HMAS Perth moves into position in front of HMAS Ballarat as the ship returns home to Fleet Base West from an extended period of maintenance and upgrades at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson in Western Australia. Photo: LSIS Richard Cordell
Maxine Purvis, of Dunedin, took part in Saturday’s HMS Neptune wreath laying service in memory of her uncle Reg Peat, of Dunedin, who died in the sinking of the ship during World War 2. PHOTOS: BRENDA HARWOOD
Descendants and families of 150 New Zealand men — including 30 from Otago, killed in the World War 2 sinking of HMS Neptune, gathered in Dunedin last weekend for a reunion.
The Otago Military History Group, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Naval Reserve HMNZS Toroa, the Otago Officers’ Club and Volunteer Reserve Association joined forces to plan the reunion to remember those who died in the tragedy.
Royal New Zealand Navy Chief Petty Officer Tina Scadden stands in silence at the HMS Neptune memorial in the steamer basin, during Saturday’s solemn wreath laying service.
Along with a dinner and church service, the reunion weekend included a wreath-laying service at HMS Neptune memorial plinth at the steamer basin on Saturday morning.
The service was led by MC retired warrant officer Graeme Harvey, who spoke of the 764 men who died in the HMS Neptune sinking and remembers those who had also served on other ships. Padre Rev David Crooke led the prayers for “those boys who died so long ago”.
Among more than 100 people attending the service was a large contingent from the McPherson family, who were there in remembrance of their uncle Brian McPherson, who had lived at Macandrew Bay.
Members of the McPherson family attend the HMS Neptune reunion at the weekend, attending Saturday’s wreath laying in honour of their late uncle Brian McPherson, of Macandrew Bay, who was a mid-shipman on HMS Neptune and died when it sank in December, 1941.
Dunedin woman Liz McPherson was among three sisters, two brothers, and their children and grandchildren, some of whom had travelled from the North Island to attend the occasion.
“It is so good that this memorial plinth is here and being used for a service like this. It has been a very special day,” Ms McPherson said.
Watch: HMS Prince of Wales welcomed home in Portsmouth
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has returned to Portsmouth naval base after her landmark deployment to the east coast of the United States.
Britain’s biggest warship has spent the last few months undergoing sea and air trials, including training with American F-35 jets.
Crowds lined Portsmouth’s city walls to welcome the sailors home, while almost 3,000 family and friends were on the jetty to be reunited with their loved ones who set sail in September.
The repairs took nine months to complete and were expected to cost £25m.
‘Huge Success’
HMS Prince of Wales Captain, Richard Hewitt told Forces News: “It’s been a huge success, from everything we were tasked to deliver, we have delivered and I think in some areas we’ve exceeded what we were expected to deliver.
“From my perspective as the Captain, the sailors have got away, had a fantastic time, had new experiences and to return them home today is really special.”
Highlights for Captain Hewitt included the exploration of the boundary of the F-35 aircraft and pushing that capability, as well as the “interchangeability with the US marine core and some of their tilt-rotor aircraft”.
He also highlighted the uncrewed aviation, “one of the drones we launched in UK waters, and also the same in the US waters.”
HMS Prince of Wales Captain, Richard Hewitt told Forces News, HMS PoW had “exceeded” in some areas on her deployment.
What’s next for HMS PoW?
“So PoW now, with the ship’s company taking some leave, a short meetings period at the start of the year, Captain Hewitt told Forces News.
“As we look to mid-2024, she will take over the role as the on-call strike carrier for the Royal Navy.”
He added, what a “huge” role this will be for the carrier.
“Queen Elizabeth will quite rightly have some downtime and some maintenance and PoW is back, ready to go, and ready to take up the mantle, looking forward to deploying in 2025.”
The carrier’s deployment focused on intensive trials with American F-35Bs, pushing the boundaries of the fifth-generation aircraft.
The F-35s completed shipborne rolling vertical landings on HMS Prince of Wales and also operated in ‘Beast Mode’, helping to expand the jets’ capabilities.
Other aircraft also operated from HMS Prince of Wales during the Westlant 23 deployment, including a nine-metre-long Mojave unmanned aircraft system – the largest uncrewed aircraft ever launched from a Royal Navy carrier.
As well as the training, a very special guest joined the carrier’s crew aboard – Lieutenant Commander Ike, a yellow Labrador who works as a US Navy therapy dog.
Forces News live-streamed HMS Prince of Wales’ return to Portsmouth which you can rewatch here.
