4.5 Shoot Trials day for the gunnery team ‘Royals’ Takes Aim THE ROSE HMS Montrose’s most trusted families’ newsletter April / May 2020 │No 0000015 Only 0.500 BHD to subscribers

RMBT Take aim ‘Four Five Engage’ 4.5’ Medium Range Gun put New Year, to the test new Minekeeping Montrose on routine operations with Blyth, starKJt Brocklesby, Ledbury and Shoreham. Award winning chefs keep waist lines in check

Port Out, A Message from

Starboard Home the

in and Yeovilton, A very warm welcome to trialsOn ,a moreradar personal trials, ‘Actionlevel, A very warm welcome to core training continues for Firstly, I hope this finds you readying ourselves to IssueIssue 15 15 of of‘The ‘The Rose’, Rose’, the the Messing’ (where the chefs do safe and well. COVID-19 deploy again to the Middle Official Newsletter of HMS ‘ready,our ship’s steady, company, cook for with 200 a Official Newsletter of HMS number of the junior ranks, has impacted on all of us East. A lot has happened in MONTROSE.MONTROSE. As As you you can can people) and that is just the but I am truly grateful for the past 7-weeks but the two imagine the current global tipnow of the with iceberg Autumn. 19’s imagine the current global deployment under their belt, your support in enabling main themes have been; pandemicpandemic caused caused by by your nearest and dearest to keeping us safe from the COVID-19 has brought Ontaking a more charge personal and bringing level, COVID-19 has brought on the next generation of deploy on global operations unintended transmission of challengeschallenges to to us us all all and and as as core training has been vast at with the Ship. In being able COVID and preparing you will read through this everyHMS level MONTROSE for the Port.Ship’s It you will read through this is safe to say that by the end to do this has been a ourselves to deliver on issueissue of of ‘The ‘The Rose’ Rose’ this this has has Company. Those who have massive team effort – you operations, as we have done been no different for the beenof May here HMS before MONTROSE are been no different for the Port will be firmly all are firmly part of that time and again. CrewsCrews of of HMS HMS integrating the 22% change team; thank you. MONTROSE. I hope that overcemented of new in personnel;the region thusonce MONTROSE. That is why again with the assurance of The first 3-weeks consisted asas you you read read this this newsletter newsletter training the next generation Additionally when I talk to of isolation and quarantine, you will recognise the sheer ofNaval MONTROSE. Command, after 3 you will recognise the sheer weeks of assessments, that my Ship’s Company of the final 4-weeks has been efforteffort and deter determinationmination that some of the great things that training. In both aspects, that has been required, by Finally,we are we here ha veand commenced back ready has been required, by all, to to deliver on operations members of the albeit very different, the all,enable to HMS enable MONTROSE HMS a Fleet Time Support Period. ‘MONTROSE family’ are sailors and marines of HMS MONTROSE to remain on Thisonce is again. essentially a ‘MOT to remain on task, achieving at home, during MONTROSE have been task,protecting prot ecting the Nation’s the and Full service’ for the this testing time, it is hard exceptional. They have

Nation’sInterests. Interests. Ship. Due to current COVID not to be impressed. overcome the challenges measures the external Whether you are on the faced, run the gauntlet of ThisThis issue issue looks looks at at what what support we have come to frontline with the NHS, pressure thrown at them and HMS MONTROSE has rely on to assist, are no HMS MONTROSE has volunteering to support come out the other side (yet beenbeen able able to toachieve achieve in the longer available and it is a those in need of assistance, again) a fully functioning nearly two months since we whole ship effort so that we home-educating due to the operational warship; made departed the UK. It can get back to operations in closures of schools or only possible by the quality includes, isolation, a sustainable state. shielding to remain safe – of its people. quarantine, fire exercises, you are all in our thoughts. multiple gunnery shoots (of It is safe to say that in the ready, steady, cook turned As ever, thank you for your everyup to calibre11), and of that weapon), is just the last 7-weeks we have It will not be lost on any of continued support to battle damage exercises, achieved a lot….read on to tip of the iceberg as to what you that seven weeks ago, allowing such capability to transitsHMS of Montrose strategic Port choke has find out more, but I feel we re-formed and re- be made possible. Stay safe; points (), there is a lot more still to achieved since taking grouped keep in contact and again, differingownership operating of the routines,ship at the come! many thanks for all you do Royal Marines flying operations, sonar start of the month. whilst we are away. Ollie tackle targets Comment

