Rum Ration
the Navy Network

Tears and cheers for Liverpoo1’s helicopter as it returns to Yeovilton

Originally Posted by RN website 7 Nov 2011

There may not have been 1,000 people waiting for them, but don’t believe that the welcome for HMS Liverpool’s helicopter flight was any less heartfelt...

The helicopter was called upon to detect small boats, potentially carrying mines to block ports in rebel hands, notably the besieged city of Misrata, and also helped call in fire missions for the destroyer’s main 4.5in gun by picking out targets ashore. In doing so, the Lynx came under fire from shore-based enemy artillery. Despite such dangers, punishing Mediterranean temperatures during the high summer, and a very demanding workrate, 217 Flight achieved an almost-unheard of availability rate of 94 per cent thanks to herculean efforts by the ground crew, assisted when needed by colleagues back at base in Yeovilton...

In all 16 British warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries have been involved in the Libyan mission, plus the Royal Marines of Fleet Protection Group and four Naval Air Squadrons. They have taken part in the evacuation of nearly 500 civilians as the crisis in the North African state worsened, fired the first shots of the NATO campaign – Tomahawk missiles launched from submarine HMS Triumph – cleared mines from Misrata and Tobruk, pounded enemy positions and vehicles, choreographed the aerial campaign, launched helicopter strikes and, in the case of Liverpool, were involved in the very final hours of the conflict as Sirte fell and Colonel Gaddafi was captured.

“Much of what the Navy does is below the horizon,” Admiral Stanhope said. “We go away, do our thing and not many people know about it. I hope that the Libya operations have shown what the Navy does. There has been some good coverage of its achievements and that has meant it has raised the public’s view of what the Navy is about.”

New naval task group passed its first major test

Originally Posted by Navy News 14 Nov 2011

THE man who led the Navy’s biggest deployment of the year says Britain’s new task group has passed its first acid test. With all but one of the ships in the force he commanded now back in the UK, Commodore John Kingwell praised the men and women of the Response Force Task Group, which numbered more than half a dozen ships and well over 2,000 personnel, for their work off Libya and beyond...

The Commander UK Task Group (or COMUKTG) and his staff are responsible not just for the nation’s Response Force Task Group – all four capital ships (Bulwark, Albion, Illustrious and Ocean) and their supporting escorts and auxiliaries – but also the Anglo-Dutch Amphibious Task Group and, when required, NATO, European Union and Coalition naval forces on maritime and amphibious operations.

The staff comprises personnel from all three Services, including all warfare disciplines in the Royal Navy, amphibious, submarine and surface warfare experts and authorities on helicopter and fast jet operations, supported by specialists from the world of intelligence, communications and logistics. At times during the Cougar deployment and Libya operations, the staff were spread across seven locations, including the flagships of three nations...

Cdre John Kingwell is being relieved as COMUKTG today by Cdre Paddy McAlpine. You are unlikely to find two more capable officers.

A few 'home town' stories about members of HMS Liverpoo1's ship's company. Hats off to all of them:

Royal Navy officer relives dramatic battle during Libyan conflict

Originally Posted by Sleaford Target 17 Nov 2011

A ROYAL Navy officer from Sleaford has spoken of his experiences onboard a warship when it came under fire from pro-Gaddafi forces during the Libyan conflict.

Flight commander Phil Baron, 31 could feel the explosion of the rounds while onboard destroyer HMS Liverpool while in Libya...

“I have led the entire flight, consisting of seven maintainers, three aircrew and one aircraft controller, through one of the most demanding seven months of our lives and I am extremely proud of what we achieved.”

Flight Commander Barron, who joined the Royal Navy in 2000, saw the Fleet Air arm in particular as a way of realising childhood ambitions. He added: “I have always been keen to join the Royal Navy, and the Fleet Air Arm, for the challenges it presents and the opportunities it affords and I have not been disappointed over the last 12 years...

Flight Commander Barron returned to the UK last week after nearly eight months.

Sunderland and Seaham sailors return after helping Libyan rebels

Originally Posted by Sunderland Echo 17 Nov 2011

SAILORS from Sunderland and Seaham are back on home soil after helping in the fight to bring freedom to Libya.

Petty Officer Air Engineering Technician Keith Armitage and Leading Aircraft Engineering Technician Barry Purdue were serving onboard the destroyer HMS Liverpool as it exchanged fire with pro-Gaddafi forces off the coast of the war-torn Middle East country.

Keith, who returned to the UK after more than seven months at sea, has been helping keep the vessel’s helicopter in the air. The former Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School and City of Sunderland College pupil said: “As part of the ship’s embarked flight, I look after one of the ship’s most valuable assets, the Lynx Mark 8 helicopter...

Seaham-born Barry, 30, joined the Royal Navy in 1998 and is now based in Portsmouth. However, his grandmother, aunt and uncle still live in the County Durham town. “My job is to deal with all things electrical and radio related on the Lynx aircraft, but I’m also the survival equipment supervisor, the flight regulator and Health and Safety representative,” said the former Seaham Comprehensive pupil...

