HMS Trent is bound for the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, say the Royal Navy.
It is understood that the vessel is to undertake security patrols to support allies in West Africa.
The Royal Navy say here that the River-class Batch 2 patrol ship is on an enduring deployment to the Mediterranean that has seen her operate as far east as the Black Sea since she left the UK six months ago.
“HMS Trent is now turning her attentions south to the tropical waters of the Gulf of Guinea for the next three months as she becomes the first Royal Navy ship to sail to the region in three years. With Royal Marines of 42 Commando on board, the ship will carry out a range of joint exercises and training to strengthen ties and develop plans for future operations in the region.
Trent will visit Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cape Verde, and will take part in French-led multinational exercises that will bring together international partners in the area, known as Exercise Grand African Nemo. She will also conduct security patrols and support partner navies by helping to develop key maritime skills.”
Commanding Officer of HMS Trent, Commander Tom Knott, said in a news releae:
“We are extremely proud and excited to commence this deployment to what is an exciting new region for HMS Trent. We are looking forward to working with regional partners and also engaging with local communities in an effort to strengthen security.”
The Royal Navy add that HMS Trent carries on board a 17-strong contingent from 42 Commando, which will train partner forces in skills like boarding and searching of suspicious vessels, as well as evidence handling and medical skills.
Is there any River classes left in the UK waters? lol
Yes three of them 🙂
another task for an overworked ship and crew,its no wonder the navy is losing sailors when they are sent on flag waving deployments in pointless ships.
Excellent; piracy is a problem off West Africa. A Type 31 and a helo would be better. A littoral support ship better still. Do we have any plans for a ‘Ranger battalion’ in any of the Gulf (of Guinea) states?
Nobody knows as yet, apart from MoD.
Hi Daniele. Thx. Watch this space then I guess.
he M.O.D doesn’t know the day of the week,never has done.
This might solve the helo problem in the future?
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/air-platforms/latest/thales-scheibel-complete-s-100-uas-flight-trials
The RN have evaluated surveillance drones. Have they settled on which ones to buy?
My guess lack of finance is delaying the decison, however I doubt they will be the solution for policing operations. Adding range to survalliancd is a good addition but the key role that the helicopter provides is the ability to intercept the craft, when the host boat is too far away or too slow to do itself, plus providing top coverage for the boating party.
They need uav that are armed with something more practical than missiles (too expensive for warning shots), like a machine gun and a big load speaker.
Yes, I agree. Trent is perfectly suited to the role.
Good to know where the targets are and which direction they are going ! Recon UAV allows over horizon search and discreet tracking. Would be a massive asset.
Hi Paul, not to my knowledge, but the future is looking a little bit brighter in this regard!
I was reading an article that highlighted it’s odd that the conversion of the bay class has gone completely quiet since it was announced. Indicating there might be financial limitations delaying the forming of the new littoral units.
Well the northern one was based around an LPD for reinforcement of Norway so that should be ok; that said the US I think has forces permanently based in Norway which lets face it is a more realistic and practical strategy. For West Africa, East Africa or Asia they are probably good enough as they are. A R2, add a Bay, add a T23 with all their helos and RM make a graduated littoral response group for humanitarian aid and small scale insertions and rescue missions. If and when the frigate gets the interim missile and with Wildcat it would… Read more »
I’m pretty sure that the US forces based in Norway are Marines operating in land based mode without much in the sea.
Yeh, my point is that if you are already on the land you don’t have to worry about the delay, size and risk of an amphibious assault. You need only a handful of US troops present to deter Soviet agression.
You’re right, as operators for all those ready to go tanks are just a C-17 away. Its pure Russian aggression now the Soviets don’t exist.
i see the irish dublin based ferry company is sellin its most recently aquired roll on roll off rip off the supertstructure fit a full length flight deck one instant h.l.p
Interesting idea. With Ocean gone and Argus going soon another large flat top would be very handy.
think 30mm cannon, gpmg and mini guns plus commandos can handle pirates! dont need frigate
Yeh, you are right. I’m getting ahead of myself into littoral response territory.
our focus should be on the nations priorities are and a river won’t achieve it with a 30mm cannon i like the updated specs for thai derivative of a batch 2 river with a 76mm oto melara rapid fire gun, two additional 30mm cannon mounted behind the bridge wings put martlet on those 30mm and you’ll have a real deterrent anyone threatening british shipping routes
To be honest beyond being a reassuring policing presence I am not clear what further objectives the UK has in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. In terms of capability as discussed above I think the most important one to add to Trent is the UAV. Once the pirates know they are on candid camera and there’s a 2000 ton RN warship and a detachment of RM headed their way I think they will have a sudden change of mind.
