Royal Navy's largest warship visits Sunderland

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Equipment and Logistics | Navy's largest warship visits Sunderland

Navy's largest warship visits Sunderland

An Equipment and Logistics news article

25 May 12

The Royal Navy's largest warship HMS Ocean arrived in her 'spiritual home' of Sunderland yesterday morning.

HMS Ocean alongside at Corporation Quay in the Port of Sunderland
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Guy Pool, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

The amphibious assault ship, which will soon play a central role in providing security support for the London 2012 Olympics, berthed alongside the Port of Sunderland's Corporation Quay yesterday. She will spend a busy few days in the north east city before she leaves on Monday, 28 May 2012.
This is HMS Ocean's seventh visit to the city, that the ship has been affiliated to since she was commissioned in 1995, and although it has been almost three years since her last visit to the port due to operational commitments, the depth of welcome has been no less warm.
Captain Andrew Betton, HMS Ocean's Commanding Officer, said:

"It is a huge honour to bring HMS Ocean back to our affiliated city, and we have certainly been made to feel very welcome.
"We are now making the last minute preparations for our Freedom of the City parade on Saturday and our open ship on Sunday.
"I know from my discussions with the Mayor this morning that there is a huge interest amongst the people of Sunderland to get onboard 'their' ship.

HMS Ocean alongside at Corporation Quay in the Port of Sunderland
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Guy Pool, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

"We are going to be inundated with visitors, but we are greatly looking forward to welcoming them all onboard."

HMS Ocean recently completed a pre-Olympics security exercise in London. During the games, she will return to the Thames, mooring at Greenwich, and will play a central role in the Armed Forces support to the police in ensuring the Games are safe and secure for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to being a platform for Royal Navy and Army Air Corps Lynx helicopters, the ship will also accommodate military personnel who are providing security for the equestrian events at Greenwich Park.
The weekend's activities kicked off this morning, when around 100 young people joined the Royal Marines Commando Recruitment Team on board the ship. The day's events gave everyone a small taste of life as part of the elite Royal Marines.
Participants had the opportunity to try out skills such as unarmed combat, using a climbing wall and some rigorous physical training packages, which the commandos use to hone, and then maintain, peak fitness.

HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean during Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, the UN-mandated and NATO-led operation to protect civilians in Libya from the forces of the Gadaffi regime (stock image)
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Guy Pool, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Saturday will dawn as a day of honour for all the crew when they take to the streets of Sunderland to exercise their Freedom of the City, bestowed upon them in 2004. A ceremonial spectacle with "drums beating and bayonets fixed", it promises to be a visual treat for locals lining the route.
Led by The Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the ship's company begins the parade through the city at 1600hrs, up Fawcett Street and left onto High Street West.
On Sunday, locals will have an opportunity to visit HMS Ocean when she opens her gangway to visitors from 1000hrs – 1600hrs. Access to the ship on Corporation Quay will be via the Low Street entrance. Families with vehicles are advised to seek parking away from the immediate vicinity of the port, which will be open to pedestrians only. Parking on Low Street will be for residents only.
The ship will head back to her base at Plymouth on Monday, less a group of sailors and Royal Marines who will join local Sunderland people at the start of the city's Big Bike Ride on Sunday morning before continuing to cycle the remaining 481 miles (775km) to Plymouth, over five days, in an attempt to beat HMS Ocean home.

Two of the Royal Marines cyclists who will race HMS Ocean home to Plymouth from Sunderland train onboard the warship
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The Reverend Jon Backhouse, HMS Ocean's Padre, said:

"Rather than just a fun outing (at least for people who enjoy that sort of thing!), they have a much more serious aim in mind: raising as much money as they can for the ship's local Sunderland charity, Grace House North East children's hospice, and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
"They have already raised over £1,000, but are hoping that that is just the beginning of what they can do to help these worthy causes."

If you would like to help, it's easy to give a donation, either by visiting the My Donate page (see Related Links), or by texting 70070 with the message "SHIP12 £5" replacing the final number with the amount you would like to give (between £1 and £10).

