The Last Commission:

Eastltant

21 August to 19 September 1978

GOING EASTLAND

ON PASSAGE AND EXERCISES

COMMON EFFORT AND NORTHERN WEDDING

We were at sea and this time it was to be for five weeks – the longest during the deployment. In addition to FOCAS and his staff there were several new faces on board including RAF and US Navy people who were embarked for the Exercises.

During the afternoon of the 21^st, the Buccaneers and Phantoms were recovered from ashore and the ship continued with her flying programme for a few days in the Norfolk Exercise Areas. So as to conserve water, a beard growing competition was begun on the 22^nd and over 1200 of us took part as hirsute growths sprouted everywhere.

Another novelty to occupy our minds and hands was the ARK ROYAL Grand Handicraft Competition, and while at sea may were busy preparing works of art.

On Wednesday 23^rd August after a day of flying, HMS ARK ROYAL turned her back on America and headed east to join Exercise Common Effort. This combined British and American exercise had begun a few days earlier as the ships had left Norfolk. The exercise concept was reinforce US Forces in Europe with a fleet of American Amphibious ships sailing east across the Atlantic with a screen of nuclear submarines for protection, and with ARK ROYAL providing the necessary air defence, surface search and probe tactics. 824 Squadrons as usual provided an anti-submarine screen ahead of the force twenty four hours a day. The enemy consisted of UK ships and two American nuclear submarines.

Unfortunately the weather plagued the fixed wing and on 25^th and 26^th August poor flying conditions existed. The Meteorologists on 03N Deck were intrigued to witness the birth and development of two Atlantic depressions.

On Monday 28^th, 824 Squadron assumed the role of ambulance when it transferred a sick American Petty Officer from the submarine USS SKULPIN to our own sick bay. On completion of the CASEVAC, ARK ROYAL in company with the USS MONTGOMERY left the exercise to make a fast passage towards the Azores. The intention was to complete some private flying – or was it to collect mail! However the 30^th-31^st were spent to the north of the island of Terceira in the Azores with the fixed wing flying a number of sorties and 824 Squadron acting in the familiar role of HDS including the tricky task of air lifting a spare Spey engine for a Phantom which diverted to Lajes on Terceira. During this period FOCAS also took the opportunity of getting airborne and he flew one sortie in a Gannet of 849B Flight.

From Azores, we made another fast passage to catch up with the other ships that had taken part in Common Effort, and who were now heading north towards Iceland. The main feature of this passage was the NBCD exercise on Friday 1^st September in which a great deal of valuable experience was gained and the whole ship benefited from the analysis of the various evolutions. At 0400Z on the 3^rd September, while in the latitude of Newcastle upon Tyne, we changed from tropical rig into blue uniforms and the majority of us were delighted. Is this the furthest north that whites have been worn at sea many wondered. Sunday the 3^rd was also our last chance to relax before the next major exercise which began at 1200Z on Monday 4^th September.

Our start position for the NATO autumn exercise Northern Wedding was 61 degrees N 20  degrees W and along with the USS FORRESTAL we were the only fixed wing aircraft carriers taking part in the year’s biggest NATO maritime exercise.

Over 200 surface ships and submarines from Britain, America, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Portugal and France were assembled throughout the Norwegian and North Seas for the Exercise. In addition there was much support from shore based aircraft and surface units.

The planning behind Northern Wedding was designed to test and exercise a large number of NATO options. These included marking and counter marking of hostile ships, the reinforcement of an Island Commando, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare and many more. As usual the scenario consisted of Blue and Orange Forces, and ARK ROYAL found herself on the Blue side. During the Exercise we travelled from the start point to the Hebrides, then east of the Faeroes, down to the Shetland/Orkney gap, back to the north reaching 64 degrees 38’ N, our most northerly position this deployment, before finally returning to the Moray Firth.

When the weather was suitable each Squadron performed its own special roles, with the Phantoms of 892 defending the ship from air attack, the Gannets of 849B carrying out surface search and surveillance control or airborne early warning of contacts, and the Buccaneers of 809 probing contacts and striking if necessary. The Sea Kings 824 flew round the clock searching for submarines and also acted in the familiar role of HDS. Once in the Moray Firth, 809 flew sorties into Norway to give air cover to the assault landing by US/UK/Netherlands Amphibious forces near Oerland.

Besides the Orange Forces in the water and in the air, the Exercise also had its real Red spectators to contend with. Russian Bear aircraft were regularly sighted and a range of ships including modified KASHIN class destroyers, KRESTA II class cruisers, KRIVAK class destroyers, AGI’s and submarines were in company at different times.

As seems to be the case, the weather played an important role in the ship’s activities. If it wasn’t fog, low cloud or poor visibility, then it was the swell putting the flight deck out of limits, and all prevented flying at one stage or another. On 16^th and 17^th September it was the turn of the remnants of Hurricane Flossie to affect us as the storm moved NE’ly through the exercise area. ARK ROYAL suffered sustained winds of 60 knots with gusts in excess of 70 knots and the violent storm caused some damage particularly to the Quarter Deck which was open to the mountainous waves.

The exercise finished quietly sat midday on 19^th September when we were in the calmer waters of the Moray Firth. FOCAS disembarked during the afternoon with some of his staff and the rest of us set about preparing for our Royal Visitor the following day.

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