A couple of videos of HMS Bulwark and her team (including LOCOG, FAA, RM, Army and local police) on Olympic duty both before and during.
These demonstrate the tremendous flexibility of amphibious vessels and the armed forces as a whole, fantastic stuff
Did anyone spot a Mexeflote by the way!!
I was onboard BLWK recently for a capability demo during the Olympics. Very impressive set up,and when you see the Ops room emrging Bronze Command, you are sold on the value of the platforms.
The RN has learnt (or possibly relearnt!) a lot of lessons from OP OLMYPICS – will it change long term plans? Possibly, I suspect we may say a lot more interest in the littoral environment in future spending rounds…
Gd job all round think even some of the medal winners are service personnel. Think the whole country has enjoyed the olympics.
Didn’t see the Mexe, but saw the work boat.
What struck me about this more than anything was the joint nature, yet again, the services combining for a sum that is greater than its parts
“ Possibly, I suspect we may say a lot more interest in the littoral environment in future spending rounds…”
I was thinking the same – does this exercise/op clearly demonstrate the potential of the forward presence/ mothership concept? As TD says the services working together shows the potential of “Jointness” but what about training/engagement missions? DR/HA? MSO/MIO?
I hope it does I personally can’t understand why Albion is being aloud to stay in extended readiness and not used in the sea control role if not needed for amphib ops.
x,
“Didn’t see the Mexe, but saw the work boat.”
Mexeflote behind workboat. RFA Mounts Bay behind those.
Is the Bay class involved in the Op?
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/August/06/120802-1SL-visits-Mounts-Bay
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/August/08/120808-Mountsbay-Royal-Visit
@ Anixtu
I know. It was a dig at TD who had never heard of RLC work boats until recently despite being Mr Mexeflote. Understandable really as they are not at a common sight at RAF High Wycombe…..
The RAF pay TD to not acknowledge the existence of some things, and sway debate their way. PTT had stumbled on the truth that the RAF is planning to resurrect the RAF Marine Branch, until TD used his evil influence to shut them down…
More broadly, the joint picture on OP OLYMPICs is really important. We are a tiny part of the overrall picture, I was told in excess of 90 vessels are taking part. It shows how diverse the UK maritime security sector is. While we get excited over acquiring some capabilities, its worth remembering we already have them, but they’re just not flying a white ensign…
“What struck me about this more than anything was the joint nature, yet again, the services combining for a sum that is greater than its parts”
Amen to that TD, something many should take home …along with the huge PR boost HM Forces have got, from the the sight of HMS Ocean near Greenwich, to pongos of every cap bage sifting through peopels bags cracking jokes, through to Typhoons rattling peoples rooftiles whilst on approach C:
oh, and our athletes did quite well too, top job all around.
Best £9+*Bill the UK has spent in a while.
(* of non-existant money/credit)
@ Humph
I wouldn’t say it in public but I am quite fond of the RAF Marine Branch as was. (As well as the RCL….)
Personally I think the armed forces should have been tasked with the Olympic security from the start (and paid for it). I think all armed forces members and their families should have been given 1st option on empty seats at venues.
Its time the public get the chance to say thank you.
They have done Britain proud.
TeamGB
“RAF Marine Branch”?
What the….!
Nautical Kevins is a concept I am not prepared for. I am seriously trying to work out if the bastard love child of Andrew and Kevin (seems appropriate these days, nothing ruled out after all) is going to be Mr Polyester or Mr Navigational Embarrassment, or possibly both. I have a suspicion that he is going to be called Wayne and be a kite-surfer, with tattoos, and will paint his toenails and not think there is anything wrong in that.
It’s like mating sheep and goats together: you can get a result, but it’s not something you want to perpetuate.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/raf-rescue-boats they use yellow helicopters now mind
“The Sea Shall Not Have Them!” is available on the YouTubes.
http://www.yalumba.co.uk/Framesets/British%20Power%20Boat%20Co%20-%20page%206,%20ASRLs.html
X & Mark,
shudder….
Had an old great-uncle, dead now for a few years, who ran an MTB in the Channel in the WW2. He thought that most of his work was picking up downed aircrew, and that he only ran proper offensive missions about 10% of the time. He was however about 2 miles offshore Juno Beach on D Day (over which his brother, another uncle was landing in a DD tank – this was not mutually known to either and Peter was killed a couple of days later a few miles inland), although he was unclear as to what he or the other boats in his Flotilla were to do. They had orders to attack enemy submarines, but there were none spotted. He was part of the “Wavy Navy” and always felt that the proper Andrew looked down on them.
One TE Lawrence served in RAF fast boats….
” By 1944 Coastal Forces numbered 3,000 officers and 22,000 ratings. Altogether there were 2,000 British Coastal Forces craft. Affectionately known as the Navy’s “Little Ships”, they fought over 780 actions and sank 800 enemy vessels, including 48 E-boats and 32 midget submarines. They fired 1169 torpedoes, shot down 32 enemy aircraft and carried out many mine laying operations. 170 of the “Little Ships” were sunk or destroyed.[11]”
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_Forces_of_the_Royal_Navy
@ X,
he certainly got about, TE Lawrence, not much caring for rank or service. A credit to just about everyone, I reckon.
He had a cottage for a while at a place called Cloud’s Hill, a couple of miles up the road from Bovington, and indeed he died close to there after a motorbike crash. I took my motorcycle test in the local area, on an Army 650 cc Harley (a total beast of a machine, single pot nonsense with gear ratios invented by a drunkard and a compression kick like a mule. No electric start). My instructor made the three of us doing the test ride around “Lawrence Corner” at 60 mph, which is pushing it for an Army Harley in stability terms.
@RT
He didn’t hate you guys by any chance did he? Maybe he was hoping for a historical reenactment.
:p