Maybe We Can Help You!!   No Problem!   You can get your own web page within this GoGibraltar Site!   Just Ask for Details.

Police Emergency Call 199 ------------ Fire or Ambulance Emergency Call 190 ------------ Airport Enquiries Call 73026 ------------- Taxis Call 70027 ------------ Hospital Call 79700 -------------

HMS Scimitar at speed in the Bay of Gibraltar (Photo N. Rush)

  

HMS Sabre makes a fast pass by one of the Squadron's Rib's (Photo N. Rush)

 

 Despite the closure of the Royal Navy Dockyard some years ago, Gibraltar has continued to be a busy staging post for Allied/Coalition warships. Here Neill Rush looks at the need to safeguard this shipping against a mounting threat of terrorist attacks and how the locally based Royal Navy patrol boats are coping with the task.

The NATO led “Operation Active/Endeavour” counter-terrorist task continues in the Straits of Gibraltar, albeit on a somewhat scaled down version now. At the height of the 2003 Iraq War, the escorting allied ships were kept busy due to the large numbers of warships and supply vessels that were in transit through the bottleneck. The discovery of a plot a couple of years ago by Moroccan-base Al-Qaeda operatives to attack Western naval vessels in the Strait acted as a kick-start for many of the security initiatives mounted at sea in the past few years. Ships from Spain, Italy, Germany and the Royal Navy were commonplace on patrol, with many USN warships transiting to and from the Gulf. Patrol Boats from Denmark and Germany also undertook missions from Algeciras. Escort patrols were increased significantly again at the end of conflict, with many USN and chartered ships heading for home. Since then the numbers of military movements has dramatically reduced and consequently so has the need for the escort ships.

 The Gibraltar Squadron was commissioned on 28^th August 1985 from the disbandment of the RAF HQ 1102 Maritime Craft Unit. The Royal Navy took over the shore-based facilities and the Small Bird Class ships HMAFV Sunderland and Stirling, which were renamed HMS Cormorant (P256) and Hart (P257). These two vessels undertook search and rescue operations and maintained a visible British presence in Gibraltar’s waters. In May 1991 two Archer Class P2000 Patrol Boats replaced them, HMS Ranger (P293) and Trumpeter (P294), these had good sea-keeping qualities and with a range of some 550 nm at 17 knots represented a vast improvement for the squadron. On the 16^th September 2002 two “new” boats arrived aboard the MV Hurst Point, they were Greyfox and Greywolf, which were previously employed in Northern Ireland, where they were operated on counter terrorism duties on Lough Neagh. Following three months of extensive evaluation they were both commissioned into Royal Navy service on 31^st January 2003, as HMS Scimitar (P284) and Sabre (P285). Both are armed with two rear mounted GPMG’S and are protected by Kevlar armour and are powered by two MAN D2480LXE diesel engines giving a range of 250 nm at 20 knots. HMS Trumpeter returned to the UK on the 29^th April to take up duties with the Bristol URNU (University Royal Naval Unit). The GS is also equipped with three 7.3m Arctic 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats, which, with a speed of 55 knots, are excellent for patrol and rapid response. The Squadron, with its complement of 28, plus 2 civilian administrators, is housed in its own purpose built complex at Coaling Island.

The Squadrons mission statement says it all: “To assert the integrity and security of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW)”, which they do by maintaining a “visible maritime presence”. At the moment the squadron is involved on Operation Lonigan, escorting UK and Allied warships and auxiliaries through Gibraltar’s waters, this will continue for the foreseeable future as Gibraltar is the 4^th busiest port in the Mediterranean. The Gibraltar Squadron, currently commanded by Lieutenant Commander Rachel Maxwell, (who only recently took over from Lt. Cdr Mike McGuire), is also involved in anti smuggling and illegal immigrant operations in close co-operation with HM Customs, the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) and the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP). The Squadron also supports Fleet Exercises (operations) and its craft regularly act as targets, simulating fast attack craft. Further support is given to the Principle Warfare Officer (PWO) on course live firings, and to Special Forces Training. Full time reservist and foreign navy training as well as their own training is undertaken as is operational capability evaluation and OST. It is also tasked with providing Military Search and Rescue cover over a radius of 25 miles of Gibraltar.

In what appeared to be a cost-saving exercise during  December 2006 Lt Cdr Rachel Maxwell returned to the UK leaving the two C/O's of the Patrol Boats to share the running of the Squadron and the in the same time scale the units personnel complement was also reduced to a total of 20 from the original 28. Operational tasking remains exactly the same as before.

HMS Scimitar leaves the RFA Argus at BGTW limits (Photo N. Rush)

The annual slippage for the vessels is estimated at about 6 weeks per annum. HMS Sabre was the first to return from the UK after undergoing an INS/mid-life refit/upgrade, where the GRP was stripped back to the foam and replaced to prevent any water seepage and the systems have now been upgraded to provide a more powerful power plant and an integrated Navigation and Command Control suite. On HMS Sabre’s return to Gibraltar, HMS Scimitar departed in the opposite direction for similar attention and on the recent completion of her upgrade, HMS Ranger was eventually returned to the UK aboard the Dutch vessel, MV Umviat, and after a short refit herself was re-assigned to the Sussex URNU duties in the UK based in Portsmouth.

Another part of the Gibraltar Squadron was the Clearance Diving Element (CDE), this is still housed in its own complex on the South Mole but now comes under the jurisdiction of the "Tower". Again the mission statement is brief and to the point: “To provide military support to the Command and conduct Explosive Ordnance Disposal below the High Water Mark”. The CDE is tasked with checking all RN and allied military shipping as well as checking   tugs that assist in operations. The CDE has a complement of 8 personnel comprising of 6 divers and 2 engineers and operates the Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Cormorant. The CDE is also tasked with providing support to military diving operations and exercises, diving in support of law enforcement agencies, ships diver aptitude tests, continuation training and deep-water work ups and underwater engineering tasks in support of Commander British Forces (CBF) and Fleet assets.

 

One of the units Rib's passes the Rock (Photo N. Rush)

HMS Scimitar and Sabre alongside at their Coaling Island base (Photo N. Rush)

HMS Ranger prior to her return to the UK (Photo N. Rush)

HMS Trumpeter entering Portsmouth harbour (Photo N. Rush)

HMS Cormorant and Hart in the Bay of Gibraltar (credit unknown)

The DSV Cormorant alongside at her berth (Photo N. Rush)

 

 

www.navynews.co.uk

 

 

Police Emergency Call 199 ------------ Fire or Ambulance Emergency Call 190 ------------ Airport Enquiries Call 73026 ------------- Taxis Call 70027 ------------ Hospital Call 79700 -------------

Do You Need All The Local Info?   Make This Your Favourite Site!!