Tag Archives: Gibraltar

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) passes Rock of Gibraltar, 2013

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MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Aug. 3, 2013) The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) passes the Rock of Gibraltar while transiting the Mediterranean Sea. Harry S. Truman, flagship for the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, is deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ethan Schumacher/Released) 130803-N-QI228-363

US Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter flying off Gibraltar, 2004

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Straits of Gibraltar (July 10, 2004) – An SH-60 Seahawk assigned to the “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Seven (HS-7) flies cover near the Rock of Gibraltar as USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transits the Straits of Gibraltar. Truman is participating in Majestic Eagle, a multinational exercise being conducted off the coast of Morocco. The exercise demonstrates the combined force capabilities and quick response times of the participating naval, air, undersea and surface warfare groups. Countries involved in the NATO led exercise include the United Kingdom, Morocco, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Truman’s participation in Majestic Eagle is part of her scheduled deployment supporting the Navy’s new fleet response plan (FRP) Summer Pulse 2004, the simultaneous deployment of seven carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Lilliana LaVende. (RELEASED)

Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton appointed Governor of Gibraltar

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{cough} I called it back in July. {cough}

Gibraltar post for former Marine chief

Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, leader of British forces in Afghanistan, will be new governor of disputed territory

Spain has ordered customs officers to go slow at the ­border with Gibraltar, causing delays lasting several hours. Photograph: Marcos Moreno/AFP/Getty Images

Britain is sending a former Royal Marine commander to be the Queen’s representative in Gibraltar amid continuing tensions between London and Madrid over the future of the overseas territory.

The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, who led British forces in Afghanistan, will be the new governor of the disputed territory. It said the move was planned “long ago, well in advance of any of the current difficulties we are experiencing”.

“I am delighted and honoured to be going to Gibraltar, especially given its historical connections with the Royal Marines,” he said.

“I hope that my many years of military experience combined now with three years of commercial experience will equip me well to deliver the governor’s role and responsibilities toward Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.”

Spanish fishermen have been protesting against an artificial reef, dumped by Gibraltar in disputed waters, which has prevented them dredging for scallops and other shellfish.

Spain ordered Spanish customs officers to go slow at the border, causing delays lasting several hours. Ministers in Madrid have also threatened to prevent Gibraltar-bound planes from entering Spain’s airspace and to investigate the tax arrangements of thousands of Gibraltarians with homes in Spain.

Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, compared Spanish tactics to the behaviour of General Franco, North Korea and Argentina in the runup to the Falklands war.

The role of governor is largely ceremonial given that the 30,000-stong territory has its own elected government, but in an unusual intervention, Dutton’s predecessor, Sir Adrian Johns, last month accused Spain of a “serious violation of British sovereignty”.

Madrid sent divers to photograph the reef and placed Spanish flags on it in a move that was “unhelpful” when the UK was seeking to ease tensions, said Johns.

The decision to send the retired commandant general of the marines to the Rock comes after Francisco Javier Pérez Trigueros, the mayor of Callosa de Segura municipality in Valencia, circulated a collage of a formation of Spanish fighter jets trailing red and yellow smoke over Gibraltar and a battalion of saluting Spanish soldiers marching in formation with machine-guns towards the enclave on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsular.

Gibraltar has also accused Spain of breaching human rights rules by causing residents to queue for up to seven hours to cross the border and European Commission officials are to visit the border between Spain and Gibraltar next week to assess the legality of checks on traffic that have exacerbated the row with Britain.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/19/gibraltar-governor-marine-chief

OTDIH 6 September 1943

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70-years ago today…

There were 72 U-boats at sea. The Battle of the Atlantic was most definitely not over.

U-617, a Type VIIC U-boat, on its 7th war patrol, Kptlt. Albrecht Brandi commanding, attacked HMS Puckeridge (L108) with two torpedoes approx. 40-miles east of Gibraltar. There were 62 killed and 129 survivors. Puckeridge’s wreck lays at 36º06´N, 04º44´W.

HMS Puckeridge, Hunt class destroyer escort, torpedoed and sunk by U-617 on 6 September 1943.

U-515, a Type IXC U-boat, on its 5th war patrol, Kptlt. Werner Henke commanding, after tracking the merged convoys OS-54 and KMS-25 for the whole day, closed in to attack but was sighted and had to dive. Accurate depth charging by the River-class frigate HMS Tavy (K272) drove the boat down to 820ft (50m), and caused severe damage. Henke managed to escape and broke off the patrol, reaching Lorient on 12 Sept.

HMS Tavy (K272), River-class frigate, attacked U-515 with depth charges on 6 September 1943.

HM submarines strike back in the Mediterranean.

HMS Sportsman (P229), Lt. R. Gatehouse, DSC, RN commanding, sank the Italian fishing vessels Angiolina P (39 GRT) and Maria Luisa B (37 GRT) with gunfire in the port of Aléria, Corsica, France.

HMS Sportsman (P229), S-class submarine serving in the Mediterranean, sank Italian shipping on 6 September 1943.

HMS Universal (P57), Lt. C. Gordon, RN, sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessels V 130/Ugo (114 GRT) and V 134/Tre Sorelle (178 GRT) with gunfire west of La Spezia, Italy.

QF 3-inch 20 cwt deck gun.