HMS York in Tussle with Enemy 2010

HMS York was involved in an incident with an Argentine warship before the latest flare-up in tensions over the Falklands, it has emerged.

The destroyer, on which the freedom of the City of York was bestowed in 1991, is currently stationed in the Falklands.

Britain’s decision to start exploratory drilling for oil off the South Atlantic islands has sparked protests from Argentina at the United Nations in New York.

But British Ministers have said that the Government would take “whatever steps are necessary” to protect the islands, which had a “legitimate right” to develop an oil industry within their waters.

A national newspaper reported that HMS York had intercepted an Argentine corvette in British waters in the first head-to-head row over the island.

The destroyer was said to have spotted the ARA Drummond up to ten miles inside the disputed oil zone and monitored her progress before radioing for her to change course, and the Drummond came within 65 miles of the Falklands before complying, with no further action taken.

But the Ministry of Defence said the incident happened on January 28, before the latest rise in tension, and was the result of a storm sending the boat off course rather than a deliberate incursion.

Meanwhile, the head of the Royal Navy has said he is “comfortable” with British forces levels in the Falklands.

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said that the defence of the islands was far stronger than it was at the time of the 1982 invasion by Argentina.

There were currently 1,000 troops stationed there as well as a number of RAF aircraft while, as well as HMS York, the Navy also had a patrol craft, survey ship and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel in the area.

HMS York’s civic links with the city of York were reinforced last summer when the ship’s company exercised their right to the freedom of the city with a parade through the streets and a blessing on the steps of the Minster.

Thales welcomes Royal Navy frigate’s sonar upgrade

One of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) most advanced Type 23 frigates has re-entered operational service, fitted with Thales’s Sonar 2087 system, following a period of inten­sive sea trials.

HMS Sutherland has been declared fit for operational service after trials of its major sonar and defensive systems, and now becomes the sixth Type 23 frigate to be upgraded with the Sonar 2087 system.

In November 2008 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that HMS Sutherland had left Rosyth dockland for the trials after a multi-million pound refit that included major upgrades to its sonar, Sea Wolf missile defence and gun systems.

The MoD has said the installation of Sonar 2087 will improve the frigate’s submarine-hunting ability. This type of frigate can also carry the Merlin helicopter fitted with Thales UK’s FLASH dipping sonar. The combination of 2087 and FLASH makes the Type 23 a formidable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform.

Sonar 2087 is a towed array system that enables Type 23 frigates to hunt the latest submarines at considerable distances and locate them beyond the range at which they can launch an attack.

The system is a low-frequency active sonar, consisting of both active and passive sonar arrays. The system is manufactured at Thales sites in the UK (Cheadle Heath in Manchester and Templecombe in Somerset) and France (Brest).

Mike Waldron, Group lead for Sonar systems at the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support facility, says: “Recent operational deployments using Sonar 2087 against actual ‘threat platforms’ has shown this to be a very capable ASW system, giving these platforms a significant capability enhancement.

“HMS Sutherland now enters the in-service reliability phase alongside the other five Sonar 2087-fitted platforms so that the MoD and Thales can fully test and assess the system performance.”

Royal Navy Invests £55M In New Aircraft Carriers

Tyneside shipbuilders A&P are celebrating the return of Naval shipbuilding to the North East today with the award of a £55M contract to construct a section of the Royal Navy’s giant new aircraft carriers.

The massive construction project, which will provide around five years’ work for A&P and support the 210-strong workforce, will see A&P construct a 1,000 tonne section that will form part of the first of the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. At 65,000 tonnes, these will be the largest warships ever constructed in the UK.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:

“Companies right across the UK are involved in delivering this project which represents a step change in defence’s capability, enabling Britain to deliver airpower from the sea wherever and whenever it is required. The excellent progress being made by A&P here on the Tyne is evidence of the absolute commitment to delivering this vital capability.”

