Picture 21: HRH Prince Harry conducts a practice dive in the diving training tank at Horsea Island [Picture: LA (Phot) Emz Tucker]
On Wednesday 31 October 2007 HRH Prince Harry got a taste of Royal Navy life during his first visit to Portsmouth since becoming Commodore-in-Chief Small Ships and Diving in 2006. Prince Harry, or Cornet Wales as he is known to his Army colleagues, serves as a Troop Leader in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals. During his visit he was given a tour of the
Fleet Diving Squadron at its base on Horsea Island and was briefed on the work of mine warfare, fishery protection, patrol and survey vessels. He
was introduced to members of the Portsmouth bomb disposal unit and shown how to operate a remote-controlled bomb disposal vehicle. His two-hour visit concluded with a practice dive in the diving training tank where he met personnel from the Defence Diving School.
Picture 20: The barrel of Private Hale's General Purpose Machine Gun smokes from the heat created by the thousand rounds he has just fired [Picture: Cpl Jon Bevan RLC]
Soldiers from B (Suffolk) Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, known as 'The Vikings', were involved in operations throughout Helmand province since deploying in April 2007. They were employed in a variety of combat environments, which included operating from Viking vehicles in the desert, patrolling the streets of Sangin and carrying out strike operations in the notorious 'green zone'. They also maintained security around the strategically important Kajaki Dam, the key to long term reconstruction in southern Afghanistan. The dam is located at the head of the Sangin Valley, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and some of the most heavily mined terrain in the world. The town of Tangye, just outside the British base near the dam was deserted after months of fighting. Towns and villages all around Kajaki have been abandoned; soldiers called it 'the dead zone'. The daily routine involved fighting and conducting security patrols on the lower plains as well as standing patrols in observation posts accessed by goat tracks and slopes that would challenge the most experienced hill men.
Picture 19: Signs belonging to units that have served in Bessbrook Mill, Northern Ireland, have now been removed for storage [Picture: MOD]
Operation BANNER, came to an end in Northern Ireland on 31 July 2007. For 38 years the three Services (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force)
had delivered continuous support to the police and civil authorities in Northern Ireland. It is the longest continuous deployment of UK Armed Forces in their history. From 1 August 2007, the Northern Ireland garrison has contained just 5,000 troops who are trained and ready for deployment worldwide. Then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain MP, announced a normalisation programme on 1 August 2005 signalling that the security situation had improved. Widespread, routine military support to the police in Northern Ireland would no longer be needed and military presence there has been consistently reduced.
Picture 18: An RAF Typhoon from Number XI Squadron shadowing a Russian Bear-H aircraft over the North Atlantic Ocean on 17 August 2007 [Picture: RAF]
Typhoon F2s, the RAF's newest fast jet aircraft, took on their first operational duties on 29 June 2007, when they assumed responsibility for the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) element of UK and NATO air defence in the southern part of the country at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The first operational unit was Number 3 (Fighter) Squadron, which received its first Typhoon in March 2006, and is the lead squadron for developing RAF Typhoon air defence operations. 3(F) Squadron cover the QRA commitment with Typhoons from Number XI Squadron, which are also based at RAF Coningsby. QRA procedures entail aircraft being held at continuous ground readiness, so that they can take off within minutes - without pre-warning - to provide air defence.
Picture 17: Astute under construction at BAE Systems [Picture: BAE Systems]
The Royal Navy's newest super-submarine, Astute, was launched on 8 June 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. Astute is the first nuclear submarine to be launched in the UK for almost a decade. She was built in the UK using the latest and most advanced naval engineering techniques - construction was described as more complex than that of the space shuttle. Far bigger and more potent than the current class of attack submarines, this super stealthy vessel is almost 100m long, and weighs 7,400 tonnes. She will never need to be refuelled and her advanced on-board life support systems mean she can circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.
