Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces

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Commercial Sale of Type 22 Frigates


(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 17, 2012)



It is the Disposal Services Authority (DSA) intention to invite expressions of interest in tendering for the Type 22 Frigates (HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall) for the following:
•Further Use
•Sinking for an Artificial reef
•Recycling

At this stage the DSA does not require interested parties to specify which Vessel/s they wish to bid for.

It is the DSA intention to award at least one vessel to a UK Ship Recycler; this is in part to secure detailed knowledge of the UK’s capacity to recycle vessels. Any decision to award to a UK Ship Recycling company will be made in accordance with transparent and objective evaluation criteria which will be issued at the Invitation to Tender stage.

All interested parties should note that only Bidders that have completed and passed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the vessels and allowed access to view the vessel.

The vessels are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.

The DSA are planning on hosting viewings 25th February - 15th March 2013.

As previously requested all bidders intending to undertake inspection of the vessels will be required to wear the correct PPE clothing i.e. steel toecap boots, high vis jackets (overalls optional). Please be assured that if you do not have steel toecap boots on arrival you will be refused access to the vessels.

Only Bidders that have received a copy of the ITT will be allowed access to inspect the vessels.

Bidders should not book travel until they have received a copy of the ITT and understood the requirements.

A copy of the PQQ can be down loaded from the bottom of this page or you can e-mail the DSA’s Commercial section requesting a copy at deslcsls-dsa-comrcl-3b@mod.uk

The closing date for returning the PQQ to the DSA and expression of interest is 17.00 GMT Wednesday 23rd January 2013.

-- HMS CUMBERLAND
formally a Warship Frigate F85 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 23rd September 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CAMPBELTOWN
formally a Warship Frigate F86 was built at Cammell Laird ship yard Birkenhead UK in 1987 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 7th July 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CHATHAM
formally a Warship Frigate F87 was built at Swan Hunters Shipbuilders in Wallsend UK in 1989, and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CORNWALL
formally a Warship, Frigate F99 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/141126/uk-to-sell-off-four-type-22-frigates.html

Sea King ASAC7

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British Army a ajouté 4 nouvelles photos.

Soldiers of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment Battlegroup conducting training in Alberta, Canada, on exercise Prairie Storm.

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First Sea Lord experiences F-35B simulation
The First Sea Lord has experienced what it is like to be pilot the world’s most advanced fighter jet thanks to a F-35B cockpit simulator.

With the Introduction to Service of the F-35B Lightning II jets starting to ramp up, and the first carrier construction at an advanced stage, the manufacturers Lockheed Martin brought a cockpit demonstrator to London.

The demonstrator provided visitors with the unique opportunity of flying the aircraft and seeing its capabilities first hand as well as meeting some of the military pilots who are currently flying the aircraft.

Admiral Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval staff, visited the demonstration. He said: “This was another opportunity to glimpse the impending arrival of the F35B fighter, whose stealth and capability will make it the world’s most advanced fighter.

“But we also had the chance to see some world-beating British technology - from ejector seats and fuel probes, to engines and brakes, the UK’s aeronautical heritage lives on in the design and manufacture of the F35B.”

The return to big deck, jet carrier operations in the Royal Navy is getting closer by the day.
Admiral Sir George Zambellas
The UK is procuring the F-35B Lightning II to come in to service in 2018 as part of its Carrier Enabled Power Projection capability and Combat Air fleet.

The aircraft and the Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier will represent a significant step up in capability for the UK and will be a critical and strategic asset supporting all three Armed Services.

UK industry is also heavily involved in the design, development and manufacture of the global fleet of F-35 aircraft, with over 500 suppliers in the supply chain and many thousands of jobs.

The RAF and Royal Navy have been operating the F-35B in the US since 2012 as part of the Introduction into Service programme and the first operational squadron will form in 2016 and start training in the USA, with the squadron size growing over the following two years as aircraft are delivered.

