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17-Jul-2007 |
 
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Our third newsletter continues in the varied vein of our deployment so far. The Black Duke has steamed over 11000 nautical miles since leaving the UK and we have finally reached our area of operations for the deployment, the Far East. Visits to Kochi, the Andaman Islands and Singapore have supplemented eventful periods at sea conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and participating in a major joint exercise. After traversing the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean,
HMS MONMOUTH steamed into Kochi for her first informal visit. The
Ship’s Company lined the upper deck in their No. 1s presenting the
smartest possible entry to this seafaring city. Situated on the western
side of southern India in the province of Kerala, Kochi is the location
for the Southern Headquarters of the Indian Navy, making this an
excellent opportunity for the RN to strengthen its ties with this
expanding force. Many local dignitaries and senior officers of the
Indian Navy were able to view the Black Duke at close hand during the
reception on the first night. These events present a useful chance to
interact with other navies in a social environment before, in many
cases, co-operating during warfare training serials at sea. In order
for the RN to continue to be a global force for good, it is essential
that our liaisons with these foreign navies are regularly maintained.
One of our many key roles on this deployment is to improve these
relations and, wherever possible, conduct training exercises with these
forces to prove our capability together. A crucial contribution HMS MONMOUTH continues to make is to the local community. A group of volunteers was dispatched to a local orphanage to undertake some much-needed paint-work to the building. A fulfilling morning was spent whitewashing the walls before the children beautifully sang some songs in gratitude. But it was not the last we saw of them; later in the visit they were hosted onboard for a pirates party. This resounding success was completed with the arrival of an elephant on the quayside, not only to the delight of the kids but also to many of the Ship’s Company! A significant event of the visit was an exhibition of the Merlin helicopter, considered the most advance maritime helicopter in the world, which was hosted by the Defence Export Support Organisation (DESO) for the Indian Navy. This venture will be repeated in many of our port visits as we seek to promote the hardware produced by British industry. Every chance to explore the vibrant Indian culture was gratefully received including trips on rice boats through the famed backwaters surrounding the city. Another victory for the ship’s football team over the Southern Indian Naval Command team concluded an enjoyable and worthwhile visit for all concerned.
The Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, are one
of the archipelagos that were ravaged by the Boxing Day Tsunami in
2004. Although an impressive amount of reconstruction has already
occurred, the scars of the disaster are still plainly visible on the
exposed coastline of the islands. Many children were orphaned by this
tragedy and another children’s party was held onboard for some of them.
Not only are these events a superb opportunity to entertain, they also
demonstrate the RN’s commitment beyond our traditional maritime
boundaries to society as a whole. Port Blair, the secluded capital, is the location of the first joint headquarters for the Indian military and the majority of our visit was occupied liaising with the Indian Armed Forces. Key exercises are being planned with them for the coming years so it is essential for both navies to broaden our knowledge of each other in preparation. Informative visits to their vessels were accompanied by receptions and several guided tours were provided around our ship. The Malacca Straits, dividing Malaysia and Indonesia, are the busiest sea-lanes in the world carrying 60% of the world’s oil. This is a notorious region for piracy so HMS MONMOUTH was fully prepared for any eventuality. There is one role that we will conduct at sea throughout the deployment, Maritime Security Operations. We contribute to a worldwide Recognised Maritime Picture by providing comprehensive information on all merchant shipping in our vicinity. By establishing the normal behaviour of such shipping we are able to identify any potentially abnormal or illegal activity and thoroughly investigate. Naturally, the Black Duke is not an attractive target for piracy but that also makes the ship an excellent deterrent. Furthermore, our presence reassures the passing tankers and container ships since they know they can call us on their VHF radios if they encounter any trouble and we will respond rapidly and effectively.
Having fully stored ship, replenished our fuel and distributed 52 bags of personal mail, the Ship’s Company were able to take some time off to relax and enjoy Singapore’s thriving, cosmopolitan centre. The rich fusion of Asian, Eastern and Western cultures, and the plethora of shops, bars and restaurants made Singapore the perfect place for the Ship’s Company to unwind. Always keen to engage with the local community, the Ship’s football team continued their excellent record, beating the Singapore Referee’s Association 11 – 2. The Black Duke sailed from Singapore and immediately launched into the demanding 10 day programme to prove our capability to interact with the four other nations in a warfare environment.
After ten days of warfare serials and a day at anchor off the Malaysian island of Tioman, HMS MONMOUTH returned to Singapore to begin the first support period of the deployment. Whilst this much-needed maintenance was taking place, the first squad rotation was also occurring. The deployment has been split into three-month sections and most of the Junior Ratings have one of those periods in the UK to satisfy their work/leave balance. Many took advantage of the two-week visit to fly out family and friends to the city or neighbouring islands and some were even able to fly back to the UK. After another demanding month the Black Duke is well placed for the First Sea Lord’s visit and the ship’s participation in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition. Several eventful periods at sea and ashore await, including our continuing operational commitments, so I already look forward to dispatching the next newsletter to keep you updated.
Yours,
Tim Peacock Commanding Officer HMS MONMOUTH
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The
planned passage exercise with Indian Navy was sadly cancelled due to a
national holiday so our short passage to the Andaman Islands was less
busy than had been previously envisaged. However, focus onboard was
starting to shift towards our looming major exercise of the deployment,
Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD, and therefore several key serials were
conducted to ensure our Operational Capability remained at its usual
high standard. As we sailed south of Sri Lanka we encountered HMS ECHO
as she was returning to the UK. This is probably the only time we will
see another RN ship before our return to Devonport. The brief encounter
allowed the Black Duke to assume the informal duties of Far Eastern
Guardship and conduct a Harpoon Surface-to Surface Missile Targeting
exercise. 
Singapore,
effectively our base port for the next month, was an entirely different
prospect after our visits to India. The ship was berthed on a wharf
owned by MOD UK and run by a RN liaison team permanently based there.
The focus of the visit was preparations for Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD,
which is the annual major exercise conducted with the members of the
Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA), i.e. UK, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore and Malaysia. The exercise is a key demonstration of this
important alliance and so the emphasis was on improving interoperability
between the five nations, thus providing an effective contribution to
the maritime security of the region. To that end, HMS MONMOUTH hosted
an official reception on the first night, including a ceremonial sunset,
to allow our Command teams to become familiar with each other prior and
to host several other important dignitaries from Singapore. 
The
seven ships were split into two task groups with differing missions.
HMS MONMOUTH, RSS VENGEANCE and KD JEBAT acted as the aggressive enemy
for much of the exercise. Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD is there to challenge
the navies in an array of situations. Anti-air Warfare Exercises
practised the tactics used to engage incoming anti-ship missiles and
Fighter-Bomber Aircraft (FBA) simulated by F16 and F18 aircraft.
Anti-submarine warfare exercises were regularly conducted and, on
several occasions, the two task groups competed with one another in an
anti-surface exercise (SURFEX). HMS MONMOUTH led from the front in
gunnery, aviation, war fighting and boarding operations. We were even
able to carry out a tow and two replenishments at sea. Between these
exercises a Falklands War Commemorative Service was held on the
flightdeck. The 4 veterans that were present laid a wreath in the sea
in remembrance for those that gave their lives in the conflict.