Defending the Falklands - Read first post before posting

[happyslapper]

Typhoons over Stanley, late last year.



''Faith'' at Mount Pleasant:





Typhoons running an intercept of an airliner entering Falklands airspace:











A close-up of the famous tail-markings:

[happyslapper]

Operational and Assured



HMS Portland recently conducted an Operational Assurance Visit (OAV) under the watchful eye of Commander Mobile Sea Training and the FOST staff. The visits are routinely conducted for deployed Operational units to make sure they remain ready to fight and win.
During the visit the Ship’s Company were tested in a number of different scenarios to check that they can safely deal with a multitude of incidents that can occur whilst deployed and secondly that they retain the battle winning edge.
Replenishment at Sea or RASing allows ships to sustain themselves without the requirement for host nation support. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Black Rover is the current APT(S) tanker, with whom Portland RAS’ with regularly. Conducting a RAS is a large evolution that involves everyone doing their job to the best of their ability:, 20,000 tonnes of shipping passing fuel and stores between them in angry southern seas takes guts, concentration and cold hard professionalism. The RFA Fleet provides the Royal Navy with its ability to deploy and operate globally. The pictures show the initial gun line being passed and the refuelling probe approaching Portland.
No Thursday would be complete without donning anti-flash and closing up at Action Stations and this was no exception. During OAV the damage repair teams demonstrated their ability to deal with all manner of incidents from constructing shoring to first aid leak stopping in an engine space.
After a busy week the men and women of Portland had satisfactorily demonstrated their abilities to the visitors and could rest assured that Portland remains at a high state of operational capability and is ready for any of the tasks to which she may be called.





- RN

[happyslapper]

Give us a lift!

460 Port Troop, Royal Logistic Corps, are responsible for the running or East Cove Military Port in Mare Harbour, Falkland Islands. They provide day to day support and berthing facilities to visiting ships and are key to integrating land with maritime assets. As such there is a close working relationship between the two units and usually a bit of banter too.
During one of HMS Portland’s weekends alongside, members of the Ship’s Company including nature lovers and the odd photographer took up the offer of a tour of the harbour and the surrounding area in Port Troop’s Landing Craft (LCVP)





- RN

[happyslapper]

1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own), as RIC in March 2010.




A patrol is dropped off by helicopter on remote West Falkland

[happyslapper]

Exercise Purple Strike



HMS Portland lead the Maritime component in a Tri-Service week long exercise involving all of the military units based in the Falkland Islands. Exercises are conducted on a regular basis to ensure all units are prepared and capable of dealing with any eventuality, including the ability to defend the Islands if required.

Initially Portland teamed up with the Falkland Island’s Patrol Ship HMS Clyde to deploy the Roulement Infantry Company, currently the Welsh Guards with elements of the Light Dragoons, to investigate reports of enemy troops on West Falkland. As the week wore on Portland flexed her Anti-submarine Warfare skills by hunting for an enemy submarine that was “sighted” in and around the Islands. The Ship’s Lynx helicopter also provided support to the troops ashore and the picture shows the ships’ preparation for a simulated emergency landing. Flight safety exercises are conducted regularly to ensure the ship’s company can respond effectively to short notice emergencies.

Weapon Engineer “Paris” Hilton who is responsible for Air Weapons said
"The ability to safely deploy the Ship’s helicopter adds to Portland’s versatility. It can undertake many roles from prosecuting enemy submarines to providing reassurance to the people of the Falkland’s in remote settlements. I am proud to be part of the team who delivers that effect.”

The exercise culminated with the Devonport based Frigate berthing in a ‘hostile’ port where she landed a shore patrol to establish a security cordon and allow fuel and supplies to be offloaded from RFA Black Rover. The picture shows members of the Vehicle Check Point (VCP) ‘in contact’, exchanging fire with enemy forces and Leading Seaman Rowe protecting the gangway.







- RN

and similar story from Navy News: Purple Patch for Portland

[rgjbloke]

Ah, I see the Navy have nicked my akro's!

[IconOfEvi]

Maybe its just me, but could someone answer why the UK is so adamant about defending the Falklands, when they gave away Hong Kong? I mean its not like Hong Kong wanted to go to the PRC.

[NovocastrianUK]

Maybe its just me, but could someone answer why the UK is so adamant about defending the Falklands, when they gave away Hong Kong? I mean its not like Hong Kong wanted to go to the PRC.

I agree about Hong Kong (A debate which still goes on today) however this was achieved through peaceful means with Hong Kong not being attacked, but the Falklands which was attacked by an aggressive nation headed by a dictator to hide Argentina's worsening economic conditions could not be excused. The people of the Falklands are proud to be British and as it has been a British overseas territory since 1833 had to be safeguarded, and so even today needs to be defended (especially now with the current climate down there)

[CatpainSlackbladder]

Maybe its just me, but could someone answer why the UK is so adamant about defending the Falklands, when they gave away Hong Kong? I mean its not like Hong Kong wanted to go to the PRC.

Two different scenarios.

Britain had a 99 year lease on Hong Kong, so was legally bound to hand it back to China. It was not feasible to NOT hand back other land that was not part of that agreement.

