Tag Archives: South Atlantic
Royal Navy frigate visits remotest inhabited island on the planet
HMS Richmond (F239) is a Type 23 frigate commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1995. She deployed to APT(S) in August 2013. Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic and has a population of less than 300 hardy souls.
Tristan shout for HMS Richmond as she visits remote island
The remotest inhabited island on the planet became the latest port of call for HMS Richmond on her South Atlantic patrol.
The Portsmouth-based frigate spent two days off Tristan da Cunha, which is at least 1,500 miles from the nearest human habitation.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Gaz Weatherston, HMS Richmond
THERE’S something almost primeval about this image of a volcano rising above a thin layer of cloud.
This is Tristan da Cunha – one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world – as seen from HMS Richmond as the frigate approached the isolated South Atlantic outpost of Empire to begin a two-day stay.
As with all Royal Navy vessels who call at Tristan, which lies 1,750 miles from South Africa and more than 2,000 miles from South America (the nearest inhabited locality is another British Overseas Territory, St Helena, a mere 1,510 miles away), the frigate had to anchor offshore – the harbour at the island’s capital Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is too small to accommodate a Type 23.
After the smattering of people at Richmond’s last port of call, snow-capped South Georgia (about a dozen souls), Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is a positive metropolis with a population of 275, who lead a mostly-self-supporting life farming.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Gaz Weatherston, HMS Richmond
Their island is dominated by the 2,100-metre (6,890ft) Queen Mary Peak shield volcano – whose base extends 3,100 metres (over 10,000ft) down to the Atlantic seabed.
On the first day of a Richmond’s visit, her CO Cdr Rob Pedre was welcomed aboard the island’s administrator and magistrate, Alex Mitham, and its police officer, Inspector Conrad Glass, to highlight some of the important roles that the Royal Navy undertakes in the South Atlantic.
The islanders reciprocated the hospitality on the second day with a reception at the administrator’s residence for a number of the Ship’s Company whilst the Commanding Officer was hosted by Mr Mitham and was able to enjoy a guided tour of the island – which is about seven miles in diameter.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Gaz Weatherston, HMS Richmond
Unfortunately, due to poor weather, a planned golf and football match had to be cancelled, although the Portsmouth-based frigate’s 815 NAS Lynx did make the short hop ashore.
“It has been a great privilege taking HMS Richmond to the remotest British Overseas Territory in the world,” said Cdr Pedre.
“We have reassured the local British citizens that live in Tristan da Cunha and my ship’s company have enjoyed witnessing an island that few people ever get to see.”
OTDIH 23 October 1943
70-years ago today…
Großadmiral Karl Dönitz has 95 U-boats at sea. The Battle of the Atlantic was not over.
In the South Atlantic:
U-170, a Type IXC U-boat, KptLt Günther Pfeffer commanding, on its 2nd war patrol, torpedoed and sunk the unescorted Brazilian steam merchant Campos (4,663 GRT) 5-miles south of Alcatrazes Island, Brazil. The crew of 57 and 6 passengers took to the ship’s lifeboats, tragically two of which were struck by the ship’s screw, throwing the occupants to the water. 10 crew members and 2 passengers were lost.
SS Campos.
In the Black Sea:
U-23, a Type IIB U-boat, KptLt Rolf-Birger Wahlen commanding, on its 12th war patrol, torpedoed and sunk the Soviet motor merchant Tanais (372 GRT) anchored at Poti, Georgian SSR. The U-Boat was operating in the Black Sea with the 30th U-Boat Flotilla… having been transported overland to Konstanza, Rumania in 1942.
Type IIB coastal U-boat.
Setting a wartime record:
U-196, a Type IXD U-boat, KKpt Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat commanding, returned to Bordeaux, France… thus completing the longest patrol by any submarine during the Second World War: 256-days from 13 March to 23 October 1943.
KKpt Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat.
