Operations Bolton, Palliser and Anaconda 1999–2001
‘9/11’ ATTACK – OPERATION BOLTON II (GULF) – OPERATION ALLIED FORCE (KOSOVO) – ARGONAUT 99 AND AURORA 2000 DEPLOYMENTS – OPERATIONS PALLISER AND SILKMAN (SIERRA LEONE) – ARGONAUT 2001 AND SAIF SAREEA II – OPERATION ANACONDA (AFGHANISTAN)
FIRST SEA LORDS Admirals Boyce and Essenhigh
SECOND SEA LORDS Admirals Brigstocke and Spencer
MANPOWER 43,747
MERCANTILE MARINE 1,449 merchant ships
The defining event at the turn of the millennium, which brutally marked the dawning of the twenty-first century, was the series of infamous terrorist attacks on the ‘Twin Towers’ of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington on 11 September 2001, immediately dubbed ‘9/11’. The terrorists who flew their hijacked aircraft into their targets were responsible for the slaughter of some 3,000 on that day and for unleashing an international war on terror which would cause the deaths of many thousands more.
NATO In 1999 NATO forces were deeply engaged in security operations in the former Yugoslavia, whilst at the same time Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO.
Russia In Russia a bloody uprising was provoked when Russian forces invaded Chechnya, and in 2000 Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB officer, was elected President.
The Middle East Problems continued throughout the Middle East with bombs, murders and terrorist attacks. General Pervez Musharraf seized power in Pakistan in a military coup, and India and Pakistan came perilously close to war after a terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament. In Aden suicide bombers attacked the US destroyer USS Cole, which left seventeen of the crew dead and forty-two wounded. In Afghanistan the USA commenced operations against the Taliban, launching air strikes and destroying Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist training camps in October 2001. The following month the Taliban agreed to peace talks conducted under the aegis of the UN.
The UK In the UK, problems persisted in Northern Ireland following continued murders, which impeded the peace process in 1998. Although David Trimble and John Hume had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at the end of 1998, there was still no acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement. In 2001 the Labour Party, under Tony Blair, won the General Election and maintained close relations with the USA.
UK Defence Policy
Implementation of the 1998 SDR (Strategic Defence Review) formed the key to defence policy in 1999 and set the reductions to be achieved across the armed services. One of the key elements of SDR was the importance of the Maritime Contribution to Joint Operations (MCJO).
The Strategic Plan From the SDR the Navy developed its own Strategic Plan to cover the period up to 2015. Published in October 1999, the plan set out a clear doctrine outlining the MCJO as well as various other elements including plans for the management of change within the Navy, and covered the five main pillars of activity: People, Equipment, Readiness for Operations, Partnerships and Resource Management.
Project Capital To improve efficiency, Project Capital was introduced to implement full resource accounting and budgeting across the MoD.
THE FLEET
At the end of the twentieth century the Royal Navy possessed a Fleet of thirty-eight major warships with a number of new ships under construction. It was still a powerful navy, and as Admiral Sir Alan West was to point out as First Sea Lord in 2002, ‘The Royal Navy is still the second most powerful Navy in the world and certainly the best.’1
Major Units The core of the fleet consisted of the three 20,000-ton Invincible class light (anti-submarine warfare)/Command aircraft carriers, Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal. Invincible was nearly twenty years old, and was undergoing conversion work in drydock at Portsmouth to enable her to operate the GR7 Harriers as well as the FA2 Sea Harriers. Ark Royal was shortly to commence a major refit at Rosyth in 2000, with Invincible having hers in 2001 and Illustrious, the fleet flagship, due to go for her major two-year refit, also at Rosyth, in 2002.
Amphibious Ships The new 20,500-ton helicopter carrier Ocean, the biggest ship in the Fleet, had just entered service, having been delivered in 1999.
The aged assault ship Fearless was still in commission but due to be replaced by the two new 19,500-ton assault ships, Albion and Bulwark, with Albion due to be in service by the beginning of 2003.
Destroyers and Frigates The escort fleet comprised twelve Type 42 destroyers, eight Type 22 frigates, and thirteen new Type 23 frigates, with three more building.
Mine Counter-Measures Vessels (MCMVs) The MCMVs included thirteen of the Hunt class, nine of the new Sandown class and the one remaining vessel of the River class, Orwell, serving as the Dartmouth training vessel. In addition there were seven main patrol vessels and sixteen more of the small Archer class patrol boats.
The new helicopter carrier Ocean sails from Plymouth
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New assault ship on trials flying the blue ensign and BAE Systems banner
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Submarines The submarine fleet consisted of the four SSBNs, the Vanguard Trident missile nuclear submarines, seven Trafalgar class fleet submarines and five of the older fleet submarines of the Swiftsure class.
Support The Fleet also had five survey vessels and an ice patrol ship, Endurance, and was supported by the RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) of twenty ships. The RFA was made up of two fleet tankers, Olwen and Olna, four Leaf class support tankers and three small fleet tankers of the Rover class. In addition there were two oiler replenishment ships, two fleet support ships, five landing ships (logistic), a 28,000-ton aviation training ship, RFA Argus, and a forward repair ship, RFA Diligence.
Aircraft and Helicopters The Fleet Air Arm had twenty-four Sea Harriers, seventy of the dependable workhorse Sea King helicopters (deployed in ASW, AEW (airborne early warning) and commando roles), fifty Lynx helicopters and twelve of the planned forty-four new Merlin helicopters, as well as various training helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, included 40, 42, and 45 Commandos plus supporting logistics regiment, artillery, engineers and signals, and a Commando Brigade Air Squadron. In addition the Royal Marines included Commacchio Group for the defence of key strategic areas (including the national deterrent), the SBS (Special Boat Service) Group and 539 Assault Squadron.
