Page 20 - Cormorant Issue 19 - 2016

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Maritime Combat Power Visit 14–17 March 2016
Commander Andy Johns RN
THE AIM OF THE Maritime Capability package was to
develop an understanding of how Maritime Forces resource and generate military capability
in support of the Joint Commander.
With the visit rescheduled from term one to term two it provided a welcome break from the rigours of academia
in what was to be one of the busier periods of study. It was with a great deal of enthusiasm therefore that the students set off on the coaches to Plymouth. Despite the complexity of
HMS Somerset Preparing to Fire Gun
the admin order and staggered coach departures, all students were safely delivered into the hands of their hosts for their two-day maritime experience. With ACSC essentially split in two, half of the course spent the rst
night at sea with the remainder accommodated in Plymouth.
Whilst a small number of the course spent their night at sea on the frigate HMS SOMERSET the majority were accommodated on the rather more spacious helicopter carrier HMS OCEAN. After arriving on the Navy’s agship in Plymouth Sound courtesy of a transfer in landing craft by the Royal Marines, the students were welcomed to the ship and shown to their accommodation. The evening
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then concluded with the students being introduced to a number of key personnel from the ship and having the opportunity to ask questions over a
drink from the bar which had been set up in the hangar.
The next morning brought a number of different reactions, with some claiming that sore heads and upset stomachs were the result of a rough night at
sea and in no way related to anything consumed in the hangar the night before. First on the list of activities for the day was a demonstration of naval gun re support form HMS SOMERSET, before she subsequently repositioned alongside HMS OCEAN to demonstrate how a Replenishment at Sea (RAS)
is conducted. Following a nal tour
of the ship and more brie ngs on its capabilities, the students departed by landing craft. This process provided all with a reminder of the perils of the sea, with the prevailing weather conditions resulting in the planned disembarkation onto a Cornish beach switching for the more benign conditions within Plymouth Sound. However, this enabled a swift turnover and whilst one group headed out to sea, those heading ashore became acquainted with the charms of the Barbican for the evening.
The second half of the visit, conducted following the swapping of personnel between sea and shore, was centred around HMNB Devonport. The introduction to the largest naval facility in Western Europe began with some
a reminder of the perils of
the sea
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