ROYAL NAVY MATTERS MATTERS NAVY ROYAL ROYAL NAVY BROADSHEET 2011 MATTERS BROADSHEET 2011 FINAL PROOF FINAL PROOF ROYAL NAVY MATTERS Editors © 2011. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Pauline Aquilina All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Simon Michell stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without Editor-in-chief the prior permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed Colette Doyle by independent authors and contributors in this publication are provided in the writers’ personal capacities and are their sole responsibility. Their Chief sub-editor publication does not imply that they represent the views or opinions Barry Davies of the Royal Navy or Newsdesk Communications Ltd and must neither be regarded as constituting advice on any matter whatsoever, nor be Sub-editors interpreted as such. 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Art editors Jean-Philippe Stanway James White Designer Kylie Alder Production and distribution manager Karen Troman Published on behalf of the Royal Navy Sales director Ministry of Defence, Main Building, Martin Cousens Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB www.royalnavy.mod.uk Sales manager, defence Peter Barron Managing director Andrew Howard Publisher and chief executive Published by Newsdesk Communications Ltd Alan Spence 130 City Road, London EC1V 2NW Pictures: Crown Copyright, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7650 1600 AgustaWestland, BAE Systems, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7650 1609 Lockheed Martin, PA Photos, www.newsdeskmedia.com Rex Features Printed by Buxton Press Newsdesk Communications Ltd is a ISBN: 978-1-906940-40-9 Newsdesk Media Group company ROYAL NAVY MATTERS FINAL PROOF FINAL PROOF 3 CONTENTS 4 Foreword 26 The Fleet Air Arm Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC, First Sea Lord 30 The Royal Marines 45 and Chief of Naval Staff 33 The Royal Fleet Auxiliary 6 Editor’s note Pauline Aquilina 37 Joint Warrior 7 Key facts 38 Auriga Deployment Strategy People 8 Navy strategy post SDSR 40 A balanced view Vice Admiral Charles Operations Montgomery CBE ADC, Second Sea Lord 9 Diary of events 42 Manning levels post SDSR 12 Operational overview 2011 44 Recruitment continues 14 An eventful year 61 Astute hunter-killer submarines; Admiral Sir Trevor Soar 45 Maritime Reserves Future deterrent submarines KCB OBE, Commander- in-Chief Fleet 47 Improving conditions 62 Type 45 Daring-class destroyers 16 The impact of the Strategic 49 Putting families first 63 Type 26 global combat ship Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 50 Chaplaincy: the 64 Aircraft carriers: spiritual dimension of Queen Elizabeth-class 18 The Surface Fleet operational capability 66 F-35C Lightning II fast jet 24 The Submarine Service 52 The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity: 67 AW159 Lynx Wildcat; providing a single focus Merlin 2 upgrade programme 29 53 Help for Heroes Heritage and tradition 54 Adventurous training: fit to fight, fit for life 68 The Battle of Taranto: a day of judgement 56 The Royal Naval Association 71 Operation Dynamo: 57 Sporting achievements the “miracle of deliverance” Equipment 73 Celebrating 110 years of the “Greenie” 59 The Royal Navy fleet post SDSR 74 Cadet 150 60 The Royal Fleet Auxiliary; Maritime Change Programme 75 Partners FINAL PROOF FINAL PROOF 4 FOREWORD ADMIRAL SIR MARK STANHOPE KCB OBE ADC, FIRST SEA LORD AND CHIEF OF NAVAL Staff his edition of Royal maritime security operations in the Navy Matters records, Gulf; from counternarcotics patrols among many notable in the Atlantic to the protection of T accomplishments, the the UK’s 14 overseas territories. immense range of operational Closer to home, the Royal activities in which the Royal Navy Navy has been protecting UK has been engaged over the past waters, by conducting maritime year and a half. Because operations, counterterrorist and security patrols, at sea and from the sea, are what fishery protection, and providing the Royal Navy primarily exists to Search and Rescue (SAR) cover do. It always has done and it always around our coasts and in the will. Which is why, right now, more Scottish mountains. Meanwhile, than 8,000 sailors and marines are the far-flung survey ships have deployed on operations around the continued to chart the seabed, world, deterring and containing improve navigational safety and threats in the UK’s national increase our understanding of interest. Which is why, right now, the seas and the global climate. there are well over 30 ships and All are a timely reminder submarines at sea, either engaged, of the inherent utility of our or ready to engage, in operations modern, flexible Navy – able as the UK Government directs. to oscillate