HMS BANGOR
MCM 1 Crew 8
BFPO 222
Ton Talk & TCA Website
via email / 14August 2015
Dear Peter,
HMS Bangor Update – March to July 2015
We very gratefully receive each edition of Ton Talk and it is a very welcome addition to each Mess. It is always an informative and entertaining read, enjoyed by all the Ship’s Company. I have therefore been remiss in failing to provide some copy for the newsletter and keeping your membership informed of Bangor’s activities; for that I send sincere apologies. We are now deployed east of Suez and I have provided below a summary of the first period of deployment and the final weeks leading up to the deployment date. I hope you can find space to include some or all of the details in the next edition of Ton Talk; please feel free to cut and amend as you see fit. I will also ensure that future updates are provided for the members to enjoy.
2015 saw Bangor’s focus shift from UK work to preparations for deploying to the Gulf. As part of the long-standing roulement of RN mine-hunters to the Gulf – the UK keeps 4 such ships permanently based in the region - Bangor was to deploy in Jun for the 7-week transit to Bahrain. Once there she will be based in Bahrain for 3 – 4 years and as you will be familiar with, a different Crew manning and operating the ship for 6 months at a time.
The lead up to deployment was busy and demanding, as the Ship’s Company worked to ensure that Bangor was in the best possible material state, prepared administratively for 6 months away from the UK and complete personal preparations. The central pillar of what is known as our ‘generation’ period, Operational Sea Training (OST), took place over March and early April. The first week was spent conducting basic sea safety serials – man overboard, dealing with fires and floods etc – and checking that our admin was in order.
The following 4 weeks were spent quickly ramping up to an operational scenario to test the Ship in all respects whilst she conducted mine-hunting tasking. This meant simulated attacks by small vessels and aircraft, dealing with significant damage, conducting rescue and salvage of a stricken vessel, establishing the extent of mine-fields, disposing of mines and more. The team worked 6 hours on, 6 hours off Watch and it was stressful and tiring. I’m pleased to say that we did well, achieving a ‘Satisfactory’ assessment across the board, with the logisticians and divers achieving an even more commendable ‘Very Satisfactory’ assessment.
Immediately after Operational Sea Training we joined up with 3 other UK MCMVs, HMS Grimsby, Brocklesby and Hurworth, and 2 French vessels to participate in Exercise JOINT WARRIOR. This is the largest naval exercise in Europe and includes participants from across NATO and 5 separate Task Groups of vessels. Our group sailed together up the west coast of Scotland to Loch Ewe, near Ullapool, to conduct survey ops and mine-hunting as part of the wider scenario. As well as dealing with the complexities of working for a full, deployed Command Chain and alongside the full range of naval vessels, including the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, we also faced threats from air attack and swarms of fast attack boats. Suffice to say it is both fantastic training and great fun, albeit a very tough period. Sadly Bangor’s participation was cut short due to a major defect on the sonar that ultimately led to us returning to Faslane for repairs.
Once these were completed we returned to sea to conduct trials and testing on the new sonar and a range of pre-deployment tasks. At the same time we had considerable number of final pre-deployment preparations to take place, both for the Crew and the Ship. Due to a combination of hard work and good fortune we just managed to achieve all the pre-requisites to allow us to deploy, which we did on Monday 1st June.
We had very much hoped to be able to sail straight across the Irish Sea for a short, final visit to Bangor. Sadly we still had some final work to complete before we left the UK, which was to conduct a live firing of the ‘Seafox’ mine disposal system. This held us in the Clyde Approaches for 72 hours after sailing and meant that we did not have the time to get to Bangor. Once the live firing was successfully completed we began our long transit and made best speed for our first port of call, Porto. With a tight timeline to reach the Gulf and a maximum transit speed of 10 knots (for fuel economy to maximise our range), we were only able to stay in Porto overnight and top up fuel but most of the team were able to step ashore for the evening.