Facility (UKNSF) and be MONTROSE handing over Command systems, to Monthly tested for COVID at the end with Starboard, safe in the stripping wires and re- of the period. knowledge that both Crews rigging communications were ‘COVID free’. boxes so that Command and Overview Strange and testing times Control could be articulated Part 1: Isolation for both crews! Instead of Part 2: Operational accordingly to the crew. handing over the ship and Assurance HMS MONTROSE Four days later and HMS Logistics was no different. This issue’s Monthly Starboard Crew still MONTROSE were now the Their tests varied massively. Overview starts a little embarked, the Ship returned custodians of the Ship, In the galley, feeding 227 before April. A letter from to sea to continue executing ready to proceed on task people in under 45 minutes the CO was sent to all HMS the operational tasking within the Arabian Gulf and (including all of the MONTROSE Port Crew in required from her. Gulf of Oman. washing up.) To supplying late March saying that due pivotal parts and stores of to the outbreak of COVID- For Port Crew, confined to To mention, during all of who ever requested them – 19 in the quarantine in an this the crew were joined by cue “Action Logistics”. On the decision had been made accommodation block, it a team from the Surface the other end of the that all HMS MONTROSE required people to get (SURFLOT), and spectrum, the medical team Port would return to HMS creative. MA Potts began Flag Officer Sea Training were fighting hard in DRAKE, a week later Once running an isolation (FOST) who after enduring exercising to save lives, there we would begin our competition for Port Crew isolation with everyone then dealing with causality isolation phase to combat to keep busy whilst in provide the training, and scenarios. and protect against COVID. lockdown. This included ultimately the green light to The aim; to ensure that quizzes, fitness challenges say that we were once again Fighting hard against the HMS MONTROSE Port (run by our Physical ready to conduct operations. simulated battle was the could return to in as training Instructor (known Thus began 3 weeks of an Warfare Department. Their known ‘COVID State’ as as Clubs), and a creative Operational Assurance Visit assurance package consisted they could be. Everyone challenge. The creative (OAV) and Theatre of continual assessments of was showing agility and challenge caught people’s Integration and Weapons emulated attacks, very real flexibility in adapting to the attention, with a number of Training (TIWT). replenishment at sea (like pandemic and the National video entries recreating filling your car up from lockdown that we were all Aladdin, or the Pixar lamp During this period the team another car on the enduring. animation using what they were put through their motorway), flying serials to could find in their paces, being tested keep the ship and aircrew in Fast forward one week and accommodation as props or unilaterally across date for aviation and also the crew found themselves costumes. These were all departments. The making the big gun go bang en route to Bahrain, ready hosted on a Defence Mechanical Engineers in to prove accuracy and for handover with Starboard Connect page (like particular were being precision. crew, to sail into operations Facebook circa 2008), for quizzed daily (even hourly) once again. the Ship’s Company to keep on their system knowledge. Overall, HMS MONTROSE informed of information. What they would do in the Port had returned to Bahrain Unfortunately, just as with The page also had daily event of a break down of an after whirlwind 7-weeks. In the UK, Bahraini work outs from Clubs, and a engine? What they would a particularly uncertain Government regulations Vlog from the Chaplain to do if the ship lost all world the one certainty, that were in a state of flux. No keep everyone in the right steering? Or more routinely, is evident, is that Port Crew sooner had everyone landed headspace and general on their daily working and were back onboard and once into the country the information to ensure we engineering practices. again ready to deliver on direction came through that stayed connected. operations as the Royal all foreign personnel The Weapons engineers Navy’s Forward deployed entering the country would Finally after one week of would be tested on their ; HMS MONTROSE have to isolate for two group isolation in the UK, ability to deal with battle remains at the tip of the weeks. So instead of taking 14-days in quarantine in damage to key systems. spear. ownership of HMS Bahrain, 2 x swab tests for Working in small maintainer MONTROSE as planned, COVID, and countless laps teams to rove the ship and A big thank you this issue Port Crew had to isolate for of the 3G pitch (for daily fixes problems great and goes AET Godfrey, who has 14-days in the United exercise) Port Crew were small. From fixing weapon taken some stunning photos Kingdom’s Naval Support back onboard HMS systems and essential of us in action.