Command The Fleet was commanded by CINCFLEET (the Commander in Chief Fleet) Admiral Nigel Essenhigh, who was relieved by Admiral Alan West at the end of 2000. Rear Admiral Peter Franklin was FOSF (Flag Officer Surface Flotilla), and he was relieved in 2000 by Rear Admiral Ian Forbes.
Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) was Rear Admiral Stevens, Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) was Rear Admiral Henderson, and the Commandant General Royal Marines was Major General Fulton.
PJHQ (Permanent Joint Headquarters) Joint operations were planned and staffed by the permanent Joint Staff established at PJHQ at Northwood, north-west of London, and collocated with the HQ of the Commander in Chief Fleet. The PJHQ was commanded by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO), Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett. A key task of CJO was to develop the new JRRF (Joint Rapid Reaction Force) concept set up under the SDR and due to be fully operational by 2001. Joint operations were key to the modern expeditionary warfare strategy, in which the MCJO was the essential element provided by the Royal Navy.
A new Type 23 frigate
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FIRST SEA LORDS
Admiral Sir Michael Boyce Admiral Boyce relieved Admiral Slater as First Sea Lord in October 1998. Michael Boyce was born in 1943 and joined the Royal Navy in 1961. He qualified as a submariner and commanded two conventional diesel-electric submarines, a nuclear attack submarine and the Submarine Training Squadron. Away from the underwater world, he commanded the frigate Brilliant, was Director of the Naval Staff Division and had the role of Senior Naval Officer Middle East.
He was promoted Rear Admiral in 1991 and was subsequently Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Surface Flotilla, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command and Second Sea Lord, and Commander in Chief Fleet. During this period he was knighted and also held a variety of senior NATO commands.
He was First Sea Lord from 1998 until Admiral Essenhigh relieved him on 16 January 2001. Admiral Boyce then went on to become Chief of the Defence Staff at the beginning of 2001 and finally retired in May 2003. He was elevated to the peerage in June 2003, and was elected to the Council of the White Ensign Association in the same year. He became Chairman of the Association in November 2007.
The Merlin helicopter
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Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh Nigel Essenhigh was born in 1944 and joined the Royal Navy in 1963, qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer in 1972. After spending much of his early career at sea he was promoted Commander in 1980 and joined the MoD in the Manpower and Training Division. Two years later he commanded the destroyer Nottingham, and he was then promoted to Captain in 1985. After graduating from the Royal College of Defence Studies he was appointed to the Naval Plans Division, and then in 1989 he took command of the destroyer Exeter.
He was appointed Hydrographer of the Navy as a rear admiral in 1994 and then Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Programmes) in 1996. Two years later he was appointed Commander in Chief Fleet as a full admiral, and in 2001 he became First Sea Lord.
OPERATIONS AND DEPLOYMENTS, 1999–2001
In 1999 the Royal Navy continued to maintain ships, vessels and units on station abroad and to deploy ships to key areas in support of overseas interests, territories and commitments in fulfilment of UK defence and foreign policy.
Gibraltar In Gibraltar two patrol craft, Ranger and Trumpeter, provided a continuous naval presence to deter Spanish incursions and carry out anti-smuggling operations. In addition a destroyer or frigate was kept on stand-by, as Gibraltar Guardship, ready to deploy at short notice.
Cyprus A small squadron of patrol boats was maintained in Cyprus to assist in the protection of the Sovereign Base Area on the south coast. These boats were due to be replaced by two adapted patrol craft, Pursuer and Dasher, in 2002.
Falkland Islands and Antarctica A destroyer or frigate, supported by an offshore patrol vessel and an RFA tanker, was maintained on station in and around the Falkland Islands to protect British interests in the region. In addition the ice patrol ship Endurance was deployed to the area during the Antarctic summer. In April 1999 the destroyer or frigate and supporting tanker were reclassified as ‘Atlantic Patrol Task (South)’ with wider commitments.
Fishery Protection Squadron The Fishery Protection Squadron of eleven vessels, a mix of Island, Hunt and Castle classes, maintained the 600-year-old task of patrolling the waters around the UK. The fishery protection duty involved policing the British Fishery Limits (BFLs) out to 200 miles from the west coast of the UK and out to the median lines elsewhere. An important element of the squadron’s task was the protection of oil and gas installations in the North Sea.
Northern Ireland The three Hunt class MCM (mine counter-measures) ships of the Northern Ireland Squadron, supported by Royal Marine detachments and naval helicopters, conducted counter-terrorist operations under Operations Sealion and Lifespan. The squadron maintained patrols around coastal waters as well as inshore and on inland waterways. In February 1999, following progress since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in the previous year, the three Hunt class ships of the Northern Ireland Squadron were finally withdrawn, as well as the Sea King helicopters. 42 Commando continued its deployment in the difficult area of south Armagh for internal security operations as part of the ongoing Operation Banner and then, having completed its tour of duty on 16 March 1999, was withdrawn.
The West Indies A destroyer or frigate, supported by an RFA tanker, was deployed to the Caribbean as the WIGS (West Indies Guardship). The guardship maintained a British presence in the islands and conducted anti-drug smuggling operations. In April 1999, following a review of the WIGS, tasking the guardship was reclassified Atlantic Patrol Task (North) with wider-ranging commitments.
‘Drug Busts’ In May the Type 23 frigate Marlborough carried out an important interception of a drug smuggler in the Caribbean, and in early November the frigate Northumberland intercepted and boarded the mv Adriatik off the north coast of Venezuela and seized two tonnes of cocaine with a street value of over £135m.
The ice patrol ship Endurance (known as the ‘Red Plum’)
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Sierra Leone The Royal Navy continued to provide support to the troubled government of Sierra Leone in its fight against rebel forces by providing the frigate Norfolk and an RFA tanker in and around Freetown. The ships provided back-up to UK forces deployed to the area ashore and also assisted reconnaissance teams in conducting Operation Basilica in Freetown. Teams assisting with the operation included 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines.
