NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010 5
Cold
Rover
WHEN we report on activities icy blue skies approaching Gold Rover spent Their arrival was again shrouded
in the South Atlantic, there is
snow-capped mountains the next night steaming by a blizzard, but once it lifted
usually a fair bit of news about
sounds more promising, to Fortuna Bay for a the crew were treated to more
the two warships patrolling
as does small grey navigation exercise, but spectacular views, more wildlife –
those cold grey waters.
tanker flanked by two as the ship approached and four scientists in the middle of
destroyers. the entrance to the a snowball fight.
One is the Atlantic Patrol Task
The icy blue skies bay and dawn broke The four, researching the
(South) ship, a role which HMS
were those over a snowstorm reduced elephant seals, were invited on
York has just inherited from HMS
South Georgia, a rare visibility to less than board for tea, and the offer of a
Gloucester (see left).
destination for the half a mile, rendering hot shower was gratefully received
The other is the local asset
South APT(S) tanker, the exercise pointless. – their living conditions were
– HMS Clyde, based at Mare
which meant there was Not wishing to give up basic, to say the least (no hot
Harbour near the Mount Pleasant
plenty of anticipation as Gold totally, and with a few hours water, for example), as members
military complex and by now
Rover left East Cove in Mare still in hand before needing to sail of the crew found when they were
a familiar sight to islanders as
Harbour on a Saturday morning to Husvik, Capt Paul Minter RFA invited ashore for a look around.
she does the rounds of outlying
and headed south-east. decided to head into the weather Other sights to see included
communities (see pp 20-21).
The seas were mercifully for a while to see if there was any the old whaling station, while the
But there is another ship which
benign, though the auxiliary had chance the storm might clear. ship’s boat did a roaring trade in
does not always get a share of the
to contend with snowstorms as she Although it soon became wildlife cruises.
limelight.
made her way towards Grytviken, obvious that the weather was After a slight hiatus as they
That could be because she
arriving in a blizzard late on the not going to relent, the lookout recovered their anchor – a pump
quietly gets on with her routine task
Monday afternoon. reported whales – two large sperm motor decided to play up – Gold
of keeping the warships running
The flying snow cloaked the whales a little way ahead. Rover returned to Grytviken, and
by providing fuel and stores, and
landscape for a couple of hours, Gold Rover slowed down to get put to sea for the long haul back to
the fact that she does it regularly
but when the weather eased there a closer look, and not only did the Falklands.
and efficiently means there is not
was a scramble to get out to see the crew get that closer look, but The tanker then escorted
much cause to consider her part in
the bleak, breath-taking splendour the whales also seemed to be in a Gloucester to Brazil (where she
the grand scheme of things.
of South Georgia. playful mood, so the ship spent 45 spent three days alongside in
So, step forward, RFA Gold
HMS Gloucester was already minutes circling them as they put Recife) and on northwards, across
Rover, and let us acknowledge
at anchor in Grytviken, which on a display. the equator to the Cape Verde
your place in the team which allowed crew from Gold Rover to When the whales decided that islands, where she bade farewell
patrols this harsh outpost of join a Service of Remembrance enough was enough, they headed to the Fighting G and welcomed
civilisation. ashore in the chapel, led by the off, and Gold Rover followed their HMS York, refuelling both before
Of course, it helps when Gold Fleet Chaplain. example, setting course for her escorting York on the long journey
Rover takes a break from her The tanker then moved to a new next anchorage off Husvik. south.
routine. overnight anchorage, appropriately
After all, small grey tanker on big enough in Gold Harbour, where
● Clockwise from top: lookouts check for ice as RFA Gold Rover
grey sea with grey skies does not passengers and crew were able to
makes her way out of Grytviken in South Georgia; the tanker at
make the greatest photograph. see vast number of penguins and
anchor in Grytviken; a local enjoys a spot of sunshine between
But small grey tanker under elephant seals lining the beach.
snowstorms; approaching Grytviken Pictures: Capt Paul Minter (RFA)
004-005_NN_feb.indd 2 20/1/10 16:28:59
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