NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2010


25


for action


has, but nothing beats standing in the hangar or on the fl ight deck of an aircraft carrier to start to fully understand just what this ship can do,” Ark’s Commanding Offi cer Capt Jerry Kyd stressed. Sadly, Ark was alongside for the duration of the ‘combat power visit’. It was left to HMS Albion to choreograph the fi nal act.


bomb explosions on the beach. This was immediately followed by a barrage from Kent’s 4.5in gun – simulations again throwing up explosions on the beach (it would be a tad dangerous to hurl high explosives for real at Gosport...). With


At 1.56pm precisely (H-Hour minus four) two Harriers of 800 Naval Air Squadron – perhaps the last time Naval jump jets would work with RN warships – screamed low over Browndown, triggering two simulated 1,000lb


bombardment complete, H-hour itself saw the fi rst wave of landing craft from 6 ASRM swarm on to the beach and the assault on the enemy positions – manned by Initial Fleet Time Offi cer Cadets (best use for them – Ed). When the cadets were neutralised and Browndown secured, it was time for the


the preparatory


landing craft to bring kit ashore: Vikings, Scimitars, Spartans (the armoured troop carriers rather than Greeks in loincloths...) and the crowd-pleaser, a Challenger 2 main battle tank, while two Jungly Sea Kings from 845 NAS dropped loads and troops on to the shingle.


And thus was the Battle of Browndown over.


The last act of the ‘invasion’ was to ferry the guests ashore by landing craft so that they could inspect the vehicles and weaponry used in the demonstration – and chat with the men and women operating it.


pictures: la(phots) luron wright and kyle heller


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