8 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
Reservists at
sharp end of
piracy battle
TWO Maritime Reservists have Dutch flag and held it up – he
returned from deployment having presumably thought they would be
played their part in keeping the the best people to go with.
screws on the pirates off East “We found out that 13 of the
Africa. men on the dhow were hostages,
As we recounted last month, and they were released.”
MV Handytankers Magic reported The other seven were suspected
that she was under attack from of being pirates, but as they were
pirates, and RFA Wave Knight set not caught in the act they were
a course for the merchantman. eventually released – after their
Well now we can shed more light weapons were destroyed and the
on the anti-piracy dash thanks to skiffs sunk.
two men who were there. Not a bad result – but there was
ABs Nick Boughton, of HMS more to come.
Cambria, and Edmund Grandison Around two hours later Wave
(HMS Forward) joined tanker Knight picked up a second distress Base conversion
Wave Knight in Bahrain at the end call – pirates in another skiff were
of March, and were on duty on attempting to board the MV Front
April 18 in the Gulf of Aden when Ardennes.
the ship received a distress call. ABs Boughton and Grandison
By the time the RFA arrived the were again manning the guns –
pirates had fled, but Wave Knight their specialist roles in the RNR
S
AILORS face seismic
changes following
a major shake-up
followed the skiff to a fishing – and this time they were required
of Britain’s three naval
dhow which they suspected was to put warning shots across the bases.
the pirates’ mothership. bow of the skiff, not an easy task Devonport will be most
“We called up the Dutch ship considering the relative sizes of affected by the Maritime Change
HNLMS De Zeven Provincien – the vessels involved. Programme, a two-year study
which we had just refuelled that The skiff broke off and fled into the future of the three bases
morning – and then circled the towards shore, but again Wave announced by Armed Forces
dhow and skiffs with our guns Knight tracked it, this time for six Minister Bob Ainsworth.
manned while we waited,” said hours, allowing Canadian warship It will lose its submarines from
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft
AB Boughton, who works for HM HMCS Winnipeg to board it and the middle of the next decade –
carrier(s)
Revenue and Customs in Cardiff disarm the pirates. and possibly its seven Type 23
Invincible-class aircraft carrier(s)
in civilian life. AB Grandison, who drives frigates. It will, however, gain Royal
Type 45 destroyers
“The men stood on deck black cabs for a living, said: “It Marines from Turnchapel and
Type 23 frigates
with their hands up for about just shows how well your parent Poole to cement its status as the
Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance 2015
40 minutes while we circled, and unit trains you for this. hub of amphibious warfare.
River-class patrol vessels
we spotted at least a couple of “We thoroughly enjoyed the With the T-boats leaving
Hunt-class minehunters
machine guns on deck. whole experience, and would Devonport, Faslane will become the
Raider-class patrol vessels
“Just as the Dutch ship turned really recommend it to our UK’s sole operational submarine
up one of the men picked up a colleagues.” base. All Sandowns will continue
Plus
to be based on the Clyde.
Navy Command
Portsmouth will remain home
of the carrier and destroyer fl eet,
Hunt-class minehunters and
six Type 23s. Aside from plans “It will create a more stable basis on which
to shift the rest of the 23s to to plan and build rewarding careers.”
the Solent, the dockyard is the The plans for Devonport have provoked
likely home of the fi rst batch substantial criticism from political leaders in
of the class’ successor, the the West Country who fear the changes will “rip
Future Surface Combatant in the heart” out of the yard, while many sailors
a decade’s time. and their families are unhappy about moving to
In 2007, Whitehall Portsmouth or Faslane.
determined that it would need Naval Base Commander Cdre Ian Jess
all three naval bases – but that
2015
said rumours of Devonport’s demise were
it had too much dockyard unfounded – there would be “signifi cant multi-
capacity and too few ships. million pound investment” in the establishment.
