Welcome to the Royal Naval Association Number 10 Area web site. Number 10 area is the largest of the RNA areas, and stretches from Whitehaven to Crewe, across the sea to the Isle of Man and across the border into North Wales.

This web site will be a place to check out the latest news from around the area and beyond, to link to other sites and to find out information about the committee and branches. There is also a photo gallery where you can share all your pictures. Comrades and shipmates who have crossed the bar will also be remembered. The minutes of the area committee will be available on the site. We also have a comprehensive collection of official papers from the National Archives and other sources released under the Freedom of Information Act.

RN news from around the world.

04.04.08

Aircraft lifts ordered for new carriers.

A contract for the manufacture of aircraft lifts for the Royal Navy's two new 65,000 tonne carriers was announced yesterday, 3 April 2008, by Defence Minister Baroness Ann Taylor.

The £13M contract, awarded to MacTaggart Scott of Loanhead, Scotland, means MOD orders for equipment, materials and infrastructure for the two ships, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, now total more than £160M.

Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: "The aircraft lifts order announced today and the other equipment and steel already contracted are a clear demonstration of the steady progress towards commencing building work at the shipyards. Construction of the carriers will provide jobs for thousands of people across the UK, which is only fitting given that these ships will be a key element of our nation's defences."

MOD Defence Equipment and Support carrier project team leader Rear Admiral Bob Love said: "Each of the carriers will have two huge lifts, which can lift 70 tonnes each - or two Joint Strike Fighters - from hangar to flight deck in 60 seconds. They are so powerful that together they could lift the weight of the entire ship's crew (1,450 people). We are working closely with industry participants as we move towards building these ships."

The lifts and their associated motors and hydraulic machinery have been designed using established technologies to provide excellent reliability throughout the expected operating life of the carriers, up to 50 years. The two carriers will provide our front-line forces with the modern, world-class capabilities they will need over the coming decades. They will be the biggest warships ever constructed in the UK.

Installed weight of the two lifts on each ship is around 500 tonnes and each lift platform covers 400 square metres - nearly the size of a tennis court.

Contracts announced to date include those for Identification Friend or Foe electronics, diesel generators, steel, flying control rooms, landing aids, navigation and bridge systems, infrastructure works at Rosyth dockyard to allow for the assembly of the ships, a fibre optic cable plant, a reverse osmosis plant and the aviation fuel system. This aircraft lifts contract has been placed by Thales UK, on behalf of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, with MacTaggart Scott. MacTaggart Scott has been heavily involved in the development of the aircraft carrier. The company employs 245 workers at its Loanhead site in Midlothian.

04.04.08

HMS Torbay returns to the Fleet.

The Royal Navy's nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Torbay, is preparing to return to the Fleet following a year-long £8M refit at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane.

In addition to routine maintenance work, the Trafalgar class submarine has been upgraded to carry the latest longer-range Block IV version of the Tomahawk cruise missile and an improved version of the world-leading Sonar 2076 system. The latest improvements make Torbay the most powerful boat in the Fleet.

Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: "This overhaul is part of a vital programme to ensure that our Trafalgar class submarines remain at the forefront of Britain's underwater operational capabilities until the end of the next decade. HMS Torbay will undoubtedly bolster the potency of our submarine fleet with her new missiles and improved sonar systems."

Captain Ian Lofthouse RN, from the MOD Defence Equipment and Support In-Service Submarines Project Team, said: "I believe HMS Torbay's overhaul demonstrates an excellent collaboration between the MOD, Royal Navy and the two Babcock Marine sites. It represents a significant upgrade to support Torbay through her forthcoming operational life, ensuring her key place in submarine flotilla operations into the future."

The refit comprised routine maintenance activity as well as the opportunity to incorporate upgrades. Around 400 military and civilian personnel were employed on the project at Faslane. The advanced Sonar 2076 is a fully integrated system comprising bow, flank, fin and towed arrays that can track an object the size of a bus at a distance of more than 50 miles (80km). New communications equipment will allow internet access even when the submarine is deep underwater, and a new charting system is due to be trialled on board. Following sea trials and sea training over the next few months, HMS Torbay is expected to be fully operational by the summer. Torbay is one of seven 5,200 tonne Trafalgar class nuclear-powered submarines, entering service in 1987. All of the class are based at HM Naval Base Devonport, in Plymouth.