Even if the UK had wanted to ignore the lease and keep HK it was pretty much militarily indefensible anyway and recieved its water supply from mainland China.

Britain had tried to offload the Falklands via Nicholas Ridley a few years before 1982 anyway, as the Islands were not seen as economically worth keeping. The Islanders had constantly fought against it.

Ironically, Argentina just about gave up any chance it had in 1982 through impatience. Now, having spilt blood to regain them and with the rich energy resources discovered in that part of the world allied to the fact that Argentinas claim is nowhere near as strong as China over HK it has no chance.

[IconOfEvi]

Well yes I understand the 99 year lease, but Britain, and powers in general tend to ignore treaties like that (Britain could have said it didn't make the treaty with the PRC, etc)

And it wouldn't have been that hard to get desalination built. With the wealth and people Hong Kong had, it was far more valuable to Britain. And its people were very loyal, at least vis a vis the mainland.

[happyslapper]

Well yes I understand the 99 year lease, but Britain, and powers in general tend to ignore treaties like that (Britain could have said it didn't make the treaty with the PRC, etc)

And it wouldn't have been that hard to get desalination built. With the wealth and people Hong Kong had, it was far more valuable to Britain. And its people were very loyal, at least vis a vis the mainland.

It's a complicated issue, but ultimately a choice between honouring the legal agreement, attempting to maintain a strategically untenable position, or being a state-sponsor of HK sepratism (from a rising power).

Anyway, this is a non-political thread about the Falklands...

[happyslapper]

RIC patrol builds bridges with Shallow Harbour House

Number 3 Company, 1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards, continue to patrol the settlements of the Falkland Islands as part of their responsibility as the Roulement Infantry Company.

Lance Sergeant Hiscock, and his patrol were dropped off by helicopter at Shallow Harbour House in the early morning of Sunday 25th July. Mr Kevin Marsh and Mrs Lisa Newman made the patrol feel very welcome, offering their sheep shed of the Farm House for the Guardsmen to set up base - something which the patrol was more than happy to accept!

Over the next 5 days or so, the patrol not only continued with their routine tasks, but also got to work in and around the farm. Guardsman Jayne, an ex-welder, couldn’t wait to get his teeth into making a bridge to aid the farm animals to cross an irrigation ditch.

The patrol also helped with the tearing down the farm’s old perimeter fence and erecting a new one in its place as well as strengthening the local roads. Lance Sergeant Hiscock, of Bedlinog, South Wales, said his time at Shallow Harbour House had been one of the ‘highlights’ of his time on the islands. “Everyone we have met has been so accommodating to us and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed helping out and making little differences to every day life such as the bridge and the road. It’s allowed us to give something back after all the kind hospitality we’ve been shown”.

The Welsh Guards are soon to depart the Falkland Islands, with 4 RIFLES taking over responsibility of the Roulement Infantry Company.

Source: Media Ops MPC

[happyslapper]

Some stunning photos of HMS Portland operating in South Georgia waters.

HMS Portland Sails Near Huge Glacier in South Georgia

HMS Portland comes face to face with the remarkable size of the Nordenskjold Glacier in South Georgia.
HMS Portland paid a reassurance visit to South Georgia, a remote UK Territory in the Southern Ocean. South Georgia is a pristine natural reserve where the first shots of the Falklands War were fired in 1982.
The island was formerly used for a number of whaling stations until the industry's demise in the 1960's.
HMS Portland is currently deployed for 7 months on Atlantic Patrol Task (South) (ATP(S)) where she will reassure UK overseas territories, Commonwealth and other friendly nations.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Ian Simpson
From: www.defenceimages.mod.uk

[flanker7]

Wow! Fantastic pictures!

[happyslapper]

Royal Navy Destroyer Deploys for South Atlantic



Portsmouth-based warship HMS Gloucester is to set sail for the South Atlantic on Friday for the next seven months where she will take part in maritime security patrols and exercise with South American navies.

The Type 42 destroyer will take over from Devonport-based HMS Portland and is to spend the majority of her deployment patrolling the British South Atlantic Isles including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

She will also make official visits to various South American countries, including Brazil and Chile.

A highlight of the deployment will be the chance to represent the UK at an exhibition of defence technology in Chile in November called the Expo Navale, but HMS Gloucester’s main concern will be delivering security and assurance to the people of the various South Atlantic islands.

Living 250 miles away from mainland South America at their nearest point, the islands are dominated by the surrounding seas, and dependent on them for their livelihood. HMS Gloucester’s presence in policing and protecting those waters will give the islanders continuing confidence.



Gloucester’s Commanding Officer, Commander David George, said: “Gloucester will be providing British citizens in the South Atlantic with the reassurance of knowing that the Royal Navy is looking out for their interests.

“But while we are down there, we are also policing the seas and ensuring that they are safe for all to use and pass through.”

With the ship away until March next year many families are making alternative arrangements for celebrations such as birthdays and Christmas. Some have even celebrated Christmas already.

Commander George added: “Once we leave our focus has to be on operations but the support that we get from our families is so important to helping us carry on.

“We have all been making the most of precious time with them in the last few weeks. As much as they are thinking of us, we’ll be hoping that they keep safe and sound too, and we’ll continue to stay in touch though letters, phone calls and emails.

- Royal Navy