B-1 aircrews make history by employing laser JDAMS

B-1 aircrews make history by employing laser JDAMS

 

Weapons load crew Airmen prepare six GBU-54 laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions for loading onto three B-1 Lancer on May 12, 2012, during a Combat Hammer exercise at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. The goal of the exercise was to evaluate the effectiveness, maintainability, suitability and accuracy of precision-guided munitions and other advanced air-to-ground weapons. The Airmen are assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada) B-1 aircrews make history by employing laser JDAMS by Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs 5/16/2012 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS) -- B-1 Lancer aircrews from here employed laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions against moving targets during a weapon system evaluation program exercise May 14 through 16. Aircrews from the 37th Bomb Squadron and 34th BS employed six GBU-54 laser JDAMs against targets on the Utah Test and Training Range near Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as part of the Air Force's air to ground WSEP, known as Combat Hammer. "Combat Hammer provided us with the unique opportunity to employ weapons in real-world scenarios and evaluate the weapon and aircraft-to-weapon interface in great detail due to the telemetry kits on the weapons," said Lt. Col. Stuart Newberry, the 37th BS commander. "This data, when coupled with scenarios usually unavailable to us except in combat scenarios, provides us with an opportunity to validate and refine our tactics, techniques and procedures ... as well as adjust training plans and combat standards." The goal of the exercise was to evaluate the effectiveness, maintainability, suitability and accuracy of precision guided munitions and other advanced air to ground weapons. The entire process of weapons handling was evaluated from start to finish during Combat Hammer. Maj. Michael Ballard, the lead bomber evaluator for Combat Hammer, said this time around, WSEP focused on the cradle-to-grave evaluation for the LJDAM. The LJDAM is a 500-pound, dual-mode guided weapon. It's equipped with a laser seeker, which aids in its ability to demonstrate outstanding accuracy and can be employed to engage both stationary and moving targets on the ground. "We didn't do anything different because of WSEP - our main focus is always on safe and reliable loading first time, every time," said Master Sgt. Joshua Klotz, the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron NCO in charge of loading. "We qualify monthly on all B-1 bomber assigned munitions and are required to complete proficiency loading every month." Leadership was mindful in the selection process of aircrews for Combat Hammer, ensuring that Airmen who had less experience would be teamed up with seasoned aviators. "We try to provide a mix of experience during Combat Hammer sorties," Newberry said. "All crewmembers were fully qualified, but it's important to allow younger aviators -- those without a lot of experience -- the opportunity to build confidence in their skills and weapon system while they are supervised by more experienced aircrew." Newberry noted that aircrews have been limited in training opportunities with the LJDAM unless they are participating in a Combat Hammer scenario. "It was gratifying to be part of the first operational release," said Capt. Charles Armstrong, a 37th BS B-1 weapon systems operator and a mission leader for Combat Hammer. "We're learning a lot from these missions, and it's vital to uncover the peculiarities of this weapon now in a training environment so we can employ it with no issues in combat." Since LJDAMs had never been employed by an operational B-1 squadron before, Ellsworth AFB was the first to be evaluated on tactics and procedures while employing LJDAMs. Newberry added that the Combat Hammer team continuously looks for different scenarios that could occur during combat situations, including GPS jamming, slowing down or speeding up moving targets, and then attempts to replicate them during sorties. "Evaluators will be able to retrieve data from the telemetry kits on the weapons and build a picture of how the weapon was or was not affected in various scenarios," Newberry said. "That data is invaluable in refining and adjusting our training plans." Ellsworth AFB is home to two of the nation's three B-1 combat squadrons and carries the lion's share of the deployment taskings involving the B-1. Since 2007, Ellsworth AFB B-1s have deployed 12 of every 18 months in support of missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Additionally, aircrews from here conduct missions to rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against adversaries. Armstrong said that adding LJDAMs to the B-1's already diverse arsenal will only increase the already remarkable mission effectiveness rate Ellsworth AFB has had in current operations around the globe.

Royal Navy HMS Defender sails through second sea trials

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Equipment and Logistics | HMS Defender sails through second sea trials

HMS Defender sails through second sea trials

An Equipment and Logistics news article

10 Apr 12

The fifth of Britain's Type 45 destroyers is getting closer to being taken in to operational services after completing her second period of sea trials off Scotland.

HMS Defender off Greenock in Scotland (stock image)
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

HMS Defender spent nearly a month off the Scottish coast testing her combat systems and sensors ahead of her impending handover to the Royal Navy and is now in the final weeks of trials and tests on the Clyde as she prepares to join her sisters in Portsmouth.
Defender put to sea for her first sea trials last autumn, sailing two years to the day of her launch, to test the basics – engines, power and manoeuvrability.
As with those inaugural trials, Defender's second trials period saw a mixed crew from her builders BAE Systems, plus the growing band of Royal Navy personnel assigned to her, to give the ship a thorough run-out.
After a few sea safety trials, which all went well, the ship quickly knuckled down to manoeuvring and power and propulsion trials before the crux of the renewed spell at sea: combat systems.
The team aboard attuned all the various weapons and sensor sub-systems to the main command system – the brains of Defender where all the information is fused to give the operations room team the complete picture.

