Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
The patrol ship – on a long-term mission to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister HMS Tamar – was invited to join the latest exercise involving the French Navy’s carrier strike group on its mission east of Suez, codenamed Clemenceau 25, led by France’s flagship FS Charles de Gaulle.
Exercise La Pérouse focused on three of the world’s key maritime choke points: the straits of Malacca (between Sumatra and Malaysia), Sunda (between Java and Sumatra) and Lombok (between the namesake island and Bali).
Together, it’s estimated more than half the world’s shipping traffic pass through the three straits – making their security essential for global trade.
Spey joined the task group, plus Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa and Indian destroyer INS Mumbai, in the Sunda Strait – at its narrowest, just 15 miles wide and home to the volcano Krakatoa – where a series of scenarios were played out by night and day.
The Royal Navy vessel pitted her wits against a French frigate, trying to hide from the task group (plus a maritime patrol aircraft) in the Java Sea.
The following night Charles de Gaulle launched her fast jets to simulate aerial attacks on the task group, testing Spey’s handling as she manoeuvred to avoid being strafed by fighter-bombers.
The exercise scenarios included a simulated ‘hit’ by the attacking aircraft, leading to a major fire incident exercise requiring the crew to tackle the fire whilst continuing to fight the battle.
“Whole ship reactions to fire are full-on under normal exercise conditions but it was especially thrilling whilst under simulated aerial attack,” said Able Seaman Ashley Sandbrook, who was part of the firefighting effort.
“It got pretty intense but your training kicks in and everyone pulls together to do what needs to be done.”
The exercise concluded with two gunnery shoots: first, Spey sending warning shots from her 30mm Oerlikon across the bow of the Ottawa to simulate forcing an unwilling ship to submit to boarding.
Then the Brits at the head of a line of ships, tracking and firing on targets laid by the French multi-mission frigates.
Initially slated to attack two of the four targets laid, Spey’s second shoot was called off after she destroyed the first target with the opening salvo from her 30mm cannon; exercise directors feared there would be insufficient targets left for the remaining three ships to practise their gunnery.
“What appears as a second of success is the result of hours in the ops room, and even more time if you account for the training required to qualify as an operator,” said Weapon Engineering Technician Lukas Bishop, who had his finger on the trigger.
“Hitting the target first time is immensely gratifying, at the head of the column the eyes of our partner navies were on us, and we showed we can perform at the highest standard even when the pressure is on."
In all nine nations participated over the eight days of the exercise, which was spread across more than 1,000 miles of ocean.
“Exercise La Pérouse has been a fantastic training opportunity for Spey,” said Commander Paul Caddy, Spey’s Commanding Officer.
“We have made the most of the chance to exercise the operations room and gunnery teams in demanding tactical serials, not something we have many chances to do during our typical constabulary patrols and defence engagement tasking.
“Putting the crew through their paces in response to a major fire while continuing to conduct evasive manoeuvres and simulate engaging low flying aircraft in coordination with partner vessels during an air defence exercise was an excellent test of whole ship reactions.
“Although offshore Patrol Vessels like Spey are not intended to fight on the front line, the enemy will get a say too! So it is important that we maintain our ability to operate the ship in tactically-demanding environments.
“Our success in these serials is a testament to value of the continuous practise and training we conduct at the unit level, and my highly motivated and professional ship’s company.”
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.