Adm Zambellas added: “In a very few years, the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth will be brought alive with the sound of their engines. Royal Navy pilots and Royal Air Force pilots will be able to observe and strike our enemies from the sea and with the unrivalled freedom and mobility of a carrier.

“So I say to our sailors, our engineers and our aviators: Prepare well, and get ready. The return to big deck, jet carrier operations in the Royal Navy is getting closer by the day.”

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/01/151001-first-sea-lord-experiences-f35b-simulation

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UK agrees to expand defence and security cooperation with Kenya

The UK and Kenyan governments have signed an agreement to expand cooperation on defence and security issues at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, US.
Subject to final ratification in both Parliaments, the new defence cooperation agreement is expected to significantly enhance the defence relationship, enabling Britain to provide additional support to Kenya on maritime security, and continue military training in the African country.
The new agreement, which was signed by the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Kenyan Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, will also lead to improved military capabilities for both sides, while allowing for concurrent jurisdiction, recognising that the laws of both countries apply to visiting forces.
Hammond said: "Today we have held discussions, which will help us tackle joint security challenges, benefitting both the UK and Kenya.
"Given the number and diversity of security threats faced by peaceful societies in the 21st century, close cooperation between partner nations is more necessary than ever before."
Approximately 10,000 UK soldiers train on Kenyan soil every year in Laikipia and Samburu, as part of an agreement signed between the two countries five years ago, as reported by Daily Nation.

In addition to defence cooperation, the two ministers also signed a new security compact underlining the nation's resolve to tackle the shared threat of terrorism.
The compact is said to build-upon and strengthen current security cooperation across areas, such as countering violent extremism, border and aviation security, as well as criminal justice. It also includes a new annual senior-level strategic dialogue, to review progress against objectives.
Areas of enhanced cooperation will see the UK and Kenya join forces to establish a new centre to provide technical training to counter improvised explosive devices.
The agreement is said to highlight the importance of working with communities to address the underlying causes of conflict, and development of an integrated cross-government approach to tackling insecurity.
Image: UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Kenyan Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed signed an agreement to expand defence cooperation between the two countries. Photo: courtesy of British High Commission Nairobi / © Crown copyright.


http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsuk-agrees-to-expand-defence-and-security-cooperation-with-kenya-4683456

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HMS Duncan helps injured fisherman



Royal Navy warship HMS Duncan has come to the aid of an injured Iranian fisherman injured in the central Gulf.

The Type 45 destroyer was on a routine day at sea when crew heard a ‘Mayday’ call and immediately turned to help the dhow OLI-1.

Less than an hour after the emergency request was made, the ship’s doctor was transferred to the dhow using one of HMS Duncan’s sea boats.

The doctor and a trained medical first-aider were able to treat the man’s head injuries as well as provide medical assistance to another sick fisherman.  
It’s fantastic that we were able to help fellow mariners in their time of need.
Surgeon Lieutenant Laura Morrow RN
A helicopter evacuation to hospital was organised for one of the fishermen, but as a result of the treatment he received from Duncan’s medics, he was stabilised enough for him to stay on the vessel for the three-day journey home.

To help the dhow crew’s journey home, their medical kit was replenished from HMS Duncan’s medical supplies.

Duncan’s medical officer, Surgeon Lieutenant Laura Morrow, said: “When you’re many miles from land even minor injuries can rapidly escalate into very serious and scary emergencies.

“It’s fantastic that we were able to help fellow mariners in their time of need. Making sure mariners can lead their lives freely and safely, is exactly what the Royal Navy goes to sea to do.”

Duncan, which left her home port of Portsmouth in March, recently visited Qatar to support the elite Joint Command and Staff College which trains officers from Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.

The ship is due to continue her deployment in the Middle East until the end of the year.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/01/151001-duncan-helps-injured-fisherman

WS Lynx AH7  
 
 
 

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16 Air Assault Brigade a ajouté 4 nouvelles photos — à Stanford Training Area.