HMS Defender's mixed crew of personnel from BAE Systems and the Royal Navy
[Picture: BAE Systems]

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Pearce said:

"It is a great privilege to be serving as the Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS Defender, these trials marked another significant step to not only acceptance of the ship by the Royal Navy but success on operations in the future.
"Defender boasts extremely impressive capability throughout her decks which was tuned to optimum performance over the trials period."

The ship is affiliated to Glasgow and Exeter and her second time at sea gave her mixed BAE Systems and Royal Navy ship's company the chance to help out good causes in those cities.
Horse racing nights, an Ironman athletics competition, bingo and quizzes helped raise £1,500 for Kelbourne School for physically-impaired youngsters in Glasgow, Dream-a-Way Holidays in Exeter which organises holidays for people in the West Country with disabilities, and BAE's favoured charity, Erskine Hospital.

HMS Defender
[Picture: BAE Systems]

Defender also hosted her first VIP sea day where she welcomed the destroyer's sponsor, Lady Julie Massey, who launched the ship on Trafalgar Day 2009, as well as the great and the good from industry and the MOD's maritime defence procurement team.
HMS Defender continues to hit every milestone towards her delivery to Portsmouth and the Royal Navy in July.
She's due to be declared operational in early 2013, by which time the final ship in the Type 45 programme, HMS Duncan, will have made her debut at sea. She's in the latter stages of fitting out at Scotstoun and sails later this year on her first trials.

MOD announces change of F-35 Lightning II Joint Striker Fighter jet

Equipment and Logistics

Defence

News Article

MOD announces change of Joint Striker Fighter jet

An Equipment and Logistics news article

10 May 12

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced that plans to deliver Carrier Strike capability will now be executed using a different type of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jet than was planned.

Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Defence
[Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The MOD will move away from the Carrier Variant (CV) JSF and our Armed Forces will instead operate the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant.
Even with this change in JSF jet type, the MOD's plan to deliver Carrier Strike in 2020, as a key part of Future Force 2020, is still on schedule.
Speaking at the House of Commons this morning, Mr Hammond outlined the reasons this decision has been made. They included:
• sticking with the Carrier Variant would delay Carrier Strike by at least three years to 2023 at the earliest;
• the cost of fitting catapults and arrestor gear ('cats and traps') to the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers to operate CV aircraft has doubled from around £1bn to £2bn; and
• the STOVL aircraft offers the UK the ability to have an aircraft carrier available continuously. Although no decision on budgeting for crew and support costs will be taken until the next Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in 2015, the second carrier would be able to provide capability while the first vessel is in maintenance.
See Related Links to read Mr Hammond's statement in full.
The STOVL aircraft has made significant progress since the SDSR was published over 18 months ago and the US Marine Corps has conducted successful STOVL flights from their ships.
The UK will receive the first STOVL aircraft this summer and, as HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to arrive for sea trials in early 2017, UK STOVL flight trials will begin off the carrier from 2018.

"Carrier Strike with 'cats and traps' using the Carrier Variant jet no longer represents the best way of delivering Carrier Strike and I am not prepared to tolerate a three-year further delay to reintroducing our Carrier Strike capability."

Philip Hammond

The SDSR stated that we wanted to develop joint maritime task groups with our allies. Through the adoption of the STOVL aircraft, the UK will benefit from full interoperability with the US Marine Corps and the Italian Navy - both of which operate the STOVL aircraft.
Mr Hammond said:

"The 2010 SDSR decision on carriers was right at the time, but the facts have changed and therefore so too must our approach. This government will not blindly pursue projects and ignore cost growth and delays.
"Carrier Strike with 'cats and traps' using the Carrier Variant jet no longer represents the best way of delivering Carrier Strike and I am not prepared to tolerate a three-year further delay to reintroducing our Carrier Strike capability.
"This announcement means we remain on course to deliver Carrier Strike in 2020 as a key part of our Future Force 2020."

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, said:

"Our Armed Forces have a successful history of operating short take-off and vertical landing aircraft and our pilots are already flying trials in this variant of the Joint Strike Fighter alongside our US allies.
"These stealth aircraft will be the most advanced fast jets our Armed Forces have ever operated and I know they will do so with the greatest skill and professionalism."