NAVY NEWS, JULY 2010
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Majesty’s Ship Somerset. But they’re certainly not as exciting as Mne Guy Lawson rapid roping on to the frigate’s fl ight deck as she makes her way east towards ‘Pirate Alley’. The Type 23 is bound for the tip of the Gulf to relieve her sister St Albans (see page 10). But on the way to her patrol zone around Iraq’s oil platforms, there’s considerable maritime security work to perform...
green beret – part of Somerset’s bespoke boarding party – is dropping out of the ship’s Lynx.
receiving a ‘very satisfactory’ report from the Flag Offi cer Sea Training (‘satisfactory’ is a pass...) following a period of extensive training which culminated in the 23 loosing her Seawolf air defence missiles at drone targets. The fi rst break for the ship’s company came in Gibraltar where 31 sailors participated in the traditional Rock Race. PO(ET)ME Steve Wilsmore won the 2.7-mile race (rising 1,300ft from the naval base to the top of one of the Pillars of Hercules) in an impressive time of 22m 55s. On sailing from Gib, the ship exercised with the zippy (technical term) boats of Gibraltar Squadron, practising her ability to counter fast attack craft. Next was an anti-submarine
warfare exercise with the USS Harry S Truman Carrier Battle Group, which allowed the Brits to show off the potency of their Sonar 2087... and watch some impressive jet activity involving the Truman.
Somerset sails east after ...which is why the
THERE are probably easier ways to get on board Her
Somerset was sent into the Mediterranean ahead of the 100,000-ton leviathan to scout for the presence of an ‘enemy’ boat – and neutralise if necessary. No longer do warships simply
sail from A to B ‘on passage’; these days it’s about Maritime Security Operations. In the Med, that means Operation Active Endeavour – checking on passing shipping to ensure everything is above board – as Somerset made for the NATO ranges in Crete for fi nal checks and assessments of the frigate’s weapons and sensors. Just to keep the 180-plus sailors and Royal Marines on their toes, there’s also been plenty of CBRNDC – not a town in Wales but Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Damage Control – exercises, gunnery and oil platform protection tests (minus the oil platforms). The chemical warfare drills saw sailors donning (and subsequently ‘undonning’) special NBCD suits – less-than- pleasant attire in warm climes – and respirators and digging out combo pens and NAPS tablets (used to counter the effects of chemical weapons).
All of which brings us to just about now (ie the beginning of July) and the entry into pirate- infested waters around the Horn of Africa and the International Transit Corridor off Yemen. That means a fair deal of
boarding and searching by Somerset’s, er, board and search teams on Operation Calash (similar mission to Active Endeavour, different waters). “As we are about to enter the joint operating area, my ship’s company are well prepared for – and looking forward to – the challenges that lie ahead,” said Somerset’s Commanding Offi cer, Cdr Andrew Burns. “We are confi dent that we can deliver every aspect of our mission to a high standard, contribute to security in the Middle East and maintain the strong reputation of the UK and Royal Navy in the region.”
picture: la(phot) jenny lodge, frpu east
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