The Last Commission:

Ocean Safari

 17-28 October 1977

The big Autumn exercise “Ocean Safari” began at 1200Z on 17^th October, and FOCAS wearing his NATO hat as Commander Carrier Striking Group Two (COMCARS-STRIKGRU 2) embarked during the forenoon and flew his flag in HMS ARK ROYAL. He was CTG 401.2 and within our group were 11 surface ships of different nationalities.

The other countries taking part in the exercise were USA, Canada, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, France and Norway, and ARK ROYAL was the only fixed wing strike/attack carrier taking part.

The exercise, as far as we were concerned, started in the Bristol Channel off St. Mawgan. We headed south in a zigzag pattern across the Bay of Biscay and by the 21^st were off the Lisbon area of Portugal. Throughout the period 824 Squadron ripple flew their helicopters providing the ship with an ASW sector screen. The Phantoms of 892 Squadron carried out Combat Air Patrols and Medium Level Air Intercepts against enemy aircraft sent to test our defences.

The 849 B Gannets provided AEW surveillance and controlled the 809 Buccaneers which acted as proves to search the surrounding areas and identify contacts seen by the Gannet’s radar display.

On the 21^st October, the Buccaneers carried out attacks on the Portuguese range at Alonichele just outside Lisbon. They were again busy back in the Bay of Biscay when they were tasked to deliver attacks to the Stuttgart region of Germany. As the exercise drew to a close all the aircraft their appropriate primary roles and 824 continued until the final whistle at 2359Z on 28^th October, by which time it had clocked over 400 flying hours of almost continuous flying during the exercise.

Once FOCAS and his staff, together with the exercise umpires, had disembarked on the morning of the 28^th October to Portland, we set off to continue our deployment.

Before we left UK waters the ship received the following signal from Admiral Staveley:

 “During Ocean Safari 77, the first major NATO exercise for many of you in this great ship, ARK Royal, has gone from strength to strength in improving her operational capability and working with our allies. Well done. Keep up the good work.”

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