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NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2010


Only send to a friend


KIND-hearted folk who send presents to sailors and marines at Christmas are being urged not to send unsolicited parcels to prevent the supply chain becoming overburdened. British Forces Post Office (BFPO) handles around 800 unsolicited parcels for military personnel in a normal week. But in the two months running up to Christmas, that figure triples – and the sheer amount of mail can mean that parcels and post sent by families and friends are delayed, and key resources in the logistics chain possibly diverted.


In Afghanistan, the extra post means extra flights or road convoys to deliver the parcels to outlying bases – putting personnel delivering them at increased risk.


Since the BPFO system was deluged by unsolicited post back in 2007, the Ministry of Defence has urged the public to show its goodwill and support for personnel deployed over the festive season via well-established charities such as the Royal Naval and Royal Marines Charity. There’s also the Whitehall- endorsed organisation uk4u Thanks! which sends a Christmas gift box to all deployed sailors, marines, soldiers and airmen. To see how you can help our men and women on deployment over Christmas, visit www.mod.uk/Public SupportForOurService Personnel


Thanks to the MOD


campaign in the past two years, the amount of unsolicited mail sent to personnel on deployment has been halved. The existing postal service to send packages up to 2kg free to eligible ships and operational theatres remains in place for families and friends.


Highs and lows of a T45 SO HOW bulbous is a


bulbous bow? Well, we’re very glad you asked


that question because here are several offi cers to demonstrate. The bulbous bow in question belongs to Her Majesty’s Ship Dragon, the fourth of six Type 45 destroyers built or being built. In Dragon’s case, it’s


‘being


built’ – it’ll be next September before she sails into Portsmouth, home of the futuristic destroyer fl eet.


Although she’s still in build, Dragon, plus her sisters Defender and Duncan – both also in various stages of construction on the Clyde – fall under the umbrella of the Portsmouth Flotilla, whose two most senior offi cers were keen to see the complete ins and out of a Type 45.


And when we say complete, we mean it. From the very top to the very bottom. The top was provided by HMS Defender, whose main mast is now in place – and surrounded by scaffolding… which allowed Commodore Portsmouth Flotilla Cdre Rupert Wallace and his deputy Capt Richard Farrington to stand next to the ‘spinning egg’.


The ‘spinning egg’ – better known as Radar 1045 or Sampson – has recently been lowered into place atop Defender’s main mast, as her senior naval d


offi cer Cdr Nick Boyd r


and weapons engineer offi cer Cdr Pete Walton explained.


120ft


The egg sits some above


sea


can only be accessed internally – indeed that’s how the


the level


– it’s this height which helps to give the radar its tremendous range. Ordinarily,


radar


company will maintain it through Defender’s life span – but with scaffolding still up at BAE’s


ship’s


21


Cool heads on Argyll


AND messes. And cabins. And compartments as the frigate emerges from a year-long overhaul. Britain’s oldest Type 23 frigate


(21 years since launch) is now prowling around the North Sea on trials after millions of pounds (and 290,000 man hours) were spent revamping her in Rosyth. Argyll left the hands of


engineers at Babcock three days ahead of schedule 11 months after the Devonport-based frigate headed up the Firth of Forth. So what can you do to a


Type 23 in 290,000 man hours? Well, you can rip out two of the four diesel generators, replace one of the main gas turbines, spruce up the hull, rebuild the fl ight deck (it’s been replaced with a new composite material). You can take out the old


● Will it burst if I prod it?... Cdre Rupert Wallace, Commodore Portsmouth Flotilla, inspects HMS Dragon’s bo


w do me


Scotstoun yard the visitors were afforded the unique chance to inspect the radar from the outside, albeit after a bit of a hike. Having seen a Type 45 from above, Cdre Wallace and


o a


Bowers. Lts Gary


by deputy marine and weapons engineer offi cers Collins


and Keith


allowed the visitors to appreciate the size of the Type 45s.


Standing next to the bow dome


dry dock to inspect what’s normally below the


waterline, guided moved Capt to


Farrington Dragon’s


but however Gucci the destroyers are, it counts for naught without the men and women aboard.


n


sit down with Dragon’s and Defender’s sailors, plus the ship’s company of HMS Diamond (who brought their destroyer into Portsmouth for the fi rst time on September 22).


So there was a chance to o All of which is fi ne and dandy, its Picture: Lt Darren Minty, HMS Defender


excellent view of the Clyde,” said Cdre Wallace.


c t


complexity. It was also an


the Type 45 that are usually inaccessible, this was a great opportunity to fully appreciate the scale of the platform – and


“With access to parts of


to sail into Portsmouth in September 2011, with Defender following in July 2012. The last of the class, Duncan, will be launched at BAE’s Govan yard at 3.47pm on Monday October 11.


“The ships offer the crews a signifi cant challenge to get to grips with the new technology – and offer the Fleet exciting prospects.” Dragon will spend the next 12 months fi tting out and on work- up;


she’s earmarked


Seawolf trackers and install the SWMLU (Seawolf mid-life update) which effectively doubles the range of the air defence missile system and counters the latest anti-ship aerial threats. Argyll’s ‘brain’ – her combat command system – has been torn out and a ‘brainier’ one (DNA(2)) installed, while the ship is now hooked up to the military’s latest e-mail/internet system, DII(F). On the upper deck there are new boat davits and 30mm automatic gun mounts. And the coolness? Well that comes courtesy of a ‘global’ air conditioning system designed to prevent men and machine struggling with the heat should Argyll head east of Suez (highly likely as it’s de rigueur to send 23s chasing pirates off Somalia or safeguarding shipping in the northern Gulf).


All this has been done by the


ship’s company and Babcock faster than expected. Argyll emerged from dry dock seven days ahead of schedule, while the ship’s company moved back aboard ten days earlier than planned.


OFFICIAL NAVY NEWS AND ROYAL NAVY CALENDAR 2011


This year our new combined Navy News and Official Royal Navy calendar for 2011 celebrates our Nation’s affinity with the sea. For centuries our mariners have ploughed the ocean waves that surround this tiny island and the tradition goes on with today’s Royal Navy. This calendar contains terrific images of ships, submarines, helicopters and fighter aircraft together with sailors and Royal Marines doing what they do best – protecting our Island Nation


£8.99UK inc P&P


£12.99EU & O/Seas inc P&P Please allow 28 days for delivery


Cheques payable to “Eight Days aWeek Ltd” to accompany orders.


For orders outside the UK, payment can be made by Cheque/International Money Order in £ Sterling and drawn on a UK Bank.


INCLUDES SHIPS OF THE FLEET POSTER


to order simply phone 0121 333 1553 or write to:


2011 Navy News/Royal Navy Calendar Offer, Alltrade, 2 Ringway Business Park, Richard Street, Birmingham B7 4AA


Buy online at www.navynews.co.uk


ON SALE NOW


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