2nd Jun 2008

Deployment Day For Kent

HMS Kent recently sailed for her South Asia and Far East deployment with COMPORFLOT (Commodore Cameron) embarked for the sailing. Crowds of families gathered in the sunshine on Portsmouth’s Round Tower to wave the ship off, and their cheers and shouts certainly carried clearly across to the Ship’s Company!

The first day has seen the ship’s engines being put through their paces in a propulsion check, gunnery taking place to prove weapons after a period of maintenance, plus a number of exercises to prove the ship can tackle any problems which may occur. Those onboard have also begun to get into the routine of deployment including many deciding to attend additional fitness training.

All this follows a week of intensive preparations – from storing the ship with everything from enough photocopier toner for six months to as much chocolate (or ‘nutty’!) as the storerooms can hold. In addition, HMS Kent also held an evening reception for her affiliates and friends of Kent since this was the last opportunity to reinforce these important links for many months.


HMS Kent sailing past Round Tower [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

25th Jun 2008

Hms Lancaster Provides The Perfect Platform For The Spirit Of The Sea Maritime Festival Launch

Weymouth and Portland’s inaugural Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival will be launched on board Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster this Friday (27 June 2008) during the Type 23 frigate’s visit to the Isle.

The 4,800 tonne ship will host an official reception on board on Friday evening where the Mayor of Portland, Councillor Sandra West, and Commodore Jamie Miller, the Naval Regional Commander for the South West, will jointly open the festival by cutting a cake made specially for the occasion.

The Festival, taking place from 5-13 July 2008, is designed to celebrate the area’s close relationship with the sea. It brings together a range of sporting activities, cultural events and entertainment – all on a maritime theme. The overall objective is to build the 'Spirit of the Sea' brand over the next four years and beyond so that it contributes to a lasting legacy post the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Gary Fooks, Spirit of the Sea Chairman and Dorset 2012 Legacy Manager, said “The growth of the Spirit of the Sea Festival since the launch event in February 2008 has been inspiring and encouraging. Building our legacy from 2012 has generated great energy. We are delighted that the Royal Navy are adding their energy, commitment and support for the Spirit event by hosting the official launch party. Our thanks go out to the many helpers, volunteers and sponsors connected to Spirit and, of course, the Captain, Officers and crew of HMS Lancaster.”

Whilst she is in Portland, HMS Lancaster will also be open to visitors on Sunday, 29 June from 12 noon to 4pm. This is a chance for visitors to learn more about life on the ocean waves and what it is like to live and work on board a warship. Admission is free.

HMS Lancaster’s Commanding Officer, Commander Rory Bryan, said: “The Royal Navy is extremely proud of its links to Weymouth and Portland, so I’m delighted that HMS Lancaster is able to further strengthen the relationship by providing the platform for the launch of the Spirit of the Sea Festival.”

Powerful and versatile, with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the Type 23 Frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare, they have evolved into multi-purpose ships with the capability to operate anywhere in the world. They have the ability to conduct a wide range of tasks including embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations.


Hms Lancaster [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

3rd Oct 2008

Plymouth Warship Home to Warm Welcome after Anti-Drugs Success

More than 600 families and friends braved the biting wind to welcome their loved ones home aboard HMS Montrose when the ship arrived in Plymouth this morning (Friday 3 October).

The crew of the Type 23 frigate were praised by their commanding officer Commander Andy Hogben after a successful seven-month operational deployment in the Gulf which included a ten-tonne illegal drugs seizure.

The jetty at HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, was packed with a Royal Marine Band and happy families cheering and waving hand made banners greeting the crew who have been away for seven months in 40-50C heat working in arduous and difficult conditions protecting the world’s oil and other shipping from illegal activity including drugs, arms and people smuggling and piracy.

The Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Hogben said: “It’s fantastic to come home to such a warm welcome. It is great to see so many families on the jetty. My ship’s company have been waiting for this moment for seven months and it more than makes up for the time away from them. I must say thank you to the families on behalf of the whole ship - without their emotional and practical support back home while we have been away in the Middle East this would have been a harder job than it already was.

“I am extremely proud of my ship’s company, they have worked really hard in harsh conditions. We had several successes out there and the major one was the biggest ever seizure of illegal drugs in the region. We intercepted a dhow and the whole ship and the Lynx helicopter crew worked together on this operation. The boarding party and search party worked for hours in cramped, very uncomfortable conditions in very hot temperatures searching the boat for the hashish. It only dawned on us later that drugs we were destroying were being taken off the streets of Britain. The real reward of pour efforts.”