On 3 February 1999 the Atlantic Patrol Ship (South), the frigate Westminster, relieved Norfolk. When the situation improved it was decided to withdraw Westminster and she sailed from the area on 18 March. On shore, land-based operations with a military aid package continued.
On 2 November the frigate Somerset returned briefly to Sierra Leone to stand by for a possible evacuation of British nationals during a breakdown in the fragile peace talks, though after several days the talks resumed and Somerset was withdrawn.
The frigate Northumberland in the Caribbean
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Nuclear Deterrent Patrols Throughout the time the Vanguard class SSBNs of the 1st Submarine Squadron, armed with Trident missiles, maintained their constant deterrent patrols at sea, operating from their base at Faslane. In April 1999 the squadron achieved thirty years of continuous and undetected deterrent patrols.
Vengeance, the fourth and final Vanguard class submarine, completed its sea trials in 1999 and joined the deterrent cycle the following year.
Sub-Strategic Role The Strategic Defence Review allocated the SST (sub-strategic tactical) limited strike role, previously the responsibility of the RAF operating Tornado aircraft armed with WE-177 free-fall nuclear bombs, to the Royal Navy. The Vanguard submarines, operating in a sub-strategic Trident role, carried out the task.
Standing NATO Naval Forces NATO remained one of the cornerstones of defence policy under SDR, and the Royal Navy continued to assign ships to the four standing NATO naval forces:
STANAVFORLANT (Atlantic)
STANAVFORMED (Mediterranean)
MCMFORNORTH (MCM Force North-West)
MCMFORMED (MCM Force Mediterranean)
MCMFORMED was a newly formed MCM force for the Mediterranean, and the Royal Navy contributed the Hunt class MCMV Atherstone for the first deployment of the squadron. The Royal Navy ships assigned to the standing NATO forces provided important contributions to the squadrons deployed in various exercises and also on operations in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Operation Bolton II: Task Force 347.01 At the beginning of 1999, following the commencement of hostilities in the Gulf under Operation Desert Fox, it had been decided to send the aircraft carrier Invincible, escorted by the destroyer Newcastle, to the Gulf region to reinforce the ships deployed on Operation Bolton II. The ships of Operation Bolton were heavily committed in the Gulf in maritime interdiction operations and air surveillance patrols over Iraq. They were also positioned as a precautionary measure to counter continuing Iraqi intransigence over compliance with UN Security Council resolutions concerning weapons of mass destruction.
On 9 January 1999 Invincible, with her escort Newcastle and supported by the tanker RFA Bayleaf and the auxiliary fleet replenishment ship RFA Fort Austin, sailed from Portsmouth bound for the Arabian Sea and the Gulf. She steamed down the Channel and embarked the FA2 Sea Harriers of 800 NAS en route, but sadly none of the hoped-for RAF GR7 Harriers. The group made a fast passage south and headed into the Mediterranean, making only a brief logistic stop at Cyprus before transiting through the Suez Canal on 21 January. The group conducted weapon training as they proceeded down the Red Sea and into the Gulf of Aden.
Invincible then sailed through the Straits of Hormuz and arrived in the theatre of operations on 29 January. She rendezvoused with the ships of the Armilla Patrol, the frigates Boxer and Cumberland, supported by the tanker RFA Brambleleaf, all of which had been subsumed into Operation Bolton II. The Invincible group headed up into the northern Gulf and, following a day’s briefing with US staffs, commenced operating the Sea Harriers.
The Sea Harriers joined US aircraft flying missions over southern Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch. To maximise the time on task for the Sea Harriers, Invincible had to operate up-threat, well to the north of the force and within close range of Iraqi air and surface threats. Her escorts, Newcastle and Cumberland, maintained a close vigilance, constantly at alert, whilst her helicopters flew AEW and ‘surface picture’ compilation missions.
Interdiction operations and flying missions in support of Operations Bolton II and Southern Watch, were maintained throughout February and March. On 1 April Invincible was due to return to the UK and so together with Newcastle sailed from the Gulf, bound for home.
NATO Operation Allied Force (RN Operation Magellan): Operations over Kosovo
On passage back to Portsmouth the Invincible group was ordered on 10 April to divert to the Ionian Sea, to join the NATO forces deployed on Operation Allied Force. The operation was being undertaken in Kosovo to deter Serbian ethnic cleansing following the failure of peace talks in Rambouillet, France. The UK component of the NATO operation was Operation Kingower, and the UK maritime element was codenamed Operation Magellan. The UK contributed the Type 23 frigate Iron Duke to STANAVFORMED, which was part of Operation Allied Force. Iron Duke spent six months on the operation, often deployed close in to the coast, well inside Serbian missile range.
The destroyer Glasgow at speed in a heavy sea
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Task Force 470 The Type 23 frigate Somerset was already in the Adriatic, having been seconded to the French Task Force 470 for a three-month Agapanthe 99 deployment at the beginning of the year. The French Carrier Group, Task Force 470, based on the French aircraft carrier fns Foch, had been sailed from Toulon at speed for the Adriatic in response to the situation in Kosovo. Somerset, en route from the UK, arrived in Toulon after the Task Force had sailed and immediately proceeded in company with the French destroyer fns Cassard to join the rest of the Task Force in the Adriatic. On joining the French Task Force, Somerset acted as EW Picket and was stationed up-threat, some fifteen miles off the Montenegran coast, to give advance warning of any incoming aircraft or missiles.
First firing of TLAMs The NATO forces in the area embarked on an aerial bombing campaign over Kosovo on 24 March. The first phase of the operation consisted of strikes by cruise missiles to knock out the Serbian air defences, and the nuclear submarine Splendid fired the opening salvos. Moments before the first firing of her Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAMs), the Commanding Officer of Splendid sent a signal to the Commanding Officer of the nuclear submarine Turbulent, operating closer inshore; it simply said ‘DUCK!’2 It was the first time the Royal Navy had launched TLAMs for an operational strike.