Picture 16: An Apache flies to the Taliban stronghold with Marines strapped to the side 'wings' [Picture: MOD]
A daring rescue attempt of Lance Corporal Mathew Ford, was carried out by Royal Marines on Apache helicopters in Afghanistan on Monday 15 January 2007. It was with great sadness that the Marines discovered Lance Corporal Mathew Ford, from 45 Commando Royal Marines, had been killed in action. His UK Task Force had attacked a major Taliban stronghold, Jugroom Fort, south of Garmsir in southern Helmand Province and met ferocious Taliban fire from all sides. Having fought for a period, the Marines regrouped. Discovering Lance Corporal Ford was missing, four marines flew back strapped to Apaches, to find their fallen comrade, in a unique rescue mission attempt. An Apache pilot from the Army Air Corps suggested that four personnel could be strapped onto the Apaches for the rescue attempt. They flew in at low level and at 50mph (80kph) to protect the passengers. After landing, the Apache came under fire. A second Apache, supporting from above, fired at the Taliban as the Marines, having found Lance Corporal Ford, ran back to the helicopter with him. They were on the
ground for a total of five minutes.
Picture 15: The four Household Cavalry Members show their Gallantry Awards [Picture: POA (Phot) Flo Foord]
Her Majesty The Queen presented four soldiers from the Household
Cavalry with medals on 16 May 2007, at Buckingham Palace, for acts of gallantry undertaken in Afghanistan in 2006. Three of the soldiers, Captain Patrick Williams, Corporal of Horse Michael Flynn and Corporal of Horse Shaun Fry, received Military Crosses, awarded to all ranks of all Services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land, and Lance Corporal of Horse Andrew Radford received a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, awarded in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
Picture 14: HMS Endurance surveying in the Erebus and Terror Gulf, North Eastern Antarctic Peninsular [Picture: LA (Phot) Kelly Whybrow]
The Royal Navy's Ice Patrol ship HMS Endurance arrived in Antarctica on
17 February 2007 with Captain Bob Tarrant, Royal Navy, at the helm, having assumed command of HMS Endurance in February 2007. HMS Endurance's function was to support British interests in Antarctic waters, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula. Her modern hydrographic surveying equipment was put to good effect in waters which are still
largely uncharted and the data collected was processed by the
Hydrographic Office. Additionally, she assisted the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in carrying out its scientific research programs.
Picture 13: Multi-National troops take part in Operation SILICON, an ISAF mission launched on Monday 30 April 2007 to remove the Taliban from an area of Helmand province [Picture: Corporal Adrian Harlen RLC]
Around 1,000 British troops joined Afghan soldiers in an operation, which began Monday, 30 April 2007, to stabilise the lower Sangin Valley allowing reconstruction and redevelopment work to take place. Operation SILICON,
a sub-operation of Operation ACHILLES which was launched by ISAF and the Afghan National Security Forces in March 2007 in order to stabilise northern Helmand province, marked a new phase in the overall operation. The British and Afghan advance on the second day, gave the Afghan National Army the opportunity to move into the town of Gereshk and protect the residents from the oppression of the Taliban.
Picture 12 : Yeoman Warder Moira Cameron [Picture: Max Coope, newsteam.co.uk]
Former Warrant Officer Class 2 Moira Cameron started work as a beefeater on Monday 3 September 2007 and became the first ever female Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London in the 522 years of the position's
existence. Her appointment was announced in January 2007 and she joined the Body of the Yeoman Warders at the Tower in July 2007 where she undertook a two-month rigorous training programme. The team of 35 beefeaters undertake 21 different duties each and every day, including the Ceremony of the Keys which takes place every night. WO2 Cameron was serving with HQ 145 (Home Counties) Brigade as the Superintendent Clerk before starting work at the Tower. To qualify as a Yeoman Warder a candidate must be a former Warrant Officer or Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, have served a minimum of 22 years in the Armed Forces and hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
Picture 11: British troops return to the Contingency Operating Base following the handover of Basra Palace to the Iraqi palace protection force [Picture: Cpl Follows]
On Monday 3 September 2007, the 4 Rifles Battlegroup repositioned from Basra Palace to the Contingency Operating Base at Basra Air Station. The move was the result of a planned operation which saw responsibility for
the palace pass to Iraqi Security Forces. This activity completed part of the agreed transition process developed in conjunction with the Iraqi Government and indicated the increasing willingness and capability of the Iraqi Security Forces to take responsibility for security in Basra. Basra Palace had been in coalition control since 2003, and the 4 Rifles
Battlegroup had been based there since May 2007.