Just had a butchers at the main picture, the River Class is much bigger than I presumed, as those 9 blokes on the front are really small
Yes, it is a big lump.
With a simple fitout to maximise time on station.
Trouble with the whistles and bells brigade is that erodes deployed time and makes it too complex for local support and very expensive as tech teams need to be flown out to maintain or fix things.
I’d prefer to see T31 uparmed and/or more T31/2 purchased than mess about recreating a T21.
With T31 based on IverH design they could have kept the stanflex design making it easy to and/remove numbers of weapons. But the these won’t even be FFBNW. i know i’ve said before but i think Absolm is really good patrol/relief design but could not armed enough to provide a good task group additional hull
Absolutely! The River’s are perfectly good for low-level security ops and defence engagement off of West Africa and around The West Indies. The only semi permanent addition I’d look to make is a containerized UAV which would massively increase their surveillance capability.
With a decent gun fit to counter fast attack craft, a large mission bay / flight-deck and hopefully 24 CAMM the T31’s won’t need many more bells and whistle’s to fill the more demanding deployments East of Suez. Fingers crossed they get the interim AShM’s as the T23’s retire too!
👍
And everything else that can be drone or modular. Loads of space an power.
Personally I see T31 as being amazing assets.
1, 2, 3 need to add XYZ
Challenger the River batch2 with 30mm ds30m2 canon onboard are capable of engaging rhibs, speedboats, fast attack craft etc out to about 4km range.
i was surprised that there was never a batch 2 type 21 i was on amazon for 6 months back in the 80’s. i loved it,it was an excellent ship a ship that the skipper referred to as his ferrari. a real boy racers ship. we could do worse than have them back,yes they’re old hull wise but they are warships and could fulfil some of the homewaters tasksking that are currently being neglected wouldn’t cost much at all those recently retired pakstani type 21’s give them their royal navy identities back.crossdeck as much as possible from a t23, upgrade… Read more »
I’m not sure how decommissioning beyond hull life T23’s are acquiring 2 x hull life T21’s would make things better?
Going down that path the T22 B3’s would have been a better bet.
T21 was a fine ship for costal protection but, as we have previously been over on here, was found very wanting when it came to the hot stuff.
Ww2 destroyer size. Would be an ok corvette sized vessel today, put a telescopic hangar on ect
Hi farouk,
Just to compare. The B2 River Class displace 2,000tons. The Leander Class GP frigates displaced 2,350tons.
This gives the Rivers considerable flexbility in the patrol, presence and relief roles. Their size also allows them to stay on station for extended periods and gives them considerable operational range.
Great assets.
Cheers CR
Rename them Frigates!!! Added to the T32’s that gives us 29!
Happy days! 😂
Hi Daniele, You could I suppose. 🙂 but I was just giving an illustrated answer to the original question rather than suggesting they are frigates, or should be up armed… In fact, I think they have just the right level of ‘visible’ capability. I think they represent a half way house between full on hard power (frigates / CSG) and soft power. The extra accomodation below the flight deck can, I believe, support up to 50 Royal Marines for short periods. This, along with the possibility of operating quad copter drones, for example, represents a significant ‘surge’ capability if needed… Read more »
The pitfalls of text rather than spoken! I didn’t think for a moment you were suggesting they were mate.
I’m a big fan of these too, I’d buy more if the cash were available.
Up arming nice to have with no money issues, but totally unnecessary.
It’s the Scheibal UAV copter I’d like to see on these.
Hey, that’s my idea!
(Boris has listened to it and he’s reserving it for when he needs spin!)
😘
In all seriousness I had no idea tonnage wise they are close to Leander’s. Impressive and good looking vessels.
Yes, most impressive. You wouldn’t have thought they’re as big as they are, but they are! Arguably closer in displacement to the earlier Type 12 models and much heavier than the Blackwood frigates. although they’re a similar length. Of course, I have suggested the reclassification with a healthy dose of jest, but the pedigree is certainly there and the vessels themselves are more than capable of carrying a heavier armament. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if they were upgraded in the future (40mm, 2x 30mm, Martlet, UAV rotorcraft/patrol boats) in the name of spin. It’s an ‘easy’ way of claiming… Read more »
Agreed mate. Spend it on T31.