British and French Mini Unmanned Air Systems (MUAS) are training together for the first time as part of a major exercise to improve the two armies’ interoperability.
The British Desert Hawk 3 (DH3) and the French Drone de Reconnaissance au Contact (DRAC) are flying in the skies over the STANTA ranges in Norfolk as part of Exercise Eagles Amarante. Both MUAS - operated by 21 (Air Assault) Battery, 47 Regiment Royal Artillery and 35e Regiment d’Artillerie Parachutiste respectively - are designed to give commanders an ‘over the hill’ view of the battlefield.
The two units started the two-week exercise by learning about the capabilities of each other’s equipment and tactics. They then progressed to flying joint missions in support of troops on the ground.
MUAS interoperability is one element of joint working across the exercise, which has seen 1,800 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e brigade parachutiste training together. The force – built around 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and 1er Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes – has been challenged with a simulated mission to restore stability to a troubled region.




Photos: Cpl Andy Reddy, MoD Crown Copyright.

VULCAN & TORNADO

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16 Air Assault Brigade a ajouté 8 nouvelles photos.

British and French paratroopers have jumped into action together as part of a major training exercise to improve their ability to operate together.
On Friday (2 Oct), more than 500 paratroopers from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e Brigade Parachutiste jumped onto the STANTA training area in Norfolk. Exercise Eagles Amarante is challenging the joint force - built around 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and 1er Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes - to restore stability to a troubled region.
The soldiers jumped from RAF C130 Hercules and French Armee de l'Air C160 Transall transport aircraft to capture a foothold in hostile territory. Over the coming days, extra troops and equipment will arrive on the area to build up combat power, before the joint force attacks key enemy positions.
Major Christopher Prior, Second-in-Command of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment said, "We’re practicing a scenario where we go into a country that’s been destabilised through internal conflict. Working with the French allows us to figure out how we deal with the language barriers, the planning differences and the equipment differences as well."
Lt Col Sebastian from 1RCP said: "We know we could be deployed at any time. Airborne troops are perfectly suited to emergency action so that’s why we prepare with exercises like this. It’s a great opportunity to work with the British Army and ensure we are ready to deploy on operations together."
The two-week long exercise started on Sunday (27 Sept), with 1,800 British and French troops and 300 vehicles and helicopters converging on Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk to begin planning and organising missions. On Tuesday (29 Sept) the paratroopers mounted their first operation, a helicopter raid on Rock Barracks in Woodbridge, followed up on Thursday (1 Oct) with an aviation strike by Apache and Gazelle attack helicopters, from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps and Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre respectively.
The training is designed to improve links between 16 Air Asslt Bde and 11e BP, which both provide their armies’ rapid reaction forces and are at the forefront of Franco-British military co-operation. Together they form the Interim Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (I-CJEF) which is ready to deploy at short notice on operations anywhere in the world. The partnership was validated in 2013, with Exercise Eagles Amarante part of an ongoing programme of joint training.

PHOTOS:

Photos: Cpl Andy Reddy, MoD Crown Copyright.

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David Cameron justifie l'usage des armes nucléaires


International
16:34 04.10.2015(mis à jour 16:48 04.10.2015)

L'emploi de l'arme nucléaire peut être justifié dans certaines conditions, estime le premier ministre britannique David Cameron.

Intervenant lors du congrès du parti conservateur à Manchester, il a critiqué le leader des travaillistes Jeremy Corbyn qui avait déclaré récemment qu'il n'autoriserait pas l'emploi d'une arme atomique même si la Grande-Bretagne était elle-même menacée d'une attaque nucléaire.

Washington aurait envisagé des frappes nucléaires contre l’Afghanistan
"Vous devez reconnaître qu'il existe des circonstances dans lesquelles le recours à l'arme nucléaire sera justifié", a insisté le chef du gouvernement britannique cité par la chaîne Sky News.

Le problème de modernisation du potentiel nucléaire du Royaume-Uni figurait parmi les sujets les plus discutés pendant la campagne électorale britannique de 2015. Les conservateurs, qui ont remporté les législatives, se sont engagés à maintenir le projet de construction de quatre nouveaux sous-marins nucléaires dans le cadre du programme Trident remplacement.


