199303

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Navy News MARCH 1993

Style of a great submariner

30p

LWTR MARK Gumbrell from HMS Dolphin admires sculptress Jill Tweed's memorial to Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fieldhouse of Gosport, unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh in Falklands Gardens overlooking Portsmouth Harbour last month. The calm smile beneath the tilted cap that were the trademarks of one of the most popular and respected officers in the Royal Navy have been captured in a fitting tribute to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet who directed the Falklands Task Force and went on to become the first submariner to reach the top as Chief of the Defence Staff. Picture — PO(Phot) Jon Garthwaite.

THOUGH the government has confirmed that Devonport and Rpsyth dockyards will be kept open, the crucial question of where the Trident submarines will be refitted remains unanswered for the time being. Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind told the Commons he was concerned that the prices quoted in offers from Devonport Management Ltd and Babcock Thorn Ltd for developing facilities for nuclear refitting at their respective yards 'significantly understate the likely eventual cost of the work." R o s y t h i n i t i a l l y quoted "Before we can decide £267m to build new docks between them we need to be while Deveonport offered to reabsolutely sure that we can build existing docks for £!62rn be confident of the prices — and Rosyth then made a bid quoted. We are not yet in of £ 147m to convert old docks. this position." Turn to page 3

Ships in a sharp burst of harmony WHILE the hatred between the opposing factions in what used to be Yugoslavia continues to boil, off the Adriatic coast the patrolling western forces have been quick to reach "a cordial and professional understanding." British, French and US group commanders met on board the carrier USS John F. Kennedy last month to lay down plans for cross training, beginning with exchange visits of officers and ratings. The Royal Navy group led by HMS Ark Royal also has a well-established understanding with the Italian and NATO authorities ashore, with navigational exercises conducted over Italy by Sea King helicopters from the carrier. As Navy News went to press she was visiting Trieste — her first port of call since leaving the UK in mid-January — while HMS Brilliant is scheduled to visit Venice. The rest of the Royal Navy Task Group, deployed to offer support to British troops committed to the United Nations as humanitarian aid effort in Bosnia, comprises HMS Brazen, the RFAs Fort Grange, Fort Austin and Olwen and the aviation training ship RFA Argus.

Artillery The Argus, normally used to train helicopter aircrew and deck personnel, now has her large flight deck and hangars filled with light artillery, locating equipment and UN-white painted transport. Since leaving Britain the Task Group has been exercising intensively to test defences and damage control systems. Sea King helicopters have exercised the embarkation of gunners and practised with light guns and equipment as underslung loads. Meanwhile joining the Task Group is the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen. • Left — HMS Ark Royal in company with American task group ships USS John F. Kennedy and (furthest from camera) the assault carrier USS Guam (see also page 17). Picture — LA(Phot) Richard Thompson.


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199303 by Navy News - Issuu