Naval and Marine update – Double Dragon as destroyer makes history with twin Lynx in the Gulf

Another post on John’s Naval, Marine and other Service news

News

Double Dragon as destroyer makes history with twin Lynx in the Gulf
20 June 2013

For the first time one of the Royal Navy’s new destroyers has used two helicopters on front-line operations.

HMS Dragon doubled her effectiveness for two months flying not the usual one, but two Lynx helicopters from her sprawling flight deck.

Pictures: LA(Phot) Dave Jenkins, HMS Dragon

FLANKING the imposing superstructure of the Navy’s most advanced warship, this is the first time two Lynx helicopters have joined a Type 45 destroyer on front-line operations.

HMS Dragon doubled her effectiveness for two months flying not the usual one, but two Lynx helicopters from her sprawling flight deck.

The destroyer, on her maiden deployment, left Portsmouth in March with one the nimble helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron aboard.

But she also carried a spare air and ground crew – ready to look after HMS Monmouth’s when Dragon relieved the frigate to take over on Gulf patrol duties.

The two Lynx stage a flypast of Dragon

Monmouth’s helicopter – still bearing the charging Black Duke knight decal on her nose – was flown across and safely stowed in Dragon’s hangar, large enough to swallow up the two aircraft with room to spare.

Before the ship could begin double operations, Monmouth’s helicopter – callsign Flametrap 415 – needed maintenance after her six months of exertions in the region, work typically carried out back at home at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.

The engineers and technicians toiled in temperatures now regularly over 40˚C during the day.

“Dual aircraft operations has been a busy time for all,” said maintainer PO(AET) Matt Ferris. “The maintenance hours have been triple that of a normal flight due to 415 staying in theatre, and keeping up with the high flying tempo whilst having two aircraft.”

Facing the prospect of operating two aircraft to tactical advantage, Dragon adopted the ‘crawl-walk-run’ plan – aided by the fact that the destroyer’s Flight Commander, Lt Cdr Paul Ellerton, has done this before from ice survey ship HMS Endurance which carried two Lynx on her Antarctic missions.

What having two Lynx has allowed above all is the ability to carry out the ‘day job’ of surface searches and support to board and search operations, while the second helicopter carried out training with the Royal Marines sniper team, rapid roping, passenger transfers and, most importantly, picking up mail to bolster morale among the 235-strong ship’s company.

And when a call came from minehunter HMS Quorn that she needed equipment, vital to sustain her mission, flown in from Bahrain – the hub of the RN’s east-of-Suez mission – simultaneously with the need to return a group of American junior officers to the destroyer USS Higgins when rough seas prevented them going back by boat, both Lynx were scrambled.

Within two hours the helicopters were both back in the hangar being prepared for the next days tasking having completed their double mission.

Amid all the serious high-tempo operational flying – and in true Fleet Air Arm fashion – the aircrew managed to squeeze in some ‘fun’ by conducting formation flying; a skill rarely exercised in this part of the world.

A Royal Marine rapid ropes on to HMS Quorn’s cluttered quarterdeck from one of Dragon’s Lynx

“It was a great opportunity to actually apply the training we receive in the UK and put it into practice – dual operations in an operational theatre,” said pilot Lt Rob Gleave as the two months aboard Dragon came to an end.

As far as Dragon’s principal warfare officer Lt Cdr Jason White is concerned this double helicopter experiment has been well worthwhile.

“Having two Lynx aircraft embarked on Dragon for this short period has allowed valuable experience to be gained and lessons learned throughout the ship which have been captured for the future,” he added.

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via Blogger http://www.h16613.com/2013/06/naval-and-marine-update-double-dragon.html

Naval and Marine update – British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

Another post on John’s Naval, Marine and other Service news

British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

Posted on Jun 20th, 2013 with tags .

British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

British, American and Canadian sailors paid homage to men killed in one of the most famous – and bloodiest – battles waged the last time London and Washington went to war against each other. Personnel from all three nations paid their respects to the dead of HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake, laid to rest in Halifax, Canada, after the two ships clashed during the War of 1812.

Two centuries after one of the most celebrated naval clashes from the days of sail, today’s sailors remembered those lost the last time Britain and America went to war against each other.

On June 1 1813, the frigates HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake clashed off Boston, Massachusetts, one of the shortest and bloodiest naval actions of the War of 1812 (which actually lasted until 1815…).

Bostonians were convinced of success after the relatively junior US Navy had inflicted several defeats on its much older and larger foe.

A victory banquet was prepared and many Bostonians sailed in yachts to watch the triumph.