Ilminster sailor looking forward to home comforts following Libya mission

Originally Posted by Somerset County Gazette 11 Nov 2011

A ROYAL Navy sailor who grew up in Ilminster has seen action onboard the destroyer HMS Liverpool when it exchanged fire with pro-Gaddafi forces off the coast of Libya.

Leading Seaman Keri Jones, 23, returns to the UK this week after seven-and-a-half months at sea and is looking forward to getting home...

Keri, who attended Holyrood Community School in Chard, said: “This has been the most challenging deployment to date but at the same time the most rewarding. “While off Libya we have been keeping the same routines as they did in the Second World War and I’m now one of the few female sailors to have served on a warship that has come under enemy attack.”...

Keri, who joined the Royal Navy aged 16 in 2004, works in the operations room of the warship – the centre of all the action. “I work as an operations room supervisor, helping provide the command with vital information so they can identify friendly aircraft and ships from hostile ones,” she said...

Libya mission sailor returns

Originally Posted by Bury Times 10 Nov 2011

A SAILOR from Bury was serving on the destroyer HMS Liverpool as it exchanged fire with pro-Gaddafi forces off the coast of Libya.

Andrew Barnes was on board the ship which returned to the UK last week, having sailed in March to support NATO’s mission to protect Libyan civilians. HMS Liverpool was tasked with preventing the flow of arms to the regime by boarding and inspecting merchant vessels and helping to maintain the “no fly zone” by directing UK and allied aircraft.

Andrew, aged 46, who went to Hollins Primary School and Unsworth Comprehensive, joined the Royal Navy in 1990 as a radio operator, before transferring to the logistics branch as a steward...

Weymouth man fights pro-Gaddafi forces on Navy warship

Originally Posted by Dorset Echo 9 Nov 2011

A WEYMOUTH man has told of his exploits on a Royal Navy warship which fought with pro-Gaddafi forces off the coast of Libya.

Former All Saints School pupil David Cantrill, 27, has been serving onboard the destroyer HMS Liverpool which is due to return to the UK on Monday...

David, a marine engineer, worked in the ship’s machinery control room, from which propulsion, electrical generation and domestic services are supplied. He said: “I was in the engineers’ workshop when we were at action stations and I heard every shot fired...

Bangor homeward bound after completing Libyan mission

Originally Posted by Navy News website 17 Nov 2011

HMS Bangor is heading for home after completing her Libyan mission - which saw her blow up unexploded ordnance.

The Faslane-based minehunter is making her way through the Bay of Biscay after completing 120 days on patrol in the Mediterranean on Operation Ellamy, the UK's now-completed combat operations off Libya. The painstaking work led to her finding a 2,400-pound (1100kg) mine and a torpedo lying on the seabed off the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya. Both were safely destroyed using the ship’s Sea Fox system – an underwater drone armed with explosive charges...

Congratulations to all concerned and I hope you enjoy some well-deserved leave.

For the record:

Originally Posted by soleil

Just FOUR missiles: What HMS Westminster was carrying when sent to defend the Libyan frontline | Mail Online

Navy frigate sent to Libya with four missiles - Telegraph

She's back:

HMS Bangor home from Libya mission

Originally Posted by MoD website 25 Nov 2011

Royal Navy warship HMS Bangor returned home to Faslane today following 120 days of non-stop action supporting NATO operations off the coast of Libya.

The Faslane-based Sandown Class minehunter was welcomed home by families and friends as she sailed into HM Naval Base Clyde this morning, 25 November 2011. Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland, was on hand to congratulate the ship's company on their latest deployment.

HMS Bangor sailed to the Mediterranean in June in support of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR off Libya. Her tasks involved scouring miles of sea bed off the Libya coast as the battle between rebels and Colonel Gaddafi raged. Her painstaking work led to her finding a 2,400-pound (1,000kg) mine and a torpedo lying on the seabed off the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya. Both were safely destroyed using the ship's Sea Fox system - an underwater drone armed with explosive charges...

At any one time 38 per cent of the Royal Navy's mine countermeasures vessels flotilla is deployed on operations.

Well done all concerned and enjoy your well-deserved leave.

Her ship's company deployed in April for a seven-week exercise and ended up spending seven-and-a-half months away but their morale doesn't seem to have been shaken (link). Now on their final haircut/postcard run before returning home for Christmas:

After Libya HMS Ocean visits the Rock

Originally Posted by Gibraltar Chronicle 5 Dec 2011

She launched Britain’s first seaborne Apache raids and helped topple Gaddafi - but HMS Ocean is finally nearing home as she entered Gibraltar for a two day stand-down on her way back to Plymouth.

Since HMS Ocean left the UK 229 days ago as part of the Response Force Task Group, she has spent 176 days at sea and steamed more than 40,000 miles. During this time the Royal Navy’s largest warship has taken part in amphibious exercises in the Mediterranean and operated as part of the UN sanctioned NATO mission to protect Libyan civilians...

It looks as though HMS OCEAN's Christmas video has 'gone viral' with almost 300,000 hits in four days:

All I want for Christmas is you

OCEAN's junior officers appear to have made a video for YouTube, too:

I've got the power

Not quite the 'maritime power' I intended when I started this thread but good luck to them. They are due to arrive back in Plymouth on Friday.