Reply With QuoteA re-post of some viedoes which were lost:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/shipbuilding/
Yes an of the shelf lease/purchase would be probable option however if the Government need to start creating jobs a liscenced version might be an option!
A re-post of some viedoes which were lost:
HMS Montrose begins six month stint in the South Atlantic
25th Oct 2011
HMS Montrose has sailed from Devonport to begin a 6½-month deployment in the South Atlantic protecting Britain’s interests.
The frigate left her home port in driving rain – but there was still a hearty turn-out from families to wish her well.
ON a wind and rain-lashed Devil’s Point, families wave farewell to the good ship Montrose, setting sail on a 6½-month deployment.
The weather is a foretaste of what the Devonport-based frigate is likely to encounter as she takes up her duties as Atlantic Patrol Ship (South).
As well as a hearty turn out from loved ones in Plymouth, the 180 sailors aboard were treated to the skirl of bagpipes with a lone piper at Devil’s Point providing a fitting nod to the Type 23 frigate’s proud links with Scotland.
Once clear of Plymouth Sound, HMS Montrose set a southerly course to cover 8,000-plus nautical miles so she’ll arrive on station in the South Atlantic mid-November.
With a number of port visits en route, there will be the chance to replenish the ship and crew and train and interact with foreign navies and authorities, further cementing the UK’s partnerships with her allies.
It will certainly be very different and rather cooler than the ship’s last tour of duty – the ship returned from a successful counter-piracy deployment east of Suez ten months ago; she proved to be a pirate-buster par excellence.
Since returning to the West Country she’s undergone extensive maintenance and an intensive period of Operational Sea Training to prepare her for the six-plus months away from home.
“Exactly a year ago, Montrose was patrolling the key shipping routes in the Somali Basin and Horn of Africa, and in fact one of our most significant counter-piracy successes took place on this day last year,” said her Commanding Officer Cdr Jonathan Lett.
“Fast forward 12 months, and we are now ready do whatever is asked of us in the South Atlantic, providing a reassuring presence in the region and working hard to protect British interests.
“This deployment has been eagerly anticipated for some time, and every member of my team is well prepared and very well trained for the potential challenges ahead.”
http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/2111
A repost of some of the items lost earlier in the month. I can't recover some of the details unfortunately.
Pte Jake Haddock, 2 Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is deployed in the Falkland Islands. Pictured here training on Onion Ranges.
Private Richard Budd, A Company, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, out on patrol
[Picture: Sergeant Steve Hughes RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]
[QUOTE]
Private Maciu Suguturaga, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, on patrol in North Arm
[Picture: Sergeant Steve Hughes RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011][QUOTE]
Members of 10 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, patrolling into the settlement of North Arm on the Falkland Islands
[Picture: Sergeant Steve Hughes RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
also: MoD: Falklands Garrison still going strongMembers of C Company, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, returning to barracks after live firing and section attacks in sub-zero conditions on the Onion Range, near Mount Pleasant Complex
[Picture: Sergeant Steve Hughes RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]
HMS Edinburgh visits South Georgia to test land and sea forces
25/8/11
HMS Edinburgh visited this month South Georgia as part of her six-month South Atlantic and Falkland Islands duties which included training soldiers in a cold weather environment and give sailors the chance under such challenging conditions.
RFA Black Rover replenishing HMS Edinburgh, off Grytviken, South Georgia.
In company with tanker RFA Black Rover, the Fortress of the Sea made the three-day passage from East Cove Military Port in the Falklands to King Edward Point in sight of the South Georgian ‘capital’ Grytviken.
The trip south had a three-fold aim: to show the sparse population of the UK’s continued interest in the islands; to allow soldiers to train in a cold weather environment; and to give Edinburgh’s sailors the chance to operate a warship in a challenging environment.
The journey to South Georgia takes the ships into the Antarctic Convergence Zone – where the warmer waters of the Atlantic meet those of the frozen continent – and means there needs to be a constant iceberg watch from the ship’s company.
Once in the confined waters of King Edward Cove, there was a chance to offload troops from A Company 2 Battalion Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment. The Tigers, as the regiment’s known, (a) prefer warmer climates and (b) prefer the land to the sea – the passage to South Georgia was a bit lumpy and the soldiers set foot ashore proclaiming they were glad they were in the Army…
Also glad to get ashore was journalist Liz Roberts, who joined the destroyer for the trip south to record program for Falkland Islands television and radio about the day-to-day life of a warship patrolling this part of the world.
