Naval Power in the Solent

The Royal Navy’s flagship has been demonstrating her current capabilities – and working towards adding even more weight to her ‘punch’.

Assault ship HMS Bulwark led the way during a series of high-profile all-action demonstrations held in the Solent for a very select audience.

Around 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines from across the Naval Service took part in the Maritime Combat Power Visit (MCPV), showing movers and shakers what the Royal Navy is capable of.

The four-day-long MCPV – the new name for Staff College Sea Days (the programme has been rebranded since last year) – demonstrates how the RN carries out its business around the globe.

After a day of rehearsals on the Monday, the Visit began in earnest the following day, unfolding before the gallery of more than 300 students from the advanced command and staff at Shrivenham, the Forces’ college, plus senior officers, academics, the media, MPs, affiliates and other VIP guests.

All the activity was choreographed by the Navy’s training gurus, Devonport-based Flag Officer Sea Training or FOST.

The cast for the event was extensive – but for the record, it included HMS Bulwark, landing support ship RFA Mounts Bay, frigate HMS Sutherland, small Fleet tanker RFA Black Rover, Archer-class patrol boat HMS Raider, Jungly Sea Kings from 846 Naval Air Squadron, Commando Lynx from 847 NAS, Naval Lynx from 815 NAS, Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) Sea Kings from 849 NAS, Hawk jets, Commandos from the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (FPGRM) and the amphibious wizardry of 539 Assault Squadron RM.

The Junglies and Fleet Protection Group teams staged a mock boarding, leaping out of a Sea King and roping on to Bulwark to show how they can take down pirates/terrorists – rather as they did in London when the ship visited at the beginning of the year.

Black Rover bowled along to demonstrate the tricky art of replenishing at sea (RASing), Sutherland showed how to deal with the threat of submarines, and Bulwark demonstrated how she can put men and material on to hostile shores by sending the Royal Marines and their kit on to Browndown Beach near Gosport, where a Viking from the Royal Marines’ Armoured Support Group could be seen racing across the shingle (above).

The aim is to give visitors – and officers on the advanced staff course in particular – a small taste of the full range of the Senior Service’s abilities.

And that full range would not be adequately spanned without the presence of a representative of the small-ship Navy, in this instance Bristol University RN Unit boat HMS Raider.

For her Commanding Officer, Lt Charlie Collins, it was a baptism of fire – and he was quick to make enemies.

When Raider sped out of the mouth of the Tamar en route for the Solent, Lt Collins was in only his third day at sea with his new command.

And the patrol boat’s task in the MCPV was that of OPFOR – opposing force (aka ‘the Enemy’).

Lt Collins and his small crew set about the challenge with relish.

Directed to attack the task group entering the Solent from the east, Raider lurked within St Helens anchorage under cover of merchant shipping.

She then darted from her cover and headed at high speed towards Bulwark and her escorts, firing multiple rounds from her flying bridge as she manoeuvred in for the attack.

Raider attempted to get ‘up-close and personal’ with the fleet flagship, providing a vivid illustration of force protection in the littoral to the onlooking students and guests.

Raider, powered by two V12 diesel engines providing a top speed of 24 knots, and her sisters are versatile, so it is no surprise that they are called upon to undertake a variety of different tasks.

Raider’s primary role is providing sea training to the students of Bristol, Bath and UWE Universities.

However, she also provides regular support to Flag Officer Sea Training during Thursday Wars off Plymouth, Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth for regular IWOF (Initial Warfare Officers Foundation course) navigation training, the Board and Search School at HMS Raleigh, sea training for the Sea Cadet Corps, and generally showing the White Ensign in ports and harbours where her bigger sisters cannot enter, both around the UK and on European coasts.

On completion of the MCPV, Lt Collins said: “Raider is made up of only five ship’s company, and they have been selected individually for being the best at what they do – which is proven on days like today.”

For HMS Sutherland the dash to the Solent started in London, following a high-profile visit to the capital – and she carried with her affiliates from the Honourable Company of Master Mariners for the journey.

With a large proportion of her ship’s company living in Hampshire, a week ‘day running’ out of Portsmouth was a welcome change.

During the practice period – Days 1 and 2 – the ship took representatives from the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, DES Ships Abbey Wood, Biggleswade Sea Cadet unit, Ryde School Sea Cadet Corps and Potential Officer Candidates to sea to give them the unique experience of life in a warship.

On Day 3 Sutherland welcomed nearly 300 members of the Defence Academy as they learned about the flexibility and capabilities of the Type 23 frigate, particularly in the context of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group – Sutherland has real current experience of this having spent four months of this year deployed on the Cougar 11 deployment with flagship HMS Albion.

Sutherland then detached to Operation Ellamy/Unified Protector off Libya, providing Naval Gunfire Support for Apache gunships operating from HMS Ocean.

Back in the Solent, Sutherland sailed on the afternoon of Day 3 to prepare for the main event the following day, which saw the frigate fire her main 4.5in gun, her 30mm gun system, and finish off with a boarding demonstration.

Visitors were apparently quite taken by the frigate’s ‘sports car’ handling...

Commanding Officer Cdr Roger Readwin said: “Following a busy year deployed on live operations with the RFTG it has been a privilege to be able pass on our experience and help the future leaders of the UK military better understand the impressive capability of HMS Sutherland and her sister Type 23 frigates.

“I lead a proud crew who have the loving support of their families – they are the most important factor in delivering the winning edge.”

HMS Sutherland repaid the loyalty of some of the families by taking them to sea for a Families Day.

The popular event was made even more enjoyable by fine weather – never a given at the end of October – and included a magician in the hangar, demonstration air defence exercises against attacking jet fighters and a flying display from HMS York’s Lynx.

The ship’s own Merlin was available on deck throughout the day to allow families to appreciate first-hand how large and impressive the anti-submarine aircraft is.

York, returning from duty in the Mediterranean, and Sutherland engaged in a short, high-speed passage close to the Isle of Wight, Sutherland emerging as victors in the short sprint, much to the delight of the embarked families.

With the MCPV over, Raider returned home and Bulwark headed for the Tyne and a formal visit by her ship’s company to Durham (see p10).

Sutherland sailed south for exercises in the Bay of Biscay, and as Navy News went to press she was due back in her home port of Devonport for a period of deep maintenance, a new CO – Cdr Allan Wilson takes over this month – and the prospect of a deployment next year.