36 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010
Crews
Return of the
honoured
for piracy
Arabian Arabian KnightKnight
patrols
ROYAL Navy and Royal Fleet
Auxiliary crews have been
honoured by the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) for
their work to counter piracy off
the coast of Somalia and in the
Gulf of Aden.
At a ceremony at IMO HQ
in London, Cdr Tim Henry,
Commanding Officer of HMS
Portland, received Certificates for
Exceptional Services Rendered to
Shipping and Mankind on behalf
of Royal Navy ships undertaking
counter-piracy operations.
IMO Secretary-General
Efthimios E Mitropoulos thanked
● RFA Wave Knight in the Gulf
the captains and crews for “their
dedication, their courage, their
commitment and for the sacrifices
AFTER a busy twenty months to HMS Cumberland was just her Merlin.
they make.”
● Cadet (X) Joe Davies
as Arabian Gulf Ready Tanker
the beginning of a busy period in The Royal Marines wasted no
Remarking that on behalf of
(AGRT) Wave Knight has now
Bahrain. time in taking the opportunity
his fellow COs it was an honour
returned home to Blighty,
This included to practise their boarding
to receive such recognition, Cdr
Henry added: “Whilst everyone
writes Cadet (X) Joe Davies.
disembarking the Arabian techniques on a low
Gulf Ready Tanker freeboard tanker.
agrees that the final solution to the
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary has
(AGRT) stores for RFA After several days
problem of piracy around Somalia
been supporting Coalition and
Bayleaf to pick up on of training, HMS
is not at sea, the men and women
European forces in the Middle
her taking the reins in Cumberland joined the
of the Royal Navy along with our
East theatre, from the Red Sea,
November, and loading show and, with their
fellow navies from around the
Gulf of Aden and around the
stores and equipment assistance and that of
world continue to work together
Internationally Recommended
for 814 Naval Air her own Lynx (Judge –
to help protect shipping in this and
Transit Corridor (IRTC), to as
Squadron’s Merlin dealing out justice...)
many other parts of the world.”
far afield as the Seychelles and
‘Sabretooth’, which proceeded to put on
Certificates were also presented
Maldives.
was to join us upon an impressive display
to COs or representatives of ships
Her role included providing
sailing. of naval force projection
from Australia, Canada, China,
fuel – pumping over more than
This left just enough time in a full-on counter-piracy
Denmark, France, Germany,
100,000 cubes of fuel whilst under
for some well-deserved R&R – boarding exercise – leaping
day and night serials to simulate continue her busy RAS schedule Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Japan,
way – and afloat support to ships
well, an afternoon at least! up ladders from boats, with
an attacking skiff whilst defence whilst providing support for other Malaysia, the Netherlands,
of 16 countries from across the After what seemed like an helicopters airborne and much to tactics such as ship manoeuvring, forces in the area, making good Portugal, South Korea, the
globe. eternity of painstakingly chipping the amusement of many, taking flashing lights, firing flares, and use of ‘Sabretooth’ to deter any Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia,
Following months of a hectic and painting each lashing point no chances with ‘securing and
VHF procedures were practised piracy activity in the area. Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey
Replenishment At Sea (RAS) on the flight deck and undertaking detaining’ a certain cadet.
and refined with feedback on their After a productive month of and the United States of America.
programme over the summer of sometimes seemingly extreme Due to the area in which she
effectiveness being reported back hard graft – and a few very late In the year covered by these
2009, Wave Knight found herself lengths to secure any possible would be operating, Wave Knight’s
by Coxswain Andy Fordy. nights for everyone on board – awards – up to July 2009 – the
in Bahrain with a change of crew FOD hazard (remember – either crew also undertook thorough
“We found it extremely difficult it was time to say farewell to following ships were involved with
and a slight change in tasking. pick it up or lash it down!) Wave gunnery training, and not just on
to see the ship’s profile when all Sabretooth and her supporting counter-piracy operations: RFAs
Embarking a party of Royal Knight was ready to fly on the stationary targets.
the lights were extinguished,” he cast and return them to land in Argus, Lyme Bay, Wave Knight and
Marines and their gear for transfer remainder of 814 squadron and The crash boat was used in both
said, describing the boat crew’s Salalah. Wave Ruler, HM ships Bulwark,
night ‘attack’. This was the last stop for Wave Chatham, Cornwall, Cumberland,
“And when the ship started Knight in her AGRT role, leaving Edinburgh, Lancaster, Montrose,
to turn at high speed you would only a few RASes en route to the Northumberland, Ocean, Portland,
start on one side and finish on Red Sea and a pump-over with Richmond and Somerset.
the other, which meant if you had RFA Bayleaf to prepare for.
marked a place on the ship where Wave Knight has had an
Steamy date
you were going to board, it would incredibly successful and
go right out the window. productive 20 months on station, THE fastest steam car in history
SHIP of the MONTH
“When the Aldis lamp hit us as attested to by the combined is one of the attractions at the
we were instantly blinded and forces of all nationalities and 2010 Celebration of Steam at
disorientated; the only option was commands that she leaves Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on
to turn away.” behind. May 8-9.
