MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
MARITIME
Jun 09. HM Ships: Back for a Rest. HMS TALENT returned to Devonport on 24 Jun 09; HMS BROCKLESBY returned to Portsmouth on 2 Jul 09; HMS PORTLAND returned to Devonport on 3 Jul 09 and HMS ST ALBANS returned to Portsmouth on 3 Jul 09. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/25, 06 Jul 09)
03 Jul 09. Bangor bang on time. Sandown class minehunter HMS Bangor left Rosyth today (Friday 3 July) to start sea trials, following a six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)) successfully completed by Babcock on time and within budget. HMS Bangor returns to sea with significantly improved speed and fuel economy, following removal of the vessel’s entire outer bottom paint coatings and application of a new polymer-based anti-foul paint system. Importantly, the SSP(D) has involved a first-of-class fit to update and completely reconfigure the high pressure air system (including new storage bottles, compressors and up-rated fittings), which will increase the system pressure and extend the life of the system. This will also provide cost and space benefits, having reduced storage area requirements, and eliminating the need for removal from ship for servicing and validation as the bottles can now be maintained onboard. Additionally, a full programme of work has been undertaken which has included the overhaul/renewal of ship side and various system valves, a diesel generator exchange, pump overhauls, habitability improvements and an Alteration & Addition (A&A) package which included magazine modifications and the re-siting of five tons of ballast to compensate for other alterations to the ship’s configuration undertaken over the last two years.
PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
06 Jul 09. Robert McNamara, architect of the Vietnam war, died on Monday morning in his home at the age of 93, his wife Diana McNamara told the Associated Press. McNamara, a hawk turned dove on Vietnam, wrote in his book “In Retrospect” that he was never quite sure whether he quit or was fired as US defence secretary. He had held the job for seven years. McNamara came to the conclusion that military victory was beyond the reach of the US and that the war was doing terrible damage to American society. Certainly his resignation would have been embarrassing to President Lyndon Johnson who in 1967 was still contemplating seeking re-election. Johnson brokered a way round the problem, however, by helping to ensure that McNamara became president of the World Bank, a post he held for the next 13 years. (Source: FT.com)
03 Jul 09. Honour given to ‘UK astronauts’. The five UK-born individuals who have flown in space are being honoured with a commemorative pin. The British Interplanetary Society is making the award to recognise the astronauts’ achievements but also to further the case for human spaceflight. It is extremely hard for UK citizens to get into orbit because the government does not fund manned space activity. The first recipients of the pin – Helen Sharman and Richard Garriott – had private funds backing their missions. The other three – Michael Foale, Nicholas Patrick and Piers Sellers – all became US citizens to fly with the American space agency (Nasa). Mr Garriott and Dr Sharman were given their pins in a ceremony at the BIS headquarters in London. (Source: BBC)
09 Jul 09. Major expansion for RAF Regiment as recruitment takes off. The Royal Air Force Regiment, which provides essential protection to Armed Forces personnel and air assets in Afghanistan, is to be expanded, with the formation of a new Field Squadron and Force Protection Wing Headquarters later this year. Armed Forces’ Minister Bill Rammell MP announced the move to Parliament today, by laying a Written Ministerial Statement in the House of Commons. The new Field Squadron will be based at either RAF Leuchars in Fife or RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and a study is currently under way to determine which of the two stations is most suitable to