Under the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class Final Phase Update programme, the newest four Trafalgar boats are being upgraded to bring their equipment up to the standard of the successor Astute class. The overhaul for HMS Torbay is part of a programme to upgrade all the Royal Navy's Trafalgar Class submarines, and ensure they remain at the forefront of Britain's underwater warfare capabilities until the end of the next decade.

05.03.08

Wreck of HMS Hunter found.

The wreck of a Royal Navy destroyer sunk by the German navy in 1940 has been discovered 305 metres under the icy waters of a Norwegian fjord.

HMS Hunter went down on 10 April 1940 with the loss of more than 100 lives. The ship had remained unlocated and undisturbed until the Norwegian Minehunter HNOMS TYR located her earlier this week. HNOMS TYR was participating in a large multinational exercise, Exercise Armatura Borealis, involving the Royal Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy along with ships from Spain, Belgium and Germany when she discovered the sunken vessel by using her echo sounder.

On dispatching her remote operated submersible to investigate, it became clear that this was the long lost HMS Hunter, lying as she was when she had finally succumbed to the unforgiving waters, after bravely fighting during the Battle of Narvik; an action that would result in the first Victoria Cross of WWII being awarded. The presence of the Commander of the United Kingdom's Amphibious Force, Major General Garry Robison, and other Royal Navy ships participating in the exercise will enable the appropriate marks of respect to be paid in a ceremony which is due to take place later this week.

The ships of the RN, the Netherlands Maritime Force and the Norwegian Navy, who are participating in Exercise Armatura Borealis, will lay wreaths over her grave in a commemorative service complete with the ships sailing past the site of the sunken destroyer in a formed line. Major General Robison said: "Finding HMS Hunter was a poignant moment and being able to pay our respects along with our Norwegian and Dutch allies is particularly fitting to those who lost their lives."

The Norwegian National Joint Headquarters was pleased to inform the British Authorities that they had finally found HMS Hunter, which will now be marked as a wargrave, after several attempts over the years had proved unsuccessful.

Senior Spokesperson, Colonel John Øgælnd, said: "Being able to host this large multinational exercise is great for us but to find HMS Hunter whilst doing so makes it very special indeed. We remain close allies and are eternally grateful to those who helped preserve our freedom."

HMS Hunter was an H-Class Destroyer of 1,880 Tonnes, armed with 4.7inch (119mm) guns and 2 x 4 Torpedo Tubes. She had a crew of approximately 145 at the time of sinking. She was sunk at approx 0530 hrs GMT with 110 killed on board. The Germans lost four destroyers during the first Battle of Narvik, whilst the Allies lost HMS Hunter and HMS Hardy.

Read the full story of S/m John Hague and HMS Hunter.

05.03.08

Ex-RN SSK back in service after emergency repairs.

Canada's lone operating submarine is back in the water after getting some repairs in Florida. HMCS Corner Brook (ex HMS Ursula) had a problem with its battery ventilation fans, navy spokeswoman Lt.-Cmdr. Marie-Claude Gagne said on Monday.

She said the repairs were done during a scheduled stop in Mayport, Florida. The submarine docked on February 22 and was there for 10 days, she said. Lt.-Cmdr. Gagne said officials normally say very little about submarine operations. In fact, a submariner told The Chronicle Herald that Corner Brook's crew signed a declaration of secrecy prior to leaving in early February for three months at sea.

Corner Brook is one of four Victoria-class submarines Canada bought from Britain in the late 1990s. Canada has had trouble with them ever since, including a fatal fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi in October 2004. The fire damage is not slated to be repaired until 2010, and Chicoutimi is being used for spare parts. HMCS Victoria is undergoing a major refit in Esquimalt, B.C., while HMCS Windsor is undergoing repairs and upgrades in Halifax.

04.03.08

Browne thanks UK's busiest search and rescue team.

Defence Secretary Des Browne delivered his personal thanks to the men and women of the UK's busiest search and rescue station, HMS Gannet, on Friday 29 February 2008.

In 2007, the Royal Navy's Search and Rescue team at HMS Gannet, based at Prestwick, Scotland, responded to a total of 359 call outs - almost one a day - rescuing 349 people, of which 286 were casualties. The previous annual record was held by RAF Chivenor for 2006 with 293 call outs transporting 213 casualties. Gannet's 2007 figures are a 30 per cent increase on their own 2006 figures of 269 call outs and 303 rescues.