The result was the Maritime He continued:
Change Programme which,
Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Astute-class fl eet submarines
“Devonport will long continue to play
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
Trafalgar-class fl eet submarines
an integral role in support of the Royal
acknowledged, “is likely to
Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels
Navy and these plans confi rm that the
base will continue to play a vital role in
cause signifi cant upheaval in
keeping the front line well equipped.”
the beginning”.
The admiral continued:
help as fhelp as far as it could with the relocaar as it could with the relocationtion and and
Mr Ainsworth said he was confi dent the
“We are working hard to ensure that issues
would talk to local authorities to ensure there
overhaul of the bases would “lead to savings of
affecting people will be addressed – and
would be school places to meet the possible
several hundred million pounds”. He added:
resolved – as a high priority.”
infl ux of extra youngsters, while there would be
“Each of our naval bases has a strong future
The admiral said it was vital the Senior
suffi cient crèche, sports and other facilities at
under the plans we have laid out.”
Service made the best use of its bases, warships
each base.
■ AT THE same time as announcing the
and resources to support the front-line Fleet.
In the long term, Whitehall hopes there will
Maritime Change Programme results, Mr
“I must emphasise that this is a good news
be less ‘churn’ and more harmony for families
Ainsworth also revealed the outcome of
story for the operation, maintenance and
instead of the regular fl icking between Faslane
Programme Belvedere – the future of Joint
support of the Fleet,” he added.
and Devonport for submariners and between
Helicopter Command ‘battlefi eld helicopter’
“But I am determined that it will also be a Devonport and Portsmouth for Type 23 sailors
bases, which included the Commando
good news story for our people in the future.” especially.
Helicopter Force.
To that end, no changes to base ports will “The Maritime Change Programme involves
CHF – 845, 846, 847 and 848 Naval Air
take place before 2014. After that, however, complex and far-reaching changes with great
Squadrons and their Lynx and Jungly Sea
major moves will occur. potential for long-term benefi t – operationally
Kings – will be staying put at RNAS Yeovilton
The three remaining Trafalgar-class and for our sailors and marines and their as moving personnel and material would bring
specialist legal advice
submarines – Trenchant, Talent and Triumph – families,” said Admiral Stanhope. no benefi t to the front line, Mr Ainsworth said.
will move to Faslane.
The bulk of submarine training will also
to forces personnel
shift north of the border, with just some
engineering and supporting shore billets left
for submariners in Devonport. The SETT will
remain in Gosport.
Suffered a Military Injury?
539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines will
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
make the shortish hop from Turnchapel and 10
the military.
Training Squadron RM will make the longer
We can assist you with your claim under the move from Poole to bring commando landing
new AFCS and advise you on whether to craft together in Devonport Naval Base.
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our
Seven Type 23s – Sutherland,
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
Northumberland, Argyll, Montrose,
advice scheme.
Monmouth, Portland and Somerset – could
be transferred to Portsmouth from 2014 (a
decision will be made within the next 12
Ocean-class amphibious
Police Interview/
months). All four Type 22s will see out their
assault ship
Courts Martial
careers in the West Country.
Albion-class amphibious
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
Devonport will continue to be the centre
assault ships
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
for submarine refi ts but it will also take on
Type 22 frigates
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm
additional work supporting the Surface Fleet – Possibly Type 23 frigates
expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
with fewer refi ts carried out in Portsmouth. Echo-class survey vessels
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm From 2019, the Future Surface Combatant
Scott-class hydrographic
– replacement for Type 22/23 frigates – is likely vessel
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
We can also advise on:
to be based in Portsmouth, although studies are Roebuck-class survey vessel
Employment Issues
under way to consider basing the less-advanced Gleaner-class survey motor
2015
variants of the ship in Devonport.
Family Problems
launch
With such a potential upheaval of personnel
House Purchases
and their families, there will be questions about Plus
Wills
homes/accommodation, school provision for 539 Assault Squadron RM
children, provision of doctors and dentists for 10 Training Squadron RM
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW Naval families. Flag Officer Sea Training
Admiral Stanhope said the Navy would
008_NN_June.indd 1 21/5/09 11:24:54
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