While she was off gathering material and the Tigers were conducting cold weather training, the ship’s company was meeting the local human and wildlife populace – the former in the shape of the British Antarctic Survey scientists who operate a research base at King Edward Point.
All returned to the ship awestruck by the beauty of the island – and conscious that it should not be spoiled by visitors.
Edinburgh’s commanding Officer, Commander Paul Russell, said: “South Georgia is a unique – and fragile – environment. It needs protection in every sense of the word. We had to be very conscious of ‘bio-security measures’ when landing personnel”.
He added it was a great privilege to be able to experience one of the most naturally-stunning and remote places on the planet.”
Edinburgh’s been away from Portsmouth since May and will remain in the South Atlantic until the tail end of the year. In a varied deployment so far she’s visited Angola and Cape Town before a rough crossing of the ocean to begin her Falklands patrol.
She’s due to return to South Africa imminently for her mid-deployment maintenance period before resuming duties.
- MercoPress
Second Sea Lord visits HMS Clyde
SECOND Sea Lord (2SL) and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC visited HMS Clyde in recent weeks.
The visit was to witness her role in theatre and gain an insight into the work the Ship's Company perform around the Falkland Islands, said a Spokesperson for HMS Clyde.
Vice Admiral Montgomery spent some time with all onboard and answered questions on personnel and training issues for which he has overall responsibility within the Royal Navy. He also accompanied a group from Clyde on a visit to San Carlos Waters to meet residents and visit the monument to those who lost their lives in 1982.
As a former member of HMS Antelope's Ship's Company, it was poignant thathe was be able to pay his respects. On his departure Vice Admiral Montgomery left a parting message for the Ship's Company congratulating the ship on her ongoing work and describing his experience onboard as "a most enjoyable, informative, engaging and valuable visit."
Vice Admiral Montgomery took the opportunity to present a member of the Ship's Company with a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in recognition of 15 years service in the Royal Navy (see image above). LS(CIS) Michael Hearn joined the Royal Navey in 1996 and has spent much of his career in the Fishery Protection Squadron and small ships in general, and it was fitting that he was able to receive his medal from the 2SL in front of the whole Ship's Company.
- Penguin News
What port-o-calls do RN vessels make on a South Atlantic tour?
Chile? Brazil? West Indies? Gibtraltar? Cape Town?
Varies quite a bit.
Canaries, Simonstown, Cape Town, Rio, Ushaia, Recife, Valparaiso.
Much depends on whether we make a token showing in the Pacific (to pretend like we still have a meaningful presence there). We have a seperate ATP(N) which includes the West Indies.
Despite the high-profile refusal of Rio's Port Authority (it was not the Brazillian Gov't, contrary to popular opinion) there have been at least two visits of British warships en-route to/from a station in the South Atlantic.
Port-o-call at Ushuaia?Originally Posted by happyslapper
Oops! No.
(been looking at Antarctic cruises!)
HMS CLYDE VISITS TRISTAN da CUNHA
By Sarah Glass (Tristan Times)
On Friday the 28th October, the HMS Clyde called in at Tristan on her way to South Africa, from the Falklands. She arrived at 0830 and departed at 1800.
All of the crew managed to come ashore for the day; and the Tourism Department had arranged a number of events like a walk up the volcano, museum visit and some crew members even managed to played golf. In the afternoon there was a football match between the Island football team and the ship’s company, which the island won 3/2.
At 1100 the ship’s Captain and crew joined the Administrator, Island Council, Department Heads, and School children at the top of the volcano. Here a small ceremony to unveil the plaque recently placed there to commemorate the 50 years since the eruption of the volcano, and the evacuation of the Island. This was followed by a lunch hosted by the Administrator and his wife at the Residency.
HMS Clyde is the Royal Navy’s latest Offshore Patrol Vessel (Helicopter) and is the Falkland Islands Protection Vessel (FIPV). Launched in 2006, she was the first ship to be built and launched in Portsmouth since 1967. HMS Clyde is now permanently deployed to the South Atlantic.
Interesting news.
A port-o-call from 0800-1800?
I wonder if there will be a population spike in 9 months.
This really sits on the periphery of what's relevant to this thread. However, I include it a) on the basis that it may one day be fully relevant, and b) as a point of interest for the UK's general large-scale investments in it's South Atlantic Territories.