And in the first eight weeks of 2008, it appears that this trend is set to continue, as the team has undertaken 49 call outs, rescuing 50 people. In one week alone recently, Gannet completed 12 sorties, 10 of which were to stranded or injured walkers and climbers; four of those 10 were to Ben Nevis, two of them on the same day. Gannet had already broken Scottish records, but with the release of the official UK-wide statistics, it has become clear that Scotland's unique terrain of the rugged west coast, mountains, islands, rivers, forests, lochs and glens have fuelled an unprecedented number of call outs.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "The staff of our search and rescue stations around Britain, whether Royal Navy, RAF or HM Coastguard, put their lives at risk on a regular basis to save others. For the men and women at HMS Gannet in 2007 this equated to a call out for almost every day of the year - an astonishing statistic. They are to be commended for the excellent work which they do above the land and sea of Scotland's west coast and the north of England, and I am delighted to have been able to talk to these highly skilled rescuers in person and to personally thank them for their efforts."

04.03.08

Aircraft Carriers progress with £70 million contracts.

MoD contracts worth over £70million for the supply of steel and other important equipment for the two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers were announced today by Defence Minister Baroness Taylor.

Contracts have been placed for:

The supply of over 80,000 tonnes of steel for the manufacture of the two ships with an estimated value of £65 million; the same amount required for Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 and three times that for Wembley Stadium;
The supply of Blown Fibre Optic Cable Plant (BFOCP) technology for the installation of optical cables for data transfer within the ships at a cost in excess of £3 million;
Reverse osmosis equipment which will produce over 500 tonnes of fresh water daily for up to 1,450 personnel onboard the ships, valued at over £1 million;
Aviation fuel systems equipment to allow the fuelling and de-fuelling of embarked aircraft at a contract value of approximately £4 million.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, said: "Today's announcement is a further signal of our commitment to the new aircraft carriers, which will be the nation's flagships. The construction of the carriers is good for British industry overall, bringing work not only to our principal shipyards but, as these contracts for £70M show, to other industries across the UK."

Project Team Leader, Rear Admiral Bob Love said "We are delighted with the reaction we have had from industry in terms of their keenness to support this significant project. These orders take us further along the path to commencing build work within the yards."

24.02.08

Falklands veteran goes for breaking after 44 years.

She was built at the Fairfield shipyard in Glasgow (Now BAE Systems Govan) in 1964 and served with British forces until 1989. Now as GLENN BRAVEHEART the ship formerly known as SIR LANCELOT, which saw service in the Falklands campaing in 1982, is finally going to her last resting place, the breakers in Bangladesh. Lauched at the Govan yard on 25th June 1963 she was completed in January the following year and went into service with the British Arny initially. In 1970 she transferred completely to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and remained with them until 1989 when she was sold to commercial interests in South Africa and renamed LOWLAND LANCER.

In 1992 she was purchased by the Republic of Singapor Navy and commissioned in 1994 as RSS PERSEVERANCE following a refit. Glenn Defense Marine (Asia) Pte Ltd of Singapore took over the vessel in 2003 and renamed her GLENN BRAVEHEART, a fitting name given her Scottish roots. Glenn provides support to navies in the Asian region and has been operating for over 60 years.

20.02.08

HMS Bulwark remembers Operation Alphabet.

The Devonport based amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark has conducted a service of remembrance to commemorate the sailors, marines and airmen who were killed during one of World War 2’s most costly naval battles.

On the afternoon of 8 June 1940 units forming part of Operation Alphabet, the evacuation of Allied forces from Norway, were intercepted in the Norwegian Sea by the German battle-cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. “I am honoured that HMS Bulwark has been able to meet the wishes of the families of those killed and pay tribute to the men who died in these waters over 65 years ago.” The aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and her escorting destroyers, HM Ships Acasta and Ardent had been tasked to return to Scapa Flow with a cargo of evacuated personnel and equipment. Intercepted late in the afternoon by the battle-cruisers, the ensuing battle lasted for a little over 2 hours with all three British ships subsequently being sunk by gunfire. The cost in terms of life was huge; over 1500 personnel of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force were lost. There were only 39 survivors.

