6 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
RN takes
charge
in Gulf
THE vital task of defending Iraq’s
main source of income is back in
British hands.
The Royal Navy has once more
taken charge of the international
force which protects the country’s
two oil platforms and its shores
from terrorist/enemy attack.
The Senior Service maintains
an almost constant presence
around the two terminals – Al
Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr
Al Amaya (KAAOT) – a duty
Peek-a-boo
currently performed by frigate
HMS Richmond.
Richmond is just one piece in
a much larger jigsaw, however.
twit-twoo
Defence of the platforms has been
shared among four Allied nations
FILE this under ‘unusual birds
– Britain, Australia the US and
visiting fi shery protection vessels
Iraq – with staff running an
at sea’ (it’s a very small fi le…).
operations centre on the ABOT
Yes, your eyes do not deceive
terminal.
you – this is a barn owl and the
Command of that force –
grey metal it’s peeking out of is
formerly Combined Task Force
Her Majesty’s Ship Severn.
158, now CTF Iraqi Maritime
The rare visitor dropped in on
the ship 85 miles off the Cornish
(which stops it being confused
● The good folk of Barnstaple applaud the efforts of the Commando Logistic Regiment as the Royals march through the market town on
coast while Severn was carrying
with the various numerical task
their return from Afghanistan Picture: LA(Phot) Steve Johncock, FRPU West
out a fi shery patrol.
groups east of Suez such as 150,
The owl spent the whole day
152, 157…) – rotates around the
aboard the warship, wandering
Allies.
around the gun deck and only
And so it was that in Bahrain
departing when the vessel neared
America’s Rear Admiral
Cornwall.
Thomas Cropper handed over
There was, of course, no barn
responsibilities to Cdre James
in sight (or pussycat or pea green
Morse (and on the platforms,
Royals’ parade pride
boat for that matter…). But there
the RN’s Capt Keith Blount took
was Lt Chris L’Amie, one of
over from his US counterpart
MARCHING through the
the Royals of 42 Commando took
work with – but the men patrolled
Severn’s sea fi shery and wildlife
Capt Karl Van Deusen).
offi cers.
“We have a vital role to play
meandering streets of
to the city’s streets.
daily on foot, in vehicles where
the new Jackal proved itself, or by
“The owl appeared in good
in assisting the Iraqi forces
an historic market town,
42 Commando conducted 19
full-scale operations – involving
helicopter.
health and simply wanted to rest
with security in their territorial
these are the men of the entire commando of 550 men
As 45 Commando’s roll of
its wings before continuing on
waters,” said Cdre Morse.
the Commando Logistic
– across three southern Afghan
honour suggests, the unit faced
its way,” said Chris. “It certainly
“The oil platforms are essential
made a refreshing change from
to Iraq’s prosperity. My task
Regiment receiving the
provinces, as well as a host of
perhaps the toughest enemy
smaller-scale missions during its
opposition of all the British forces
everyday sea birds.”
group will work closely with
appreciation of the people
six months.
deployed to Afghanistan over the
Aside from owl-spotting,
our Iraqi colleagues to provide
they have sworn an oath After two weeks of thoroughly-
winter.
Severn has been following a fairly
assistance as they continue to
to safeguard.
deserved leave, the green berets
“We faced a determined
punishing fi shery protection
develop.”
patrol schedule – North Sea,
The task force comprises a pot
The green berets celebrated
mustered at Bickleigh barracks
insurgency throughout – our
Western Approaches, Biscay –
pourri of Iraqi sailors and marines
their return from a six-month
ahead of their march through
enemy has been active, but he
punctuated by some good port
who provide the immediate tour of duty in Afghanistan –
Plymouth. It is their privilege
ALTHOUGH 3 Commando has suffered considerable losses of
visits (Newcastle, Dover and
defence of the platforms and and honoured their fallen – by
to pound the streets of the city
Brigade have departed fighters and equipment.
Bilbao among others, the latter
inspect tankers and other parading through the streets of
behind a guard, Colours unfurled
Afghanistan, the Royal “We were successful in
had not seen an RN warship for
shipping in the northern Gulf, Barnstaple, the nearest large town
and bayonets fixed – and they
Marines’ Armoured Support suppressing much of their activity
four years).
RN and US surface ships, plus to their base at Chivenor.
did so.
