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Ships head west for Aurora 26.05.04 10:48

The largest commitment of Royal Navy personnel since the liberation of Iraq 12 months ago has been sent west for huge war games in the Atlantic.

Eighteen warships, led by Fleet flagship HMS Invincible, are taking part in Exercise Aurora, stretching along the eastern seaboard of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

Among the ships deployed are helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, assault ship HMS Albion and Type 23 frigates HM ships Marlborough and Sutherland, all sailing in small ‘packets’ to meet up in Norfolk, Virginia.

The linchpin of the deployment is Exercise Rapid Alliance, involving two American carrier battlegroups and a US Marine Corps task force, staging mock invasions.

Also joining the war games are ships and personnel from Canada, Holland, Germany, Peru, Norway, Italy, Denmark, France and Australia.

Aurora involves 5,900 British service personnel, including those involved with GR7 Harriers from 3(F) Squadron RAF, which has deployed alongside 801 Naval Air Squadron in HMS Invincible.

“This deployment will demonstrate the flexibility of the aircraft, and on a personal note it provides a tremendous start to my time in command of Invincible,” said Capt Neil Morisetti, who took charge of the carrier days before she sailed.

Mine countermeasures vessels HM ships Pembroke, Walney, Sandown and Middleton left Portsmouth in late April, shepherded by RFA Sir Bedivere, which is serving as their command ship for the exercise.

Their slow speed meant they had to depart before the core of the Aurora force, which left port earlier this month.

MCMV force commander Cdr Peter Williams said the three-month tour of duty looked to be “hugely attractive”.

“It’s a rare opportunity to work alongside our American colleagues on their own turf. There are several exciting port visits as well as a stimulating large-scale exercise.”

Beyond the force gets down to business in the exercises, visits by various vessels in the Aurora task force are lined up for the Azores, Bermuda, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New York and Louisiana.

Aurora will also prove a further test for new assault ship HMS Albion, which was declared ready for front-line operations following winter exercises off Norway earlier this spring.
http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2004/0405/0004052601.asp