After a brief visit to Cyprus for resupply en route, the Invincible Task Group entered the Ionian Sea on 14 April. Shortly after arriving in the area and j oining the NATO Task Force, Invincible was operating her Sea Harriers, flying integrated operational missions over Kosovo.
On 23 April the Type 23 frigate Grafton arrived in the Adriatic and relieved Somerset at Trieste. Somerset returned to the UK whilst Grafton operated with the French Carrier Group, Task Force 470. Grafton acted as close escort to fns Foch, which was operating close to the coast to enable her aircraft to spend more time on task over land.
Operation Kingower The Invincible Task Group, supported by RFA Bayleaf, remained to the south-east in the Ionian Sea operating with the US Carrier Battle Group based on the US nuclear carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. The FA2 Sea Harriers from Invincible were employed in the defensive counter-air role throughout, operating over Albanian territory on combat air patrols covering the enemy airfields at Pristina and Podgorica.
The FA2s were regularly‘locked-on’ by Serbian fire control radars and engaged by anti-aircraft fire, but fortunately they were not engaged by SAMs (surface-to-air missiles). The nuclear submarine Turbulent was also attached to the Task Group for a short period of operations prior to ‘chopping’ (transferring) to NATO control for operations off the coast of Montenegro. By the middle of May the number of NATO aircraft deployed in the area was sufficient to conduct all missions, and it was decided that Invincible could be released to return to the UK. The Sea Harriers of 800 NAS (Naval Air Squadron) had flown over 300 hours on missions in the area. On 21 May the Invincible group withdrew from Operation Magellan and sailed from the Ionian Sea for the UK. The group made a swift passage back and arrived in Portsmouth on 27 May. The bombing campaign of Operation Allied Force meanwhile continued until 10 June.
Operation Allied Harvest On completion of the bombing campaign it was deemed necessary to arrange for the clearance of ordnance jettisoned by aircraft during bombing missions. On 12 June the MCMVs Sandown and Atherstone were deployed to the area to assist in the clearance operations. Sandown was attached to the NATO MCMFORNORTH whilst Atherstone formed part of the new NATO MCMFORMED. The operation lasted until 24 August, during which time ninety-three bombs, from a total of 100 jettisoned, had been located. Atherstone and Sandown destroyed over 20 per cent of the bombs and missiles found.
Argonaut 99 Deployment: Exercise Bright Star In August 1999 an amphibious task group (ATG) sailed from Plymouth for a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean. The codename for the deployment was Argonaut 99, and the Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) was Commodore Kilgour. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) included the brand new amphibious ship Ocean and the old assault ship Fearless as well as the five RFA landing ships (logistic) (LSLs). The deployment included 3,000 personnel in seventeen ships.
The ARG took part in the major exercise Bright Star in the eastern Mediterranean, which was designed to test the new amphibious doctrine and tactics. The concept of operations was based on the overall strategy flowing from the SDR and the concept of the MCJO.
Operation Langar, 18 September – 3 October 1999 In September the UK was requested to assist with the troubles that had erupted in East Timor following moves to independence. The destroyer Glasgow, which was in Indonesian waters, was ordered to join the UN forces, under Australian command, off East Timor on 18 September. Other UK forces, forming part of Operation Langar, were sent to the area, including a Royal Marine support team. Glasgow remained in the area operating with HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Tobruk. The ships conducted escort duties and patrols, helping to restore peace and security during the period of transition to independence. On 3 October Glasgow was withdrawn from the operation and departed from the area, though army and RAF air transport units remained in East Timor until it was completed on 15 December.
Exercise Sarex 99, November 1999 Following a disaster at sea in the South Atlantic in 1997, some 200 miles east of the Falkland Islands, the UK and Argentinean governments agreed a set of procedures for their two navies to operate together. The procedures were tested over four days in November 1999 during exercise Sarex 99, which was led by the frigate Somerset, the Atlantic Patrol Task (South) ship. The exercise involved the Argentinean ships ara Parker and Gurruchaga as well as the Falklands patrol ship Dumbarton Castle. The exercise also involved an Argentinean P-3 Orion MPA as well as RAF C-130 Hercules and Sea King helicopters from RAF Mount Pleasant airfield in the Falkland Islands.
Aurora 2000 Deployment and Operation Palliser, May 2000
In May 2000 a powerful task group, codenamed Aurora 2000, was deployed to conduct a major amphibious exercise off the coast of Portugal. Central to the group was the new amphibious helicopter carrier Ocean with 42 Commando Royal Marines embarked as well as an air group of Sea King, Lynx and Gazelle helicopters from the new Joint Helicopter Command.
The ARG The key element of the Task Group was the ARG, which included the frigate Chatham, the LSLs RFA Sir Bedivere and RFA Sir Tristram and the auxiliary fleet support ship RFA Fort Austin.
Operation Palliser: Sierra Leone The Task Group was then suddenly diverted south at full speed to join the joint force in support of Operation Palliser to intervene in the crisis in Sierra Leone. It was the largest UK maritime group since the Falklands Campaign and included 3,000 personnel, who assembled for the emergency in just eight days and sailed over 3,000 miles to appear off the coast of west Africa.
Illustrious, with both RN FA2 and RAF GR7 Harriers embarked and with RFA Fort George supporting, were diverted from exercise Linked Seas in the Bay of Biscay to support the Task Group off Sierra Leone.
On arrival the Task Group carried out swift action, inserting a powerful force ashore backed up by a very potent force lying just off the coast. The forces protected and evacuated British nationals and took rapid action to stabilise the dangerous situation ashore. It was a combined operation and also involved British troops including the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, which was subsequently relieved by 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Joint Rapid Reaction Force The success of Operation Palliser provided an excellent example of the new MCJO policy set out in the SDR, as well exercising, for real, the newly established Joint Rapid Reaction Force.