Picture 10: Children in the Falkland Islands watching the firework display that marked the 25th anniversary of the conflict [Picture: Harland Quarrington]
The 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict was commemorated across 8,000 miles (12,875km) and five time zones, in London and the Falkland Islands on Sunday 17 June 2007. Central to the main events in London and the Falkland Islands were the personal recollections of veterans and Islanders as they told their stories in their own words. The events in the Falkland Islands, led by a ceremony held at San Carlos Water, were part of a live link attended by the HRH The Earl of Wessex and Minister for the Armed Forces Adam Ingram. In London, 10,000 Falklands veterans and their families were present at the main event which took place on Horse Guards Parade. A traditional "Drumhead" ceremony and March Past were held, attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duke of York, The Duke of Kent, The Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne and Veterans Minister Derek Twigg. They were joined by senior political and military figures past and present including Baroness Thatcher, Sir John Nott and Falklands Military commanders as well as many veterans and their families.
Picture 8: Some shelves at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, LLangennech, reached by lifts, are nearly 40 feet (12 metres) above the ground [Picture: Allan House]
Staff at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, LLangennech handle all MOD's printed material, and much more, including a 40-foot long
(12 m), 20-tonnes drive shaft for a Type 42 destroyer and a couple of 38-tonnes spare drive shafts for nuclear submarines. There are 65,000 shelf locations to search and its several massive roofs cover 209,000 cubic metres of space. The Royal Navy provide these storage facilities at Llangennech, near Llanelli at the end of the M4.
Picture 9: Captain Mackenzie Green, Officer Commanding 10 Troop, sends a situation report during the initial breech (entry) into enemy compounds during Operation VOLCANO, southern Afghanistan [Picture: LA (Phot) Gaz Faulkner]
Troops from M Company, 42 Commando, were employed clearing compounds, around the villages surrounding Kajaki, from which they regularly received enemy small arms fire, mortars and rockets. Operation VOLCANO was mounted to clear insurgents from firing points in the village of Barikju, north of Kajaki, northern Helmand Province, which was completely deserted except for insurgent forces. The Commandos cleared a Taliban base, consisting of 25 compounds, near the Kajaki hydroelectric dam, in an effort to help bring stability and power to Afghanistan. The area had been the site of regular insurgent mortar attacks and civilians were forced from their homes, leaving the dam largely unserviceable. The clearance was part of an ongoing operation to create a safe-zone around the dam to allow engineers to re-enter the area and bring the dam back up to full power. Once fully operational the dam will bring electricity to 1.8 million people.
Picture 7: Surgeon Lieutenant Bryony Southorn is one of a team of dentists seeing up to 200 people a day [Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC]
A team of British Army medics, from 19 Squadron, 16 Close Support Medical Regiment, based in Colchester, supported by engineers and specialist drivers helped to improve the lives of villagers living in some of the most remote areas of Kenya. The medics were doing their bit to try
and eradicate childhood diseases by running an immunisation programme for thousands of Kenyans living in remote and inaccessible communities. The immunisation programme, part of a much wider scheme which also includes building wells to help prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, is carried out every year by the British Army. The delivery of this vital medical treatment is run with the co-operation of the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the Kenyan Army and the Kenyan Expanded Programme for Immunisation and Samburu Aid in Africa.