Attacked in the Atlantic:
U-190, a Type IXC U-boat, KptLt Max Wintermeyer commanding, on her 3rd war patrol, was surfaced ahead of convoy GUS-18 when attacked by the US Navy Gleaves-class destroyer USS Turner (DD-648). The Turner attacked the surfaced U-boat with her Mk 12 5-inch/38-caliber guns. When the U-190 submerged, the Turner attacked with depth charges… shock waves from which disabled the destroyer’s radar and sound gear. By the time Turner was able to resume her search, U-190 had escaped.
USS Turner (DD-648).
Royal Navy suffers double disaster during Operation Tunnel:
During Operation Tunnel, HMS Charybdis, a Dido-class cruiser commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1941, Captain George Arthur Wallis Voelcker, RN commanding, was sunk off north coast of Brittany, France in position 48º59’N, 03º39’W by 2 torpedoes from the German Elbing-class torpedo boats T-23 and T-27 (not MTBs, but torpedo-armed destroyers). 464 men died (including the commanding officer) and 107 survived.
HMS Charybdis.
During the same action, HMS Limbourne (L57), a Hunt-class escort destroyer, Cdr Walter John Phipps, RN commanding, was heavily damaged by German torpedo boats T-22 and T-24. Damaged beyond repair, Limbourne was sunk by gunfire from HMS Rocket (H92) and HMS Talybont (L18).
HMS Limbourne.
Chinese naval squadron passes through Strait of Magellan for first time
A Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy squadron has passed through the Strait of Magellan from the Pacific into the Atlantic. The force comprises the Type 052C destroyer ‘Lanzhou’, the Type 54A frigate ‘Liuzhou’ and the Fuqing-class replenishment oiler ‘Poyanghu’. The fleet political commissar”(队政委… now there’s a job description!) commented that this was {quote} “a very meaningful military practice” {unquote}. Which hits the nail on the head. China is no longer content to be a regional naval power and is increasing its global projection. The West ignores that at its peril.
高清：中国海军舰艇编队首次通过麦哲伦海峡
麦哲伦海峡东部出口海域宽阔，海峡两岸是一座雪山。图为兰州舰航行在麦哲伦海峡。严冬摄
14日下午3时（北京时间15日凌晨2时），由导弹驱逐舰兰州舰、导弹护卫舰柳州舰和综合补给舰鄱阳湖舰组成的舰艇编队顺利通过麦哲伦海峡，抵达海峡东部出口引水点。这是中国海军舰艇编队首次航经麦哲伦海峡。
记者在兰州舰看到，海峡东部出口海域宽阔，天气晴朗，平均浪高2米，风力3-4级，海面过往船只、油井平台较多。我舰艇编队组成单纵队劈波斩浪，一路向北航行。
编队13日从智利内水道转入麦哲伦海峡西部入口水域，顶着海面9-10级大风，在浪高达4-6米，摇摆达10度以上。陶宏祥摄
编队是昨日从智利内水道转入麦哲伦海峡西部入口水域，当地时间下午2时进入海峡。当时，海面风力9-10级，浪高4-6米，舰艇摇摆10度以上。进入海峡后，风浪减少了许多，但海面风力仍达到5-6级，平均浪高3米。
为了确保编队航行安全，全体官兵在指挥员、南海舰队副参谋长李晓岩少将的率领下，认真研究、精心准备、精确操作，严格落实狭水道航行、雾中航行、大风浪航行等部署，航渡过程没有出现任何差错，顺利通过海峡。
在麦哲伦海峡入口处，狂风卷起巨浪打过兰州舰。何得志摄
兰州舰舰长唐银川有着多年的航海经验，也曾多次在各种复杂海域航行过，提起此次航渡麦哲伦海峡的感受，他向记者介绍：“海峡航行里程、狭窄地段长，水道曲折，大角度转向多，西风和涌浪较大，流向多变，在这里航行，确实是一种挑战，但是我们经受住了考验，得到了锻炼，复杂陌生海域的舰艇操纵能力得到进一步加强。”
记者了解到，通过海峡后，编队领导亲自部署，要求各舰、各相关部门细心收集和整理相关资料，认真总结航渡经验。编队政委冯瑞声说：“此次我们海军舰艇编队首次通过麦哲伦海峡，显示了中国海军在走向深蓝的征程中更加从容和自信。这也是一次非常有意义的军事实践活动。”（记者陶宏祥 特约记者曾行践）
我舰艇编队组成单纵队劈波斩浪，一路向北航行。海峡两岸是一座座雪山。陶宏祥摄
新闻链接：
麦哲伦海峡位于南美洲大陆南端和火地岛、克拉伦斯岛、圣伊内斯岛之间，长约563km，宽3.3～32km，由地壳断裂下陷而成。1520年，葡萄牙航海家麦哲伦首先通过，因此取名麦哲伦海峡。海峡处于南纬50多度的西风带，两侧岩岸陡峭、高耸入云。海峡内寒冷多雾，并多大风暴，是世界上风浪最猛烈的水域之一，不利于航运发展，但在巴拿马运河开通前，是南大西洋和南太平洋间的重要航道。麦哲伦海峡，实行“过境通行”和强制引航制度。
PHOTEX: HMS Argyll visits South Georgia
Images of HMS Argyll on her recent deployment to the the South Atlantic and South Georgia.
