HMS Exploit, one of only two Royal Navy warships home ported in Wales, has enjoyed a busy week operating from the Welsh capital Cardiff influencing the local population on behalf of Naval Regional Commander Wales and Western England.
Exploit sailed on a blustery late September morning into the Bristol Channel with 5 members of Cardiff’s United Services Mess embarked to escort the Type 23 Frigate Monmouth into the Welsh capital.
“Monmouth was visiting Cardiff as part of affiliation visit to Monmouth – Cardiff been the biggest port nearby to Monmouth.
“The Boss volunteered to escort her in, which presented the opportunity to take the five former NCOs and officers from the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and British Army to sea”,
added LET(ME) Paul Rossi.
Exploit sailed south of Lavernock Point and intercepted Monmouth in the waters of the Bristol Channel.
“We exchanged IDs and took station ahead of her at 500 yards and escorted her the last 15 miles into Cardiff, before we peeled off and returned to our pen in Penarth Marina”,
commented AB Nick Bolt.
“It was good to take the five former servicemen to sea, which gave us a chance to listen to their stories whilst showing them Exploit and explaining about the capabilities of Monmouth as she made her approach into the lock system.”
Unusually for a P2000, Exploit currently has a standing crew of 7 full time Royal Navy personnel with two extra LET(ME)s augmenting the Ship’s Company.
“LET(ME) Rees joined us from Montrose for a short holdover, with LET(ME) Shingleton joining early as our new Weapon’s Engineer in addition to our own LET(ME) Rossi.
“So for a month we had three killick stokers – two MEOOW2s with Type 23 experience and one MEOOW1, as well as our own MEO. For a P2000 that is a massive engineering department – there was no excuse for defects going un-rectified!,”
added CPO Pam Ayres, Exploit’s 1st Lieutenant.
September and October are a busy time for any University Royal Naval Unit with recruitment for the new academic year in full flow. Each University stages a Freshers’ Fayre which the URNU attends to attract new members.
From this those interested are invited to a Meet and Greet night at the unit, in Birmingham URNU’s case this is held at their headquarters HMS Forward in the heart of the city. After this those remaining are taken forward to an interview the following week.
The interview board comprises the Unit CO, another RN representative and a member from the University’s Military Education Committee.
“As the Coxswain, I spend a great deal of time at this time of year selling the URNU at recruiting fayres, driving potential candidates to interviews, filling in paperwork, taking swimming tests and settling the new First Years into their first term in Birmingham URNU,”
finished CPO Mick Archer.
“This is a busy time of year for the URNU – with the emphasis focused on the unit in recruiting new first year members from the autumn intake and the high tempo programme of Freshers’ Fayres, Meet and Greet events and selection interviews.
“Despite this, it was a honour to escort Monmouth in and host the delegation from the United Services Mess on behalf of Commodore Jamie Miller – our Naval Regional Commander”,
said Lt Simon Shaw, CO of Penarth based Exploit and Birmingham URNU.
[mappress] Press Release, October 03, 2013; Image: Royal Navy