Defending the Falklands - Read first post before posting

[happyslapper]

MPC EXPLOSIVES TEAM DEALS WITH FIRST CALL-OUT

By J. Brock (FINN)



On 26th April the JSEOD team were informed by Royal Falkland Islands Police that a large quantity of small arms ammunition had been found on Mt Tumbledown. The Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (JSEOD) team based at MPC then dealt with its first call since taking over the EOD responsibilities from the team at Hillside Camp.

The team deployed from MPC and having transferred to a BV 206 at Hillside then continued onto the ground and up Mt Tumbledown. On arrival the team located between 300 to 500 Machine Gun and Heavy Machine Gun rounds in a condition and age that would indicate them being from 1982. All rounds were recovered to MPC for later disposal.

Warrant Officer Class One, Rod Scott (Royal Logistic Corps) who is the leader of the MPC based JSEOD team said: “The task was run at normal pace to enable the team to judge the response times, it is estimated that having everything to hand at MPC cut approximately 90 minutes off the previous times for a fully equipped team from Hillside to get onto the ground”.

http://www.sartma.com/art_8659.html

[happyslapper]

Burton’s MP travels to Falklands to experience life with British armed forces

Burton’s Member of Parliament Andrew Griffiths is flying to the Falkland Islands to experience life there with the British armed forces, reports Burton Mail. MP Griffiths will travel to the South Atlantic with the RAF under the All Parliamentary Armed Services Scheme, ‘a mini- Territorial Army for MPs’.

During the Tory’s stay in the southern hemisphere, he will try his hand at bayonet training, sleep outdoors in a tent and bed down in the relative comfort of a bunk on board HMS York.

The 40-year-old and five other MPs will also see Typhoons on patrol, travel around by helicopter, meet the Falklands’ governor and, most poignantly of all, visit the memorial to the servicemen and women who lost their lives in the 1982 Falklands’ conflict with Argentina.

“The whole point is we get to experience what a member of the armed services would experience,” Mr Griffiths said.

“It will give us a greater understanding of the life of a member of the armed forces so when we have debates in Parliament we have a better understanding of their lives, conditions and views.
“It will be no holds barred. We will sleep where they sleep, eat what they eat and experience the conditions they have to live and work in.
“Most importantly, we will get to talk to ordinary members of the armed forces without somebody looking over their shoulders and hear from them their views, concerns and opinions so as MP we can represent them in Parliament.”

Mr Griffiths’ 18-hour journey to the Falklands will begin Sunday when he leaves RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire with the other MPs and their military escorts.

“I’m excited because I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience something that most people will never experience and see things that many people will never see.
“I remember vividly the Falklands war and watching avidly the nine o’clock news for reports of what was happening in Port Stanley, and I remember the homecoming when the aircraft carrier came into port and the national mood at the time.
“I’ve also met people like Simon Weston who were so badly injured and scarred in the war.
“One of the things I’m particularly looking forward to is going to the memorial, which was opened by Margaret Thatcher, and going to pay my respects to the brave servicemen who lost their lives defending British subjects.
“It was a key battle and is an important piece of British history.”

MP Griffiths said “it’s such a superb opportunity and such a great privilege I did not think I could turn it down”.

- MercoPress

[happyslapper]

Falkland Islanders still exposed to dangers of Argentine unexploded ordnance

The Falkland Islands Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, detachment recently moved headquarters from Lookout Camp in the capital Stanley to the British military base at Mount Pleasant.



Although four minefields were cleared of more than 1,200 mines during the 2009/10 summer Stanley as well as several settlements on the East and West Islands are still surrounded by minefields.

However, the dedicated work of EOD personnel over the years has kept the Islands population safe.

More than 1,000 Argentine anti-personnel mines, 80 anti-vehicle mines and 1,000 ****y traps were cleared in 30 minefields in the immediate aftermath of the 1982 war.

All UK-emplaced mines in five anti-personnel minefields around the then RAF Stanley were lifted immediately after the cessation of hostilities.

The EOD have kept public awareness of the dangers of unexploded ordnance very much alive over the years, and regular visits to the schools left all ages in no doubt of the consequences of interfering with any items discovered on or around the battlefields, or the stupidity of entering a minefield.

Falklands’ children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure they would follow the strict guidelines of marking the whereabouts of suspicious items so they could be safely dealt with.

The Stanley based JSEOD team has dealt with over 2.8 million items of ordnance from bullets, flares and grenades to rockets, mortar shells and 1,000lb bombs since the end of the Falklands conflict in 1982.

- MercoPress

[happyslapper]

Here we go again....

Fishing vessel harrassed by Argentines within Falklands EEZ

May 14, 2011

by Samantha Addison

FISHING VESSEL HARASSED BY UNKNOWN ARGENTINES

A Report for FIRS by Samantha Addison 11/05/11

A fishing trawler has been accused of operating illegally by Argentine Authorities despite being in Falklands waters. Yesterday evening the Korean fishing trawler Pratedina 28 was contacted by radio by an unidentified Argentine Naval vessel. At the time the Pratedina 28 was operating in the Falklands Outer Conservation Zone with a valid licence issued by the Falkland Islands Government. The Argentine vessel informed the Pratedina 28 that they were operating illegally. At the time of the incident the Korean vessel was operating in the area of the zone previously referred to as the gap, and was a couple of miles inside the zone. The fishing vessel has moved further into Falkland Islands zones and resumed fishing operations.