efficiently across Our operational tempo remains the spectrum of operations. extremely high because the Royal Much of this activity is, of Navy is contributing to every one of course, not new. The Royal Navy the military tasks, standing overseas was countering piracy to protect commitments and contingency British trading interests in the Indian operations demanded of Defence. Ocean back in the 18th century, The 200-plus operations carried and contributing to disaster relief out by the Royal Navy in 2010 are, operations around the world at The Royal Navy – as this publication attests, diverse. the dawn of the 20th century. At one end of the spectrum is, And such activities are likely to right here, right for example, 40 Commando’s continue. So even in the wake of operations in Helmand, alongside the Strategic Defence and Security there, right now the valuable work of the Naval Review, in which some difficult Aviation Squadrons, Medical and decisions have necessarily been Logistic Support capabilities, and taken, the Royal Navy will remain HQ staff across Afghanistan. At the a largely balanced Force. A Navy other end of the spectrum is the that has had to absorb the blow of delivery and protection of the a temporary loss of its fixed-wing submarine-based strategic nuclear strike capability, but is now focused deterrent – now in its 43rd year on preparing for the return of this of Continuous at-Sea Deterrence. vital element in its armoury by the And the Royal Navy has been end of the decade. A Navy that will carrying out plenty of other duties continue to provide an enduring in between: from countering piracy presence within priority regions of in the Indian Ocean to conducting the world, contributing to conflict ROYAL NAVY MATTERS FINAL PROOF FINAL PROOF FOREWORD 5 prevention and maintaining vital HMS CUMBERLAND’S security along our critical maritime rigid-hull infl atable boats trade and energy routes. A Navy approach a suspicious dhow that is able to conduct, command and sustain operations from the sea to infl uence events on land, offering political choice in times of peace, tension and confl ict. Above all, a Navy with a credible warfi ghting capability – you cannot deter effectively unless it is understood, by those whose behaviours you seek to infl uence, that you can intervene militarily with confi dence. You cannot keep the peace unless you are physically there, and prepared and able to stay there. Why is this so important? Because, as an island nation, in an interdependent and globalised A member of HMS MONMOUTH’S economy, the UK’s prosperity and weapons crew practises fi ring security crucially depends on our one of the ship’s General Purpose Machine Guns ability to ensure access to the sea. Around 95 per cent of UK trade by volume, and 90 per cent by value, is carried by sea. We import much of the food and energy we consume; these are dependencies that are unlikely to change. In the complex, volatile and unpredictable world in which we live, we need a Navy that can protect our people, our global interests, our trade and our energy fl ows. How? By guaranteeing access to those areas of the world that are vital to our prosperity and security, and by maintaining the same ‘good order at sea’ as we would expect on land. The Royal Navy, as the nation’s professional experts and leaders on defence and security in the maritime environment, therefore plays a pivotal role supporting the delivery of the UK Government’s global responsibilities and global ambitions – right here, right there, right now. All this, and much more, is explored in depth in the pages that follow. As ever, I am most grateful to the contributors and editors, who together provide us with a rich and engaging record of what the Royal Navy is achieving on operations and accomplishing in support, for both today and tomorrow. We can all, quite rightly, be immensely proud. Read on and see why. • FINAL PROOF 6 EDITOR’S NOTE DEAR READER, Welcome to the 2011 edition of Royal Navy Matters. The publication gives, I hope, an interesting and useful insight into the work that the Royal Navy has undertaken throughout 2010 and during the early part of 2011. Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines have been active around the world – from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, on land, at sea and in the air. I trust that the following pages give a compelling account of what they have achieved since the last edition. As I write we have over 8,500 personnel at sea or deployed on operations (at 23 per cent), have a third of the personnel on Herrick, are contributing to Ellamy, Saxon Warrior, Spontex and Cougar, and have a frigate in the Far East, in addition to meeting all our standing commitments, with over 75 per cent of our units actually at sea.