But get the Scheibal.
i took my nephew to the pompey historic dockyard, the forth was in. town and only by getting close can you get a feel for the size of these ships, patrol vessel? wasted. corvette(?) absolutely,only by getting close do you you realise just how big these ships are. and what they could/should be.
Going back in history a little bit (always a dangerous thing sometimes) the UK government spent 2% of GDP and half the Royal Navy budget on the West African squadron charged with eliminating African-on-African as well as Arab-on-African slavery for export to the US and South America. Does make you think that those extreme left wing people demolishing monuments and berating Britain for so-called historical injustices (of course not modern day China or Russia) do seem to be completely nuts or is it just me? I do wish left wing people would once in a while actually read history and… Read more »
They have as they claim ‘their own facts’ and that means excluding anything that counts against the story they wish to tell. Sadly, our national media have swallowed one of these and there is no prize for guessing which one that is.
They never mention the good white europeans have done. Or bad Coloured folk have done, strange, it’s always white man bad.
You make a valid point. God forbid we point out how the Islamic Arabs profited from the slave trades in West Africa.
Or how indigenous Africans sold other rival indigenous tribes to the Europeans…the woke brigade would have a melt down.
* the truth works both ways
The last slave to America named Cudjo Lewis was captured by an unit of “people with v*gin*s” from the Slave Kingdom of Dahomey.
There were several kingdoms in Africa which their main economy was slavery.
And today neither Hollywood or BBC made a film about the Royal Navy Anti-Slavery patrols…
And what about the reason for the Marines attack in Tripoli?
May want to check out this Spielberg movie.. remember watching it when it came out back in the day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amistad_(film)
Thanks. I had forgotten about it.
Klonkie Long before Europeans ventured down west Africa round the horn up the East Coast mainly by the Portuguese, Timbuktu west Africa Dar es Salam East Afica had been Slavery hubs by Arabs for Hundreds of years prior too the arrival of white colonialists We unfortunately purchased a commodity bad taste I know , We didn’t go out hunting for those poor wretches Arab or other tribes did that themselves
Yes indeed…an often overlooked part of history is that coloured Africans actually sold rival tribe prisoners into slavery…
Absolutely – there were black slave owners back in the day but that fact gets quickly glossed over and brushed under the carpet. Hush-hush now. Not to get off topic but I once meet an acquaintance who was black and part of the Black African American Society at university. The purpose she told me, was that it allows her to celebrate her black culture. Fine. Now I did think to myself, would I be allowed to set up a White Caucasian Society so I could celebrate my white culture? Hmmm…. not bloody likely! Complete double standard… but you’re racist if… Read more »
“Absolutely – there were black slave owners back in the day “
There were not just black slave owners.
There were African kingdoms like Kingdom of Congo, Kingdom of Dahomey that one of their major economic activity was slavery.
We should keep in mind that slavery might not be even the worst thing depending in what the slave job was. There were human sacrifices for religious/political reasons, servants were buried alive with suzerain when he died…etc.
Those times were hard and human lives were of very low value or even nothing.
Yes whites owned the overall business but did very little of the hands on dirty work, Slavery was in process before we even came to Africa, we just industrialised it
Read on Imbalangas to know how much depravity could occur there.
I remember as a small child being driven past a house in central Lagos (around the time of Nigerian independence) and my father telling me that the biggest slave trader in West Africa lived there – it was a very large house – she was clearly a very wealthy woman.
It is not white they are after: white is just a proxy for Free Market Capitalism and Free Speech.
The Biased Broadcasting Corporation??
The men who worked for the abolition of the slave trade were Quakers, Evangelical Christians and/or motivated by enlightenment values on the rights of man. The key dates in that period are 1807, abolition of the slave trade; 1832 the Representation of the People Act and 1833 Abolition of Slavery in all parts of the British Empire. The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was mainly run by women in non conformist sects, Quakers and Unitarians who were unable to be elected to parliament so worked through sympathetic Anglicans and Evangelicals like William Wilberforce. Radicals and Chartists… Read more »
The role of William the conqueror and the anti slavery dictates in the doomsday book in the 11th century were a catalyst for the change in the mindset …
There is a rumour that on his deathbed he said he
confessed his regret for the cruelty he inflicted on the English….No doubt he received absolution.