Head of Capital Ships at the MOD Tony Graham said:

“This is an historic day for shipbuilding in the North East, marking its involvement in the biggest shipbuilding programme the Navy has seen. It is fantastic that the young apprentices who have been taken on by A&P are learning their trade on these Carriers, which will be the cornerstone of the future Navy.

“The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has been impressed by the commitment of A&P management to upgrading their facilities and providing confidence in their ability to meet important delivery milestones. We know and trust that A&P management and workforce will deliver their promises.”

Investment has been made in new equipment including a state-of-the art plasma cutter and new panel line at the Hebburn site which will equip A&P Tyne with the facilities to deliver their parts of the aircraft carriers.

The aircraft carriers are being constructed in sections at locations around the country and will be shipped to Rosyth in Scotland where they will be fitted together. Contracts for the equipment that will furnish the ships worth over £1Bn to date have also been placed around the UK.

Aircraft Carrier Alliance Programme Director Geoff Searle said:

“This is a fantastic day for A&P Tyne and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. These carriers will be this country’s future flagships so our primary focus and that of our contractors is ensuring we deliver the best vessels possible to the Royal Navy.

“The commitment of the Tyneside workforce to building these ships for the UK Armed Forces is very evident and I am delighted that A&P Tyne is now officially on contract and has started to make great progress on the first ship.”

A&P Group Managing Director David Skentelbery said:

“Our Hebburn workforce has a proud tradition of delivering a first rate job and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so on this hugely prestigious project.

“At A&P Tyne, we are set to deliver a substantial part of these ships and I am delighted that we can represent the North East on the project.”

Royal Navy announces record cocaine bust

HMS Iron Duke seized more than five and a half tonnes of the drug in an operation off the coast of South America.

In the UK it would have a street value of £240 million, the Navy said.

Minister for the Armed Forces Mr Bill Rammell said: ''Again, the Royal Navy has successfully damaged the trade in this vile substance, which only serves to poison our communities. The crew rightly deserve our praise and thanks for the work they do on our behalf.''

The 138-foot fishing boat MV Cristal was spotted by a Navy helicopter crew in an area known for trafficking, which led to a dramatic swoop with the US coast guard and another British ship RFA Fort George.

In total 212 bales of cocaine were found, weighing about 26kg each. The crews then sank the drug smugglers' boat.

Prince William served on HMS Iron Duke last year when it seized cocaine worth £45 million in the Caribbean.

In July this year, the ship was involved in a night time operation off South America which netted more of the drug, with a street value of £33 million.

Commander Andrew Stacey said that an armed helicopter and rigid inflatable boats were sent to intercept the ship on September 15.

His crew then spent more than 24 hours painstakingly scouring the vessel for narcotics.

The drugs were hidden under the ship's regular stores, beneath a concrete floor and steel panels.

Tonnes of stock had to be moved, the hard floor broken up with sledge hammers and metal panels unbolted before the stash was revealed.

Cdr Stacey said: "This was our third successful drug bust in as many months but this surpasses anything we've had and anything the Navy had previously. It is the largest drugs bust by value, and by volume in terms of cocaine.

"It is a massive blow for the narcotics industry. My team are delighted and all our hard training and preparations have paid off."

After the bust the captured boat was in trouble and getting near a major shipping lane so the naval crew sank it with gun fire.

Several drug runners of different nationalities were arrested but Cdr Stacey could not reveal any more details.

The cocaine was stored on the Iron Duke for around 24 hours - because there was so much of it some had to be kept on deck under armed guard.

Cdr Stacey said: "We are very well prepared to defend ourselves. It was a big quantity and I was conscious of the fact that some people might want it back, but they would have a tough time getting it back from us."

HMS Iron Duke is on a six-month deployment to visit UK overseas territories during hurricane season.

It remains on stand-by to take part in anti-narcotics operations.

Royal Navy Video........... Love IT!... Smell the Cordite....