Now fully worked up and having So, while she will miss her RAS The British Steam Car smashed
completed her rigorous training custom, good coalition humour, a 103-year-old record by achieving
schedule, the combined forces life as the AGRT is just beginning almost 140mph in California last
Collectors’ Corner
on Wave Knight proceeded to for RFA Bayleaf… year.
Build an exciting and interesting collection of B&W and coloured postcard
sized photographs of ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and RFA’s.
The double life of Zoë
Only £12.50 UK £14.50 Overseas
JUST over a year ago, Zoë Townsley
looked into the possibility of
joining the Royal Naval Reserve.
I YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION
Here Zoë, who works for the
Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, tells how she joined, and her
Which includes ONE NEW postcard sized photograph
two-week basic training course.
“I went along to an open evening
of our featured vessel each month.
at my local unit, HMS President at
Tower Bridge, liked what I saw, set
about applying and also checked
that it was going to be compatible
with work,” said Zoë.
“The FCO has a very good
policy towards Reservists and you
● AB Zoë Townsley RNR (left) with colleagues and Foreign Secretary
are even allowed up to eight days
David Miliband
Special Paid Leave per annum for well as resolving all the day-to-day “The weekend certainly
training.” issues that cropped up. produced some nicknames too – a
Zoë confirmed that there is a “After the initial shock of day lively tradition in naval circles.
lot of training involved, with her one, the rest of the fortnight was “Mine was ‘Boggy’. I’ll leave it
first ten months being dedicated absolutely fantastic. to your imagination as to why, but
towards getting her ready for her “Thoroughly exhausting (three needless to say the ‘said incidents’
two weeks of basic training at to four hours sleep a night), very caused a great deal of mirth all
HMS Raleigh. challenging and constantly on the round.
Preparation includes not just move from one activity to another “I am pleased to report that I
naval knowledge, but also how – free time was a distant memory. passed all of my tests at Raleigh:
to conduct yourself in a military “We crammed so much in, the multiple fitness tests, the
Photographs can also be purchased individually for £1.20 each (minimum of three).
environment, together with PT much of it completely new to written exams and the dreaded
instruction to improve fitness me: parade training; life-raft drills; kit musters – yes, all your kit
Send Cheque/P.O. together with name and address of subscriber to levels. fire-fighting; man-overboard; the must be washed, ironed, polished,
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“The first day at Raleigh was SA80 gun simulator; and the named, fluff-free, folded into A4
nerve-racking,” said Zoë. Damage Repair Instructional and correctly positioned.
“Not only did we have the first Unit, a sinking ship simulator “The passing out parade was
Navy News, HMS Nelson, Queen Street, Portsmouth PO1 3HH of our fitness tests – the 2.4km where you must try to repair the amazing – friends and family
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run – but I was chosen as Deputy holes as water rushes in. had come to watch us march in
Class Leader, which was not an “The biggest exercise was the unison in our shiny new Number
honour I particularly wanted. weekend spent on Dartmoor. 1 uniform to the accompaniment
Cheques payable to: Navy News
“However, I gave it a go and “We were lucky as the weather of the Royal Marines band. We did
For orders outside of the UK, payment is to be made by cheque/International Money Order in £ Sterling
commanding our 16-strong was glorious for camping and ourselves proud!
squad was not as scary as I’d first orienteering. “The Raleigh course left me
imagined. “It was also a great opportunity with a real sense of achievement,
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“In fact, I got quite into it – the to bond with my team mates but sitting back at my desk here in
team were brilliant, and by the further and we were all united King Charles Street [FCO’s main
(Older photographs will be in Black & White) end I was thoroughly enjoying with one common goal: to reach building] is now rather strange: I
marching the squad around, as the pub on Sunday afternoon. feel like I lead a double life!”
036_NN_feb.indd 1 20/1/10 16:50:39
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