NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2011


Navy still has role to play in Iraq


THE media spotlight might be very firmly focused on Afghanistan, but there is still a dark blue presence in Iraq. RN training managers or ‘Schoolies’ are deployed in the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr as part of Op Telic. They have been contributing to the mission by providing English language courses and training support to Iraqi Naval officers and ratings. Training managers from the


Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission Navy (ITAM-N) have been playing an important role in training and mentoring the Iraqi Navy. Learning English is a


priority for the Iraqis as it is the international and maritime language – in order for crews to communicate effectively with other vessels and conduct maritime patrols, it is vital that they have a good grasp of English. Part of the regeneration of the Iraqi Navy is ensuring that all levels of personnel receive basic English Language Training (ELT), from junior rates to senior officers.


As the RN begin to draw


down, teaching English has become increasingly important for the Iraqis.


On completion of the ITAM mission, the Iraqi Navy will be expected to use English at sea to maintain control of their patrol sectors as well as during diplomatic visits.


Both are vital for maintaining


security and international relations.


The majority of ELT has been


delivered to Iraqi officers and ratings who have been selected to crew the Swiftship vessel – the new 35m patrol ship used for patrolling the waters around the oil platforms on which the country depends for its wealth and future development. Once the crews had a


satisfactory level of English they were able to continue their specialist training in Louisiana, America.


Lt Caila Barnett has not just been teaching English to the Swiftship crews, but also to the Iraqi Marines. Teaching a combined class of


Naval and Marine ratings did not come without its challenges, but she said it certainly was one of the most rewarding experiences of her career to date. “I anticipated difficulties as I am a female, but it was no different in that respect to teaching a class in the Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering in HMS Sultan,” said Lt Barnett.


“The class could only speak Arabic on the first day, but by the end of the course their English had improved significantly. “They were having


conversations in English and even telling jokes. I certainly felt that I had made a big difference.” As well as providing ELT and centrally co-ordinating the training provided by the ITAM-N team, the training managers have also been advising the Iraqi Navy on their training pipelines, policies and teaching strategies. The aim of this is to provide direction and suggestions for future training where appropriate. The Iraqi Navy are becoming increasingly independent and although training programmes are in place, the expertise and specialist skill set of the training mangers have ensured a rapid rate of development in their Iraqi counterparts.


When the training managers


return to the UK, the Iraqis will continue to improve their training management and operational capability, but they will no longer have access to the same specialist support they had previously. However, the training team in Umm Qasr is confident that they have assisted in building a successful, independent and operational Iraqi Navy.


Clyde team restore memorial


SAILORS from HMS Clyde have honoured the crew of HMS Coventry by restoring their memorial. The ship’s company of today’s Falklands guardian spent the past few weeks tidying up monuments and memorials peppered around the archipelago as they patrolled the islands. Either Clyde or the RN’s South Atlantic


Patrol Ship regularly maintain some of the outlying memorials – most recently HMS Portland’s sailors smartened up the Coventry


monument, on Pebble Island, last summer. Just months later, however, the ferocity of the


memorials during recent patrols: 2 Para’s monument at Goose Green, 42 Commando’s on Mount Harriet, just outside Stanley – the scene of bitter fighting in the final days of the 1982 conflict – and HMS Sheffield’s cenotaph. The latter stands on Sealion Island,


weather meant a return to Pebble Island was in order, so the men of Clyde duly obliged. The sailors have also tackled three other


overlooking the waters several miles away where the Type 42 destroyer was fatally hit by an Argentine Exocet missile.


elbow grease sufficed to spruce up memorials, but on the exposed Bull Hill, where the Sheffield cross and cairn are located, the elements had taken their toll. Storm damage to the stone wall surrounding the monument was repaired before a formal salute to Shiny Sheff’s 20 dead.


Rescuers sharpen up for Golden Arrow


WHAT requires 28 lorries, two Boeing Globemasters and three gigantic Antonov transport aircraft to move


between countries? No, not the Rolling Stones


world tour (at least, not on this occasion). We are talking about NATO’s


Submarine Rescue System, which has just been put through its paces in preparation for Exercise Golden Arrow, which was getting under way as Navy News went to press. The exercise is designed to test the ability of the rescue submarine and the team behind it to deploy anywhere in the world within 56 hours to offer help whenever the grim message Submiss, Subsmash or Subsunk is flashed out. As a warm-up for the exercise off Norway, the mini submarine at the heart of any rescue mission was deployed at the RN armaments depot in Coulport on Loch Long. A target ‘submarine’ (actually


a bright yellow metal structure which can be angled to simulate a boat lying on its side) was lowered to the loch bed for the rescue submersible to find... ...which it did, before docking with the mock-up to simulate a rescue, depositing life-saving pods containing food, water and oxygen, as it would do in a real crisis. The distinctive white Submarine


Rescue Vehicle is the instantly- recognisable


‘face’ of NATO’s


rescue system – but there’s much more to this underwater emergency service, jointly owned by Britain, France and Norway. There’s a robot submersible used to locate a stricken boat, clear away any debris and deliver the pods through an escape hatch. There’s the small rescue


submarine itself, crewed by two pilots and a rescue chamber


● Members of the NATO Submarine Rescue System team at Coulport


operator, and capable of rescuing 15 submariners at a time from as deep as 2,000ft (610m). And there’s a mobile decompression and medical support unit for up to 68 deeps. All of which explains why 28 pantechnicons are needed to lift and shift the whole rescue kit, first to Prestwick airport, then on five


transport aircraft to Bergen. There the system is loaded on to a ship for Golden Arrow; the same ship will deposit the whole lot back to Leith after the exercise. “The system works,” said Brian