Picture 6: Soldiers from 10 Division the Iraqi Army on parade as Maysaan Province is transferred to Provincial Iraqi Control [Picture: Cpl Andy Benson, RAF]
Iraqi authorities took control of security enforcement in Maysaan Province, southern Iraq, on Wednesday 18 April 2007. The formal transition of responsibility for security was announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki after a thorough assessment of the local security and police forces.
Picture 5 : Getting through: mail arrives at Lashkar Gah camp aboard a Chinook helicopter [Picture: Cpl Jon Bevan]
Llandudno postman Rob Jones, swapped a red Transit van for a Chinook helicopter, and the sand and deckchairs of North Wales for the heat and dust of Helmand. The Warrant Officer Class 2, a member of the Territorial Army, was on a six-month operational tour with 871 Postal Courier Squadron, handling classified and personal mail deliveries to Task Force Helmand HQ and the supporting units based at Lashkar Gah.
Picture 4: RAF Search and Rescue winchman, Flight Sergeant Chris Scurr, winches a terrier dog onboard his RAF Sea King search and rescue helicopter from a house in Gloucester [Picture: RAF]
Personnel from the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force worked together to help with the flood relief efforts in June 2007 in the worst affected areas of the UK. The dog's owner had been rescued by
winch a few moments earlier. The RAF alone responded to 51 incidents and rescued more than 100 people trapped in a variety of situations by six inches (15cm) of rainfall which fell over the central midlands on Saturday 21 July 2007.
Picture 3: Sappers take a welcome lunch break whilst shading from the sun at the hottest time of the day [Sergeant Will Craig]
A small team of twenty Army engineers from 30 Field Squadron, 26 Engineer Regiment, known as 'Sappers', were working every hour of the hot summer days, busy improving living conditions for soldiers working in
a desert forward operating base in Garmsir, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan. The strategically located forward operating base (FOB) Dwyer, provides vital combat and logistical support to troops operating in the Province, driving out the Taliban as part of Task Force Helmand.
Picture 2: The explosion that destroyed the Al Jameat Police Station in Basrah on Christmas Day 2006 [Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC]
On Christmas Day 2006, British Forces carried out a major operation in Basrah to curtail the activities of a 400 strong police unit, known as the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU), which was known to have been heavily infiltrated by anti-coalition elements and was responsible for the detention of two British servicemen in September 2005. After removing some of the high ranking members of the unit during the previous week, British troops from 19 Light Brigade, supported by Iraqi Army soldiers embarked on Operation THYME at 0200 hrs. Royal Engineers, who breached the outer wall of the compound with their combat engineer tractor, were followed by Warrior fighting vehicles of the Staffordshire Regiment, backed up by more dismounted infantry, they stormed the three buildings on the site. Around 1,000 British troops were involved in the operation, including those manning an extensive cordon set up top ensure a robust response if those criminals targeted attempted a counter strike. Having secured the compound, Royal Military Police entered the house to detain the errant policemen who had all fled before the British arrived. Over 70 prisoners, many of whom were likely to have been falsely imprisoned, were found inside the house which was a symbol of oppression for many of the people of Basrah. After taking away the prisoners, Royal Engineers from 38 Engineer Regiment laid bar mines and plastic explosive against the major supports of the building. When detonated the Jameat police station erupted in a tower of debris and dust, removing a powerful symbol of oppression and corruption from the Basrah skyline.
Picture 1 : HMS Tireless's crew take the air after the submarine surfaced through the Arctic ice [Picture: PO (Phot) Terry Seward]
HMS Tireless crew clear the ice off their submarine after she has surfaced through the Polar Ice Cap. HMS Tireless took part in Operation ICEX-2007, conducting classified testing on submarine operability and war fighting capabilities in the Arctic waters of the North Polar Ice Cap region. HMS Tireless surfaced for approximately three hours to drop off members of the Tigress video production company, who were onboard filming the crew of HMS Tireless for a documentary about submariners and a documentary to be shown on the National Geographic channel on the impact of global warming on the Polar Ice Cap.