NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2011


23


es Cypriot Lion One of the first major exercises


saw elements of the group converge off the UK’s Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus for ‘Wader’ training. Using Albion’s eight landing craft


as well as Sea Kings and Lynx of the Commando Helicopter Force,


Royal Marines and their vehicles went


troops of 40 Commando through drills


from simple


embarkation and disembarkation to full amphibious raids on the coast. As well as adding to the task


group’s capabilities, Waders also keep Royals up to speed with one of their core functions – after a decade of operations in Afghanistan it ensures the men, particularly the youngsters, know what to expect in sustained day and night amphibious operations. It has been just as educational for the men and women of Albion; while the assault ship has a twin-spot flight deck she has no hangar, and was not designed to operate with a ‘tailored air group’ or TAG.


But elements of 845 and 847


Naval Air Squadrons have called the ship home since leaving the UK.


Indeed, the flagship saw 180 deck landings during the first two weeks of Cougar, and Sutherland’s Naval Lynx Mk 8 has also been operating from Albion as well during the Wader series off Cyprus. The range of military hardware


is greatly extended with the presence of Cardigan Bay, which not only supports two companies of Royal Marines, but also disgorges hovercraft,


raiding craft, ambulances, diving


support boats from her capacious dock, and by using mexeflotes can send personnel carriers, Land Rovers,


support


vehicles and trucks ashore to sustain the amphibious push.


Sutherland then detached from the main body of the task group to visit Patras in Greece. The


Officer,


frigate’s Cdr


Roger


Commanding Readwin,


said: “The Hellenic Navy and the Royal Navy have a strong naval connection, which has been built up over many years. “Whilst visiting the beautiful town of Patras provided an opportunity


for my ship’s company to enjoy


some relaxation, it also served to strengthen the relationship between our two navies further, through local engagement.” It also gave the ship a chance to prepare for the next set of exercises, for which it was back to Cyprus. The task group, now pretty much full strength with the combination of Albion’s and Ocean’s formations, got stuck into Exercise Cypriot Lion, which involved more assaults on the shores of the British bases, with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps adding an international perspective – though they and their British counterparts are long-standing comrades-in-arms. Cypriot Lion also involved air defence exercises and live firings at sea. On her way to Cyprus the task


group flagship also paid respects to the fallen of an earlier generation. She called in to Souda Bay to commemorate the victims of the Battle of Crete in May 1941, some 1,500 of who are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery close to where Albion was berthed.


Pictures: LA(Phots) Luron Wright (Albion), Keith Morgan – RNPOTY (Sutherland), Si Ethell and Guy Pool (Ocean)


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