Councillor Gavin Short (GS) spoke to Stacey Bragger (SB) about the incident.

GS: Certainly the haling of one vessel by another is nothing sinister although it is totally unacceptable to me that the Argentine vessel certainly went on and mentioned illegal fishing, which is an absolute load of rubbish.

SB: Do you have any concerns if this kind of thing becomes more regular it could put off fishing companies from coming here if its going to be too much hassle for them?

GS: I wouldnt go that far. Certainly these instances have come fairly close together. I think they were both probably accidents rather than anything. I think the Argentine vessel was passing and spotted it and its too good a chance for them to miss. But if this becomes a more regular occurrence obviously it will become more worrisome.

- Falklands News

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Extremely disappointing that this is happening again.

[lima25218]

Best thread I have read, extremely informative with absolutely breathtaking photography, well done Happyslapper!

[happyslapper]

Thank-You, I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far.

[happyslapper]

A first for HMS Protector, a last for HMS Gloucester

20 May 2011



PORTSMOUTH folk will have the first sight of Britain’s new ice patrol ship on Monday…


…and the last sight of one of a ship to bear one of the greatest names in the Royal Navy’s history.

HMS Protector will sail into the Solent naval base for the first time (around 1.10pm) – precisely three hours after HMS Gloucester passes Round Tower trailing her decommissioning pennant (10.10am).

Protector is intended to plug the gap as the Navy’s Antarctic vessel while Whitehall chews over the fate of HMS Endurance; the Red Plum has been out of action since a flooding incident off Chile which almost sank her nearly three years ago.In the interim, Whitehall is taking the icebreaker/Polar research ship MV Polarbjørn (Polar Bear) on loan over three years.

She’ll enter Portsmouth under the Norwegian flag until she’s formally transferred into the Royal Navy on June 1 as HMS Protector and commissioned on June 23.

Polarbjørn has undergone a whirlwind ten-day refit in Odense, Denmark, where her flight deck was moved from the bridge roof to the stern and a multi-beam echo sounder survey system was fitted and Royal Navy insignia added.

Her 88-strong ship’s company, led by CO Capt Peter Sparkes, will spend the summer and early autumn gearing up for her inaugural deployment to the southern polar region in November.

Initially Protector will receive a small motor launch crammed with hi-tech survey kit and two Pacific 22 RIBs; the latter will be replaced on her second Antarctic deployment by a landing craft to move personnel and equipment from ship to shore.
The new ship will also carry three all-terrain vehicles and three quad bikes plus trailers to help the ship’s company re-supply British Antarctic Survey scientists in their far-flung outposts.

- Navy News

[Wahnsinn]

Quick question from a noob. How does the aviation facility of the future HMS Protector compare to that of HMS Endurance? From what I remember of watching the documentary about HMS Endurance that was on it has hangar facilities for storing helicopters but I'm just curious to see where they store the aircraft on HMS Protector.

[DeltaWhisky58]

HMS Endurance has hangarage for 2x Lynx. It would appear that Protector has no hangar and thus will not be able to operate her own ship's flight as done by both incarnations of HMS Endurance.

Until recently, Protector's heli-deck was forward, over the bridge and has recently been moved aft.

[Climber]

The HMS Endurance is the same that "that" Endurance?

[happyslapper]

Quick question from a noob. How does the aviation facility of the future HMS Protector compare to that of HMS Endurance? From what I remember of watching the documentary about HMS Endurance that was on it has hangar facilities for storing helicopters but I'm just curious to see where they store the aircraft on HMS Protector.

DW's beaten me to it, but in a word; badly.

The impact on UK operation on the Antarctic continent, SSI's, and SG will be severe.

There is some talk of having an elaborate set-up of a basic hangar on the deck midships, using the winch to move the Lynx to and from the flightdeck. In my opinion that is absurd, and definitely not going to happen.

[DeltaWhisky58]

The current HMS Endurance is not the same ship which served during the 1982 conflict if that is what your rather cryptic question is asking.

HMS Endurance 1991-

HMS Endurance 1967-91

[happyslapper]

The HMS Endurance is the same that "that" Endurance?

There have been two, in addition to 'that' Endurance in which Shackleton embarked on one of the most famous voyages in history.

this is the Endurance being referred to.

[DeltaWhisky58]

DW's beaten me to it, but in a word; badly.

The impact on UK operation on the Antarctic continent, SSI's, and SG will be severe.

There is some talk of having an elaborate set-up of a basic hangar on the deck midships, using the winch to move the Lynx to and from the flightdeck. In my opinion that is absurd, and definitely not going to happen.

10/10 for being a patronising arse!

[Climber]

The current HMS Endurance is not the same ship which served during the 1982 conflict if that is what your rather cryptic question is asking.

HMS Endurance 1991-

HMS Endurance 1967-91

Sorry for being cryptic, I meant the HMS Endurance that was in teh Island during the war

There have been two, in addition to 'that' Endurance in which Shackleton embarked on one of the most famous voyages in history.

this is the Endurance being referred to.

Thanks

I knew about Shackleton ship, but I didn't knew about this new Endurance.