Les travaillistes, ainsi que le Parti national écossais, s'opposent à ce projet qui risque de coûter jusqu'à 100 milliards de livres sterlings au budget britannique, selon leurs évaluations.

Le projet Trident comprend aujourd'hui quatre submersibles nucléaires capables de porter des charges nucléaires et thermonucléaires. Il s'agit de l'élément le plus puissant et le plus onéreux des forces armées britanniques.


http://fr.sputniknews.com/international/20151004/1018587317.html#ixzz3nc3kmBZW

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Gorgeous cockpit video of the last Vulcan bomber flying in formation with the Red Arrows for the last time





The last flying Vulcan Bomber, XH558, flew with the Red Arrows one last time at the Southport Air Show.

After taking part in air shows for eight years, the last flying Vulcan bomber will perform its final flights today taking part at Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon and at Shuttleworth Uncovered Air Show, which will end Old Warden Collection airshow season.

Avro Vulcan XH558 (carrying civil registration G-VLCN), is the only airworthy bomber of a fleet of 134 Vulcan V bombers operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984.



To salute the iconic plane, the Red Arrows display team performed a flypast with the mighty Cold War bomber for the last time during Southport Air Show on Sept. 19.

Squadron Leader David Montenegro, Red 1 and Team Leader of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, remarked that “It was a great honour to lead a formation flypast with the Vulcan, particularly as the aircraft type was once based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire – now home to the Red Arrows.”



In the following beautiful video, taken from the cockpit of the bomber, you can join the Vulcan aircrew who flew with the Red Arrows for the final time.



http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/04/cockpit-video-vulcan-red-arrows/

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UK reveals extent of UAV losses and serious incidents

Gareth Jennings, London and Oliver Shorvon, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 October 2015



The United Kingdom has revealed the extent of its losses of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request received by IHS Jane's on 2 October.

The response shows that 15 UAVs of different types have been involved in incidents since April 2008, of which, seven were destroyed (Category 5); seven required major repairs before being returned to service or returned to the manufacturer (Category 4); and one was repairable in the field and returned to service (Category 1).

Of the seven Category 5 incidents, five involved the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 tactical UAV operated by the British Army; one was a Thales WK 450 Watchkeeper tactical UAV, again operated by the British Army; and one was an Insitu ScanEagle tactical UAV operated by the Royal Navy.

According to the FoI response, the Hermes 450 Category 5 losses involved tail numbers ZK506 (Afghanistan, 22 July 2012 - cause undetermined technical fault); ZK512 (Afghanistan, 3 June 2012 - cause undetermined); ZK513 (Afghanistan, 2 June 2009 - cause unspecified technical fault); ZK515 (Afghanistan, 2 October 2011 - cause unspecified technical fault); and ZK 516 (Afghanistan, 21 May 2012 - cause operator error).

The Category 5 Watchkeeper incident involved WK031 (West Wales Airport [Parc Aberporth], 16 November 2014 - cause still being investigated), while that of the ScanEagle involved 1781 (Northern Arabian Sea, 31 April 2014 - cause undetermined).

Of the seven Category 4 incidents, three involved the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAV operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF); two the Hermes 450; and two the ScanEagle.

According to the FoI response, the Reaper Category 4 incidents involved ZZ202 (Iraq, 9 April 2008 - cause not specified); ZZ202 (Afghanistan, 2 May 2010 - cause operator error); and ZZ203 (Afghanistan, 31 March 2012 - cause taxiing incident).


http://www.janes.com/article/54992/uk-reveals-extent-of-uav-losses-and-serious-incidents

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UK plans to buy 20 new drones to fight Islamic State in Iraq and Syria

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to buy 20 new drones to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Britain is part of an international coalition of more than 60 countries, including the United States, Arab and European nations, working together to dismantle and destroy ISIL in Syria and Iraq.






"We have at the moment a drone fleet of 10 Reapers and what we are going to be doing is actually replacing that with twice as many with a new updated piece of equipment — called Protector — which will be more than doubling of our fleet to keep us safe and to give us the intelligence and information and potentially give us the capacity to hit people who are potentially planning to hit us," Cameron said in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper.



