known as BALTOPS.

During a short break the crew took part in a number of sporting and social events with many taking the opportunity to do some sight seeing. A group of officers trekked to the top of Pulpit Rock, which is a slab of rock known in Norwegian as PreIkestolen, which overhangs some 604 metres above the Lysefjorden Fjiord.

Lieutenant Commander Bill Booth said: "I have been in the Royal Navy a long time and seen many things but this must be amongst the most spectacular. I am really pleased we took the time to do this, it certainly clears the mind to meet a busy operational programme."

After completing BALTOPS, HMS Campbeltown is due to visit Kiel in Germany before returning to Devonport. She will then undertake a maintenance period and operational sea training before deploying to the Arabian Gulf later in the year.

HMS Campbeltown has welcomed her Lynx Mark 8 338 helicopter and crew back on board after being tested and given a clean bill of health by the Naval Flying Standards Flight (Rotary Wing) or 'Trappers' as they are affectionately known.

The 'Trappers' are responsible for monitoring standards and practices within the aviation world, and could be compared to Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) of the Fleet Air Arm, with each ship's flight having to complete a series of assessments approximately every 18 months. The aim is to ensure the maintenance of safe operating procedures inside the cockpit as well as checking the accompanying knowledge of the aircrew. For 210 Flight this was undertaken at the end of April when the flight commander and pilot, Lieutenant Commander Gus Carnie, and Flight Observer Lieutenant Duncan Thomas came under the watchful eye of the Lynx Trappers, based at RNAS Yeovilton.

Throughout this intensive weeklong period they were assessed in three principal areas. Firstly, they had a thorough check of their aviation documents and administrative processes. Secondly, a two hour verbal examination on a wide array of subjects pertinent to military aviators ranging from meteorology to aerodynamics and weaponry, and finally a three hour sortie in the helicopter to make sure they can fly as well as they can talk.

This final phase took the form of a tactical military exercise where the crew was sent in low over Exmoor National Park to provide support to friendly ground forces, while identifying and reporting hostile anti-aircraft sites. A whistle stop tactical refuel at RMB Chivenor was then followed by crossing the coast into the flight's natural habitat to carry out some anti-surface warfare with simulated firings at 'enemy' shipping. With the helicopter safely back on hard ground, an exhausted Lieutenant Thomas remarked: "Although a lot of work is required for the NFSF visit, it is really good when you have succeeded to know you are delivering the goods."

HMS Campbeltown is now on her way to reacquaint itself with her namesake town in northern Scotland . Following this visit, the ship will move on to take the lead in the forthcoming BALTOPS NATO exercise, taking place in the Baltic Sea.

The crew of Devonport-based HMS Sutherland have been taking time to improve their fitness while on patrol in the Middle East.

The Type 23 frigate departed the UK on 25th September 2006 bound for the Arabian Gulf to act as the UK 's naval unit contributing to the coalition effort to ensure the security of the Iraqi oil platforms. She is also providing a deterrent effect against piracy, terrorism and smuggling in the region.

In order to add some healthy competition into the ship and to allow the ship's company to demonstrate their physical prowess a 'Superstars' competition was held during an afternoon at sea. The monumental physical battle between the various Messes onboard was based on the popular 1970s television series 'Superstars'.

The afternoon was organised by the ship's physical training instructor together with the ship's embarked Royal Marines boarding team. Each mess submitted at least one team of six superstars to undertake the gruelling challenges. The individual tests of endurance and strength included a 500m row followed by 40 bench presses of 40Kgs, 50 squat thrusts, 50 sit-ups, a foam drum carry and last but not least the chance to do three rope climbs. Each team member undertook one of the tests before the next superstar could commence their stance; the winners were the team completing all six challenges in the quickest time.

Following a series of rounds the teams were soon whittled down to two finalists. The nail biting final saw the chief petty officer's mess competing against the officer's wardroom, in a keenly contested battle with the winning side undecided until the final test, the rope climb, with the wardroom victorious. All team members enjoyed the event even with the temperature hovering around 36 degrees centigrade. However, the quickest time overall was posted by the Royal Marines team as they demonstrated the range of challenges at the start of the competition.