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St Helena Airport Go-Ahead Confirmed
ST Helena will finally have its airport announced Governor Mark Capes yesterday.
In a statement he notes "We are pleased to announce that the Secretary of State's conditions have now been met, and that we have today entered into a contract with Basil Read (Pty) Ltd in the amount of £201.5 million for the design and construction of the airport, an additional up to £10 million in shared risk contingency, and £35.1 million for ten years of operation. This represents a saving of more than 20% in real terms from the 2008 price, taking into account inflation and the value of the pound."
The statement continues: on July 22, 2010, the Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, confirmed DFID's willingness to finance an airport for St Helena on condition that:
• an acceptable contract price is achieved;
• the risk of cost and time overruns after the award of the contract is addressed;
• the airport design using Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) is approved by Air Safety Support International: and the St Helena Government undertake to implement the reforms needed to open the island's economy to inward investment and increased tourism.
Since that announcement our Government has been working hard on the necessary reforms, not just to meet the Secretary of State's condition, but to put in place a legal and policy framework that would allow us to make the most of the opportunities that any future airport would bring. These reforms are vital. Without them we would not be able to justify the investment in an airport. The September 2011 review of progress concluded that the reform process is substantially on track and that there are robust plans in place for ensuring that the work will continue. The report will be issued today.
This is momentous news for St Helena. The airport will be the largest single investment ever made in our island. It is an expression of confidence by the UK Government in St. Helena's future. It will give us the best chance we will ever have of reversing the economic decline of the last 50 years. Saints currently overseas will be encouraged to come back home and contribute to a growing economy. Getting on and off the island will be easier, quicker, and more convenient for everybody.
In the short term it will create new jobs, not only on the airport construction itself but also in supporting industries. The airport will also encourage development of the tourism infrastructure that we will need to accommodate new visitors to our island. New jobs will allow Saints to return to St Helena and to their families.
The airport will inevitably bring changes, and we will need to work together to make sure that these are changes for the better. Working closely with the UK Government, SHG is committed to ensuring that St Helena gains maximum benefit from this investment.
The DFID Project Manager for the airport will visit St Helena in January and we will use this as an opportunity to talk with you in your local communities about the airport and the future.
Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to Sharon Wainwright. Her dedication to this project, and her resilience in the face of the many and significant difficulties experienced in bringing it to fruition cannot be measured and is something to which we can all aspire. I would also like to give special thanks to Clare Harris for her unstinting work through the years, stepping up after the loss of Sharon, and helping to deliver this outcome.
- Penguin News
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The airport will be capable of accepting aircraft up to A321/B737-800 size, which obviously precludes current RAF transport aircraft (with the exception of C130 and C-17) or tankers (again, excepting C-130), and also the MoD contracted Falklands Air Link, which ha been served in recent years by B747, B767, A330 and MD-11 types.
However, I think it's almost certain that St Helena will form part of a network with the Falklands, putting a major thorn in the side of Argentine efforts to prevent access to the islands. It certainly opens up alot of options.
For a detailed look at the project, see this website.
Any commercial air service would need to be subsidized.
I have questions if the A-320NEO or 737NG would have the range to fly between St. Helena and Mt. Pleasant. More than likely the 737/A320 would feed BA/Virgin flights from Capetown to London. Or feed the Falklands Air Link at Ascension Island.
The entire idea is to stimulate enough economic activity that access would not need any sort of subsidy. The current service by RMS St Helena is heavily subsidised by HMG, but without anything like the potential of the airport (which is part of a wider access project to also include a deep-water port, and an economic stimulus package.
As for the connection with MPA, I believe some variants of 737 and A320 families have the range for non-stop flights, but given the continual improvement in aircrafts' range, and the time needed to constuct the airport, it's almost mute. It gives an potential alternate option to the MoD airbridge (which Falkland Islanders find understandably irksome) and to the latest whims in Argentina (and Chile). It may well prove cheaper for all parties to connect to commercial services via St H.
Interestingly, one of the proposals for the access project was by a Dubai-based company which wanted to turn St Helena into a super-exclusive resort for the rich and famous. They would have put up all the capital, and borne all the capital risk, and would have run their own air service to connect the island with London, Bermuda, Miami, Dubai, and a few other places.
St Helena to MPA is a couple of hundred miles less than St Helena to Madrid.
Last edited by happyslapper; 11-04-2011 at 06:59 PM.
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