“Last Call” (1965) with HMS Bulwark and the Far East Fleet on Exercise Dark Night

Feature length documentary (61 minutes) demonstrating a Royal Navy and Royal Marines exercise in the Far East. Filmed during 1964/65 and based on Exercise ‘Dark Night.’

With 40 Commando, 42 Commando, and 845 NAS aboard the commando carrier HMS Bulwark (R08). The “Rusty B” was deployed East of Suez with the Royal Navy’s Far East Fleet throughout the 1960s and served during the Konfrontasi with Indonesia.

Also features strike carriers HMS Victorious (R38), HMS Eagle (R05), and the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21). Aircraft include the De Havilland Sea Vixen and the Blackburn Buccaneer.

Also the (new for 1964/5) County-class guided missile destroyers HMS Kent (D12) and HMS London (D16). Additional escorts include Battle-class destroyers HMS Barrosa (D68) and HMS Corruna (D97), C-class destroyer HMS Caesar (D07), Type 61 aircraft direction frigate HMS Lincoln (F99), Australian destroyer escort HMAS Derwent (DE49), New Zealand frigate HMNZS Otago (F111), and Type 15 frigate HMS Zest (F102).

Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary include the replenishment oilers RFA Tidepool (A76), RFA Tidesurge (A98), and RFA Bayleaf (A79).

Royal Navy battleships 1905

Royal Navy battleships in commission with full crews, 1st April, 1905.

There were thirty four battleships in commission. Of these, twenty were assigned to Home waters, eight were with the Mediterranean Fleet, five were on the China Station, and one was employed on trooping service.

Home waters:

Albemarle

Atlantic (at Gibraltar)

Caesar

Cornwallis

Duncan

Exmouth

King Edward VII

Hannibal

Illustrious

Magnificent

Majestic

Mars

Montagu

Prince George

Revenge

Russell

Royal Sovereign

Swiftsure

Triumph

HMS Albemarle, 1903.

Mediterranean:

Bulwark

Formidable

Implacable

Irresistible

London

Prince of Wales

Queen

Venerable

HM Bulwark, IWM Q 21052B.

China:

Albion

Centurion

Glory

Ocean

Vengeance

Other:

Barfleur was also temporarily in commission with full crew in trooping service.

HMS Barfleur, from “The Navy and Army Illustrated” 1897.

Source: United Kingdom. Hansard Parliamentary Debates, 5th ser., vol. 47, col. 635-7W.

Royal Marines storm Albanian submarine base

The Response Force Task Group (RFTG) is Britain’s high-readiness amphibious task force, established following the 2012 SDSR. The Lead Commando Group (LCG) is drawn from 3 Commando Brigade and provides a scalable force able to deploy worldwide to meet crises.

Royal Marines launch amphibious raid on abandoned submarine base

An enemy position is destroyed by a simulated air attack during the Commando Assault onto Sazan Island. The training took place near to Vlore in Albania, as part of Exercise Albanian Lion 13. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

As dawn broke over an abandoned former Cold War submarine base a series of explosions announced the arrival of the Royal Marines as they began a full scale amphibious attack. As part of Exercise Albanian Lion, the Marines landed on the shores of Sazan island and, amid a scenario based around smugglers, social unrest and the rise of terrorist groups, the Commandos attacked the hostile nation from the sea by climbing cliff faces in darkness to surprise the enemy.

The personnel of 42 Commando, based in Plymouth, and part of the Lead Commando Group (LCG), are honing their skills for contingent operations – where they must be ready to react at a moment’s notice – as part of the Royal Navy deployment named Cougar 13.

Unbeknown to the ‘smugglers’ hiding out on the Albanian island, they had been observed for the last few days by the Royal Marines Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS).

Once a picture had been built of the enemy locations the initial dawn attack was initiated by explosions which simulated bombs dropped from RAF Hawk Jets.

Troops from J, K & M companies, 42 Commando then started the ground assault of enemy stronghold locations, storming and surprising their enemy.

The attack, which lasted eleven hours, saw the commandos clear their way through a maze of tunnels and buildings gathering information for further operations over the next few days.