Eastern Adventure, alias Maritime Endeavour Deployment: Task Group 2000, May–November 2000
At the beginning of 2000 an out-of-area group deployment to the Far East was planned. The deployment was to be the first task group circumnavigation for over ten years and was officially codenamed Eastern Adventure but was also known as Maritime Endeavour.
Rear Admiral Stephen Meyer as Commander UK Task Group (COMUKTG), flying his flag in the Type 22 frigate Cornwall, commanded the Task Group (TG 2000). The rest of the group consisted of the destroyer Newcastle, the frigate Sutherland and the nuclear submarine Tireless, to be relieved later by Triumph. The RFAS Bayleaf, Diligence and Fort Victoria supported the group, with two Sea King helicopters from 819 NAS embarked, as well as several Royal Marine specialist units.
The Task Group sailed from the UK on 2 May 2000 and set course south for Gibraltar. Once in the Mediterranean it steamed east, and as the ships passed south of Toulon they were joined by the French frigate fns Aconit. The group transited through the Suez Canal and continued east for Singapore.
Exercise Flying Fish 2000 One of the principal tasks of the group was to participate in exercise Flying Fish 2000 off the coast of Singapore, to honour the UK’s commitment to the Five-Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), set up nearly thirty years earlier. The purpose of the combined maritime exercise was to defend Malaysia and Singapore against any attack or threatened invasion. Ships and aircraft conducted exercise assaults, and amphibious incursions on the coast were also part of the scenario. On completion of the exercise the ships of the group made a series of visits to the FPDA countries in the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Defence Export Sales Ships of the group visited many ports including Shanghai, Qingdao and Vladivostock and some in Indonesia and Korea, as well as ports in Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand. Very successful UK defence and export sales days were arranged in many of the places visited, and these paid a significant economic dividend.
Support of Foreign Policy The Task Group had an important political dimension in clearly demonstrating the presence and influence of Britain abroad. It carried out the first ever combined exercises with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy), and despite communication difficulties the exercises were a marked success.
Ocean with her air group from the Joint Helicopter Command
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The group was approaching eastern Russia at the time of the loss of the Russian Oscar II class nuclear submarine Kursk and just happened to be in the South China Sea at a time when difficulties were being experienced between the British and Chinese governments. It was also in the offing at the time of the Korean summit.
Return to the UK After some six months in the Far East it was time for the Task Group to return to the UK via the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal. The passage home was uneventful and finally, at the end of November, the group arrived back, having visited twenty-seven countries and exercised with twenty different navies. The deployment strengthened the links between the Royal Navy and the French Navy. TG 2000 was by all accounts a most successful group deployment.
Operation Silkman: Sierra Leone, November 2000 In November 2000 the five ships of the ARG were diverted to Sierra Leone from the Mediterranean on completion of the NATO exercise Destined Glory. The government of Sierra Leone was being opposed by the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF). On 12 November the ARG, led by the helicopter assault ship Ocean, and supported by RFA Argus, arrived off the coast of Sierra Leone. The ships then sailed into Freetown harbour and anchored in the roads, making an overt show of force as a clear demonstration of Britain’s strong support for the government of Sierra Leone.
Sea King helicopters flew over the capital as the Royal Marines of 42 Commando stormed ashore, securing a beachhead on the Aberdeen peninsula some three kilometres to the west of Freetown as part of Operation Silkman. Chinook battlefield support helicopters transported 105mm artillery guns and all-terrain vehicles as underslung loads, landing them with 42 Commando. A convoy of military vehicles then proceeded through the centre of Freetown. A cease-fire had, in fact, been negotiated between the government and the RUF the day before the Royal Marines stormed ashore, but the operation was nevertheless a high-visibility demonstration of the UK’s commitment to Sierra Leone.
Argonaut 2001 Deployment: Exercise Saif Sareea II (‘Swift Sword 2’)
Towards the end of August 2001 a very powerful task group, the Argonaut 2001 Group (TG 342.01), gathered in the UK under the command of COMUKMARFOR (Commander UK Maritime Force), Rear Admiral James Burnell-Nugent, in his flagship, the carrier Illustrious. Various elements of the Task Force departed ahead of the main group, which was due to sail from the UK at the beginning of September bound for the Middle East and Exercise Saif Sareea II. The total group, consisting of twenty-six ships and submarines, was the largest task group assembled since the Falklands War and included Illustrious, Ocean and the assault ship Fearless escorted by six frigates and destroyers, two fleet submarines and four MCMVs. A survey vessel and ten RFA support ships and tankers supported the group. Embarked were 40 and 45 Commando Royal Marines, and the total number of people to be deployed was 22,500.
The MCMV Squadron The first element of the Task Group, the MCMV squadron, consisting of Quorn, Inverness, Walney and Cattistock, supported by RFA Diligence and the coastal survey ship Roebuck, sailed out of Portsmouth in mid-August and headed west down the Channel. After passing into the Mediterranean the ships headed for a port visit to Mallorca and then sailed east. In the eastern Mediterranean the squadron embarked staff from the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) and conducted a series of intensive training and work-up exercises. When the FOST staff departed in early September, the squadron transited through the Suez Canal and sailed down the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden and into the Indian Ocean, en route to the Gulf.
The Amphibious Task Group The second element of the Argonaut Task Group to sail was the Amphibious Group led by the assault ship Fearless. The group included the helicopter carrier Ocean, the landing ships (logistic) Sir Tristram, Sir Bedivere and Sir Galahad and the support ships RFA Fort Rosalie and RFA Fort Austin as well as the tanker RFA Oakleaf On sailing, the Amphibious Group spent a week off north Devon conducting shake-down exercises with the Royal Marines as part of exercise Channel Wader before heading south for Lisbon and Cadiz, then on into the Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean, helicopters from 845 NAS, embarked in RFA Fort Austin, responded to a distress call and rescued twenty men from a sinking vessel 100 miles south-east of Gibraltar. The group then went on to visit Cartagena and Malaga before steaming further east for Cyprus.
