Friday 24 December 2010

HMS Ark Royal farewell to the Tyne

HMS Ark Royal made a final visit to the River Tyne before being decommissioned after 25 years in service. Work began on the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy at the Swan Hunter shipyard in 1978. The vessel was launched three years later. The carrier is being retired early as part of cost-cutting measures announced by the UK government.





HMS Ark Royal's final visit to the Tyne - News - Videos & Photos - ChronicleLive

It is the fifth vessel to bear the proud name. Ark Royal was built by Swan Hunters Ship Builders' yard at Wallsend in December 1978 and launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. HMS Ark Royal was accepted into service on 1 July 1985 and finally Commissioned, again by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 1 November 1985.
HMS Ark Royal is.4 metres (693 feet) long, has a maximum beam of 35 metres (114.7 feet) and a displacement of 20,235 tonnes. She is powered by 4 Olympus gas turbine engines (like Concorde's), which give a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots. A steeper ski jump than in the other ships of this class is fitted at the forward end of the flight deck.

HMS Ark Royal
























The Royal Navy's last aircraft on a carrier until 2020 !

Remembrance Sunday Newcastle 2010

Ex Iron Storm Otterburn

The NVAA deployed to Otterburn to visit 101 Regiment on Exercise Iron Storm.


The Regiment's two strike Batteries (203 & 205) equipped with MLRS, and the STA Batteries (204 & 269) with thier target acquisition equipment were on exercise Iron Storm in support of the 3rd UK Divisions Artillery Group.

3rd UK Division

On arrival the Commanding Officer welcomed the Old and Bold, before handing over to the Adjutant for the obligatory health and safety briefing. The NVAA were eloquently informed to be careful as "Otterburn had undulating ground” - a fact many Gunners over the years may have noticed!



Otterburn's undulating ground




The Regiments MLRS are capable of firing to a range of 32 Km (20 miles), each of the 12 rockets carrying 644 sub munitions. They are the only unit in the Territorial Army equipped with MLRS and support 39 Regiment Royal Artillery on operations.






















The Surveillance and Target Acquisition equipment includes radars and sound ranging equipment able to track and locate anything from heavy artillery to mortars. The STA Batteries support 5th Regiment Royal Artillery on operations






Redesdale Arms Left 3 O clock



Retiring to the First and Last (Redesdale Arms, Northumberland) time to reflect that it was “never like that in my day”.

CO 101 Regiment RA Dine Out


An unusual slange


Ladies and Gentlemen


The morning is young