AUGUST 1983 lOp
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HMS ENDURANCE, the ship which saw the Falklands conflict through from start to finish, is to receive special recognition - not, on .this occasion, for activity in war but for her outstanding and continuing contribution to community relations and scientific work down south.
At present the Endurance with and sustaining the outThe ice patrol ship, stations of the Falkland Islands is in refit at Portsmouth, and which returned to the UK and the scientific bases of the of the award is presentation last August ten months Dependancies and Antarctica. for the being planned after leaving for the "In going about her business, autumn. South Atlantic, is to largely unheralded at home, she Says the citation: "HMS Enreceive the 1982 Wilkinhas long been held in high and durance's achievements during affectionate regard by the son Sword of Peace for last year's Falklands campaign, people of the Falkland Islands while readily hailed, has tended the Royal Navy. This and the other communities in to overshadow the the South Atlantic. year she has completed contribution she has outstanding made over another five months dethousands of miles "The Endurance's ship's many years, from her home base, in liaising ployment in the south. company is small in relation to
New croft sign on for the Falklands
TWO of three vessels acquired for inshore work in the Falklands are due to be commissioned at Rosyth this summer. The ships - about 800 tonnes and formerly oil rig support vessels have been purchased from Seaforth Maritime Ltd, of Aberdeen, and already are Royal Navy ships. First two are HMS Protector (formerly Seaforth Saga) and HMS Guardian (formerly Seaforth Champion). HMS SENT~ The third, to follow later, will be HMS Sentinel (formerly Seaforth Warrior). Each will have a ship's company of 23, and the senior officer Falkiand Island patrol vessels will command the Protector. Normal tour of duty to the Falklands for RN ships is about four months (six months UK to UK). With the new patrol vessels remaining on duty there, the plan is for their crews to be six months on station, but with drafting movements by air reducing travelling time.
Boxer's on trial for new breed
results achieved. As part of her normal peacetime business, she has provided stores for the outstations and scientific bases, has flown patients from these communities to the hospital in Stanley, has assisted with repairs and maintenance of houses, schools and recreational facilities, and has supported the farming community in a number of practical ways. Continued In back page.
AS NEWS was announced that tenders are to be invited for two more Type 22 frigates, the first of the Royal Navy's "stretched" 22s, the 4,400-tonne HMS Boxer, was nearing completion before her planned acceptance into the RN this autumn.
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Following commissioning, due to take place at Plymouth in December, she is expected to spend a further three years on trials, Fifth of the class and built by Yarrows, she in fact regards herself as first of a new breed, " A feature on cornputer use by MOD In ship design appears on Page 8.
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Pictur.: LA(~) Ian Wuightom -FA~ Photographic Unit.
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being 12 metres longer than the earlier Type 22s and showing a new bow shape. She is also the first ship to be fitted with the latest generation of Operations Room equipment, the Computer Assisted Command System (CACS).
This computerised system, collecting information from radar, sonar and electronic warfare sensors, presents a full picture of threats to the ship and, under battle and stress conditions, is designed to reduce further the chances of human error. Besides her powerful array of missile armament, she has two 40mm Bofors guns Later Type 22s will be further redesigned to take a 4.5-inch gun, instead of the Bofors. Of the two latest tenders announced, one will be the final replacement for destroyers and frigates lost in the Falklands. The other will bring the Type 22 strength up to 14.
DIDT'S A KIWI!
Buoy - she's all ours! Cdr. Chris York (left), commanding officer of HMS Dido, symbolically hands over the frigate to Lieut.-Cdr. Brian Petley RNZN, who was accepting the ship on behalf of the Royal New Zealand Navy at Portsmouth on July 18. Lieut.-Cdr.Petley is the new first lieutenant of the frigate, which will be known as HMNZS Southland hence the name on the lifebuoy, bearing Dido badges. Also in the picture are the Dido's first lieutenant, Lieut.-Cdr. Godfrey Kent, and Lieut.-Cdr. Brian Cumming. OH