The Carrier Group The carrier group, led by the flagship Illustrious, sailed from Portsmouth on 3 September and headed down the Channel, embarking the rest of the Carrier Air Group, including Harriers, both FA2s and GR7s, on the way. The destroyers Nottingham and Southampton and the frigates Cornwall, Kent, Marlborough and Monmouth, with the tanker RFA Bayleaf, escorted the flagship. The carrier group headed south for the Mediterranean and after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar visited several Mediterranean ports, with Illustrious visiting Valletta, Malta, on 10 September for three days. It was whilst Illustrious was in Valletta that the attention of the world was focused on the terrorist attacks on the ‘Twin Towers’ of the World Trade Center in New York.
Meanwhile the Amphibious Group in the eastern Mediterranean divided in to two task units, one of which exercised off the coast of Cyprus whilst the second Task Unit with Fearless exercised with Turkish forces further to the north. After Fearless had spent a seven-day maintenance period in Marmaris the group formed up and transited through the Suez Canal on 23 September.
Ocean and Illustrious taking part in exercise Saif Sareea II off Oman
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Royal Marines land on the beaches on the coast of Sierra Leone
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Exercise Saif Sareea II The various elements of the Task Group converged on Oman and then from 3 to 29 October conducted a series of joint operations, amphibious assault exercises and live firings as part of the overall joint UK-Omani exercise Saif Sareea II.
The total number of people involved was 22,500, with 13,000 Omani troops participating in the major assault exercises. Forty-two RAF fixed-wing aircraft took part as well as forty-four helicopters from the newly formed JHC (Joint Helicopter Command), half of which were naval helicopters. The main purpose of the exercise was a joint task force demonstration of the MCJO under the JRRF concept.
Not only did the exercise build close relations with Oman, but also it was a powerful demonstration that the USA was not the only nation capable of projecting large-scale force over strategic distances, showing the capabilities the UK could bring to the Gulf region.
The shocking events of ‘9/11’ immediately prior to the exercises added much impetus to the operations. The exercises were conducted in the harsh conditions of searing heat in the desert and provided invaluable experience for what was to come later in the Gulf.
‘In the Right Place’ Exercise Saif Sareea II was a great success, and CINCFLEET, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, was well pleased with the outcome. He stated: ‘No less impressive was the fact that the exercise took place against a backdrop of concurrent operations, particularly as Saif Sareea continued after the terrorist attacks of September 11 and afterwards the British Task Force found itself very well placed to make an immediate contribution to the ensuing War against Terrorism.’3
In October, as the Task Force was held in the Arabian Gulf for operations in support of the campaign ashore in Afghanistan, the nuclear fleet submarines were able to provide direct support. On 7 October the nuclear submarines Trafalgar and Triumph launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against Taliban targets at a great distance inland.
NATO Operation Active Endeavour: The Protection of Shipping in the Mediterranean Following the ‘9/11’ terrorist attacks, NATO instituted various maritime security operations. In the Mediterranean in October 2001 NATO activated the On Call Naval Force and established Operation Active Endeavour, the purpose of which was to monitor all ships in the Mediterranean. A comprehensive plot was compiled, and ships were escorted as they passed through the narrow waters of the Straits of Gibraltar. The Royal Navy assigned frigates and destroyers to the NATO squadron and took its turn to direct the operation on a rotational basis.
Operation Anaconda: The Attack on Terrorist Training Bases in Afghanistan, September 2001 – May 2002
Shortly after the ‘9/11’ terrorist attacks the USA began Operation Anaconda to hunt for Al Qaeda and destroy its training bases in southern Afghanistan. The Americans requested help from the UK, and 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines was selected to assist the US forces deployed ashore in Afghanistan. A Royal Marine reconnaissance unit was sent out to join the US forces in March, and they were forward-deployed, by RAF C-130 Hercules, to Kabul and Bagram. The following month two companies from 45 Commando disembarked from Ocean to join the Royal Marines already in theatre, and the combined force was codenamed Task Force Jacana.
Illustrious with coalition ships in the Middle East – a powerful demonstration of ‘allied sea power’
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The Task Force in the Arabian Gulf
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Operation Ptarmigan The Royal Marines moved up into the mountains and instigated Operation Ptarmigan to adapt to the altitude, heat and harsh conditions. When they were sufficiently acclimatised they were assessed to have achieved full operational capability on 28 April.
Operation Snipe Task Force Jacana then combined with the US forces, which launched Operation Snipe, sweeping the mountains with their Apache helicopter gunships. This was followed up by inserting the Royal Marines, under the protection of air cover provided by US aircraft, on to mountains and ridge tops to provide FOBs (forward operating bases).
With 450 men in the mountains, the Royal Marines of 45 Commando carried out an arduous two-week operation combing the mountains and sweeping hide-outs and caves. Their finds included a complex of mountain caves housing tanks, artillery, guns and vast quantities of ammunition. Brigadier Lane, in command, described the efforts of his men as being ‘of supreme human endeavour’.4 The captured arms and ammunition were destroyed in the caves in what was described as the largest controlled explosion by British forces since World War II. The operation was considered a great success in the war on terrorism and helped bring peace and stability to the area.
Operation Buzzard Following the success of Operation Snipe, the next operation launched, codenamed Operation Buzzard, was much closer to the Pakistan border. Soon the Royal Marines were in combat with insurgents, killing a number of them on 23 May before the terrorists fled the area. The Royal Marines then continued to mount their effective patrols in the region. Throughout the period the Royal Marines were fully supported by the RAF with transport aircraft and Chinook helicopters as well as artillery support from the army, all backed up by sea-based logistics.
Operation Oracle From September 2001 the UK contribution (codenamed Operation Oracle) to the US-led war on terrorism, codenamed Operation Enduring Freedom, was significantly increased, with over forty ships, submarines and RFA support ships and tankers deployed to the Gulf region. Nineteen units from exercise Saif Sareea II, including over 7,000 people, were retained in the area and changed from exercise status to full operational readiness. Units from ten other nations including Australia and Japan reinforced the Royal Navy Task Group.