Thereafter Bangor made her way to the Mediterranean, with first stop Gibraltar. As ever, the Royal Navy was very warmly welcomed and the Ship’s Company enjoyed two days off for some rest and relaxation. The visit coincided with the Duke of Edinburgh’s birthday and the Trooping the Colour ceremony for Her Majesty the Queen’s Official Birthday, with Bangor being dressed overall to mark both occasions. The subsequent transit through the Mediterranean saw Bangor support the long-standing Operation Active Endeavour, the NATO mission to provide ongoing maritime security and reassurance to those on the high seas across the Mediterranean, and focussing on internal training and preparations for passing through areas of higher threat. A 4-day visit to Valletta, Malta proved to be a real highlight, from the entrance to the spectacular GrandHarbour, to sightseeing in the historic city and enjoying the local nightlife.
Maritime security and internal training continued as Bangor left Malta and headed east towards Crete. Calmer sees and great weather allowed the Ship’s Company to enjoy that fine naval tradition – ‘Hands to Bathe’. The Ship stopped in the water and shut down, allowing the team to jump into the sea and the brave ones to show off their diving skills. It provided a welcome break from the hot Mediterranean sun and the daily working routine, as well as a memorable moment for all. The next destination was the NATO berth in SoudaBay, Crete, where Bangor was to conduct a series of equipment tests and trials to ensure that system accuracy and functionality was correct prior to arrival in the operational theatre. This was achieved successfully over a 5 day period and Bangor left in excellent shape bound for Limassol, Cyprus.
After proving our sensors and mine-hunting capabilities in SoudaBay, the visit to Limassol allowed the Marine Engineers to conduct some maintenance and checks on the propulsion systems, generators and air conditioning plants. The divers also conducted a check of the hull to provide assurance that the Voith Schnieder blades – our equivalent of the traditional propeller blades – and all inlets and outlets were in good order. With Bangor given a clean bill of health and the engineering work complete the team enjoyed a few days to see Cyprus, enjoy the nightlife and use the facilities at RAF Akrotiri, including a fantastic open-air karting track.
Rather than proceed through the Suez Canal as planned, Bangor received unexpected direction to make a 2-day visit to the port city of Alexandria. This would be the first time that a Royal navy warship had visited the city in almost 6 years and allowed us to renew our long-standing friendship with the Egyptian Navy. Bangor was met by an Egyptian warship on arrival and welcomed alongside by a large party of Egyptian Naval staff, the UK’s Defence Attaché and a television crew. The first day alongside proved to be busy with various different engagements. The CO was invited to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the city centre. A group of 10 Senior and Junior Ratings accompanied him, all in best Number 1 uniform. The occasion was hosted by an Egyptian Navy Commodore and a guard and band of 30 sailors provided the ceremony.
The first day also saw a number of Egyptian Naval Officers from their Mine-Warfare Brigade, akin to RN MCM squadrons, for a tour of the ship and a chance to discuss capabilities and procedures. Later in the evening the CO hosted a number of naval and civilian guests and the Defence Attaché for an ‘Iftar’ meal, the traditional meal served at the end of the day of fasting during Ramadan. The chefs cooked up a fantastic 5-course feast and the evening proved to be an excellent way of marking our ongoing friendship with our Egyptian counterparts and thanking them for a very warm welcome. The following day was less busy and allowed almost all the Ship’s Company to enjoy the type of event for which many joined the RN – a day trip to see the Pyramids at Giza. Despite a long bus journey and searing heat in the desert the day, it was a fantastic day and a great highlight of the trip so far.
The departure from Alexandria brought to an end Phase 1 of Bangor’s deployment. She sailed directly to the Suez Canal and made an uneventful transit south, following a long convoy of huge merchant ships. The Ship’s Company focus shifted to the increasing threats present in the region and more firmly towards tasking from our new Command chain based in Bahrain.
The forthcoming period will doubtless be as interesting and challenging as our journey out through the Mediterranean, albeit with a much more operational focus and with HMS Bangor playing her part in protecting British interests as part of the multi-national coalition effort in the Gulf and broader Middle east region.
Suffice to say that Bangor and her Ship’s Company, Crew 8, along with our fellow Gulf-based MCMs, are doing the public and our families proud and we continue to be most grateful for all the support we receive, including that of the Ton Class Association. There will be more progress reports in due course but in the meantime please accept our very best wishes from sea.
Yours Aye,
Mike Carter Quinn