Let’s think +ve. It will soon be 2066 and we already have a couple of elected metropolitan mayors; the English are taking back control of our country. Whatever next; maybe regional health authorities for Mercia, Wessex and Anglia….?
It’s always a bit grey when you look at history, truth is the this country made a whole lot of money from slavery, way after it had made it illegal in this country. But at the same time it was a nation that truly imbraced the war against the transatlantic slave trade. The true of the British empire is a mixture of great benefit and great suffering as with all the great empires. It’s very true to say the British empire created the modern world and for all its fault the modern world is better that a lot of history.… Read more »
Well put
You’re clearly fishing. The responses you’ve had fill most bingo cards for this type of post lol. Woke, coloured, islamic, “blacks also bad”, whataboutery etc. Guessing the reverse card would include boomer, gammon, racist, tory, white lives also matter etc
Like looking at Twitter replies to sky news posts…. 😖😖🍻
Well Damo the truth is in my opinion well summed up by Rod McKuen-
“There is no wrong side nor right side, No side of the Angels and none that Devils can call their very own…”
In essence I suppose many shades of grey-little in Black or White.
I agree Geoff. There is little that sits conveniently into one bucket. The history people often review is either the one they were taught (often selective) or the one that fits their value Stream or their experience. No doubt the UK anti slavery stance changed the values of many nations and individuals across the globe and contributed massively to the reduction of the abhorrent trade (I won’t say eradication). Meanwhile you go to some other parts of the world and into certain communities and you meet people who have a different perspective of Britain. Cultural memory of colonial heavy handedness,… Read more »
I was a center left once , but this woke culture have gone mad , starmer wants a women as the next James bond , madness!! but then again I cant say that Borris is doing much better, if you are going to leave the EU at least prepare for it lol.
Time for center politics with common sense to enter the stage.
From time to time new generations build new values usually inspired from disaffected old people to wrestle the power from older generations.
How do you break the existing connections and alliances that block your ambition? You create a new value system. It is irrelevant what is it as long as it appeals to some basic human instinct.
leaders on both sides 10-15 years ago at least could do the basics right and have some common sense I’m not confident with the new generation.
They read the selective history that fits their anti-Britain, anti-empire mantras.
Good post Andrew but it would appear that much of the left wing and indeed many of the peoples of Africa and elsewhere will never recognise the good that Britain has done over recent centuries in this planet of ours. Not so long ago an(incidentally) white political leader here in South Africa had the temerity to suggest that not all that colonialism brought to Africa was bad-refering of course to modern medicine, infrastructure,lights,clean water,motor vehicles, air travel,Johnny Walker Blue(much loved by the local ANC politicos at over R1000 per bottle-viva socialism!!!),the internet etc etc etc.. She was almost hounded out… Read more »
very good Geoff – circa 1977- great tune ! Good point on colonialism .I wish those on the left would pause and reflect to have a balanced view on society.
Cheers Klonkie. Are you old enough to remember Dyllis Stevens and the Cyclones from Salisbury Southern Rhodesia??
a wee bit before my time mate, I was 13 in 1977
I don’t buy into the whole ‘loony Left’ thing, there are blinkered people everywhere. I know what you mean though and the whole ‘woke’ thing doesn’t do anyone any favours, its basically a cult to peoples own egos.
Slavery still exists, Mauritania is a prime example but I guess Facebook etc haven’t got round to feeling outraged about it yet. Maybe not enough rap songs about it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Mauritania
Yeah. Social media and 24 hour news gives people a platform. There’s as much loony left as there is loony right in my opinion. Just that media deservedly doesn’t give racist crackpots the air time. So you’re left with “controversy” and “outrage” articles designed yo trigger, watch and click. How money is made
They are not loony, that is the biggest mistake people do.
The objective is to create a power structure and they achieved it.
But when do the middle or the road masses stand up and say enough woke madness!!
Bizarre country. Flew for a good 8 hours in a Chinook and didn’t see a soul. Then crested a dune to find a whole tribe sat on another crest waving at us. There wasn’t any habitation for miles. So where did they come from? Along the West coast, there are loads of “modernish” shipwrecks (fating from the war to the present). Then as you skim over the tops of them, you notice the waters around them are full of sharks. Not a place I’d like to be stuck in a rubber raft, bobbing around waiting for a rescue! There is… Read more »
The RN is a force for good in this world. I would like to see more regular mainstream press reporting of their routine work in anti piracy, drug interceptions, humanitarian relief, diplomacy etc
The deployment of Trent with a short reference to the history of the West Africa squadron and some current affairs of the region would make an interesting and uplifting news feature.
