Dec 04 – Busy Weekend At HM Naval Base
It will be a busy weekend at HM Naval Base with the arrival of HMS Ocean and HMS St Albans today.
Both ships will use the Forward Mounting Base facilities in Gibraltar before continuing on their respective journeys.
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s Flagship, is on her way back to the UK, this is her last port of call in the Royal Navy’s annual ‘Cougar’ deployment.
The ship has had a busy autumn, operating alongside NATO and EU allies and partners in the Mediterranean in her traditional role of amphibious assault ship and also as the future Flagship for the naval element of the NATO Response Force for 2016. The flexibility of the ship has also been demonstrated by the ease with which she has been able to work with aircraft and personnel from across the alliance.
HMS Ocean sailed from the Plymouth at the end of September with 45 Commando Royal Marines embarked, together with Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron, Wildcats from 847 Naval Air Squadron, Apache Helicopters from the Army Air Corps and Chinook from 18 Squadron RAF.
HMS Ocean worked alongside HMS Bulwark to deliver amphibious assaults with the French on Exercise Corsican Lion and was the command ship for over 50 NATO ships during Exercise Trident Juncture, while also delivering amphibious raids as part of the exercise and, finally, working with the US Marine Corps and their MV22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft during Exercise Blue Raptor. Seizing every opportunity to train before returning home, 814 Squadron will be working in the Western Mediterranean while the ship is alongside.
Captain Steve Moorhouse is the Commanding Officer of HMS Ocean. He said:
‘It has been a really successful series of exercises. We have learned how to operate more closely with our allies, particularly the French and US Marine Corps and it rounds off with the pleasure of returning to Gibraltar. For those of us who have been here before it’s like greeting an old friend, while the youngsters in my ship’s company have the pleasure of encountering the Rock Race for the first time, as well as learning about what a pivotal role ‘The Rock’ has played in the Royal Navy’s history. We’re all looking forward to a chance to stretch our legs before turning for home and Christmas with our families.’
Whilst in Gibraltar the Helicopter Carrier will conduct air operations with her onboard Merlin Mk2 helicopters.
The Type 23 Frigate, HMS St Albans is currently on her way to the Middle East for a nine-month deployment focusing on maritime security operations. HMS St Albans will continue the work that her sister ship HMS Richmond, who also recently called into Gibraltar, has been conducting as part of the Royal Navy’s long-term presence in the region.
Her task is to police the seas and promote UK interests in the region by acting as a deterrent to illegal activity, safeguarding allied and merchant shipping and making ensure that global trade can proceed without a hitch.
The ship, nicknamed ‘The Saint’, is the first to deploy with the combined aviation technology of a Merlin Mk2 helicopter and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft.
Pics: Top left: MV22 Landing on HMS Ocean Below: HMS St Albans
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