Cameron also stated he was going to enforce the process of obtaining a parliament permit for the UK operation in Syria. He added that Russia's decision to launch a military operation in Syria will not affect the UK 's intention to send its drones.

At the moment, the British government has a parliament approval for military operation against ISIL in Iraq, but no mandate for such an operation in Syria.

On Wednesday, Russia started carrying out pinpoint airstrikes on ISIL positions in Syria at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/uk_plans_to_buy_20_new_drones_to_fight_islamic_state_in_iraq_and_syria_20510151.html

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Royal Air Force a ajouté 3 nouvelles photos.

The first Royal Air Force A400M Atlas Squadron worked in concert with US forces to complete load and tie-down
trials with a US Army Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV).

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HMS Richmond trains with Indian Navy
The Royal Navy frigate has been working out with the Indian Navy while operating in the Indian Ocean.

Deployed to the Middle East for six months, HMS Richmond has been training with Indian Navy Ship (INS) Betwa.

The Portsmouth based frigate visited the port of Goa, India, for a routine stop and then set out to sea in the company of frigate INS Betwa.

The purpose of the workout was to ensure the two ships were able to communicate effectively and coordinate manoeuvres in case they are required to do so when working together in a task force.

Lieutenant Commander Alexandra Pollard, HMS Richmond’s Executive Officer, said: “Conducting this type of exercise is important. As a globally deployed force, we need to demonstrate we can work closely with our allies wherever we are.”

As a globally deployed force, we need to demonstrate we can work closely with our allies wherever we are.
Lieutenant Commander Alexandra Pollard
INS Betwa is armed with an array of weaponry and carries up to two helicopters. Since commissioning in 2004, Betwa has been involved in operations in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

Lieutenant Thomas Loxton, HMS Richmond’s Navigating Officer said: “This was a great opportunity to work with a very competent and professional navy. Working with the Betwa was rewarding; she is a very capable ship.”

Richmond has been deployed to the Indian Ocean and surrounding region for six months.

The ship has been deployed with the Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force 150, working to promote maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Middle East region.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-hms-richmond-trains-with-indian-navy

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HMS Ocean arrives in Toulon
Royal Navy Fleet Flagship HMS Ocean has arrived in Toulon for final preparations ahead of Exercise Corsican Lion.

The exercise, part of the Royal Navy’s Cougar 15 deployment, provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the ship’s role as an amphibious assault ship.

Ocean carries the UK’s very high readiness Lead Commando Group, from 45 Commando Royal Marines, their vehicles and artillery, supported by helicopters from the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force.

The Merlin, Wildcat, Apache and Chinook helicopters embarked in the ship will work with the ship’s landing craft, and amphibious shipping from the French Navy, to demonstrate the flexibility and reach that amphibious forces can deliver from the sea.

The Cougar deployment demonstrates the immense flexibility and freedom of movement inherent in deploying Naval forces
Rear Admiral Tony Radakin RN
Rear Admiral Tony Radakin, Commander UK Maritime Forces, is also embarked in HMS Ocean together with his headquarters staff, in preparation for his future role as Commander of the NATO Response Force (Maritime) in 2016.

He said:‘The Cougar deployment demonstrates the immense flexibility and freedom of movement inherent in deploying Naval forces.

“The Cougar task group is in the Mediterranean, fully engaged simultaneously in two complementary exercises, Corsican Lion and Trident Juncture, while poised for whatever the Nation may ask of us.

“The Anglo-French amphibious task group in Corsican Lion is the quintessence of flexibility and reach of Naval forces, delivering security at sea while providing the Government choice in executing its strategy.’
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-ocean-arrives-in-toulon

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Royal Navy divers feel the heat during NATO exercise in Iceland
A team of Royal Navy Clearance Divers have blasted their way through a highly-charged NATO exercise in Iceland – demonstrating their explosive expertise.