Royal Marines clearing buildings during a Commando Assault onto Sazan Island. The training took place near to Vlore in Albania, as part of Exercise Albanian Lion 13. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

Sazan Island, as well as being an old Soviet submarine base, used to be home to a chemical and biological weapons plant and there are more than 100 buildings and 5.7 square kilometres of trenches and bunkers.

The island now is uninhabited but there is a small manned naval base, used mainly to counter contraband routes between southern Italy and Albania.

A Royal Marine looks out for enemy during a Commando Assault onto Sazan Island. The training took place near to Vlore in Albania, as part of Exercise Albanian Lion 13. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

During the exercise the Troops were visited by Major General Xhemal Gjunkshi, Chief of Defence of the Armed forces of the Republic of Albania and Ambassador of the UK Mr Nicholas Cannon.

They were escorted around the vast training area by Deputy Commander of 3 Commando Brigade, Colonel Kevin Oliver.

Colonel Oliver said:

“We are delighted to be here with our NATO allies for the third year running. The facilities are some of the best training areas the task group has ever used.

“We are extremely grateful for the use of their facilities and for the chance to work alongside the Albanian forces sharing experiences and operations.”

The Commanding Officer of 42 Commando Royal Marines (far left) runs the Deputy Brigade Commander, 3 Commando Brigade (right), the British Ambassador to Albania (centre)and the Chief of Defence of the Armed Forces of Albania (left centre) through the Commando Assault onto Sazan Island. The training took place near to Vlore in Albania, as part of Exercise Albanian Lion 13. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

Over the subsequent 96 hours the Marines held further assaults onto positions 150km away as well as an evacuation with British embassy staff which saw British nationals safely extracted from a hostile environment.

As part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group, the LCG is projected from sea by Royal Navy warships into troublespots across the globe as dictated by government.

Lieutenant David Kirk, Troop Commander of 5 Troop, K Company, led the initial assault and said:

“Moving up through the valley was pretty challenging, you’ve got a lot of kit on and the heat even at night time is considerable.”

“Our part of the attack lasted about six hours and although challenging, all our aims were achieved.

“We knew it was going to be difficult before we started so we mentally prepared ourselves beforehand and just pushed on through.”

A Royal Marine GPMG gunner keeps a watchful eye out for enemy during a Commando Assault onto Sazan Island. The training took place near to Vlore in Albania, as part of Exercise Albanian Lion 13. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/September/04/130904-RM-raid-on-sub-base

STRIKEFORNATO staff consider using HMS Bulwark as alternative command platform

STRIKFORNATO is the Alliance’s primary battle staff for integrating US maritime forces into NATO operations and replaced the old STRIKFORSOUTH (est. 1952) in 2004. The current command platform is the US Navy Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). Utilizing HMS Bulwark (L15) as an alternative command platform would ensure operational flexibility for NATO’s maritime operations.

NATO staff take tour of HMS Bulwark

The Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces at NATO (STRIKFORNATO), Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe USN, has paid a visit to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark. VAdm Pandolfe took the opportunity to visit the ship while she was alongside in Lisbon as part of a multi-national exercised called Cougar 13.

The Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces at NATO, Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe USN, has paid a visit to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark. Pictured: (L-R) Captain Burns HMS Bulwark Commanding Officer, RAdm Lowe Royal Navy (RN), VAdm Pandolfe United States Navy and Commodore McAlpine Commander United Kingdom Task Group. Photo by L(Phot) Arron Hoare

The aim of the visit was to evaluate the use of HMS Bulwark as a future Alternative Command Platform (ACP) to the current platform of choice – the USS Mount Whitney.

STRIKFORNATO is NATO’s premier Maritime Battlestaff and the Alliance’s primary link for integrating US Maritime Forces into NATO operations.

Managed by a Memorandum of Understanding comprising 11 nations, STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable, maritime headquarters that provides command and control across the full spectrum of security tasking.

As part of on going contingency planning, the staff of STRIKFORNATO are visiting as many potential ACPs as they can when the opportunity arises.

HMS Bulwark is deployed for four months on Cougar 13 as part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) along with three other warships – HMS Illustrious, HMS Westminster and HMS Montrose.

The Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces at NATO, Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe USN, has paid a visit to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark. Pictured: HMS Bulwark leaving Plymouth. Photo by LA(Phot) Ben Shread

Captain Andrew Burns Royal Navy, Commanding Officer HMS Bulwark said:

“One of the main roles of the Fleet Flagship is command and control due to HMS Bulwark’s advanced communications suite and capacity to accommodate large numbers of personnel.

“It is therefore a privilege and delight to show the STRIKFORNATO team our facilities because it helps both of us prepare for potential contingent operations where we could be working together.”

STRIKFORNATO and the RFTG were involved in NATO Operation Unified Protector in 2011, protecting Libyan civilians from attack, and threat of attack from pro-Colonel Gadaffi supporters.

The Cougar 13 deployment will operate in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, the Gulf, and Horn of Africa.

It involves exercising with partner nations, and will show the UK Armed Forces’ capacity to project an effective maritime component anywhere in the world.

The Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces at NATO, Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe USN, has paid a visit to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark. Pictured: members of Naval Striking and Support Forces at NATO are shown around HMS Bulwark by the Ship’s Company. Photo by L(Phot) Arron Hoare

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/28/130828-NATO-HMS-Bulwark

PHOTEX: UK Response Force Task Group (RFTG) during Operation Cougar 13

Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels comprising the UK Response Force Task Group during Operation Cougar 13.

Albanian Lions and Mediterranean Cougars

Just to confirm, “Cougar” has nothing to do with picking up man-hungry Albanian vamps. That’s an entirely different kind of cougar.

Then again… with a run ashore… who knows?

Royal Marines gear up for Albanian Lion

Pictured: Ranks from 42 Commando Royal Marines conducting Mountain Training in Bisa in preparation of Albanian Lion which is the first in a series of exercise planned under Cougar 13. The package saw the Commandos conduct navigational training, river crossings and vertical assaults in high altitude arduous conditions. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee.

The first men to arrive, predominantly from 42 Commando in Plymouth, stepped off their plane and immediately set about acclimatising to the rugged conditions and heat.

Already they have undertaken a series of river crossings, abseils and carried out mock assaults on enemy positions – all at heights ranging between 4,500 and 6,000ft.

Pictured: Ranks from 42 Commando Royal Marines conducting Mountain Training in Bisa in preparation of Albanian Lion which is the first in a series of exercise planned under Cougar 13. The package saw the Commandos conduct navigational training, river crossings and vertical assaults in high altitude arduous conditions. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee.

While they train they await the arrival of the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Bulwark, as well as HMS Illustrious, and their embarked Royal Marines and elements of the Fleet Air Arm.

Once assembled in the Adriatic, off the coast of Vlore, Albania, they will work with Albania’s armed forces to put the Lead Commando Group (LCG) ashore within a high tempo scenario and sustain it as it moves inland.

Pictured: Ranks from 42 Commando Royal Marines conducting Mountain Training in Bisa in preparation of Albanian Lion which is the first in a series of exercise planned under Cougar 13. The package saw the Commandos conduct navigational training, river crossings and vertical assaults in high altitude arduous conditions. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee.

Albanian Lion is just the first in a series of exercises making up Cougar 13 and begins next week. The exercise offers a full RFTG/LCG run out in ideal conditions with the aim of deploying, supporting and sustaining the LCG whilst ashore.

Sergeant Chris Davies, 30, from 30 Commando Royal Marines, Plymouth said:

“This is the second time I have trained in Albania and the mixture of heat, altitude and mountainous terrain make it the ideal training environment for the Royal Marines.

Pictured: Ranks from 42 Commando Royal Marines conducting Mountain Training in Bisa in preparation of Albanian Lion which is the first in a series of exercise planned under Cougar 13. The package saw the Commandos conduct navigational training, river crossings and vertical assaults in high altitude arduous conditions. Photo by PO(Phot) Sean Clee.

“We are all rearing to go and looking forward to a high intensity, action packed few days as we undertake Albanian Lion with our colleagues from the Albanian Armed Forces.”

Cougar 13 is a long-planned deployment for the UK RFTG – the naval force formed under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review – which sees the Royal Navy hone its world class maritime skills thousands of miles from home through exercises with a number of key allies.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/23/130823-Royal-Marines-Albanian-Lion

VIDEO: Royal Navy task force arrives at Gibraltar

Royal Navy contigency plans to evacuate British tourists from Egypt

Fortuitously, a Royal Navy task force is heading to the region as part of its annual Operation Cougar deployment.

