ROYAL NAVY
left: The Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805, by William Turner
below: Rear- Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758- 1805)
but stick to the task whatever the circumstances. An ethos close, no doubt, to the code
of conduct required by Admiral Anson in the eighteenth century. However, much else has changed for the Royal Navy in the twenty-first century.
Flexible thinking, flexible forces Today, gone are the impressive forces of the Navy’s largest warships of the twentieth century: the battleships, the light and heavy cruisers that performed so magnificently during World War II. Different challenges and new and versatile armaments and communication systems made them obsolete, with today’s Royal Navy fittingly reshaped for new roles and challenges. ‘Flexible thinking, flexible forces’ are the watchwords of today’s navy, undertaking a vast range of activities that include the constant protection of the UK coastline (10,500 miles of coastline and 600 ports); exerting power and influence at and from the sea to deter, coerce, stabilise and reassure others in time of crisis; reinforce global maritime security on the high seas where our interests need protection; search and rescue operations; and anti-piracy protection in various parts of the world. It is reassuring to know that, on an average day, 27% of the naval service are
committed to operations or undertaking military tasks seven days a week, 365 days a year. And does this offer good value to
the British taxpayer? Decide for yourself: the Royal Navy’s operating budget costs the UK taxpayer just 30p per day – less than the cost of a first class stamp.
Fit for purpose In conclusion, the true purpose of today’s Royal Navy is perhaps best summed up in an address given in July last year by the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC, who commented: ‘We are at a time when the perceived
military threats to our shores are low. This is clearly a good thing, but it does not tell the whole story. As a nation our prosperity and freedoms are, more than most, directly affected by what happens abroad and therefore are highly reliant on the stability and security of the globalised world. Some things don’t change. Geography and history have made
Britain a maritime nation with global responsibilities dependent on the free movement of maritime trade. Ours is now a “just enough, just in time” economy in many important areas, energy and food supplies are important examples, where freedom to use the seas is vital in protecting our national interests and securing our
The Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the Royal Navy’s air force. It numbers some 6,200 people, which is 11.5% of the total Royal Naval strength, operating about 200 combat aircraft and over 50 support/training air- craft. Its helicopters and fixed wing aircraft provide the Royal Navy with a multi-role airborne combat capability able to operate independently at short notice, in all environments, day and night, over the sea and land.
Royal Navy warship escorts the Little Ships’ return to Dunkirk to mark the 70th anniversary
HMS Monmouth acted as an escort to a flotilla of small ships to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk. The Devonport-based Type 23 frigate sailed to the northern French port alongside dozens of civilian vessels to commemorate Opera- tion Dynamo – the daring rescue of more than 300,000 allied troops in 1940.
Monmouth met with the flotilla as they left Ramsgate, in Kent, on Thursday, May 27, and lead the ships across the English Channel. Aircraft from the Royal Navy Historic Flight swooped over the group as they made the journey towards France.
Dotted around the ‘little ships’ were 20 navy ratings from HMS Collingwood who acted as junior escorts for the civilian vessels that took part. (Operation Dynamo, see also pp.50-56)
26 SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
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