Grant, the rescue system’s base manager. “We’ve proved that time and again in various exercises but the one thing we’ve never done


RFA training room opened


A STATE-of-the-art training facility, the first of its kind for the RFA, has been officially opened at the A&P Group’s Falmouth yard. The training room,


which simulates the


computerised working system of the Bay-class landing support ships, will be used to train RFA personnel in trials, tests and fault-finding, without the risk of damage on board a ship. The new facility is part of the Cluster programme between A&P Group – which has a contract to provide


upkeep support for five of the latest RFA vessels – and the MOD, and was officially opened by Cdre David Preston, the RFA’s Head of Afloat Support. The training room allows for software changes to the Bays, and can simulate systems such as temperature sensors, valve controls and CCTV. The new Cluster approach will save the MOD an estimated £330m over 30 years compared with the previous arrangement, where contracts were competed for as and when required.


Picture: LA(Phot) Chris Mumby


is transport the entire system by plane. “We’re confident we can do it – this is just the final tick in the box. “We train constantly to make


sure that we’re ready at a moment’s notice.Our loch dip at Coulport was really valuable in keeping our hand in and was a great success.”


Elsewhere a bit of Brasso and some good old


Old ship in mint condition


THE 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose has been commemorated in a new coin from the Royal Mint. The £2 coin depicts the Tudor


artist John


The issue of the coin, which will be in general circulation though it is a limited edition, not only marks 500 years since the ship’s maiden voyage from Portsmouth in 1511 but also comes in the year that the Mary Rose Trust lays the foundations for a new museum to display the historic ship to best effect.


version has also been produced struck in gold and silver. Strictly limited in numbers, these coins are finished to a higher quality than the circulating coins, and are available for purchase from www.royalmint.com If you don’t want to check your change for one of these coins, you can always try the presentation pack, which contains a history of the ship as well as a pristine uncirculated standard £2 Mary Rose coin, also available from the website at a cost of £8.20 plus postage and packing.


Blues at the barracks


VINTAGE Vibes will headline the opening night of the QK Jazz and Blues Club, a new venture at the Quartermaster’s Kitchen in the Royal Marines Museum. Kitchen owner Keith Leaning said he plans to run the club fortnightly on Wednesday nights, showcasing local blues and jazz talent. Advanced booking will not be required; tickets on the door will cost £10 to include a choice from three meal options plus a first drink.


More details from Keith on 023 9288 2411 or email fruitloops@ ntlworld.com


Offi cer cadets graft down on the farm


A TEAM of Officer Cadets from Britannia Royal Naval College have made a return visit to the Dartington-based Breakthrough Plus organisation as part of the college’s outreach project. The scheme is a practical development of teamworking


Duchess keeps an eye on Argus


THE Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to the Royal Navy’s specialist medical support ship in Portsmouth, meeting personnel about to deploy to Afghanistan.


In her capacity as Commodore- in-Chief, Royal Naval Medical Services, the Duchess saw the hi-tech facilities and met dozens of personnel on board RFA Argus (see left), including Royal Navy medics who will soon be working in field hospitals in Afghanistan. The VIP guest was shown the


ship’s 100-bed hospital facility, including intensive care and high dependency units and two 35-bed general wards, plus the ship’s two operating theatres. The facilities allow Argus to


deploy to war zones as a Primary Casualty Receiving Facility, ensuring wounded service personnel of all


nationalities can receive swift care. Argus also doubles as an aviation training ship – more than two thirds of her length is given over to a flight deck to accommodate any of the Royal Navy’s helicopters. Argus’ Hospital Officer Lt Sam Adams said: “It is a great privilege to welcome the Duchess of Cornwall to the ship to see the facilities onboard Argus and meet Royal Navy personnel in her capacity of Commodore-in- Chief of Naval Medical Services.


“It is difficult to comprehend quite what an amazing facility we have until you see it first hand.” Argus will shortly resume her


preparations for a series of exercises this summer. Later in the year she will return to her secondary role of aviation training.


experiences and activities tailored to the needs of groups or individuals, and in this instance work with children aged between ten and 16.


Swimming aid


The Collingwood Children’s Swimming Club has joined the utility company’s Learn to Swim programme – one of more than 80 pools on the scheme in the region. To mark the formal link, the children had a special visitor to one of their lessons – paralympic and world champion swimmer Sascha Kindred, who chatted to the youngsters and helped with a lesson.


CHILDREN at a swimming pool on a Naval base are now learning to swim with help from Southern Water.


They provide a range of A special commemorative


warship in contemporary style with flags flying and guns ready, a design created by Bergdahl.


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and engenders an awareness of the Royal Navy’s commitment to community relations work. The cadets, all from Vanguard Division, put in four hours of hard, physical work at the School Farm site at Dartington. This was the second time BRNC had offered support to the Breakthrough Plus organisation, which deals in conflict transformation within children’s lives.


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