Bulwark, in company with HMS Cornwall and RFA Mounts Bay, is currently taking part in a large multinational amphibious exercise in and around the seas off Norway. The ship had been asked by the families of some of those who died to mark the occasion as the Task Group transited through the very same waters in which Glorious, Acasta and Ardent were sunk. Members of the ship’s company gathered on the Flight Deck in freezing conditions to watch Bulwark’s Executive Warrant Officer, Russ Williams, drop a wreath over the side in memory of all those who died; Bulwark’s Chaplain, Tim Wilkinson, officiated at the service.

12.02.08

HMS York gets £17 million makeover.

The MoD has awarded a £17M makeover contract for Type 42 destroyer, HMS York, to Portsmouth based Fleet Support Ltd (FSL). Work for the upkeep includes the maintenance of the Sea Dart missile launcher, improvements to fuel efficiency, and upgrading the galley and domestic equipment to improve on-board living.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, said: "A vibrant shipbuilding industry is essential to the UK. This is important for contracts for new powerful ships and the vital maintenance and upkeep work to our existing fleet. This £17 Million contract to Fleet Support Limited is excellent news for Portsmouth and will ensure HMS York remains capable of playing a valuable front-line role in future operations."

The major tasks on board HMS York include fitting a new ship's IT network which involves installing cabling throughout the whole vessel. Another internal network to be re-wired with multi-core cabling will be the ship's communication system, while the ship's interior accommodation and crew facilities are also set to be upgraded. HMS York is the first refit of 2008 for Fleet Support Limited. Work has already started in Portsmouth and is due to complete next year.

11.02.08

Defence Secretary underlines commitment to Scottish shipyards.

The Defence Secretary Des Browne today visited Babcock Marine in Rosyth to witness the start of a £50 million investment project to the dockyard in preparation for the two Royal Navy super carriers.

Des Browne witnessed the signing of a £35m contract by Babcock Engineering Services with Glasgow-based subcontractors Edmund Nuttall Limited to modify the docks in anticipation of the future carrier work.

In addition to modifying the dock to accommodate the building of the carriers, key equipment will be purchased, such as the 'Goliath' crane, the largest in the UK. The total investment in Rosyth will amount to £50 million.

"I am delighted to see this boost for the maritime industry in Scotland and jobs for Scottish workers."

Defence Secretary, Des Browne said: "This is a significant investment for shipbuilding in Rosyth and a symbol of our commitment to the two new aircraft carriers which will be the largest ships ever sailed by the Royal Navy.

The CEO of Babcock International Group plc, Peter Rogers and the Babcock Marine CEO, Archie Bethel OBE were also on hand to witness the start of this important project.

Peter Rogers said: "The award of this contract is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the Babcock Marine team and Edmund Nuttall Limited together with our colleagues in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance including the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the Rosyth site is ready to play its part in what is the most exciting and physically largest defence project for many years".

Martin Rogers, Chief Executive of Edmund Nuttall Limited, said: "We are understandably delighted to have secured this major package of work, extending a long standing and successful relationship between Nuttall Limited and Babcock at Rosyth. We are looking forward now to starting work on site."

01.02.08

Lyme Bay in Tristan da Cunha harbour repair mission.

RFA Lyme Bay The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Lyme Bay is preparing to sail to the aid of people living in one of the world's most isolated communities, Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Lyme Bay, accompanied by a team of 40 Royal Engineers plus a detachment from the Royal Logistic Corps and a medical support team from the Royal Navy, will transport materials that can be used to carry out urgent repairs to the main harbour. Tristan da Cunha is located 1,800 miles (2,897km) west of Cape Town in the South Atlantic and nearly 5,000 miles (8,047km) from Portland, where RFA Lyme Bay was berthed when re-tasked at short notice to support the repair of the harbour, damaged by the South Atlantic swell and in need of temporary repairs prior to a major refurbishment this summer.

RFA Lyme Bay will transport 150 pallets of cement, a number of construction machines such as bulldozers, stone crushers and cement mixers, and landing craft to move the stores and people ashore. The ship will leave Portland this week to collect additional stores and personnel en-route before reaching the Islands towards the end of February 2008.

Work will begin immediately and will hopefully complete before the onset of the Austral winter on 31 March 2008, when it is increasingly likely that access and the ability to conduct repairs will become unviable due to the sea conditions.