Kudos to UKDJ who are doing their bit with +ve news.
Andrew I know this reply is somewhat late in coming, but have just watched a programme on Britain’s first Colonry in the New World Jamestown and history written by the Governor Sir George Yardleu that in 1620 a ship containing Slaves from West Africa Yardley purchased said Africans from not a British Ship but from A Portuguese Vessal ,these Africans worked in homes ,So too all the taking the knee brigade It wasn’t us Brits who started Shipping the Human commodity to America but Portuguese and also Spanish just thought maybe you’d be interested
I wish these vessels had a bigger and better weapons array.
Why ? What weapons do you think are needed in West Africa and West Indies ?
Just in general. A couple of more teeth wouldn’t go amiss.
More expensive though, requires more crew, fewer days between resupply, more time in port for maintenance…
Often the most useful bit of offensive kit on a Royal Navy ship will be the ensign they fly.
Hmmm….a jolly old gunboat.
I think they are adequate for their tasks. I’d rather see the money invested in the fighting ships
I’m starting to believe the River 2’s will end up being like the RAF Buccaneers…..didnt want them…but ended up loving them.
I started out loving them, except for the permanent FlyCo space, which I still don’t understand given the infrequent use of helicopters. Presumably they can repurpose it for UAV control.
Hi Jon,
These ships are capable of carryin 2 or 3 ISO containers and still have a sizable flight deck. So a range of capabilities could be carried and deployed in the form of autonomous vehicles. I would not be surprised if at some point in the future the RN starts to wish it had more River B2’s.
Low intensity ops against pirates and people / drug smugglers are going to be on going for as long as I can see into the future.
Cheers CR
Thanks. I’d read somewhere up to six 20ft containers, but that was based on really old information and might have been sacrificing the flight deck.
I’d hope the B3s, if there are any, would be sized to the new PODS, which look very similar. B1s will be getting long in the tooth about the end of the decade, so there might be another batch ordered.
Hi Jon,
Likewise, another batch towards the end of the decade would be nice… Also, I read up on the PODS after an earlier post from yourself I believe and the PODS are based on ISO container sizes, so yeh they would fit.
Exciting, potential with the PODS system.
Cheers CR
Yes, I hope for a Batch 3.
At the moment no plans however. The B2’s where originally meant to replace the B1’s so the replacement plan for them has technically been scuppered.
IIRC the ISO containers go to the left and right of the Flyco, just aft of the Rib Davits, so they don’t impinge on the flight deck at all (and if you are operating drones can serve as a hangar of sorts.
I think the 6 ISO container figure may be for the Batch 1’s which have a large open area at the stern, but no HLS.
Thanks Dern, that’s very helpful.
CR
Hi CR,
I meant to attach and image to that post and forgot, so better late than never:
Thanks Dern, shows the aft arrangement of the B2 very well. Clearly they had the idea of two ISO’s from the beginning…
One thing and I know its only a model so more out of curiosity really, but the helicopter doesn’t look as if its quite in the right place. Shouldn’t it be directly over the ‘mesh’ visible under the tail rotor i.e. hooked on and held down – or have I missunderstood what I am looking at?
Finaly, am I right in thinking Flyco is the ‘bay window’ like arrangement on the super structure?
Cheers CR
Hi CR,
Yes, that bay window is the Flyco, seems a bit low to me, but I guess it works.
I think you’re right that the Helicopter may be slightly too far fwd, but possibly it’s because the flight deck is designed to take a Merlin so maybe it’s just that the Wildcat looks small?
At anyrate I’m not sure what the ‘mesh’ is but in actual photos it doesn’t seem to be a mesh (perhaps an access hatch?)
I see no one is mentioning the RN new pods concept, which in theory could mean a River Class could become many things, incuding reconnaissance, deep strike or UAV platform etc. Anyone else find this new container concept fascinating?
I was expecting, like Stanflex, the PODS would need to be plugged in to a power/data/control interface that links to the ship’s backbone. Even if, as ChariotRider suggests, the dimensions are those of a 20′ ISO container, the ships would still need to have plug points at the carry spots. I suppose data connection could be wireless, but would that be sufficiently hardened for the military? If the wiring is a major job they might not retro-fit the B2 Rivers for a considerable time. On the other hand, the PODS may be totally stand alone. The concept is great, but… Read more »
Just to add: the MoD RFI for it’s heavy lift drones require a minimum lift capacity of 200kg. If that determines the PODS weight limit, even a single medium (200 kg class) VTOL recon drone, such as S-100/AW Hero/Skeldar is unlikely to fit, along with a 30 kg radar payload and all its control equipment.