Group remains in Helmand in our area. These efforts often
And if you didn’t catch the
fast patrol boats. There were two empty places in
“Our efforts have been supported
– and the Taleban continue resulted in some direct – and lethal
Magnifi cent Severn in those
The platforms are estimated the 600-strong ranks, however: the
in a truly exemplary fashion – it’s
to take their toll of green – engagements with enemy forces
ports or her home of Portsmouth
to account for upwards of 85 per regiment lost Cpl Rob Deering
been humbling to know we enjoy
berets. throughout our tour, engagements
Mne Jason Mackie
(admittedly, she’s an infrequent
cent of all Iraq’s income. and Mne Damien Davies. The
such attention. Thursday May 7 in which we prevailed at every
(pictured above) was killed
sight in the Solent such is her
parade was dedicated to their
was a particularly special day,” turn.
instantly when his Viking
workload), you will be able to
Intelligence
memory.
said 42’s Commanding Officer
detonated a bomb near
“Enduring and sustainable
catch her on the telly.
“It is so important for everyone
Lt Col Charlie Stickland.
Basharan in central Helmand
progress was certainly
The ship has been joined
– friends, family, colleagues, even
45 Commando’s day in the sun
during a patrol with the
made, but it was gritty, slow
on patrol by a video journalist
recognition
people who didn’t know our fallen
is yet to come, but the Arbroath-
Welsh Guards. His fellow
and dangerous work.”
whose footage can be seen in the
comrades – to really understand
based marines are at least home.
Viking operator was injured Though the number of
documentary series Sea Patrol on
that Rob and Damo will never be
The green berets from RM
in the blast. fatalities in Afghanistan was not
the National Geographic channel
IF YOU’RE looking for
forgotten,” said Lt Andy Cheal.
Condor were the last men of 3
The 21-year-old from insubstantial, the number of
in July and Channel Five in
intelligence in the RN, look no
CLR was by far the most
Commando Brigade to return to
Bampton in Oxfordshire was wounded was considerably higher.
September.
further than the Black Duke.
diverse unit sent to Afghanistan
the UK, having made significant
coming to the end of his Many men of 3 Commando
Aside from enjoying the best
under 3 Commando Brigade.
progress during their six months
tour of duty in Afghanistan. Brigade found themselves being
deployment of 2007 by sailing
Aside from its green berets, its
in the Upper Sangin Valley but
at a heavy cost: eight men never
Hailing from Zimbabwe treated at the RN-led hospital ...From owls
around the globe, the men and
ranks comprised submariners,
came home.
originally, Mne ‘Makie’ in Camp Bastion, British
women of HMS Monmouth
musicians from the Royal Marines
45’s operations were centred on
Mackie joined the Corps headquarters in Afghanistan.
collected reams and reams of
Band Service, divers, general
Sangin, once a Taleban heartland
in June 2007 and, after One in five of all medics in the
service sailors who performed
to cats...
data and information on events but which has changed markedly
serving as a rifleman in 40 Senior Service deployed to Bastion
and movements at sea during the
a myriad of tasks in supporting
since the fundamentalists were
Commando, volunteered for with the brigade – more than 350
BEGINNING their 2009 season
nine-month deployment.
front-line Allied forces spread
driven out.
Viking training. men and women, medics, nurses,
in earnest this month are the
Having sifted through all that
across southern Afghanistan.
Sixty businesses and stores have
His CO Maj Richard surgeons, dentists – as part of a
RN’s Lynx helicopter display
information and passed it on
“The men and women of 3
opened in the heart of the town,
Hopkins, Officer 547-strong medical team serving
team, the Black Cats.
to the powers that be, the latter
Commando Brigade who
more than three score community
Commanding Armoured with the marines.
The two helicopters and their
determined that the Devonport
have worked and fought so
projects are under way – irrigation,
Support Group, said the Facilities at Bastion comprised,
crews have clocked up more than
Type 23 was deserving of the RN
hard in Afghanistan have been
new wells, new schools, a health
young commando was as said Surg Cdr Roger Thomson,
60 hours’ practice in time for the
Intelligence Trophy.
overwhelmed by the groundswell
centre – and more than 17,000
dedicated a Royal Marine as CO of the Joint Force Medical
Fly Navy 100 season which sees
Monmouth’s Volans 07
in public support and the pride
people have registered to vote in
he was keen sportsman and Group, “one of the most advanced
the duo appearing at 17 shows
deployment saw the frigate
people are showing in their Armed
the impending national election
focal point of social life in trauma hospitals in the world.”
