Sep 29 – Commander Joint Forces Command Visits RN Gib Squadron
The 4-star Commander of Joint Forces Command (ComJFC), General Sir Chris Deverell KCB MBE ADC, included a visit to HMS Scimitar and the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS) as part of his wider tour of JFC assets in Gibraltar.
General Deverall took command of Joint Forces Command in April this year. The 4* Headquarters provides the foundation and supporting framework for successful operations by ensuring joint capabilities, like medical services, training, intelligence, information systems and cyber operations, are developed and managed. It also provides the command and control for overseas Defence operations and British Forces Gibraltar is one of the JFC’s Permanent Joint Operating Bases.
Although General Deverell had very little time available to him for the visit, he was able to call on the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and His Excellency the Governor as well as visiting RAF Gibraltar. The visit coincided with a busy period when the Forward Mounting Base was also hosting Royal Fleet Auxillary vessel Mounts Bay, two Type-45 destroyers – HMS Daring and HMS Diamond – and the Dutch Navy submarine HNLMS Bruinvis.
During the visit to the RNGS the General was given the opportunity to see Scimitar at sea conducting the routine daily maritime security operations that support their mission to demonstrate sovereignty. He also observed HMS Diamond’s Boarding Team conducting training in Gibraltar’s waters prior to her deployment into the Mediterranean. Lt James Bradshaw RN, Scimitar’s Commanding Officer said: “It was an honour to welcome Generall Deverell to Gibraltar Squadron and provide him with an insight of front-line Fast Patrol Boat operations in the Royal Navy”.
He added: “After a discussion on the challenges of demonstrating sovereignty of Gibraltar we were please to take him to sea for a Sovereignty patrol where he could witness at first hand the challenging environment in which we operate.”
The General found his visit very informative and said: “I saw the personnel responsible for patrolling the waters off Gibraltar in action. It provided valuable context and did a lot to improve my understanding of their capabilities and the demands they face.”
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