(Maybe if they leave out the IKEA furniture.)
With the FSSS heavy replenishment at sea requirement ditched, perhaps a second PODS classification for heavyweight port installations would expand options.
Hi Jon,
You may have seen this article on Navy Lookout from 2019 which gives a very interesting and balance assessment of set of upgrade options for the River Class, including a discussion of containerised capabilities.
https://www.navylookout.com/enhancing-the-royal-navys-batch-ii-opvs/
Cheers CR
Hi Jon, Yeh, I saw some pictures of the DSEI PODS displays as well and share your disappointment. However, two things spring to mind in the RN / MoD’s defence. Firstly, they have achieved quite a lot on very stretched budgets so I think that the rather basic ideas (and IKEA) furniture that were in the mockups possibly reflect a lack of funding for the displays rather than a lack of imagination (it may also reflect budgetary restraints of the programme as well, of course). Secondly, and probably more telling is that the MoD is very risk averse. Just remember… Read more »
I caught the hint at budget limits, and I hope you are right about it being a failure of the display funding/time. I think the aspiration to deliver PODS using 200kg lift drones alone would be incompatible with the aspiration to repurpose a ship, upgrade it, or even to swap out equipment for maintenance. A Chinook can lift 12 tons and could probably transfer containerised CAMM. (I just use that as a weighty example. I’m not in favour of upgunning Rivers in their current role.) Also the pretty pictures suggested surface drone delivery too. That’s why I’d have liked to… Read more »
This is a perfect role for the Batch II Rivers.
As far as freeing up more hulls, one thing I never hear discussed is replacing the Towed Array Patrol ships with something cheaper than a T23/26. In the future, couldn’t it be done with XLUUVs and Halcyon or Project Wilton boats? What about something smaller than a T31 with a towed array, like the Venator 110? I know the TAP ships have specialist capabilities but I’m assuming they could be fitted to other vessels.
Hi Ron, Autonomous vehicles do occassionally get discussed when they are in the news but we will never hear everything about these platforms for obvious reasons so less opportunity to discuss on what is a news related resource. You are right autonomous vehicles could be used for many application, some of which we probably haven’t dreamed up yet. I think that having a sensor only autonomous vehicle lurking around certain choke points would a good initial use, for example. Intelligence is a key enabler particularly in these increasingly dangerous times. Whether we like it or not we are in another… Read more »
Thanks Chariot. Agreed.
There is massive depletion of fish stocks in the area of the Gulf of Guinea by a large Chinese fishing fleet. They are regulars inside territorial waters of several nations and fish with impunity. Several African Fishing Monitors have dissapeared off the boats while monitoring their catch in the last few years, and the Chinese claim no knowledge of what happeened to them. I think Trent will be doing some fisheries protection work here which is bound to aggrevate the Chinese who respect no one.
A good vid on the historical RN’s West African Squadron
Anti-Slavery Patrols – The West Africa Squadron – YouTube
I was deployed on a T23 doing a Falklands trip and for the 1999-2000 Christmas to new year millennium we where alongside in Cape town( What a Run! Test Cricket, 14 rand to the pound and a great bunch of locals to party with….oh and the Stellenbosch … love SA wines!) Anyway I digress… The way back was basically almost every nation with a coast in West Africa. Nigeria, Ghana or Gambia (cannot remember which) Senegal and Cape Verde where all visited along with Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone In Sierra Leone we hosted some of the… Read more »
Thanks GB-Great post as always from ‘the horses mouth’! Western Cape is beautiful part of the world!
I note the Captain is a Commander, no doubt due to the embarked RM, complex mission and distance from the home port. Would the CO otherwise be a Lt?
Is that a “Lootenant” or a “Leftenant”? 🙂
definitely a “Lefttenant”
“Tenant: in the army ands “left” their brains on civy street. That’s what the rank and file called us in my day. Wen I was a Candidate Officer, this was the order of things:
Lt berates the Sgt
Sgt takes it out on the troop
Troop kicks the dog
Dog bites the Candidate Officer!
It would be good if they helped stop the illegal Chinese trawling off the Gambian coast which has destroyed fish stocks for poor local fishermen.