By the end of 2001 the Oracle Task Group in the Middle East included the flagship Illustrious, the assault ship Fearless, the destroyer Southampton, the frigate Cornwall and the TLAM-armed fleet submarine Trafalgar, supported by RFAS Fort George, Fort Rosalie, Brambleleaf, Diligence, Sir Tristram and Sir Percival.
Other Activities
Earthquake in Turkey On 17 November 1999 Ocean was returning to UK on completion of exercise Bright Star when she was diverted to the Turkish coast to conduct emergency relief operations following the major earthquake centred on Duzce. The Sea King helicopters played an important part in distributing emergency supplies and transporting rescue teams and repair parties.
Hurricane ‘Lenny’ In the Caribbean the frigate Northumberland was ordered to Anguilla on 18 November 1999 to provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of Hurricane ‘Lenny’. The following day she broke off relief work and sailed to rescue the mv Pride de la Dominique and towed her into Road Bay, Anguilla, before resuming emergency relief work for a further three days.
Mozambique Floods At the beginning of 2000 the auxiliary oiler replenishment ship RFA Fort George was deployed to Mozambique to provide emergency relief aid following major flooding. On arrival she joined the international humanitarian operation, and with her five Sea King helicopters she was able to play an important role in transporting rescue teams and distributing emergency supplies. RFA Fort George received praise from many countries for the important contribution she made to the rescue mission.
Greek Ferry Disaster On 26 September 2000 the Greek-registered ferry mv Express Samina ran aground off the island of Paros. The frigate Cumberland quickly arrived on the scene and assisted in the rescue operation, managing to save many people.
Loss of the Kursk Later in 2000 the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in a tragic accident in the Barents Sea. On 12 August she was taking part in an exercise and was preparing to fire two dummy torpedoes at the battlecruiser Peter the Great, flagship of the Northern Fleet. There appeared to be an explosion when the torpedo propellant ignited, which triggered a chain reaction leading to more violent explosions and the submarine sank. As soon as news of the accident became known Britain offered full support to the Russian Navy, but by the time the offer was accepted and the Royal Navy rescue submersible ‘LR 5’ deployed to the area in a support ship it was too late to save any of the crew.
Operation Peninsula At the beginning of April 2001 the Royal Navy was called in to assist in controlling the outbreak and spread of foot and mouth disease in Britain as part of Operation Peninsula. The Navy contributed two teams, totalling 170 personnel, in Devon and South Wales, each team working continuously for periods of fourteen days at a time. The operation lasted for two months, and during that time a total of 550 naval personnel took part.
Operation Fresco No sooner had personnel stood down from Operation Peninsular than the fire-fighters of Merseyside went on strike on 13 July 2001. As Army personnel were still engaged with foot and mouth operations, the Navy and RAF were required to provide all emergency fire-fighting cover during the period of the strike. The Navy set up fire and rescue teams and manned the ‘Green Goddess’ fire engines. The Operation Fresco teams responded to 856 call-outs, many more than usual due to hoax calls, and put out some serious fires with no loss of life. The strike ended on 26 July, and service personnel returned to their normal work the following day.
Although the army was not involved, it was interesting that much of the press referred to the ‘army’ as providing the assistance during the strike.
Submarine Service Centennial In 2001 the Submarine Service celebrated its 100th anniversary with a wide range of events. These included parades by the Barrow branch and the London branch of the Submariners’ Association and the Submarine Service Colour in Faslane, as well as a lunch in the Mansion House hosted by the Corporation of the City of London. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, established as the regimental focus for the Submarine Service, was the centrepiece of the centennial celebrations.
International Festival of the Sea 2001 The International Festival of the Sea held at Portsmouth naval base at the end of August 2001 was the largest maritime celebration ever held up to that time. With contributions from both the army and the RAF, it was also the first tri-service event held outside London, and replaced the Royal Tournament.
The Type 22 frigate Cumberland
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The nuclear submarine Triumph, with the frigate Northumberland, after firing her TLAMs against terrorist targets in Afghanistan
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Life at Sea in the Royal Navy, 1958–2008
In 1958, most ratings onboard ship lived in large messes. The After Mess in frigates, Type 12s – and in the later Leanders – was for 55 men, most of whom slept in hammocks; there were a few bunks round the bulkheads. The Ton Class sweepers were all bunks. Kit was stowed in a locker, and basic training taught how to use every bit of space. Few ships had cafeteria messing, and food was brought down to the Mess individually, and eaten in a mess square – the small living area. It was not always easy to transfer the meal from the galley, to your sometimes distant mess. Washing up was done most unhygienically in buckets. The introduction of a dedicated ship’s cafeteria Mess also allowed for briefing space, church services, and films, educational and entertaining. Senior Rates had a sleeping area, with double or triple bunks, and a very small living space. In Type 12s, and Leanders, the Forward POs Mess was ahead of the 4.5” turret, which meant that in any seaway the mess was distinctly lively, with slamming and regular pitching. Officers had single cabins, roughly 6’ by 6’ by 7’, which for most was also their office and Divisional space: bunks had drawers and a small bureau, a small combination classified document safe, and a key safe. Heating was by ‘black’ radiator.
Messes in more modern ships became smaller but slightly more spacious. More and more electronic equipment – computers, communication sets, radars – required to be air-conditioned, and eventually the designers decided it was easier to air condition the whole ship rather than having individual plants. This made a dramatic difference, especially in the humid tropics. Up until then, when weather permitted, many sailors had slept on the upper deck.
Ship movement could be severe. Regular rolling in storms could be up to 55 degrees. When ships started to operate helicopters stabilisers had to be fitted, which reduced rolling dramatically.