THE ROSE │April/May 2020 News Running Laps Around Coronavirus

• 250m – distance The circumference of the around the upper earth is 40,075km deck (24,901miles); a lap around our upper deck is approximately 250m. We • 40,065km – therefore need to run a total Distance around of 160,300 laps! This is no the Earth mean feat, so we are asking our families, friends and • 160,300 – The affiliates to contribute laps HMS ‘laps’ to our endeavour. MONTROSE requires to run Every 250m run or walked around the Earth by the wider ‘Montrose family’ will equate to one lap of our upper deck. To take part and record your ‘laps’ for the event please do so via your family member, friend or point of contact onboard. We will log the distance you have run or walked, your name and when you conducted the exercise, so keep us updated on your progress and in return we will provide regular updates via social media as to how we ‘Royals Take Aim’ are getting on as a collective. You can even Keeping skills and drills shoot was conducted with without some friendly send us photos of yourself current is an ongoing battle. the 9mm pistol, before an rivalry, with the team completing your ‘laps’! Whether you are an engineer evening/night shoot (see keeping score. They tallied re-acquainting with the jet cover photo) with the C8 their points for grouping A Virgin Money Giving engines powering the ship, Carbine, The evening shoot (consistency in spacing page has been setup for or one of the Royal Marine established their ‘black between shots) – needless donations to MIND, the Boarding Teams (RMBT) light’ skills, where they to say it was a close contest Benevolent onboard, keeping up to date have to acquire a target in these guys are highly Trust and Royal Navy with your equipment and its the pitch black with only trained marksmen. Royal Marines Charity, use is paramount to keep a ambient light, and an IR which can be found at the ship fighting effectively. laser for guidance whilst Whilst some friendly following address: using night vision goggles. rivalry and competition During a brief rest bite from brings an element of fun to https://uk.virginmoneygivin whole ship exercises the The team also used the the serial, there is no g.com/HMSMONTROSE RMBT took the opportunity opportunity to practice question that it is these to do just that. On a Tuesday their ability to switch sorts of drills that keep our Alternatively search for afternoon, the Royal between primary and ‘Green Team’ on the top of ‘HMS Montrose’ on the Marines commandeered the secondary weapon systems, their game, as one of the Virgin Money Giving flight deck to practice their whilst keeping speed and most useful assets in Website. weapon skills, “point of accuracy up. Of course it combating illicit activity in aim” for technicality. A day wouldn’t be very military the region. to conduct such an exercise

THE ROSE │April/May 2020 News

However, we here in MONTROSE are keen that ‘RAS ON’ At RAS stations everyone NFF Can we don’t miss anyone! closes up to take fuel – it is One of the hardest https://nff.org.uk/brighten- a wholeship evolution. The Brighten evolutions from a your-day/ . aim being to drive the ship navigation perspective is to 32 metres away from the conduct as Replenishment Your Day! Book Project – NFF At Sea. As stated in the tanker, then firing a line Recognising that there is have re-launched their very prelude for the month, across to attach hoses, take additional pressure on those successful book project Replenishment at Sea (or on fuel and supplies, all families whose serving thanks to RNRMC. RAS, for short) is like whilst keeping clear of loved one is currently Resources are offeredRMBT to member mid shot fuelling your car, with shipping. Of course, on deployed or away from family members of all ages another car, whilst driving HMS MONTROSE no RAS home as a result of COVID- to support separation, along the motorway. is complete without the 19, the NFF has received anxiety and additionally MONTROSE is always at ‘half time’ obligatory RAS funding from Annington bereavement. Again, 30 minutes’ notice to RAS, ice cream. Trust to provide resources families are invited to order with the planning of fuel Ice cream eaten, it was then to support their resilience, from the book list on our consumption, and the time to depart, topped up on enhance coping strategies website prediction of when the ship over a cool 1/8 of a million and to brighten their day https://nff.org.uk/family- needs fuelling under pounds worth of fuel, ready whilst apart. resource-project/. constant review. Then, after for onward tasking – this has been calculated, the hopefully toping up the car We are delighted to be able ship must request this Working Away from won’t ever be that much at to invite families to choose support via appropriate Home - finally, NFF were the Tesco pump…..but think from a list on our website of channels to book their invited to share what we of the points if it did! goodies such as gardening ‘slot’. know about separation with kits, craft kit subscriptions, the families of NHS staff Once all the prerequisites a slow cooker, Wi-Fi that are currently living are in place, the ship will extender or a yoga apart from their have to make a rendezvous mat! Launched on VE Day, families. The team produced point (RV) with their word has got out and NFF a bespoke resource that is fuelling ship (this time the have received lots of also for Royal Navy USNS Joshua Humphries). requests. This initiative has families been extremely well HMS MONTROSE arrived https://nff.org.uk/wp- received and feedback has on time in mid May to RAS content/uploads/2020/04/W been that spouses are with the aforementioned orking-Away-Covid19.pdf delighted to have been ship. On the approach the thought about at this Captain discusses the challenging time. Ship’s positioning with the Navigator.

HMS MONTROSE – PHOTO OF THE MONTH