Commander Hogben, from Portsmouth, sailed into Devonport today with two of his three children Sam and James who embarked with his father-in-law Gavin in Spain. The CO was greeted on the jetty by his wife Julie and son Joe, age six.
Commander Hogben said the ship also provided a reassuring presence working alongside the regional navies of the Gulf States to ensure maritime security in the region. The area was infamous for piracy and a merchant ship was holed by pirates armed with rocket propelled grenades while HMS Montrose was there.

HMS Montrose and fellow Plymouth warship HMS Chatham, Portsmouth-based HMS Edinburgh and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus (with Sea King helicopters on board) were jointly involved in the successful anti-drug smuggling operations amounting to 23 tonnes seized due to Royal Naval interceptions over a five-month period earlier this year.

Leading Logistician Danielle, 22, of Liverpool, was greeted by her family including her aunt Margaret Monnington and boyfriend Luke Monnington. Danielle said: “It’s been a great deployment, my second, but the longest. The drugs bust was the highlight, but it’s great to be back home.” Margaret said: “We missed her a lot. It’s great to have her back home. She stayed in touch out there and enjoyed it.”

The excited three daughters of Leading Stores Accountant Karl Want, 31, of Plymouth, cheered his ship from the jetty and hugged him on shore. The girls, Katie, 10, Tia, 6, and beth,12 months, were with their mother Elaine. Katie said she missed her father seeing her swim with the Devonport Naval Base swimming club and going out cycling. Elaine said: “We’re all so pleased he is back and he can share the girl’s activities and go out with us all. He’s also missed a large part of Beth’s life as she is so young.”

HMS Montrose engineer Cheryl Simmons, 25, of Plymouth, returned from her first deployment and immediately had her arms full when two babies were thrust into her arms on the jetty - her nephews, aged five week and 11 weeks. She said: “I’ve been looking forward to seeing the babies and I am Warfare specialist Kieran Robinson, 21, was met on dry land by his sister Kelly, holding her baby Mischa, aged six weeks, – the first time he had seen his new niece. Lucy said: “We are dead close as brother and sister. I so wanted Jason to see Layla for the first. It’s so exciting.” Jason was also met by his father Barry and friend Rob and girlfriend Harriet who also went out earlier to Dubai to meet him on the ship. She said: “I’ve so missed him. He’s only been in the Navy two years and this is his first proper deployment.”

Plymouth-based HMS Northumberland has temporarily taken over from HMS Montrose in the region. After well-deserved leave the crew will return and deliver the ship to Rosyth in November for upkeep maintenance. The ship has been on four deployments in four years.


HMS Montrose returns to its base port of HMNB Devonport today (3 Oct 08 ) after a 7 month deployment to the Gulf [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy[/quote]

17th Oct 2008

Exercise Bersama LimaSuccess

HMS Kent is currently taking part in the multi-national exercise, Bersama Lima 08. Bersama Lima is an annual exercise conducted under the Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA), formed in 1967 between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, following the then British Government’s decision to withdraw its armed forces from east of Suez. It involves several thousand service personnel from participating nations, over 20 ships and more than 100 aircraft.

The FPDA provides for defence co-operation and for an Integrated Air Defence System for Malaysia and Singapore, based at Royal Malaysian Air Force Butterworth, which is now owned by the RMAF, but hosts rotating detachments of aircraft and personnel from all five countries. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and strengthen the professional relationship between the Defence Forces of the FPDA Nations.

So far, during the exercise, HMS Kent has successfully conducted gunnery firings with her 4.5” and 30mm guns, defended herself against simulated ship, aircraft and submarine attacks and operated the Lynx helicopter in support of the Task Group. Alongside the exercises, ships have been conducting daily personnel exchanges, or Crosspols, giving individuals the chance to see how other navies live and operate at sea. Kent has already conducted exchanges with Singaporean, Australian and Malaysian ships involved in the exercise.

The boarding team have also had a chance to rehearse their routines with a practise boarding onto one of the Malaysian ships in the exercise. Not only is this useful practise for the team, but it tests and refines the whole-ship response to boarding operations. Boarding will very soon become Kent’s focus after Exercise Bersama Lima, as the Ship makes it’s way back across the Indian Ocean to assist in the efforts against piracy, as part of the Gulf of Aden Combined Task Force 150.