The team of 12 bomb disposal operatives from Southern Diving Group joined around 200 Tri-Service colleagues from 14 NATO and Partner for Peace nations to take part in Exercise Northern Challenge in Keflavik.

A two week exercise in its 14th year of operation, it provided 22 teams with a variety of challenges both in land and maritime environments, with each task increasing in difficulty to test the operators and their teams.

The Commanding Officer of Southern Diving Group, Lieutenant Commander Al Nekrews QGM was also chosen as the CO of the Multi-National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Co-ordination Cell for the exercise due to his extensive knowledge of maritime and land bomb disposal operations.

He said: “Exercise Northern Challenge takes these multi-national teams and brings them together for a realistic threat-based scenario which develops rapidly on land and in the water.

"Iceland is an excellent place to train as we can use live weapons and explosives; so it is an opportunity to make the training as realistic as possible.”

The Royal Navy are capable of operating at land and in the maritime environment, but our niche capability is the underwater EOD capability.
Lt Cdr Nekrews
The teams all had to work to the NATO doctrine while ensuring they also kept to their own national Standard Operating Procedures.

In the Royal Navy team’s case this means that once the two IED Disposal Operators – Petty Officer Sam ‘Nobby’ Clark and Chief Petty Officer Simon Crew – have decided how they will tackle the device, they must radio through to Lt Cdr Nekrews to get his approval.

CPO Crew said: “We have a strict set of procedures that we have learned from historical bomb disposal operations in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan so many of the teams here look to us in order to learn from our experiences.

"We have a very stringent process – and one of these is to call into the CO to describe exactly what we are seeing and our plan to disable it.”

One of the main aims of the exercise is to ensure that the operators and their teams focus on retaining the device – or parts of it – for forensic testing. The idea is to target the bomb makers directly – a tactic that proved successful on Op Herrick, resulting in a number of high profile arrests.

Teams have to bag their evidence and bring it to a lab at the headquarters where a Danish forensic expert examines the parts to report back his findings to the main briefing each morning.

Here the teams receive feedback from the previous day’s activities and are then given their tasks for the day – usually with one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

“A team of over 30 people coordinate the exercise and prioritise the tasks – acting as the tasking authority for the teams,” said Lt Cdr Nekrews.

“We also provide a national point of contact who is a subject matter expert and understands each country’s Standard Operating Procedures.

”The exercise is not only testing for the |ED Disposal Operators but also the rest of the diving team from Southern Diving Group who are usually split between Portsmouth and Plymouth bases and cover land and maritime bomb disposal operations in the UK.

“The Royal Navy are capable of operating at land and in the maritime environment, but our niche capability is the underwater EOD capability,” added Lt Cdr Nekrews.

As such all of the Royal Navy’s tasks for the exercise involved the maritime environment with scenarios including a boat rigged up with an IED on board, a limpet mine attached to a coastguard vessel and a suicide diver with explosives attached to his air cylinders.

PO Andrew ‘Snowy’ Davies of the Danish Navy – a former RN diver – was one of the exercise assessors. He said: “On land there are a lot of actions you can take to ensure that you never have to expose an operator to an explosive device by using the robots for example, but in the maritime environment, and particularly in these scenarios, someone must be sent in to observe and disable it.

“This can be a very long, slow operation because these devices are designed to be unpredictable. Plus here in Iceland the conditions mean that the operators and the team are all very cold and wet and yet they must keep on going – it is extremely challenging for them.”

As the scenarios became more complex the teams were then made aware that the bombmakers were targeting the operators by observing them disabling their previous devices and learning the procedures.

Another lesson learnt from Afghanistan – the operators also had to be aware of this, and ensure that they adapted their strategy to avoid further risk to their lives while all the time assessed by the exercise staff.

Captain Florian Hanol of the German EOD Operations Company, said this was the second year he had attended Ex Northern Challenge.

“This is a really good opportunity to meet everyone working in the same field and to share experience and see how the different teams operate,” he said.

