HMS Dasher

Military experience

Lieutenant Heward joined the Royal Navy in 2001 as a Naval College Entrant and undertook general training and Fleet Time in HMS Coventry, HMS Somerset and HMS Grimsby followed by the Junior Warfare Officers Course at HMS Collingwood.

His first compliment appointment saw him join HMS Cattistock in 2003 as Gunnery Officer. An enjoyable 2 and-a-half years followed, including Fishery Protection Operations and River Survey Ops around the UK as well as an Operational mine hunting deployment to the Baltic during which Cattistock destroyed 14 confirmed munitions.

In 2006 Lieutenant Heward joined HMS Kent as OOW2 and completed a busy Op Telic Deployment which included visits to 18 ports and a VIP visit by Prince Andrew for which Lieutenant Heward was Guard Officer. Following a busy period of fleet time, including JMC, SMCC and Spec N Running, Lieutenant Heward attended PNO and FNO course in succession at HMS Collingwood in late 2007.

Lieutenant Heward joined HMS Iron Duke in December 2007 as Navigating Officer prior to an 8 week BOST and DCT package. A deployment to APT(N) followed, serving with HRH Prince William and conducting multiple Counter Narcotics operations and culminating in Humanitarian Disaster Relief Operations around the Turks and Caicos Islands in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Iron Duke then proceeded to the APT(S) AOR for 2 months, navigating the Falkland Islands and South Georgia before returning to the UK. During a second successful deployment to APT(N) in 2009, Iron Duke regularly made media headlines following Counter Narcotics Operations which included the largest Cocaine seizure made by the Royal Navy in a single operation totalling 5.5 tonnes of narcotics.

In 2010 Lieutenant Heward joined the Navigation and Seamanship Unit at the Maritime Warfare School where he spent a rewarding 6 month period teaching the Preliminary Navigating Officer’s course before being selected for Command in May 2010.

Lieutenant Mark Heward completed CO Desig Course in Jul 2010 and assumed Command of HMS Dasher and his position as 2 I/C of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron in August 2010 and is looking forward to a busy Operational Command appointment.