HMS Argyll arrives in South Georgia. Photo by L(Phot) Pepe Hogan.
HMS Argyll passing icebergs as she arrives in the South Atlantic on her way to South Georgia. Photo by L(Phot) Pepe Hogan.
HMS Argyll passing icebergs as she arrives in the South Atlantic on her way to South Georgia. Photo by L(Phot) Pepe Hogan.
HMS Argyll arrives in South Georgia and anchors off Grytviken. Photo by L(Phot) Pepe Hogan.
OTDIH 24 July 1943
70-years ago today…
The U-boat war dragged on:
British steam merchant Fort Chilcotin (Master John Kerr) carrying 9103 tons of rock crystal and iron ore was torpedoed and sunk by U-172 (Kptlt. Carl Emmermann) on her 5th war patrol off Bahia, Brazil. There were 4 dead (from the watch below) and 53 survivors who took to boats. The survivors were picked up on 29 July (5-days in open boats, think about that) and taken to Rio de Janeiro.
Swedish tanker Pegasus (Master T. Andersson) carrying 12,855 tons of motor spirit was torpedoed and sunk by U-197 (KrvKpt. Robert Bartels) on her first war patrol southwest of Madagascar. The survivors took to boats and were rescued after a week at sea.
British steam merchant Henzada (Master William Innes McIntosh) carrying 2095 tons of chemicals was torpedoed and sunk by U-199 (Kptlt. Hans-Werner Kraus) on her first war patrol approx. 100-miles southwest of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There were 2 dead and 62 survivors who took to boats. The survivors were picked up by the Panamanian motor tanker Baltic.
The unreliability of US Navy torpedoes was highlighted:
US Navy Gato-class submarine USS Tinosa (SS-283), Lt.Cdr. L.R. Daspit commanding, torpedoed and damaged the Japanese oiler Tonan Maru No.3 (19210 GRT) west of Truk. Although the Tinosa fired 15 torpedoes, only 10 hit… and only 2 exploded. The remainder were duds.
A successful day for HM Submarines:
HMS Unrivalled, a U-class submarine, Lt. Hugh Bentley Turner, RN commanding, sunk the Italian auxiliary minesweeper R 172 / Impero (68 GRT) with gunfire off Amantea, Italy.
And now entering the fray:
USS Cabot (CVL 28), an Independence-class light fleet carrier, was commissioned into the United States Navy. The Cabot would go on to receive a Presidential Unit Citation and 9 battle stars for World War 2 service.
USS Cotton (DD 669), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was commissioned into the United States Navy. The Cotton would go on to receive 9 battle stars for World War 2 service and 1 for Korean War service.
OTDIH 21 July 1943
70-years ago today…
Another good day for HM Submarines…
HMS Sickle, Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN commanding, torpedoed and damaged the Italian merchant ‘Oriani’ (2320 GRT) 8-miles WNW of Elba.