The RN Film Corporation provided rental copies of reel-to-reel films. Perhaps weekly these would be shown in the Mess, on a sheet hung from the deck head. Eventually tapes and DVDs mostly replaced films, and Messes acquired TVs. There was also the SRE (Ships Radio Equipment), which provided constant music, quizzes, news and general information during the day interrupted by the Main Broadcast when necessary. Card and board games were normal, Uckers being the favourite board game, played on a Ludo board, but much more complex. By the 1970s some ships had tiny TV studios, producing their own programmes, and ship’s one or two sheet newspapers would appear regularly. Occasionally each mess would produce an act for a SOD’s Opera – originally the Ship’s Operatic and Dramatic Society – basically a Concert.
’Hands to bathe’: members of the ship’s company from the aircraft carrier Eagle swim close alongside
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There were various ways of keeping fit. The ship’s PTI, Physical Training Instructor would run keep fit sessions and on the Flight Deck, when the ship’s programme permitted, there was Deck Hockey. Later ships had their own keep fit spaces, with various pieces of training equipment.
If the ship’s programme permitted there would be Hands to Bathe, usually in the First Dog Watch; the seaboat would be launched, lookouts posted against sharks, jumping ladders rigged, and the ship stopped. Ashore the ship would have football, rugby and cricket teams, and both intership and inter mess games were normal.
Waste at sea was at first basic: eventually International Laws meant that ships had sewage treatment plants, where the end result was pure water, and rubbish (’gash’) had to be processed onboard. Drinking Water except in nuclear submarines was always in limited supply. If one of the ship’s evaporators became unserviceable, especially in the tropics, life became unpleasant.
The ship was kept spotlessly clean. Every evening there would be Rounds (an inspection) of living spaces, including heads and showers. Usually each month the Captain would carry out more formal Rounds of the ship.
Lieut Commander Ken Napier MBE, RN
Joint Force 2000 Major changes in naval aviation occurred on 1 April 2000 with the demise of the Flag Officer Naval Aviation. A Joint Force 2000 (JF 2000) was created by combining the air defence strike RN Sea Harrier FA2 with the ground attack RAF Harrier GR7 as a part of RAF Strike Command. The aircraft of 800 and 801 NAS were to be collocated at RAF Cottesmore with RAF No 1(F), 3(F) and IV(AC) Squadrons by 2003. JF 2000, commanded by a rear admiral, increased the operational capability within the sphere of maritime operations.
JHC In roughly the same time frame a new JHC was created to combine all the battlefield helicopters. The JHC was formed at Wilton on 1 October 1999 and included the Navy’s Sea King commando helicopters together with the Royal Marines’ Lynx and Gazelle helicopters as well as army and Air Force battlefield helicopters. The total JHC force included 12,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen with control over some 350 helicopters.
PERSONNEL MATTERS
Defence Training Review A defence training review was established in September 1999 as part of Lord Robertson’s study of education and training in the armed forces and the Civil Service. The fundamental review resulted in the introduction of a number of reforms and improvements and established a defence-wide training policy.
Pay 2000 Following detailed study of armed forces’ pay by the independent review as well as the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body, recommendations were made for a new pay structure. It was the first major change to the pay of the armed forces since the introduction of the Military Salary nearly thirty years earlier. The aim of Pay 2000 was to introduce a system which was flexible, and more closely linked to actual job content and weight rather than just rank and seniority. It achieved greater accuracy in terms of comparability with pay levels in civilian life.
It was a complex and fundamental change which took over a year to implement. Because it incorporated differentials for job loadings within the same rank, there were inevitably those whose pay was not increased as much as that of others with the same rank or rate and seniority, which caused a certain amount of disappointment. It was to be a few years before the new system was fully understood and accepted by all.
Project TopMast A new system for manning ships and managing people, known as ‘TopMast’ (Tomorrow’s Personnel Management System), was introduced in 2001 to improve the deployment of naval service personnel. TopMast followed through an SDR requirement to move people closer to the centre of defence business. The aim was to adopt a more flexible and responsive strategy for manning ships, in particular roles for specific operations, rather than just attempting to man all ships for all roles at all times. One of the key elements was a concept called ‘Swing’ which enabled personnel to be moved around to meet specific requirements.
OWP (Operational Welfare Package) Following a major review in 1999, a tri-service Operational Welfare Package was introduced in April 2001 to provide support for personnel deployed on operations. The package provided a range of communication facilities, including free phone calls, e-mails, letter and parcel facilities, newspapers and television access as well as fitness equipment, all designed to maintain morale for personnel deployed on difficult operations.
Executive Committee of the White Ensign Association at HMS Dryad
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The White Ensign Association In 1999 Sir Michael Bett relieved Admiral Sir Michael Layard as Chairman of the White Ensign Association, and Admiral Sir Jock Slater joined the Council shortly after being relieved as First Sea Lord. Lord Younger, recent Secretary of State for Defence, also joined the Council.
The Association continued to work with the Commander in Chief Fleet in arranging for senior influential people to go to sea with the Royal Navy, and for the first time it was able to arrange for a few important people to go to sea in a submarine, Sovereign. One of the most popular visits was to the frigate Marlborough, deployed as guardship to the Caribbean. A total of twenty-eight senior business people went to sea to meet personnel and to have the opportunity to observe the high quality, experience and dedication of those serving.
In 2000 the Association arranged for a range of senior people to go to sea with the Royal Navy in a variety of visits from aircraft carriers to nuclear submarines. It also hosted a reception and presentation by the RNPT (Royal Navy Presentation Team) at the Royal Marines Museum at Eastney.
In 2001 the Association visited the School of Maritime Operations at HMS Dryad and was greatly impressed with the standards of training and the quality of the simulators, in the case of both operations team training and the ‘Amethyst’ bridge simulator. Over the year the Association was able to arrange for a series of visits from captains of industry to eleven ships of the Fleet including Ark Royal and Ocean, which proved very popular.