`HMS MONTROSE FAMILIES NEWSLETTER Hopefully this issue of MONTROSE News finds you all well and continues to be a helpful guide into our lives on deployment and the jobs we are tasked to conduct. Since my last letter we are now in the Mediterranean and I am sure you will understand, for security reasons, that is as far as I will elaborate! As always please feel free to leave any feedback of any sort, or anything you feel should be added to the next edition. Editor (
[email protected])
Introduction During the last edition there was a rough guide to COUGAR 12 and RFTG; who was involved and where we were going to be. In this letter I will try to elaborate on our role with in the Task Force, build up training towards our role and then what we have achieved since we have been away from UK.
Our Role within RFTG on COUGAR 12 MONTROSE has been nominated as the Advanced Force Commander, meaning we are primarily involved in support of Pre-Landing Force (PLF) Operations. This is an additional role on top of our capabilities as a multi-threat platform and requires us to embark and support elements of the first troops ashore. The PLF is a mixture of Marines, Army soldiers and RN sailors who prepare the way for heavier elements of the landing force carried in HMS BULWARK, RFA MOUNTS BAY and MV HARTLAND POINT. Our role often sees us operating ahead of the Task Group by ourselves as the sole support to the PLF teams ashore. Our support to them can range from Naval Gunfire Support (using our 4.5 gun to neutralise positions on land), to using our helo to recce enemy positions, to simply being a platform for the land forces to recover, rest and dry out - or anything in-between. Find our more at www.royalnavy.mod.uk/Operations/Current-Operations/Operational-deployments/Cougar-12.
MONTROSE NEWS STAFF COVERED WEAPON TRAINING Through the middle of September we undertook an intensive “weapon training” programme off the South Coast of the UK. This was required after the long maintenance period we had had alongside to prove both equipment and personnel on board were ready to deploy. The specially tailored package exercised our capabilities in the 3 major environments in which we fight, namely; surface, sub-surface and air. On top of this we also practised items such as boarding drills, damage control and firefighting, and integration of our very own “214 Flight” (with Lynx helicopter) back on board after 3 months on the Thames supporting Olympics security.
PRE COUGAR TRAINING WITH ADVANCE LANDING FORCES The latter weeks of September and first of October saw MONTROSE taking part in pre COUGAR 12 exercises of Plymouth and Cornwall. This allowed the Ship to integrate with the Pre-Landing Force (mentioned previously), establish routines and for them to become orientated around a Type 23 Frigate. These exercises also gave the Ship’s Company a great insight to some of the equipment we would be operating with – a small few can be seen in the picture opposite. RFTG HEADS FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN On Tuesday 9 October, the COUGAR Task Group finally left UK waters en-route to the Mediterranean. The following RFTG Ships left in formation as part of COUGAR 12: HMS BULWARK HMS ILLUSTRIOUS HMS NORTHUMBERLAND HMS MONTROSE RFA MOUNTS BAY MV HARTLAND POINT CONTINUATION TRAINING ON ROUTE Training never stops…. In the four day transit south elements of the TG continued training to maintain the levels of Operational Capability. As well as getting used to operating in close proximity to other ships for long periods of time, MONTROSE practised operating with various different helicopters, including Merlins and Sea Kings, from the other units in the COUGAR Task Group.
COUGAR TG VISITS GIBRALTAR MONTROSE conducted its first Port Visit to Gibraltar with the rest of the Task Force in order to rest, refuel and re –provision. While alongside Ships Company had the opportunity to run the famous Rock Race with MONTROSE managing to field the overall winner (first marine), first sailor, and first female – a great performance when considering size of the Task Group. We also participated in the inter-unit sports tournament - where we won the football title and managed to avoid sustaining too many injuries in Rugby and Netball!
Useful Information Visit the HMS MONTROSE on the RN website at http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates-andDestroyers/Type-23-Frigates/HMS-Montrose in order to stay up to date with our latest news. You can also join the “Royal Navy Community” pages (the new name for the former RNCom website) on which there are dedicated MONTROSE forums, chatpages, and family support resources. Visit http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/Community/Royal-Navy-Community
MONTROSE Ship’s Company now have “Paradigm Cards” for COUGAR, which allows individuals 30 minutes of free calls per week to call any number in the world, as well as allowing voice messages to be left and collected by those on board at sea. To use this latter facility, find out the unique 9 figure account number of your loved one on board, then follow the instructions at: www.paradigmsecure.com/our_services/family_and_friends_information. Did you know MONTROSE now has her own postcode? Although the way of sending letters has not changed (the address of everyone on board remains: Rank/Rate & Name, Service Number, Messdeck, HMS MONTROSE, BFPO 339) this has led to difficulties in ordering goods online, as many websites will not accept a BFPO number on its own as a postcode. As such, the Royal Mail and the British Forces Post Office have introduced unit-specific postcodes, which can be used when ordering any goods from internet sites at home or abroad (note, you do NOT need the postcode when sending normal mail from your home address). As such, the postal address for online shopping ONLY is: Name: Address:
Town: Postcode
Rank/Rate and Name (eg ET(ME) J H Bloggs) Messdeck (eg 39 Man Mess) HMS MONTROSE BFPO 339 BFPO BF1 4HZ More information at: www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/ServiceCommunity/BFPO/Loo kupBfpoNumbers.htm There is also a brand new BFPO app for Apple users (iPhones, iPads, etc), which can be downloaded for free from iTunes. Visit https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bfpo/id567839256?mt=8 for more information.