(the first was Southend at the end
enjoying some tip-top visits –
Forces,” said the regiment’s
(ten times the anticipated
the unit. That trauma centre found itself
of last month, the last is HMS
Hong Kong, Honolulu, Sydney,
Commanding Officer Col Andy
number).
“Mne Mackie was dealing with not only British and
Illustrious’s visit to Liverpool
Darwin – but it also saw her
Maynard.
The Royals’ impact also
a colourful, cheerful, Allied wounded, but also Afghan
in October to bring the curtain
knuckling down to intense
“The parade through Barnstaple
extended into the countryside
enthusiastic young man civilians caught up in the conflict.
down on naval aviation birthday
maritime security operations in
gave us the opportunity to thank
around Sangin. Thanks to the
who I will always remember More serious cases were flown
celebrations).
the Red Sea and Gulf region.
the community, the people of
security they provided, the local
for his sense of fun and back to Selly Oak hospital in
All three key RN public
“Accurate, timely and effective
North Devon, our families and our
government was able to deliver
everlasting grin. Birmingham within 24 hours of
displays – Yeovilton and Culdrose
intelligence forms the foundation
friends for the incredible support
tons of free wheat seed to farmers.
“He was immensely proud
being wounded. Air Days, plus Devonport Navy
for any operation conducted by
they have shown us throughout
The result has been a 40 per
of being a Royal Marine and
“Using the very latest medical Days – are on the ‘menu’.
the Black Duke,” said intelligence
our journey.”
cent drop in poppy growth –
a Viking operator. He was
techniques, technology and Lead pilot in 2009 is Lt Dave
officer Lt Vivek Raval.
Having marched through
mainstay of the drugs trade and
‘one of ours’ and we will
doctrine, often right on the Lilly, who was No.2 pilot last
“This is a major undertaking
the North Devon town, the
a chief source of income for the
never let go of his memory.”
frontline, there was never any effort season. That position is filled
for any intelligence team which
commandos returned to base for a
insurgents – in the district.
Mne Mackie’s comrade
spared in providing care for our by Black Cat newcomer Lt AJ
has to sort through vast amounts
medal presentation by Second Sea
“Eleven schools opened since
L/Cpl Jamie McGill added:
men and women on the ground,” Thompson.
of information and sources within
Lord Vice Admiral Alan Massey
our arrival, families were moving
“He was an unbreakable
said Surg Cdr Thomson. One feature retained from the
a limited time.
and a tribute from the RAF.
back into southern Sangin, the
marine, physically and
“Such was its groundbreaking 2008 season is the ‘swingboat’
“This is a very important
A Chivenor-based Search and bazaar was thriving,” said 45’s CO mentally, always smiling nature that we have seen injured
– a formation pass at 50mph...
award presentation, marking Rescue Sea King flew over the Col Jim Morris.
when times got tough.
personnel returning to the UK backwards.
an impressive accomplishment parade ground trailing the White Aside from Whiskey Company in
“Everyone knew him for
having received injuries from The Black Cats’ programme
by the ship and the intelligence Ensign – a rare sight indeed. Sangin, 45’s four other companies
his big grin.”
which, in a previous era, they for the year can be found at
team.” Sixty miles to the south there – Victor, X-Ray, Yankee and Zulu would not have survived.” www.royalnavy.mod.uk/
Rear Admiral Mark Anderson, was an even larger turnout – – were scattered north and south At each one, conditions were The efforts of the Senior operations-and-support/fl eet-
the RN’s Commander of understandable, perhaps, given of the town in a smattering of basic – no running water, limited Service medics in Helmand will air-arm/helicopter-display-
Operations, presented the trophy that Plymouth is a good seven outposts, or Forward Operating electricity, basic sanitation, be championed at HMS Excellent team-(-black-cats-)/news/
to Monmouth’s intelligence team. times larger than Barnstaple – as Bases from Kajaki to Gereshk. restricted rations for the chefs to with a medals parade on July 10. black-cat-season-2009
01273 467277
www.pooleysword.com
SWORD MAKERS TO THE ROYAL MARINES
006_NN_June.indd 1 20/5/09 17:52:27
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