NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 5
Report slams
procurement
overspending
Say hello to Echo
WHITEHALL suffers from an
endemic failure to control the
A HEARTY wave from loved ones at Devil’s Point as exceedingly long by modern RN standards. during 380 days at sea.
cost of buying new kit, a highly-
the good ship Echo sees home for the fi rst time in 18 Most of those 18 months were spent in the Far And aside from fostering good relations with the
critical independent report warns.
months. East – the survey ship made Singapore her second various foreign navies – such as the survey branch
Former government adviser
The multi-role survey ship arrived back in weather home, paying no fewer than a dozen visits to the of the Indonesian Navy – they worked with, the
Bernard Gray says both the
even finer than when she departed Devonport – not Commonwealth metropolis. ship’s company paid their respects at numerous war
MOD and the public have
bad for an autumn day in the West Country. There were also visits to Brunei (supporting the memorials which are scattered around the region.
become inured to a seemingly
Now we did say when she left that the people of Taurus 09 amphibious task group), Hong Kong, South “We maintained a continuous RN presence in the Far
endless stream of reports about
Plymouth wouldn’t seen Echo again until after the Korea and Bangladesh; Echo was the fi rst RN visitor to East for nearly 18 months, gathering data in demanding
military projects which are years
Olympics. the latter in 12 years. environmental conditions, often a long distance from
late and millions over budget.
Admittedly, we expected it to be the London games… She joined more than 40 warships from across the shore support,” said Lt Cdr Derek Rae, Echo’s XO.
Mr Gray, who was
rather than those in Beijing. globe at the Indonesian Navy’s Fleet Review off the “To achieve that required team work from the whole
commissioned by the MOD
But after 18 months away, top brass decided the ship island of Sulawesi and also took part in the South ship’s company. They can be justifi ably proud of what
to look into the deep-seated
could fulfil her training and operational requirements in Korean Review. we have achieved.”
problem, says “the problems, and
a more cost-effective way by coming home and then More typically, however, the ship conducted survey A rotation system, with one third of Echo’s ship’s
the sums of money involved, have
redeploying (she’s due for more tasking in the new work (or MDG as it’s known these days apparently – company home on leave or on courses, ensured her
almost lost their power to shock,
year). military data gathering). She clocked up 76,000 nautical demanding workload could be upheld.
so endemic is the issue, and so
And let’s face it, an 18-month deployment is miles (three times around the Equator) on her travels Picture: LA(Phot) Alex Cave, FRPU West
routine the headlines.”
He adds: “The issue is a
mystery, wrapped in an enigma,
shrouded in an acronym.”
On average, major projects are
fi ve years overdue and around
£300m over budget.
Of expensive and delayed
naval projects, the former MOD
adviser focuses on the Type 45
destroyer – “indeed a mighty and
impressive ship”.
Thanks to various cancelled or
stalled initiatives, the replacement
for the aged Type 42 destroyers is
some two decades late.
“Had we been tasked with a
Falklands-style mission during
the past 20 years, we would have
risked significant casualties, the
very significant costs of acquiring
adequate equipment at short
notice or the embarrassment of
not fighting at all,” Mr Gray says.
“Our blushes have in part
been spared by the fact that we
have not been called upon in
recent years to fight the kind of
campaigns that have required
the services of some of our most
expensive and delayed weapons
systems.”
The 300-page report, Review
of Acquisition, says part of
the problem is the constant
in-fighting between the three
Services for funds.
‘We are not looking
But Mr Gray also points out
that the military of the USA,
France and Australia also suffer
from almost identical problems
for praise...’
when it comes to acquiring new
equipment.
FROM the sun to the rain.
“Bernard and his team have
There was no bright blue sky to welcome 80 sailors from 1st Mine
done a thorough job,” said Lord
Countermeasures Squadron back from the Gulf, only dreary Scottish
Drayson, minister for strategic
drizzle.
defence acquisition reform.
