HMS EDINBURGH – D97

MARCH 2013

NEWSLETTER

Foreword – Commander Nick Borbone

Dear families and friends,

Welcome to the final HMS EDINBURGH Newsletter as we begin our last ocean passage on our journey home to the UK. In the weeks since the last newsletter we have been conducting a different role to that we undertook whilst in the Falklands region and that was to support counter narcotics operations in the Caribbean and wider Atlantic, as well as to promote British interests in the USA.

Alongside these operational commitments we have also managed to get some downtime in some very welcoming places such as Barbados, St Vincent, Florida and New York. Visits which were very much appreciated by the Ship’s Company at the end of a long deployment. Although the return to is within reach, the hard work continues with plenty of training evolutions and Maritime Security operations on our passage across the North Atlantic. Looking further ahead, details of our homecoming are now available so please ask your family member or friend to keep you informed of these arrangements if you are planning to attend. Events for our decommissioning are also being arranged and again, please keep in touch for more information.

As ever, I would like to thank you for your continued support and I very much look forward to seeing you on our return later this month.

Nick Borbone

Since the last Newsletter, Edinburgh has guest appearance from the CO as “Swimmer traveled North from the Falkland Islands and of the Watch”, entering the water mid-ocean has made her way past , into to recover a Man Overboard dummy, the Caribbean and further up to mainland showing his willingness to get stuck in with all North America. of his Ship’s evolutions. As well as internal serials, the Ship’s Company took it upon Only a few days into the transit Edinburgh bid themselves to make sure their free time was farewell to RFA Rover who supported also put to good use with various organized their time in the South Atlantic deployment so charity events. ably. A final Replenishment at Sea (RAS) was conducted with them before, with some ceremony including a Scottish Piper on the Gold Rover, the ships departed. Gold Rover was to head back to the Falklands and Edinburgh onwards to the warmer climates of the Caribbean Sea.

The transit was the longest of the deployment so far at almost 3 weeks and in this time many training serials took place including a The Captain as “Swimmer of the Watch”

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The main attraction for this period at sea, and There was the opportunity for many to take one which had been built up for some time, days off and for multiple Team Building was the “Ally Pally” Darts Night, organised by events with the Warfare Department going to the Petty Officers Mess, with a notable effort a beach resort for the day and the Logistics, from PO “Scouse” McGaw. The night saw Marine Engineering and Weapon Engineering the flight deck transformed into Alexandra Departments going off on a “Pirate Ship” for a Palace with multiple tables up for grabs as day of fun back at sea. After a few days in well as standing room. In true darts fashion, Barbados it was back to sea for just one day food, drink and fancy dress were the order of before the next stop, St. Vincent. the night and after a week of preliminary rounds the finals were ready to get underway This was an important stop for the Ship as a with big screen, scoreboard and commentary. number of the Ship’s Company are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the islands remain a strong recruiting ground for the as a whole. The Ship’s Company locals had already been on the island for a few days before the Ship’s arrival having taken the opportunity to visit family and friends while Edinburgh was in Barbados. Whilst only in St. Vincent for a day, it was a busy time with the Ship open to Lt Shane Middleton with dart in flight for the singles final visitors, including a group of prospective Royal Naval applicants from the local area. The night was a huge success with over There was also a cocktail party during the £1000 being raised for charity. The overall evening for families, friends and local winners of the doubles tournament were PO’s dignitaries. “Griff” Griffiths and Del Streeter. The singles tournament was closely fought and eventually won by Wtr Tim Huaut.

Other events such as a Pizza Night, Flight Deck Sports and a Village Fete broke up the long passage before finally coming alongside in the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Lt Russ Chandler talks to prospective sailors on the Flight Deck of HMS Edinburgh whilst alongside

With the St. Vincentians now back on board it was time to leave the Caribbean, continuing Maritime Security patrols whilst on transit, to aid enduring joint operations in the region.

HMS Edinburgh in the tropical blue waters of Barbados The next head mark was the United States and specifically the Naval Base Mayport, in Arriving early in Barbados meant a couple of northern Florida. Further successful days of maintenance on the engines by the evolutions were conducted en route, Marine Engineers was possible as well as a including the last operational RAS for a Type day back out at sea to test their work which 42 . RFA Wave Knight is the was successful, coming back alongside on standing UK asset in the Caribbean area and the originally planned day for the various she came out to meet Edinburgh on transit. activities and downtime that the Ship’s After much training throughout the Company had planned. deployment so far, the RAS

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has become a slick and well practiced serial Seaboard to New York, the next and final for the sailors of Edinburgh and this was stop of the deployment. proved yet again, even with a different ship providing the fuel.

HMS Edinburgh next to her slightly larger RFA colleague RFA Wave Knight

Another highly enjoyable day for the Ship’s The first line is thrown in the USA under the Company during the passage to Florida was watch of the sailors from the USS San Jacinto one which kept the embarked flight busy as they took personnel up in the helicopter for a New York City was one of the places that “jolly”, demonstrating their capabilities and many were most looking forward to and it giving many the ride of their life. didn’t fail to live up to expectations. The weather whilst entering wasn’t quite as planned but the sailors didn’t let this dampen their spirits. There was, of course, work to do whilst alongside, including hosting a UN lunch for multiple high ranking officials, but there was also time to enjoy the city with generous working routines.

SC Dan Perks and ET(WE) “Bagsy” Baker kitted up and eager to fly

Arrival into Mayport marked the last foreign country that Edinburgh would ever visit and the first visit to the United States for many on board. Most of the Ship’s Company were able to benefit from the time alongside by HMS Edinburgh with the famous New York skyline interacting with their United States Navy colleagues and also by getting away to many The Ship’s Company once again continued of the attractions that Florida is famous for. the charity work alongside and helped to run Group trips were organised to Orlando and a rugby outreach program alongside the Kennedy Space Centre with many also colleagues from the British Army. On top of venturing further afield to Daytona and Miami this, a hockey match was organised against a amongst other places. local college. After 5 exhilarating days in

New York, Edinburgh is now back at sea and The visit to Mayport was just a few days and headed for home with heads held high after a an insight into American life for those on highly successful final deployment. board before continuing up the Eastern

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Affiliates About HMS Edinburgh

HMS Edinburgh is proud and honoured to www.royalnavy.mod.uk/edinburgh be supported by the following affiliates:

Lady Heseltine As a , HMS Edinburgh st Royal Scots Borderers, 1 Battalion The provides the backbone of the Royal Navy's anti-air capability. Equipped with Royal Regiment of Worshipful Company of Insurers the medium range air defence 40 Regiment Royal Artillery missile system, providing area air Edinburgh Royal Naval Association defence to a group of ships, it is also Edinburgh Association of WRENS effective against surface targets at sea. In Mayor of Lyme Regis addition to her air defence role, the Type Glenmorangie 42 destroyer can operate independently Glenkinchie Distillery carrying out patrol and boarding operations, having carried out anti- Whiteford House narcotics and anti-piracy patrols in the Leith Rotary Club Gulf, Caribbean, and the South Atlantic TS Howe as well as providing humanitarian TS Trinity assistance when required. “The Fortress TS Forth of the Sea” was the penultimate and TS Indefatigable largest of the Type 42 built for Fettes College CCF the Royal Navy at 30 Battery Roger’s Company shipyard in Liverpool. She is the sixth Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Royal Navy ship to bear the name and HMS Belfast was launched by Lady Heseltine in 1983 111 (F) Squadron RAF 8 Squadron RAF

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