Navy on standby to rescue Britons in Egypt

THE Royal Navy was on standby last night to evacuate British tourists from Egypt as the country teeters on the brink of civil war.

HMS Illustrious and flotilla of warships were placed on high alert to rescue Britons

With up to 40,000 Britons on holiday in Red Sea resorts, the aircraft carrier Illustrious and a flotilla of warships were placed on high alert to rescue them and other UK nationals should the violence escalate.

The move follows a week of bloodshed in which more than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes between supporters of the deposed Muslim Brotherhood regime and the forces of the interim military government.

Senior officers at the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the Armed Forces in Northwood, Middlesex, whose role is to monitor world events, are poised to react if politicians call for military intervention.

Illustrious, the assault ship Bulwark and a fleet of frigates and support ships are heading towards Gibraltar for a series of war games which is also due to take them through the Red Sea.

A top Naval source told the Sunday Express: “The planning team will be looking at all options and making sure we are ready to evacuate British nationals if it comes to that or in a worst-case scenario intervene to rescue UK citizens taken hostage.

“We have a desk officer who will know where we can fly into, who we can liaise with, where the majority of UK passports live and have at least a dozen local people who we can call on to help us.

“As well as tourists, we have British nationals inside Cairo and other areas and this is now very much a waiting game. It is all about the political decision- making process, based on the intelligence information collated at GCHQ. Our role is to be ready.”

The Government is under growing pressure to warn British tourists to stay away from Egypt amid fears they will become ­targets in the violence.

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to Sinai, Cairo and Alexandria but given the green light to popular Red Sea destinations such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

Tens of thousands of Britons are due to fly there this week.

The bloodshed in Egypt has continued, with more than 1,000 killed in clashes.

The US, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium have all advised their citizens to avoid Egypt. Thailand is preparing to evacuate 2,000 of its nationals.

Last night Britons in Marsa Alam, near Sharm el-Sheikh, were under virtual curfew. Lawrence Aston, 52, from Bromley, Kent, on holiday with his wife and two sons, said: “We would have gone elsewhere if we’d have known what was going to happen.

“The Foreign Office still say it’s OK to come here but I don’t know how much longer that can last.

“The tour operators are toeing a dangerous line as there’s no way of telling if Westerners could become a target or if this could become a civil war.”

Sally Asling told how her hotel in Hurghada had bolstered security after a protest nearby in which one man was reportedly shot dead.

She said: “It is unsettling how quickly things kick off.”

British tourists say they have little choice but to carry on with their trips as they face up to £600 in cancellation fees.

Yesterday travellers arriving at London Heathrow from Cairo described the scramble to get home.

Jamie Griffiths, 41, a music teacher from Swansea, said: “I was so lucky to get out of there. It was chaos at the airport because there were no police there. My taxi driver had to take loads of detours.”

Egyptian-born Fadia Matta, 62, who lives in the UK, said: “The people are crazy. They have burnt a lot of churches. They have stolen a whole museum. It is very sad.”

British Airways is still flying to Cairo but has adjusted its schedules around curfew times imposed by Egyptian authorities.

It is allowing passengers to change destinations.

A spokeswoman said: “We are keeping the situation in Egypt under constant review.”

Last night MPs called for clearer information for travellers heading to Egypt. Conservative Bill Cash said: “People are the best judges of their own safety but I think they need to be warned specifically of the unpredictability of the situation.”

Labour’s Ann Clwyd said: “I would have thought the travel advice would have been beefed up as anything could happen at any time at any place given the extreme situation in the country.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/18/gibraltar-reef-protest-flotilla-royal-navy-police

VIDEO: Spring Cruise (1957)

Royal Navy deploys for Operation Cougar ’13

For the much-reduced Royal Navy and “austerity Britain”, this is a *BIG* deployment.

Royal Navy sails for annual ‘Cougar’ deployment

Thousands of Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel will leave the UK on Monday (12 August) for an annual deployment to the Mediterranean and Gulf region – Cougar ’13.