After seven months in charge of HM Ships Pembroke and Grimsby,
“They have come up with a
Crews 1 and 5 touched down at Prestwick Airport near Ayr to bring
strong package of measures to
the latest phase of the mine warfare tour-of-duty in the Gulf to a
ensure the right equipment is
close.
delivered in the most effi cient
The two Faslane-based warships are on long-term deployment to
way.
Bahrain, with the crews of all eight Sandowns being rotated through
“Quite simply, we accept most
the duo to sustain operations in the region.
of his recommendations and are
Now back on the Clyde, the returning sailors have taken over
getting on with implementing
HM Ships Shoreham and Walney, where they were visited by
them alongside broader work
Captain Faslane Flotilla, Capt Andy McKendrick, who praised their
to develop a future strategy for
accomplishments.
defence acquisition, which will
“These two ship’s companies have been deployed on operations
ensure we deliver as effectively
for six months and whilst fl ying home is undoubtedly quick it denies
as possible the equipment the
them the occasion that all sailors enjoy when they bring their ships
Armed Forces need.”
into their home port in front of families and friends,” said Capt
McKendrick.
Australia for
“They have been operating in demanding conditions requiring
absolute professionalism and I applaud their success.”
Lt Cdr Anthony Crabb, CO of the crew which took over Pembroke,
847 NAS...
said his sailors had faced “an enormous challenge”.
He continued: “Mine hunters are highly-sophisticated ships and
the heat, sand and intensity of operations meant that everyone had
...SADLY the shield, not the to be at the very top of their game.
country – but it is one of the “The crew were always on the go throughout the deployment
highest honours in the Fleet Air maintaining the ship and had no break. They were sometimes
Arm nevertheless. working in 40˚C or 50˚C.
Fliers and ground crew with “Their training and pride in their work kept them focused on the
847 Naval Air Squadron were task at hand, making the deployment such a success.”
awarded the coveted Australia Over and above the mechanical and technological challenge of
Shield for supporting relentless keeping the vessels running, there was also the essential task of
operational demands. keeping the crew motivated.
Over nine months in 2009, “In many ways this is the tricky part,” explained Lt Cdr Marcus
half the Yeovilton-based Lynx Jacques, who commanded HMS Grimsby during the deployment.
squadron has been deployed “Without the right people the ships are useless. We tried our
in Afghanistan in support of hardest to maintain a balanced programme for the crews. We varied
the Allied mission, clocking up the work they did, gave them downtime when we could and created
around 250 flying hours per goals for them to work towards.”
month. “However, what worked most in the deployment’s favour was the
On top of that it has been fi rst-class training the crews receive.
charged with duties at home and “One thing you learn visiting other ports and other navies is that
abroad (such as taking part in the Royal Navy training is the envy of the world.”
the Taurus deployment to the Lt Cdr Crabb said it was vital that the rest of the RN – and the
Far East); there was a four-week wider public – understood the efforts made by the minehunting force
period this year when virtually in the Gulf (aside from the two Sandowns, two Hunt-class ships are
the entire unit was deployed in based in Bahrain: Atherstone and Chiddingfold).
one or other overseas location. “Every day we see troops who are in the Gulf or taking part in
In both Afghanistan and the operations in Afghanistan on the news or in the papers. There is
jungles of Malaysia and Brunei, no doubt that they are heroes, working in a harsh environment on a
847’s engineers maintained a diffi cult and perilous job,” the offi cer added.
remarkable level of serviceability. “The Royal Navy does its part too, supporting these big operations
The result is the award of the and making them possible.
shield, presented to the FAA unit “We are not looking for homecoming parades of praise, but the
which maintains the highest level dedicated crews working for MCM1 certainly deserve recognition.
of operational effi ciency. They are the hardest working crews in the Fleet.”
005_NN_Nov.indd 1 20/10/09 16:10:48
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