And a good day for the US Navy submarine force…
USS Haddock (SS-231) a Gato class submarine, Lt. Cdr. R.M. Davenport, USN commanding, torpedoed & sank the Japanese troop transport ‘Saipan Maru’ (5532 GRT) off Saipan in position 16°18’N, 134°04’E.
Not such as good day for the Kriegsmarine…
U-662 was sunk by depth charges from a Catalina aircraft in the South Atlantic in position in position 03.56N, 48.46W.
Close, but no cigar…
HMS Templar, Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN commanding, attacked the Italian submarine ‘Axum’ 5-miles NW of Calvi, Corsica. The Templar fired 7 torpedoes during a series of attacks… and all missed.
Construction news…
USS Herbert C. Jones (DE 137) an Edsall class destroyer escort, Lt.Cdr. Alfred Wiltz Gardes, Jr., USN commanding, was commissioned into the United States Navy.
And off the coast of Sicily…
The US Navy’s (6-inch gun) cruisers USS Brooklyn (CL-40), USS Savannah (CL-42) and USS Boise (CL-47) together with the Royal Navy’s Roberts-class (15-inch gun) monitor HMS Abercrombie lay off the coast of Sicily to provide naval gunfire support for 7th Army.
RFA Black Rover visits South Georgia
Atlantic Patrol Task (South) is the Royal Navy’s standing deployment in the South Atlantic and comprises 1 frigate or destroyer – currently the Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll – supported by 1 fleet auxiliary – currently RFA Black Rover.
In addition, the River class OPV HMS Clyde is deployed in the South Atlantic as the permanently-stationed Falkland Islands Patrol Ship.
Black Rover is all white as she visits snowy South Georgia
Just days after sailors from HMS Argyll trekked across South Georgia, the crew of tanker RFA Black Rover were treated to a visit to the snow-laden paradise.
The tanker, which has recently taken over from her sister Gold Rover in the South Atlantic, spent four days anchored in Cumberland Bay off the capital Grytviken.
RFA Black Rover
IN THE middle of the UK’s heatwave, here’s something to perhaps cool you down: tanker RFA Black Rover within sight of the snow-capped ridges and peaks of South Georgia.
Hot (or should that be cold?) on the heels of frigate HMS Argyll’s visit to the remote South Atlantic island chain, the veteran tanker anchored off the capital Grytviken as she takes up her duties as Britain’s ‘floating petrol station’ south of the Equator.
The 39-year-old auxiliary has recently relieved her slightly-older sister Gold Rover, charged with providing black gold to sustain RN vessels on patrol in the South Atlantic (such as the permanent presence HMS Clyde, and whichever frigate or destroyer is assigned to the region – currently Argyll), as well as generally flying the flag for the UK around its territories in the region…
…of which South Georgia is among the most remote and least populous (about 30 souls).
A fiery sunrise over the peaks of South Georgia
The tanker spent four days at anchor in Cumberland Bay, in sight of glaciers calving into the ocean and the snow-laden mountains.
The 50 or so crew were briefed about the importance of the island’s wildlife and eco-systems before stepping ashore at Grytviken, where experts from the British Antarctic Survey were their hosts and guides.
Once a thriving whaling station, Grytviken has now become a haven for wildlife: large numbers of seals and sea birds lined the foreshore. Despite being out of season – it’s slap bang in the middle of the Austral winter right now – the island’s museum was opened for the visiting RFA sailors. Others inspected the wreck of the whaler Petrel, driven ashore decades ago, and no visit to South Georgia is complete without paying homage at the grave of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, buried in Grytviken’s small cemetery alongside crew from merchant ships and some casualties of war.
Cadet(X) John James poses in front of the wreck of the old whaler Petrel
To thank the island’s small populace for their hospitality during the tanker’s stay, Black Rover invited the locals aboard for an ‘all requests considered’ lunch.
Islanders listed the foods they had been unable to obtain for many months given their isolation, and Black Rover’s galley strove to meet their requests.
In the end, the menu consisted of beef steak and fresh salad, plus the odd glass of red wine. All the victuals were gratefully received by the South Georgians, whilst the RFA sailors were glad to provide not just some fresh food but also fresh faces and good company.
Naval Matters 