Pictures: LA(Phots) Joel Rouse and Maxine Davies

NOW here’s a sight not seen for some time in Britain’s great gateway to the Mediterranean: the harbour at Gibraltar bristling with battleship grey.

Against the outer wall, Her Majesty’s Ships Northumberland (F238) and Montrose (F236), plus landing support ship RFA Mounts Bay.

And in the shadow of The Tower, the headquarters of British Forces Gibraltar, the nation’s flagship HMS Bulwark, which is leading the Navy’s key autumn deployment: Cougar 12.

The Rock was the first port of call on the two-month exercise for the quartet, which depart today after three days enjoying a brief but enjoyable operational stand-down. 

Lt Tom Knott, HMS Scimitar’s CO, salutes HMS Northumberland as the frigate approaches Gib

The force was welcomed by the Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the small territory: the Gibraltar Squadron. Fast patrol boat HMS Scimitar sailed to greet the incoming vessels – and salute them.

Once alongside, sailors and Royal Marines from the task group ships grappled local sides in the sporting arena, including rugby, netball and football.

Bulwark was victorious in the netball by a significant margin, but narrowly missed out to 45 Commando in the rugby clash.

Today’s game. Spot the Royal Marines… Two of 200 runners from the task group take part in the Rock Race in fancy dress

However, the highlight of the weekend’s sporting calendar was the famous Rock Race; over 200 personnel from the Response Force Task Group donned their running shoes (and, in some cases, some colourful fancy dress) and made a dash for the top of Gibraltar.

The 2.7 miles does not sound too gruelling – Bulwark’s words, not hours – until the ascent of 1,250ft is taken into account…

On a more solemn note, a number of task group officers took the opportunity to pay their respects at Gibraltar’s famous Trafalgar Cemetery, just a couple of weeks before the anniversary of Nelson’s great victory.

Quite possibly the most stunning backdrop to any football ground on earth…

A short service was conducted in memory of those who lost their lives in the battle, followed by a moment of reflection for all members of the Armed Forces who have lost their lives conflict.

Trafalgar and the Royal Marines’ birthday were then commemorated with a dinner onboard HMS Bulwark.

The force is leaving Gibraltar today to take part in the first major test of Cougar, Exercise Corsican Lion, training with the French and their flagship FS Charles de Gaulle, off the eponymous Mediterranean island.

Pictures: PO Robbie Hodgson, HMS Caroline

THE last surviving warship of the Battle of Jutland will be preserved for the nation in her native Belfast – and hopefully returned to her Great War glory.

Cruiser HMS Caroline is the only one of 151 Royal Navy ships which clashed with the Kaiser’s High Seas Fleet in the North Sea on May 31 1916 still with us, serving as home to Belfast’s naval reservists for more than 85 years.

Now the goal is to make her one of the centrepieces of the city’s Titanic Quarter after the Ministry of Defence donated the 98-year-old warship to the National Museum of the Royal Navy – which means it can bid for funding to preserve and restore her.

The Northern Ireland government has already set up to £100,000 aside to begin immediate remedial work with the aim ultimately of allowing the Belfast public to look around her as a tourist attraction – and a reminder of the age of dreadnoughts and the Grand Fleet.

Caroline under way in 1914

The cruiser earned the reputation as the ‘lucky Caroline’ during the Great War. Twice during the fighting at Jutland she was in the thick of the action, including carrying out a torpedo charge against the lines of German warships.

In the ‘peace dividend’ after the war, the ship was paid off before being reactivated as the headquarters of the Ulster Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve – forerunner of today’s Royal Naval Reserve – in 1924.

That was a duty performed until the end of March last year, when she was finally decommissioned, since when reservists have met in Lisburn on the edge of Belfast.

As for Caroline, she’s stayed in Alexandra Dock, just 500 yards from where Titanic was built, while her fate was determined.

Caroline’s tiller flat – the ship’s emergency steering position – is unchanged from her active days

There was talk of moving her to Portsmouth to join other famous vessels in the Historic Dockyard, but in the end the decision was taken to keep her in Belfast – something welcomed by the province’s Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster.

“HMS Caroline is part of the fabric of Belfast and she is also an integral part of our maritime history. The ship is of outstanding national significance and has huge potential as a visitor experience,” she said.

“The announcement is great news as it means we will be able to begin the process of bringing HMS Caroline back to her former glory.

“Fully restoring and preserving the ship will require significant funding and, to that end, we have had positive discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

The engine room still houses the turbines which once propelled the cruiser through the sea at speeds up to 29kts

Caroline has undergone some modifications in her RNR roles – classrooms and a drill shed aft of her three funnels, the forward boiler room is a ladies’ gym, and the cruiser’s guns were removed – but much of her innards hasn’t changed much since her fighting days.

Veterans’ minister Mark Francois said given her history, Caroline had to be saved – hence the decision to donate her to the museum.

“This is one of the most historic fighting ships in the world, one which played a role in a battle which was decisive in the outcome of World War 1,” he said. “It was critical that the ship was preserved and made accessible to the public.”

Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Professor Dominic Tweddle, added: “We are grateful to the MOD for gifting the ship to us and to the Northern Ireland Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for the spirit of partnership, the enthusiasm it has shown and the commitment it has made to the vessel’s restoration and eventual presentation to the public.”