BRAVO ZULU to Kate Nesbitt MC You are a STAR

At Last a REAL NAVAL HERO. ......... Well done Kate

Able Seaman Kate Nesbitt was among more than 100 service personnel who were recognised for acts of heroism during 3 Commando Brigade's deployment earlier this year.

The rating was recognised for outstanding gallantry after she went to the assistance of a soldier from 1st Bn The Rifles who had been shot in the neck during a gun battle with the Taliban.

AB Nesbitt, 21, dressed the wound and kept the soldier from losing blood while Taliban bullets and rockets flew overhead during the battle in Marjah district in Helmand, close to the provincial capital Lashkar Gah in March.

“Had she not done so this soldier would definitely have died,” a military spokesman said.

The sailor, who was deployed ashore as part of a 700 strong Royal Navy contingent bolstering the Royal Marines, smiled proudly yesterday as she received recognition for her actions at a ceremony with other troops in Plymouth.

Her citation read that throughout a series of offensive operations her actions were “exemplary”.

“Under fire and under pressure her commitment and courage were inspirational and made the difference between life and death. She performed in the highest traditions of her service.”

Female combat medics have been accompanying front line patrols at least since the Iraq invasion in 2003. Although they carry weapons they do not generally get involved in combat unless they need to defend themselves from immediate danger.

The first woman to receive a Military Cross was Michelle Norris, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who rescued her vehicle commander while under fire in Iraq in 2006. AB Nesbitt is only the second female recipient of the MC.

Two Royal Marines were awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, an award just below the Victoria Cross, for heroic actions in Helmand.

L/Cpl Bradley Malone “displayed a complete disregard for his own safety” after he ran across open ground to rescue his sergeant during a Taliban ambush. His “fighting prowess and gallantry” turned the tide of the battle.

Mne Steven Nethery ran while unarmed under concentrated fire to retrieve a wounded colleague and then braved open ground a second time to prevent vital equipment falling into enemy hands. “His repeated bravery undoubtedly saved lives,” his citation read.

Another Royal Marine, Sgt Noel Connolly was awarded a Military Cross after saving up to 30 lives by "rugby-tackling" a suicide bomber on a motorcycle.

Other awards included a bar added to Brig Gordon Messenger’s DSO for his outstanding leadership of 3 Cdo Bde which he had to command at the last minute after its commander was injured weeks before it deployed.

Special forces troops, who were not named, received recognition for their courageous but secret work with four Military Crosses.

In total there were 16 MCs for Afghanistan, three DSOs, three Queens Gallantry Medals and 43 Mentioned in Dispatches.

HMS Daring taking on Bangers and Birds

HMS Daring, the Royal Navy's newest and most powerful warship, made her first visit to Marchwood military port in Southampton this week for ammunition handling and loading trials. The Type 45 destroyer arrived at the port, known as the Sea Mounting Centre, for a 24-hour visit as part of ongoing trials designed to test all parts of the ship's capabilities before she is formally accepted into the Royal Navy fleet - and able to be deployed anywhere in the world - early next year. HMS Daring's Commanding Officer, Captain Paddy McAlpine, said: "The visit to Marchwood is an important part of the ship's trials programme and we will be working hard to make sure we come through it successfully." HMS Daring - the first of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers - was built and launched in Glasgow and made her first entry into her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base in January. The second, Dauntless, is undergoing sea trials and will arrive at Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time early next year. The main weapon of the Type 45 is the sophisticated and lethal Principal Anti-Air Missile System, comprising a multi-function radar (MFR), automatic command and control system, and surface-to-air missiles operating in conjunction with long-range and early warning radar. The MFR can detect all types of targets out to a distance of 400km and is capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously. Her long-range radar provides a 3D search capability and can track up to 1,000 targets. The Type 45 also has a comprehensive suite of other weapons and equipment, including a 4.5-inch (114mm) main gun for shore bombardment, and is equipped with a surface ship torpedo defence system, protecting it against the most advanced torpedoes. Daring's on-board power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people, and she is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 motorway three times.