8 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2011
Stand-by for action ‘Critical steps’ for Lusty
THIS is how Royal Marines would deal with a riot. Shoulder-to-shoulder, shield in one hand, baton in another, the men of the new Fleet Stand-by Rifl e Squadron form a phalanx to keep fl ames from Molotov cocktails at bay. The squadron is a company-sized group of commandos which
HANDS to Assault Stations. Hands to Assault Stations. Royal Marines of Hunter Company line up in two ‘sticks’ on one of HMS Illustrious’ two aircraft lifts ready to join a Sea King on the carrier’s fl ight deck.
was formed over the summer to span a gap in the Navy’s amphibious landing forces – with 40 Commando beginning training for future deployment to Afghanistan and the rest of 3 Commando Brigade already heavily engaged in Helmand on Operation Herrick 14, a very high readiness contingent unit was quickly formed. The Rifl e Squadron is a light role unit including a number of specialist support weapon operators, assault engineers, signallers, drivers and vehicle mechanics. In addition to commandos’ conventional warry skills, the unit has been trained in all aspects of amphibious warfare, plus boarding operations, public order (hence the riot training, pictured here by LA(Phot) Emz Nolan, CTCRM) and urban close combat. The squadron was formed initially at Norton Manor Camp, home of 40 Commando, and after several weeks’ training moved to the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, since when it’s made full use of the extensive training facilities and expertise to maintain its high- readiness posture – hence the riot/crowd control with fellow CTCRM green berets acting as the unruly mob. The squadron is poised to support a number of possible missions such as civilian evacuations, maritime security and humanitarian support from Royal Navy warships. Indeed elements of the squadron have already deployed and others will do so in the near future. The squadron will stand down next year and the contingency mantle
pass to Arbroath-based 45 Commando who will assume responsibility as the lead Commando Group.
The latest stage of the veteran aircraft carrier’s training saw her grapple with the art of an amphibious assault off Plymouth. Lusty emerged from a £40m refi t in the summer, an overhaul which saw her turned into a commando carrier to step into HMS Ocean’s ‘shoes’ when the Mighty O has her own revamp. Illustrious spent almost her entire 30-year career as a launchpad for Harriers, but serving as an assault ship isn’t an entirely alien world for her: she (and the grand old lady of the amphibious world, HMS Fearless) were involved in the opening moves of the war against the Taleban back in 2001. A decade on, however, and personnel and equipment changes mean the skills which served Lusty well then have been re-learned and practised.
Junglies from the Commando Helicopter Force – including one Sea King painted in the famous zebra livery from the Fleet Air Arm’s mission in the Balkans in the 1990s – and Merlins from 820 Naval Air Squadron in Culdrose were the steeds for the green berets to ride into battle.
“Sea training offers a challenge to all, but a great opportunity to integrate as a team and demonstrate the fl exibility and capability of delivering air power from the sea.” In addition to her fi rst assault stations practice in her current
incarnation, Lusty was thrown into her fi rst Thursday War since refi t.
The team at FOST devise various exercises each week – air defence, submarine hunting, disaster relief, civilian evacuations, firefighting and damage control – and there’s one constant: Thursday is always all-out war (hence the ‘Thursday War’ tag). Around 50 FOSTies filed aboard to assess the performance of the ship’s company – and lay on a few surprises for them, such as dropping smoke canisters to simulate fire. She had to fend off fast jet attacks as they ‘launched’ missiles and ‘dropped’ bombs and thwart submarines’ attempts to cripple her with torpedoes – and at 686ft long and more than 100ft wide, she presents a very inviting target to air, surface and sub-surface targets.
“The sight of Royal Marines being launched from the ship’s fl ight deck was another milestone reached as Illustrious prepares to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world,” said Lt Cdr Seth George, Lusty’s training and development offi cer.
Lympstone; Hunter Company is dedicated to helping Royal Marine recruits who pick up injuries get back to full fi tness. “It’s been excellent training for both Illustrious and Hunter Company,” said Lt Col Andy Walker RM, Lusty’s dedicated amphibious operations offi cer. “For the ship, it was a critical step in proving that we can deliver a potent armed force from the sea to the land. “For Hunter Company it was a great opportunity to experience life in Illustrious – a ship they might well serve in when they join a commando unit after their training.” On this occasion, it was the task of the Hunters to take down a simulated terrorist camp.
Training organisation in Devonport, whose experts are testing the 750-plus souls aboard the carrier – ship’s company, tailored air group and embarked forces – through their paces during a two- month-long workout. The training’s good for the ship’s company, of course, but highly valuable for the aviators and their ground crews who are getting used to life aboard a 20,000-tonne warship again. “820 are delighted to be back in the carrier and HMS Illustrious in particular, which has been our home for many years in the past,” said Cdr Jason Phillips, 820’s Commanding Offi cer.
The assault training was organised by the Flag Offi cer Sea Those marines came courtesy of Commando Training Centre at
far as her Commanding Offi cer Capt Jerry Kyd is concerned. “After all the hard work bringing this mighty ship out of refi t and completing her sea trials in record time, it’s fantastic to be training and proving our new role as a helicopter and commando carrier,” he added. “All my crew have been magnifi cent in what they have achieved this year – and I could not be prouder.
be ready for tasking anywhere in the globe.” In addition to the FOST staff, also witnessing the progress the carrier is making was Britain’s second most senior sailor, Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar (he commanded Lusty’s now-defunct sister HMS Invincible nearly a decade ago). He chatted with numerous members of the ship’s company and watched them tackle a variety of problems caused by the FOST staff – and was impressed by what he saw. “The team onboard look in great shape – they’re obviously
“Illustrious is very much back in the Fleet and she will very soon
receptive to their training, so I expect great things,” the admiral said.
“Following this period of Operational Sea Training, Lusty and her ship’s company need to be ready, very ready, to deploy on operations anywhere in the world at very short notice.” He’s now back on dry land, while the ship’s training continues until just the right side of Christmas. Pictures: PO(Phot) Ray Jones and LA(Phot) Dean Nixon, HMS Illustrious
all the other challenges FOST has thrown up for the ship’s company stand Illustrious’ men and women in good stead as
It would be too easy if the ship’s ring of defences simply smote all attackers, so the FOST team ensured that at least some of the bombs, torpedoes and missiles got through, causing fires, flooding and machinery breakdowns. It had been a good couple of years since the carrier last had the pleasure of a Thursday War – and it, as well as
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