“The German team have been doing really well – this is the first time that the team has worked together so I am very pleased with the result.”
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-royal-navy-divers-feel-the-heat-during-nato-exercise-in-iceland

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It's HMS Wetminster as frigate floats after 11 months being high and dry
The waters lap the hull of Britain’s ‘capital ship’ for the first time in 11 months as HMS Westminster passes a milestone in a major overhaul.

Since November last year, the frigate has been sitting on blocks in the recently-refurbished No.15 dock in Portsmouth Naval Base while engineers from BAE Systems worked on her hull and machinery systems – including applying ‘go faster’ paint (it’s less easy for marine life to stick to it, reducing friction and resistance).

With the outer work on and below the waterline done, the engineers gradually opened the sluices in a day-long operation to flood the dock and refloat the Type 23 frigate.

Throughout the revamp, which will help keep Westminster on the front line until the replacement Type 26 ships enter service next decade, the frigate has retained a core ship’s company which is now gradually growing to prepare the warship for trials and ultimately her return to duties next year.

The ship is now afloat which sets the context for the intensive training programme ahead
Lt Cdr Tim Ciaravella RN
“Now the ‘flood up’ has been completed, the full ‘set to work’ phase will begin – the ship’s company can start taking responsibility for Westminster’s equipment in preparation for moving onboard,” said Lt Cdr Tim Ciaravella, the frigate’s Senior Naval Officer.

“The ship is now afloat which sets the context for the intensive training programme ahead and is a significant milestone in this joint venture between the Royal Navy and BAE.”

Among the improvements and enhancements to the 23-year-old frigate are a revamped command system and the new 3D Artisan radar which is quickly becoming the standard ‘eyes’ of the Fleet.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/08/151008-westminster-floats-after-11-months

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UK plans to deploy troops on long-term basis in the Baltic states

Britain plans to join Germany and the US in the long-term deployment of its troops in the Baltic states to allegedly contain a threat they claimed emanates from Russia. London is due to deploy its troops in the Baltic region on a long-term basis, mirroring US and German plans; the goal is to strengthen NATO's eastern borders and "deter Russian aggression," according to British newspaper The Financial Times.



The Financial Times reported that British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon will announce the decision at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels later on Thursday. The length of the UK troop deployment has yet to be defined, but it will be implemented on a rotational basis.

An unnamed official told the newspaper that a single company or about 100 troops will be deployed in the Baltic region in the near future.

The size of such a limited contingent may be attributed to the fact that the previous UK Parliament called for reducing the number of British troops stationed abroad.

Another source familiar with the text of Fallon's speech said that the Defense Minister will also touch upon the issue of scaling up Britain's current training mission for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Right now, about 75 British military trainers are stationed in western Ukraine, where they work with a total of 1,600 Ukrainian troops, according to the Financial Times.

The UK's deployment will reportedly be part of the Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training Initiative, which was agreed upon by the US and Germany in June 2015.

The purpose is to expand training as well as command-and-control drills between the US, Germany and their Eastern European allies.





http://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/uk_plans_to_deploy_troops_on_long-term_basis_in_the_baltic_states_20810154.html

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2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment - The Poachers

A 'Lincolnshire' Company and members of D 'Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire' Company are deployed to the Falklands as the Roulement Infantry
Company. They are taking part in patrols across both East and West Falklands as well as conducting live firing.
In October they will take part in Exercise Cape Bayonet. This will involve the entire Company conducting live fire attacks with mortars and .50
machine guns providing supporting fire.

PHOTOS:

Citation :

Construction begins on last of three River-class Bath 2 OPVs for the Royal Navy

Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Navy International
08 October 2015



Construction has begun on the last of three new River-class Batch 2 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the UK Royal Navy (RN).

The first steel for what will become HMS Trent was cut at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on 7 October, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The first and second vessels, Forth and Medway are scheduled to be delivered in 2017, followed by Trent in 2018.

The vessels are being purchased, at a cost of GBP348 million, in order to maintain UK shipbuilding activity - and are expected to lead to the early decommissioning of the three original River-class vessels.