Instead, however, Capt Broke delivered a lesson in naval gunnery and training. For every shot fired by the Chesapeake into Shannon, the Royal Navy responded with two into the American warship.

After just 15 minutes of battle, Chesapeake’s battle flag was lowered and the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy hoisted by the Shannon’s boarding team, even though the mortally-wounded Capt Lawrence urged his men: “Don’t give up the ship” – a motto which lives on in today’s American Navy.

In all, 228 men were killed or wounded in the brief battle, making it the bloodiest single-ship encounter of the entire war.

Both ships subsequently made for Halifax in Canada, some 300 miles away, where the casualties of battle were treated and the dead laid to rest in what is now known as the Old Burial Ground.

It was there, 200 years later, that the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Brig Gen John Grant, unveiled a commemorative plaque and laid a wreath on the joint grave of the Shannon’s Midshipman John Samwell and Boatswain William Steven.

In all 38 sailors, marines, landsmen and immigrants lost their lives in the Royal Navy frigate during the short but ferocious action; 60 American sailors and marines were also killed.

Representing the RN at memorial proceedings was Lt Cdr Mike Jones-Thompson, an air warfare officer who’s one of five on exchange with the Canadians in Halifax.

“It was an honour to represent the RN at this historic event – and remember the sacrifice that has been made by so many of our forefathers,” said Lt Cdr Jones-Thompson, who teaches Canadian ops room officers and assesses ships’ warfare teams.

“The War of 1812 had a profound effect on the way that the UK, USA and Canada developed as nations, and ultimately lead to the close ties that we enjoy today.”

 

Map data ©2013 Google Imagery ©2013 TerraMetrics – Terms of Use
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Press Release, June 20, 2013; Image: Royal Navy

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via Blogger http://jcsmarinenews.blogspot.com/2013/06/naval-and-marine-update-british.html

Naval and Marine update – British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

Another post on John’s Naval, Marine and other Service news

British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

Posted on Jun 20th, 2013 with tags .

British, American and Canadian Sailors Remember UK-US Naval Battle

British, American and Canadian sailors paid homage to men killed in one of the most famous – and bloodiest – battles waged the last time London and Washington went to war against each other. Personnel from all three nations paid their respects to the dead of HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake, laid to rest in Halifax, Canada, after the two ships clashed during the War of 1812.

Two centuries after one of the most celebrated naval clashes from the days of sail, today’s sailors remembered those lost the last time Britain and America went to war against each other.

On June 1 1813, the frigates HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake clashed off Boston, Massachusetts, one of the shortest and bloodiest naval actions of the War of 1812 (which actually lasted until 1815…).

Bostonians were convinced of success after the relatively junior US Navy had inflicted several defeats on its much older and larger foe.

A victory banquet was prepared and many Bostonians sailed in yachts to watch the triumph.

Instead, however, Capt Broke delivered a lesson in naval gunnery and training. For every shot fired by the Chesapeake into Shannon, the Royal Navy responded with two into the American warship.

After just 15 minutes of battle, Chesapeake’s battle flag was lowered and the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy hoisted by the Shannon’s boarding team, even though the mortally-wounded Capt Lawrence urged his men: “Don’t give up the ship” – a motto which lives on in today’s American Navy.

In all, 228 men were killed or wounded in the brief battle, making it the bloodiest single-ship encounter of the entire war.

Both ships subsequently made for Halifax in Canada, some 300 miles away, where the casualties of battle were treated and the dead laid to rest in what is now known as the Old Burial Ground.

It was there, 200 years later, that the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Brig Gen John Grant, unveiled a commemorative plaque and laid a wreath on the joint grave of the Shannon’s Midshipman John Samwell and Boatswain William Steven.

In all 38 sailors, marines, landsmen and immigrants lost their lives in the Royal Navy frigate during the short but ferocious action; 60 American sailors and marines were also killed.

Representing the RN at memorial proceedings was Lt Cdr Mike Jones-Thompson, an air warfare officer who’s one of five on exchange with the Canadians in Halifax.

“It was an honour to represent the RN at this historic event – and remember the sacrifice that has been made by so many of our forefathers,” said Lt Cdr Jones-Thompson, who teaches Canadian ops room officers and assesses ships’ warfare teams.

“The War of 1812 had a profound effect on the way that the UK, USA and Canada developed as nations, and ultimately lead to the close ties that we enjoy today.”

 

Map data ©2013 Google Imagery ©2013 TerraMetrics – Terms of Use
 Traffic
Map
Satellite

Press Release, June 20, 2013; Image: Royal Navy

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via Blogger http://www.h16613.com/2013/06/naval-and-marine-update-british.html

USA: San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport…

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