NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


11


● A Royal Marines Lynx fl ies above HMS Ocean in Lagos on the day of the fl eet review celebrating the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence


Pictures: LA(Phot) Guy Pool


The Mighty O has been circumnavigating the Atlantic over recent months, with Lagos in Nigeria and Freetown in Sierra Leone being her latest ports of call. Ocean was in Rio last


NO, NOT a newly-discovered geographical feature, but the latest stage of helicopter carrier HMS Ocean’s progress back to home waters.


African Ocean


from Sierra Leone, Benin and Togo went on board in Lagos for the subsequent leg


deployment in the Gulf of Guinea, while almost 20 officers and ratings from Ghana also spent 24 hours on board. Team leader for the


of the


hospital in Cape Verde. Next


Freetown, under very different circumstances to her last visit. Ten years ago rebel forces were


on the agenda was


time we caught up with her, since when she has crossed back to the eastern side of the pond, carrying with her some 20 officers of the Nigerian Navy as part of the UK’s commitment to the Africa Partnership Station. The visit to Lagos was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, and ceremonial duties were accordingly prominent on the ship’s agenda. One highlight saw the Duke of Gloucester and 400 senior officials from the Nigerian Navy attend a reception on board, and Ocean later took her place in a fleet review, conducted by


Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Sailors from the assault ship, under the direction of ship’s chaplain the Rev Ron Martin, visited two primary schools where they carried out repairs and redecorated buildings before taking on the pupils at football (with England shirts as prizes). Meanwhile, heading in the opposite direction was a group of youngsters from Ajegunie, a particularly depressed area, who visited the ship to talk to sailors about IT and telecommunications skills.


Around 60 officer cadets from


the Western Naval Academy also spent time on board the warship, joining their British counterparts in a day of firefighting, navigation, first aid and maintenance training.


And a further 40 naval personnel President


impressed with the way that the personnel on board maintain very high standards of safety during often complex procedures.” The carrier sailed from Lagos with a truly international feel; 19 nations were represented, including Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Kuwait, Liberia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Zambia and, hardly surprisingly, the UK.


And in addition to training the visiting contingent was able to see Ocean in action.


registered Grand Guinea put out a distress call when one of their number was struck down with acute appendicitis. Although Ocean was nearly 600


miles away, conducting maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea, her CO, Capt Keith Blount,


tonne ship and sped towards the merchantman.


turned the 20,700-


When close enough she launched a Lynx and the ship’s Medical Officer was winched onboard the Grand Guinea to assess the patient and provide immediate medical care. With urgent hospital treatment required, he was transferred to be stabilised in Ocean’s medical centre before being flown off to


The crew of the Italian- “We


practices. have


“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to witness current Royal Navy operational working


certainly been


Nigerian contingent, Lt Cdr Oride,


said:


threatening the city, but Ocean’s intervention helped promote stability, and the ‘Ship of Hope’ is still fondly remembered in the port.


This time round 40 members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces were airlifted to the ship by helicopter, and the country’s president, Ernest Koroma, watched them carry out a beach landing exercise. Capt Musa Gbow, a Sierra Leone military student, “Having


demonstrate our skills alongside HMS Ocean and her Royal Marines, who are the best military force in the world, in front of our president is a great honour and a fantastic experience.” Sierra Leone forces were also taken up-river by boat deep into the jungle by Plymouth-based 539 Assault Squadron RM for a training exercise. While in


hosted a


on maritime security, allowing a number of international heads of mission, cabinet ministers and other senior officials to conduct business,


series


Freetown the ship of


conferences


distraction. Members of the HMS Ocean crew visited the Milton Margai School for the Blind to help with maintenance work – the British military have maintained close links with the school since the civil war. Capt


Ocean shares a close bond with the people of Sierra Leone and so I am extremely heartened by the positive and vibrant atmosphere I encountered here, in a country that has experienced so much pain in its recent history. “In particular, the warm


welcome that the ship’s company received


from the people of Blount said: “HMS free from external the opportunity


steam more than 16,000 miles and visit ports in four continents.


that has


said: to


Freetown is most humbling. As Navy News went to press Ocean was due to carry out counter-narcotic patrols in the Gulf of Guinea with the Cape Verdeans and Portuguese, returning to Devonport at the end of October after a five-month deployment


seen her ● Nigerian Navy personnel train on board HMS Ocean


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