On 2 July 2023, two mine countermeasure vessels, Chernihiv (ex-HMS Grimsby) and Cherkasy (ex-HMS Shoreham), were commissioned with the Ukrainian Navy and further development of Ukraine forces will be supported by a new coalition.
The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.
The coalition will support two Royal Navy Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) in service with the Ukraine Armed Force which were purchased through UK Export Finance and commissioned in July 2023. The partnership has built on UK foreign secretary David Cameron’s visit to Ukraine in November when he announced the new ‘Unity Facility’ between UK company Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian Government.
The facility will provide what the UK government described as ‘affordable’ shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis.
The new maritime coalition will work with the Ukrainian Navy and MoD to develop a number of capabilities, including the rapid development of a maritime force in the Black Sea, continuing to develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps, and river patrol craft to defend coastal and inland waterways.
UK defence secretary Grant Shapps remarked: ‘This capability boost marks the beginning of a new dedicated effort by the UK, Norway and our allies to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities over the long term, enhancing [Ukraine’s] ability to operate in defending their sovereign waters and bolstering security in the Black Sea.’
Agreed during recent meetings of the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the partnership will form part of a series of Capability Coalitions designed to strengthen Ukraine’s operations in domains such as on land and in the air.
Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Trent (Picture: Royal Navy)
HMS Trent has been deployed to hunt drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea – a different part of the world to her usual area of operation.
The Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) replaces HMS Dauntless, who has arrived back in Portsmouth, having seized more than £200m worth of cocaine during her hurricane season deployment.
HMS Trent usually operates in the Mediterranean and off the west coast of Africa as part of a long-term security mission, but will be taking over HMS Medway’s duties in the Caribbean.
HMS Medway, a River-Class vessel, normally patrols the Caribbean, but has been in the South Atlantic while her sister vessel HMS Forth underwent maintenance.
Prior to her Caribbean mission, HMS Trent had been working with coastal West African nations to help disrupt illegal activity and promote security along the busy shipping lanes during her second deployment to the Gulf of Guinea.
Deployed with a specialist Royal Marines boarding team and a Puma surveillance drone, HMS Trent worked to develop skills and techniques needed to counter illicit activity in the region.
The ship’s company has been carrying out post-deployment maintenance over the past month, getting the OPV ready for the Caribbean Sea.
Sub-Lieutenant Tom Bartlett said: “Our tour of the Gulf of Guinea was a great opportunity to train with and build relationships with partner nations. The crew have thoroughly enjoyed their time in Gibraltar whilst we prepare for our new adventures.”
Watch: Royal Navy trains with West African navies in Gulf of Guinea.
HMS Trent travelled as far as Nigeria, visiting seven countries in West Africa, supporting local navies, hosting local dignitaries and supporting maritime security in the region.
The legendary 809 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Immortals, is back after 41 years, HMS Dauntless returns to the UK after Caribbean drugs busts and a British Army band performs at a German Christmas market – all this and more in the Download.
Alaska-class large cruiser USS Guam (CB-2) moored at Pearl Harbor on 21 February 1945. The port catapult and aircraft crane are trained over the side. Guam served only 29 months on active duty.
HII Ingalls Shipbuilding has christened the US Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
The USS Bougainville (LHA 8) is a multi-functional vessel that can deploy in obstructed conditions.
Its operational flexibility in various environments will further support the service’s expeditionary strike groups, amphibious-ready groups, and amphibious task forces.
The design of the LHA 8 was based on the enhanced Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.
While other variants under the America class incorporate larger spaces to carry aviation fuel and aircraft, LHA 8’s structure has slightly smaller medical space and a hangar to fill in additional well deck area for small docking systems.
The ship’s island was also modified to support maintenance for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
HII is expected to deliver the system to the US Navy by 2024.
America-class amphibious assault ship “Bougainville.” Photo: HII
Testament to Cooperation
LHA 8 is the second ship to bear the name of Bougainville Island in the Solomons.
Inspiration for adopting the title was the success of interoperability between the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and allied forces during World War II.
This coordination enabled warfighters to secure a strategic airfield in the northern Solomons, limiting the dominance of Japanese forces in the South Pacific.
“Today is not only a day to celebrate our namesake, representatives of the successful outcome of a World War II campaign, but also the teamwork and collaboration of our United States Navy and Marine Corps that enabled it,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson stated.
“To fulfill our mission here in the shipyard, our sailors and Marines serve as a stellar example of how this extended network works together to fulfill a bigger purpose.”
Lord Cameron has visited the United States to push for more support for Ukraine, and the legendary 809 Naval Air Squadron is set to be resurrected this week – all this and more on The Download.
