14 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


NOW here’s a tale from Chile which doesn’t feature miners.


environment, with limited communications with the outside world, and who were at the heart of an international celebration. And that’s about as far as our (admittedly very tenuous) connection between HMS Portland and Chile’s trapped miners goes... Four hundred miles to the south of Copiapó, and with the rescue mission for the miners still in full swing, the frigate sailed into the great harbour of Valparaíso for Chile’s bicentennial celebrations. Twenty-six surface ships and submarines gathered in the great port for a bicentenary fl eet review – the highlight of a weekend of celebrations in Valparaíso and the country’s nearby capital, Santiago. Ships from around the world RSVPed to an invitation from the Chileans – besides the UK, warships from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the USA were present – to attend the maritime spectacular.


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With the sun rising above the foothills of the Andes, the ships made for a waiting area before forming a column, six miles long, behind CNS Almirante Williams (formerly HMS Sheffi eld) in formation. In time-honoured fashion the Portlanders lined the


Type 23’s upper decks and ‘cheered ship’ as their frigate passed the Chilean training vessel, the tall ship Esmeralda.


The salute was taken by the Chilean President, Sebastian Pinera, who was joined by Britain’s First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope. It was all witnessed by around one million Chileans lining the Valparaíso sea front. Choreography on the water was matched by choreography in the sky as the aircraft – jets, piston-engined aircraft, helicopters – of the Fuerza Aérea de Chile fl ew in formation over the harbour. “The sail past marked a truly fi tting end to the Chilean bicentenary celebrations – Viva Chile!” enthused Portland’s CO Cdr Mike Knott. His deputy marine engineer officer Lt Will Smith added: “Taking part will go down as one of the highlights of my career; the crowds and the atmosphere fully displayed the high regard and pride the Chilean nation has for its Navy.” The review was one of a series of events celebrating Chile’s 200th birthday. An enormous fi reworks display lit up the harbour (and HMS Portland, whose fl ight deck provided the ship’s company with a ‘front row seat’), while an impressive parade was staged in the nearby capital Santiago. From one South American metropolis to another. Barely were the celebrations in Chile fading than Portland was steaming north bound for Callao, the port of Peru’s capital Lima, and a five-day visit which had a bit of everything: military (discussions with Peruvian counterparts), political (visits by diplomats), social (a reception), historical (a wreath laying), commercial (showcase for defence industries), sporting (a spot of footy). Waiting on the jetty in Callao for Portland to come alongside was the British Ambassador to Peru, James Dauris. The diplomat and his young family were treated to a tour of Portland by the ship’s doctor Surg Lt Rebecca Fry, while the football side were in action against the Liman Fitefl yers. The sailors, under the direction of CPO ‘Slinger’ Wood, were holding the Fitefl yers to a 2-2 draw until, says Slinger, “we were caught out in the last fi ve minutes of the game by a ball over the defence and a composed fi nish”. The Peruvian visit began in earnest with formal visits by Cdr Knott to the Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Navy, the Captain of the Port, and Callao’s leaders. He got back to his ship just in time to


n Sir It does, however, feature 200 men and women living in a confined


host a lunch for a number of Peruvian VIPs and Col Richard Currie, the British Defence Attaché.


That hospitality was followed by yet more as Portland’s wardroom invited the captain and offi cers of the frigate BAP Palacios to enjoy some traditional British fare.


Meanwhile ten members of the ship’s company could be found in Callao’s children hospital where they handed out gifts to ill youngsters and joined them in a singsong to lift the spirits (of children and sailors alike...). For Cdr Knott and a guard of honour there were more formalities, this time laying a wreath in memory of Admiral Miguel Grau – a 19th Century Peruvian hero who’s worshipped in his native land rather like Nelson is here in the UK. Back on board Portland, seven British defence firms were setting up stalls and displays on the frigate’s flight deck and hangar for a DID – ‘Defence Industry Day’. Around 80 high-ranking offi cers from all three Peruvian


Armed Forces fi led aboard the frigate to see the best that British defence fi rms had to offer... ...and the British space agency used Portland to sign an


up by Portland’s chefs. Barely had the work in the galley fi n


included fi refi ghting and boarding demonstrations. After such a busy morning a tasty British lunch was cooked


agreement with the Peruvian space agency (yes, we had to look them up as well; offi cially the Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacial – National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development) to share information. Guests were also treated to a dynamic tour which


ished than the culinary


masterminds were busy again, this time preparing for the offi cial reception which followed the industry day and was attended by more than 100 guests – drawn from all spheres of Peruvian society and military. The fi nal day in South America afforded more than 50 members


of Portland’s ship’s company the chance to look around Peru’s naval museum, which was opened exclusively for them. The tourists learned that the founder of the modern Peruvian Navy, Jorge Martin Guise, was a midshipman in the Royal Navy at Trafalgar. Also learning a little about nautical affairs was MP James


Brokenshire, Under Secretary for Crime Reduction. He was in South America to speak to officials from Peru, Colombia


and Venezuela about the global fight against drugs trafficking... ...which was rather timely as Portland was about to conduct a counter-narcotics patrol as she made her way through the Caribbean on the final leg of her seven-month deployment. Peru has a thriving illegal drugs trade – it vies with Colombia for the unenviable title as the world’s leading cocaine producer. The heads of her Air Force and Army, as well as the Admiral for


Pacifi c Operations, the Minister of International Affairs, the Vice Minister for Defence and Mr Dauris joined the MP and Portland’s command team aboard the frigate to discuss future cooperation in combatting ‘narcoterrorism’ and efforts to reduce the supply of cocaine from Peru to the UK. After such high-powered discussions, something slightly more


relaxing: a spot of traditional Peruvian dancing. Portland’s officers were invited to the Naval Offi cers’ Club in Callao where they were hosted by their Peruvian counterparts... who laid on an elaborate display of traditional dance for their visitors. And that was Callao. After a week-long counter-narcotics patrol in the Pacifi c, the frigate switched oceans, courtesy of a night-time passage of the Panama Canal, before resuming anti-drug smuggling duties, this time in the Caribbean.


pictures: la(phot) simmo simpson, frpu east


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