HMS Bulwark. Photograph by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse

The long-planned deployment will see elements of the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) – the naval force formed under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review – hone its world class maritime skills thousands of miles from home through exercises with a number of key allies.

Four Royal Navy warships, the Lead Commando Group from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and elements of Naval Air Squadrons will be supported by five vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

RFA Mounts Bay. Photograph by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse

This is the third time the deployment has taken place, after Cougars ’11 and ’12, with its aim to demonstrate the ability to operate a highly effective maritime force anywhere in the world to protect UK interests.

Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond MP, said:

“Since its creation under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Response Force Task Group has demonstrated its formidable strength and readiness to respond to emerging threats worldwide through a number of operations and exercises.

“This now routine and long-planned deployment will demonstrate once again its ability to operate as a rapid reaction force on behalf of the UK and, importantly, underlines the global reach and flexibility of the modern Royal Navy.”

The Task Group is able to conduct simultaneously a range of operations from deterring adversaries and maritime security to international engagement and supporting regional stability.

Its units can operate independently on discrete tasks or as a single entity.

Most importantly, it is an adaptable force that is able to work jointly with Army and Royal Air Force assets, other government agencies and partner nations when required.

After a number of planned port visits in the Mediterranean, the first major exercise for the force will be Albanian Lion, in the Adriatic.

Personnel will work with Albania’s armed forces, building on a similar exercise last year, with the goal to put the Lead Commando Group ashore within a high tempo scenario and sustain it as it moves inland.

The ships will then sail through the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf where the focus will transfer to the series of exercises with UK allies in the Gulf region; alongside Army and RAF units.

Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander UK Task Group, said:

“Cougar ’13 is a bespoke opportunity to enhance the Royal Navy’s enduring core skill – the ability to operate and project power as a task group at range. In so doing, it will also remind interested domestic and international parties of the enduring utility, employability and interoperability of the Royal Navy.

“During Cougar ’13 we will engage with our partner nations through a series of exercises, reinforcing our commitment and demonstrating our contribution to security in the Mediterranean and Gulf region.”

Commodore McAlpine and his staff will command from the nation’s flagship HMS Bulwark. Alongside Brigadier Stuart Birrell (Commander of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines) he will choreograph the efforts of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors, Royal Marine Commandos and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm personnel.

Joining Bulwark will be Portsmouth-based helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious and frigates HMS Montrose (Plymouth) and HMS Westminster (Portsmouth) to provide escort duties, as well as undertake ongoing counter-piracy operations outside the exercise programme.

HMS Illustrious. Photo by LA(Phot) Gary Weatherston

HMS Montrose is also due to reprise her role from Cougar ‘12 as the launch pad for small Royal Marines reconnaissance parties, which are sent ashore to scout the lie of the land and ‘enemy’ forces.

HMS Montrose. Photo by PO(Phot) Wheelie A’barrow

The Royal Marines will be embarking HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Lyme Bay: the nation’s Lead Commando Group, including 42 Commando, elements of 30 Commando IX Group, and the Commando Logistics Regiment who will meet all the supply and medical needs and 16 Vikings of the Corps’ Armoured Support Group.

A number of Army Commandos from 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and 24 Commando Engineer Regiment will also deploy as part of the Lead Commando Group.

Brigadier Stuart Birrell, Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, said:

“Cougar ’13 provides a superb opportunity to demonstrate the capability and capacity of the Response Force Task Group and the Lead Commando Group. Operating in a wide variety of countries across the Mediterranean and Gulf region, the task group will engage in capacity building and defence engagement with a range of partner nations, in some truly outstanding exercises.

“A demanding and ambitious deployment, we will look forward to the challenges and opportunities that Cougar ’13 presents.”

RFA Fort Austin will provide stores, fuel, water, and ammunition and RFA Diligence is on hand to attend to any of the Cougar ’13 ship’s engineering requirements.

RFA Fort Austin. Photo by LA(PHOT) Claire Jones

The majority of the Task Group is due home to the UK in December, although Diligence, Westminster and Montrose are due to remain east of Suez in support of the Navy’s long-standing mission in the region to keep the sea lanes safe and secure for lawful trade.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/09/130809-Cougar-13