Crosspol visitors conduct a boat transfer between ships [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

23rd Oct 2008

Northern Gulf – Oil Platform Protection

After a busy period of operational tasking in the Southern Gulf HMS Lancaster has now transited north and commenced her demanding operational role of patrolling the Northern Gulf. Part of Combined Task Force 158, Lancaster is charged with helping to protect the oil platforms situated within Iraq’s Territorial Waters. The oil platforms, named Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khwar Al Amaya Terminal (KAAOT) are a significant source of revenue for Iraqi people, providing a significant proportion of Iraq’s Gross Domestic product and are vital to Iraq’s future and economic development.

Lancaster is also playing a pivotal role in Maritime Security Operations (MSO) as part of the multi national task force present in the region. The Task Force is collectively working hard to develop and build security in the region. For Lancaster’s Ship’s Company these are intense operations. They may be required at a moment’s notice to respond to any dhows or vessels which encroach within the exclusion zones around the oil platforms which they patrol. In order to maintain the additional level of manpower the crew have fallen into the demanding Defence Watch routine, providing manpower around the clock.

En route from the Southern Gulf Lancaster called into Bahrain again. The ship’s second visit to this port provided an opportunity for the Ship’s Company to take a brief respite from the tempo of operations, although it wasn’t all rest. Whilst alongside the ship assisted in marking the change of Command for Combined Task Force 152 by acting as the venue for the important ceremony dinner. This saw Lancaster’s Catering Services team busy at work preparing, and serving the dinner held in the Wardroom to a host of high ranking Coalition officers.

The following day also saw the ship engaged in defence diplomacy, with the ship hosting a luncheon for Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Bahrain. Having left Bahrain after her short stop, Lancaster was soon back on operations in the Northern Gulf at the oil platforms.

During her current patrol Lancaster played host to a high profile journalist, the Daily Telegraph’s Defence correspondent, Thomas Harding and the paper’s defence photographer, Heathcliff O’Malley visiting the ship in order to comment on the operation and the wider region. During their visit they also gained a valuable insight into the everyday life of a busy warship deployed on operations.

Additionally, Lancaster has also helped provide key training to Iraqi sailors based in Umm Qasr. Twelve Iraqi sailors spent the day onboard Lancaster getting to grips with life in an RN warship and gaining essential experience in damage control and fire fighting, taking part in re-entry training with charged hoses on the Quarter Deck. Having established this link with the Naval Training Team in Umm Qasr Lancaster will continue to play an important role in their training for the remainder of her deployment.

Lucky members of the crew have also had the opportunity to ‘crosspol’ and spend a morning on one of the oil platforms, providing an appreciation of the platforms and how important they are to Iraqi’s future.

As ever, internal training has continued apace in order to maintain the crew’s currency and to ensure that they are ready in all respects for any eventuality. In particular the Royal Marines element of the boarding party have been hard at work studying first aid and partaking in practical lessons given by Lancaster’s infamous ‘Doctor Nick’ and the onboard Leading Medical Assistant.

In addition to all their busy operational work, members of the crews have still found time to undertake charity work in support of the ship’s chosen charity by competing in a beard growing competition!


HMS Lancaster on station at the oil platforms in Northern Gulf [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

HMS Somerset (F82)

Photos © Arthur Terry (shipspotting.com)

At Avonmouth/Bristol for a Service of Rememberance 29/10/08.

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Locking out from Avonmouth/Bristol 29/10/08.

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HMS Westminster (F237) being towed backwards through Tower Bridge on 24th November 2008

Photos © david_s (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Portland (F79) leaving Gibraltar. (25/11/2008 )

Photos © J J Fernandez (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Kent (F78)

Leaving Gibraltar after a short stay for refueling and en route to Iraq. 14/06/2009

Photos © J J Fernandez (shipspotting.com)

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Voici des superbes photos du HMS PORTLAND (F 79) à la mer

Photo © PACODIME (du site fotosdebarcos.com)




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HMS Northumberland (F238) - Naples, Italy on 22nd November 2010

Photos © Moolen (shipspotting.com)

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Je trouve ce type de frégate particulièrement réussi

09/01/12

Thales : la frégate britannique HMS Kent dotée de son nouveau sonar

Thales a fourni un septième système sonar 2087 à la frégate anglaise de Type 23 'HMS Kent', dans le cadre du programme de modernisation représentant plusieurs millions de livres sterling signées avec la Royal Navy. Le groupe d'électronique et de défense souligne que la combinaison de ce système avec le sonar Thales FLASH équipant l'hélicoptère Merlin embarqué sur la frégate offre "une formidable plateforme de lutte anti sous-marine".

Source : Finance Plus

Royal navy frigate HMS SOMERSET (F82) in Malta (Valletta) - 12.02.2012

Photos © Emmanuel.L (shipspotting.com)

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