DAUNTLESS is Dauntless - ‘One massive experience from start to finish’ was the verdict on the maiden deployment by the Type 45 Destroyer DAUNTLESS returning from the South Atlantic after seven months.    The DAUNTLESS clocked up 30,000 miles visiting eighteen countries across four continents, among them Portugal, the Cape Verde Islands, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa.    After a short stint around the Falklands, the DAUNTLESS moved to the Caribbean for visits to Columbia and the USA with a final port of call in Boston.

OFSTEAD Approves RALEIGH – the Torpoint (Plymouth) Shore Training Establishment RALEIGH has received a glowing report from the OFSTED education inspectors (Office for Standards in Education).       Torpoint was marked up to ‘outstanding’ – up from ‘good’ on their last visit – as they looked at all aspects of life, training, education and welfare support offered to rookie sailors.      In February 2008, the Hunt Class Minecountermeasure vessel BRECON was taken in hand becoming a static training ship at Jupiter Point, (RALEIGH) where new recruits gain their first taste of life aboard a Royal Navy ship.    Torpoint this year will provide the Senior Service with around 1,500 new ratings, was also praised for the support given to recruits with basic skills needs and other learning difficulties.    In addition the support provided for recruits with personal concerns beyond their training was recognised together with the good access provided to chaplains, counselling services and other support services within the welfare chain.

In summary, the OFSTEAD rated RALEIGH as “Good” for Training, Educational support for recruits, Spiritual/pastoral care, Physical education, Leisure facilities/access to internet, Food, Medical facilities, and whilst the Management were rated as outstanding the Accommodation was only “satisfactory”.

849 at Sixty – the Culdrose based 849 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm marked six decades of vigilance, since its formation in 1952 as an airborne early warning squadron.    Apart from a five year break at the end of the 1970s-beginning of the 1980s, 849 Naval Air Squadron and, for the past six years, its sister squadrons 854 and 857, have acted as the eyes of the fleet in peace and war.      Airborne Early Warning, has evolved to become ‘Airborne Surveillance and Control’.

849 Squadron re-formed in July 1952 at RNAS Brawdy (Pembrokeshire) flying SKYRAIDER and switched to the GANNET in 1960.   The GANNET was last in service afloat on the Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and when that vessel paid off, 849 disbanded.   The Falklands War (1982) reaffirmed the need for airborne early warning, resulting in SEA KING being rapidly converted to the role in just 11 weeks.     That makeshift remedy became formal in November 1984 when 849 re-formed with the SEA KING AEW2 and eighteen years later, in 2002, the next generation was introduced with the advent of the SEARCHWATER 2000 radar fitted to SEA KING ASaC7 – the current equipment.

SEVEN and the London Poppy Appeal – the Fishery Patrol Vessel SEVEN visited London to launch the London Poppy Appeal with the assistance of London Mayor (Boris Johnson).    The Royal British Legion had hopes of raising £1 m in London inside 12 hours.     The Mayor travelled to and from City Hall by RIB (Rigid Inflateable Boat) to the SEVEN berthed on the South Bank to West India Dock.

TRENCHANT and the Turtles – the Fleet Submarine TRENCHANT, on station in the Indian Ocean, visited of Diego Garcia (a British Overseas Territory) for a six day break, being the first British submariners to call in at the US Naval and Air Base in five years.    Members of the crew helped marine life experts research the giant turtles on the atoll by tagging rare marine life, and celebrating the traditional naval ceremony of Crossing the Line.

45 Commando Celebrated the Birth of the Corps - in what were unusual circumstances 45 Commando. RM celebrated, the Corps’ 348th birthday with a regimental dinner marking the birth of the Royal Marines at the end of October 1664.     The Royal Marines from the Assault Ship BULWARK, the Helicopter Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and the RFA Landing Ship RFA MOUNTS BAY from the UK’s Response Force Task Group (Cougar 12) were visiting Toulon and took time out to visit nearby Nice and in the unique setting of an aquatic park with performing killer whales for the occasion the regimental dinner took place.

SUTHERLAND in Tanzania – The Type 23 Frigate SUTHERLAND has visited Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) during a brief break from the ship’s anti-piracy patrols of the Indian Ocean.    As well as stocking up on supplies, conducting maintenance and hosting the usual official visits and receptions to fly the flag for the UK, the frigate showed the teeth that the Type 23 Frigates are well known for.   The embarked Royal Marine boarding team demonstrate how to detain a suspect to Tanzanian forces     As well as resuming the maritime security efforts in the Indian Ocean (for pirates, drugs and arms traffickers, and smugglers), the SUTHERLAND is due to revert to the submarine hunting role shortly.   The SUTHERLAND is due home just before Christmas (2012).