The harbour is the principal gateway to the islands, providing access for people, supplies and trade - its loss would have serious consequences and would create difficulties for the islanders, who are wholly self-supporting and have an economy based on fishing and tourism.

29.01.07

Blackpool chosen to hold National Veterans Day

Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg announced today that Blackpool has been chosen to hold this year's National Veterans Day event. During a ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in London, Mr Twigg also announced that eligibility to apply for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge has been extended to include all those who have served in UK Armed Forces. This means that veterans of the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now eligible.

With the establishment of an annual Veterans Day, June 27 is our chance to recognise the achievements of those veterans who live amongst us.

The third annual Veterans Day on 27 June 2008 is a chance for the nation to recognise the contribution made by veterans of all ages in conflicts both past and present. A large number of Veterans Day events, ranging in size, will be taking place across the UK during the summer.

Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans Minister, said: "We have had a number of excellent bids to host this year's celebrations, but after careful consideration Blackpool Council's efforts stood out. I congratulate them on the excellence of their bid. Veterans are of all ages with a variety of different backgrounds, and they all deserve our recognition. Not only have they honoured their commitment to defend our country's interests in Service, they have also used their skills and experiences to enrich their local communities. With the establishment of an annual Veterans Day, June 27 is our chance to recognise the achievements of those veterans who live amongst us."

Blackpool Council has planned nine days of veterans' events to pay tribute to the contributions veterans make to their community. Exciting attractions include an Aero GP where veteran pilots will compete in performing demonstrations of dog fighting and target bombing, and a Veterans Badge Challenge in which veterans will attempt to climb Blackpool Tower, and dive to the bottom of a shark tank to retrieve their badges. The Ministry of Defence has pledged to fund £25K towards the cost of Blackpool's celebrations. Funding is also available to support numerous other events taking place throughout the UK. The deadline for applying for funding to support Veteran's Day events is 31 May 2008.

11.01.08

Possible slippage in CVF contract?

The Ministry of Defence is examining possible delays to its £4bn contract for two new aircraft carriers as it struggles to meet Treasury demands for swingeing cuts to its budget. The MoD had been expected to agree a manufacturing contract with the industry alliance building the Royal Navy carriers as early as next week, but that now looks likely to slip.

Officials have begun to take informal soundings about the implications of a possible delay to the ships, people close to the talks confirmed last night. Scenarios under discussion range from slipping expenditure on the programme to later years – thereby staggering the cost for the MoD – to delaying the programme by up to 18 months. The carriers are scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2016 and had been viewed as one of the few big-ticket items to escape the impending cuts. There is no suggestion that the programme will not go ahead but the talks underline how stretched the MoD's budget is. The carriers' hulls are due to be assembled at Rosyth in Scotland in the prime minister's constituency, so abandoning it would appear politically difficult.

Last July, the Treasury agreed a budget with the MoD, providing 1.5 per cent real increases every year until 2010-11, claiming this to be the best defence settlement in almost 30 years. But higher depreciation and impairment charges on equipment that has been heavily used in Iraq and Afghanistan left the MoD with only 0.9 per cent real increases for day-to-day expenditure and the requirement to make heavy cuts in many areas. Some estimates put the budget shortfall as high as £2bn. With tax revenues already falling short before the credit squeeze took hold, there is little room for additional defence funding over the next three years.

It is understood the discussions are among the reasons for the delay in the signing of a joint venture between BAE Systems, Britain's largest defence contractor, and VT Group to put their shipyards together. The joint venture was seen as the first step towards the consolidation of Britain’s shipbuilding industry. Although the venture could go ahead without a manufacturing contract for the carriers, the companies are still waiting for a government commitment to a 15-year partnering agreement. The terms of the agreement would offer industry a guarantee to maintain jobs and technical capabilities for 15 years.

People close to the talks stressed discussions were part of the MoD's wider review of its equipment programme and that no final decision had been made. The MoD said: "Periodically, as part of the planning process, we consider a wide range of ideas on how we might reallocate funds. Many of these are not taken beyond initial consideration. The [comprehensive spending review] settlement allows the MoD to proceed with two new aircraft carriers...We need the [joint venture] to stand up as a legal entity before we sign the contract – that process is under way."