Sailors from Devonport-based HMS Albion are aiming to row from Plymouth to the Falkland Islands - without getting their feet wet. The crew launched a 'rowathon' to raise money for charity on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict. As well as commemorating the courageous efforts of their forebears the money raised will be donated to one of the ship's affiliated charities the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust in Ivybridge.

The ship is currently deployed as part of the NATO Response Force in the Baltic and she is due to return to Devonport later this summer in time for the 'rowathon' finale, which will take place in Plymouth. The fundraising event will see the Fleet amphibious flagship mark the anniversary of the amphibious landings in San Carlos waters.

Dame Hannah's caters for the needs of young people who have complex physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties. Many have communication problems and there is also an increasing number of young people who have additional profound difficulties including sensory impairments and medical problems. HMS Albion and Dame Hannah's have enjoyed a vibrant affiliation over the last four years with the ship's Chaplain taking the lead in maintaining close links during the ship's busy and varied operational programme.

The Devonport-based Hydrographic & Oceanographic Survey Vessel HMS Echo is returning to her homeport following a year long deployment that has seen her conducting valuable survey work and high profile diplomatic visits around the Arabian Gulf , the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and for the first time working with the Vietnamese hydrographic offices in Ho Chi Min City. The environmental data she has gathered over the last 12 months will now enable current navigation aids to be updated and improved.

Before returning to the UK the ship has been in the Mediterranean to represent the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) at this years' International Hydrographic Organisation Conference in Monte Carlo. The annual conference is a high profile gathering of heads of national hydrographic and oceanographic organisations from around the world. The UKHO, the producer of the famous Admiralty Chart, has a world-class reputation and it was fitting that HMS Echo, on her return leg of a year long deployment was able to provide visible support for this special event.

HMS Echo's deployment has been a long one. By the time she returns to Plymouth she will have been deployed for 371 days, 341 of which have been operational. Her work in the Northern Arabian Gulf saw the ship underlining the United Kingdom's commitment to improve the safe navigation of both merchant and coalition military vessels operating in an area which has not been surveyed to modern standards for many years.

Upon leaving the Gulf the ship participated in a joint exercise in the South China Sea before berthing in Singapore for a maintenance period. From Singapore, she undertook survey work in the Far East and paid high-profile diplomatic visits to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Manila in the Philippines , Vladivostok on the Russian Pacific coast and Yokosuka to the south of Tokyo in Japan.

Her return journey has included a brief maintenance period in Malta, on completion of which she participated in a collaborative survey with the national hydrographer of Malta to identify the wreckage of 'Hope', one of the three Gloster Gladiators used by the RAF to defended Malta from the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Her final visit was to the Principality of Monaco in support of the UKHO.

HMS Echo is a multi-role Hydrographic & Oceanographic Survey Vessel built by Appledore Shipyards in 2002 and supported by Vosper Thornycroft. The ship's company is made up of 13 Officers, 21 Senior Rates and 28 Junior Rates and operates a three-watch rotation system with only 48 of the 72 personnel onboard at sea enabling This system enables the ship to spend extended periods at sea.

The crew of the Devonport-based Trafalgar class submarine HMS Torbay has been recognised for the work in promoting the Royal Navy in the media in the annual Desmond Wettern public relations award.

This prize is made annually to the ship, naval air squadron or Royal Marines unit, which has done the most to project a positive image of the Royal Navy in the preceding year. De smond was a great friend of the Royal Navy and the naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. He was Britain 's last naval correspondent in Fleet Street. This year the award was won by HMS Bulwark with HMS Torbay praised as a runner-up in the submarine category.

The submarine is currently at HM Naval Base Clyde undergoing a ten-month Revalidation Assisted Maintenance Period (RAMP). During her RAMP the submarine will be improved with a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile firing capability, a comprehensive communications systems upgrade and she will be fitted with an acoustic countermeasures system.

The Flag Officer for Scotland Northern England and Northern Ireland , Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, presented her Commanding Officer Captain Commander Chris Goodsell with the certificate onboard the submarine. Chris said: "This is great news for HMS Torbay, which certainly had a busy year in 2006. As well as carrying out our usual operations we were open to visitors for Navy Days 06 and that certainly kept us in the public eye before and during the three-day event. We also made the headlines in the national press when trials saw the boat's hull painted blue."