HMS HIBERNIA QUARTERLY UPDATE – MARCH 2019

Mobilisations 

Our Reserve Forces provide a key component of the United Kingdom’s Defence capability and in recent years they have made a significant contribution to operations. 

The role of the Royal Navy has never been more central to global military operations and it is for this reason that several members of HMS HIBERNIA’s ships company have been called to active service and mobilised. Mobilisation is the process by which an individual reservist, or group of reservists are brought into permanent service for a period of time. Our trained strength are regularly called upon to help the needs of the service at home and abroad. 

Over the last 12 months, several of Hibernia’s Junior Rates were called upon to mobilise. AB Curry and AB Ferguson spent 12 months on, Off Shore Patrol Vessels (OPV’s)   designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter terrorism and maritime defence duties.

AB Taylor joined HMS Montrose (F238) in Talcahuano, Chile. The ship was undergoing maintenance on his arrival, which gave him time to get to know the crew and see some of the local sites before sailing. 
During his time away on board HMS Montrose, the ship visited Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. 

AB Taylor’s role on board was varied and meant he worked on routine maintenance, watch keeping on the bridge, took part in swimmer of the watch drills and other sea boat exercises. 

RN Ski Champs 

The Armed Forces largest Adventurous Training (AT) exercise, The Royal Navy & Royal Marine Winter Sports Association Ski Championships (RNRMWSA), took place again this year in Tignes, France. 

With members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Naval Reserves taking part in either a one or two week package this popular AT event gives individuals a break from their current job to improve and gain new skills on the slopes!

With sponsors making it possible for all those in attendance to receive free skiing and snowboarding lessons and a slalom race during the week, this year’s ski champs has been widely supported and greatly appreciated by everyone who took part. Our own talented RNRM ski instructors, alongside the French instructors, took groups of military personnel around the mountains for in-depth lessons surrounded by the beautiful Alpine scenery.

Novice-class skier, Sub Lieutenant Sarah Houghton from HMS President said “Having not skied in over 5 years, the training received on this trip has been invaluable and a fantastic opportunity to learn whilst having fun with friends from both old and new units.”

Sporting Achievements 

The Royal Navy (RN) Netball season began with trials in September 2018, with females from various branches within the service such as Medicine, Dentistry, Logistics, Royal Marine Band and Warfare trying out for a place on the squad. Those who were successful began monthly weekend training sessions in various bases across the UK. 

As a consequence, new sports opportunities have arisen in HMS Hibernia with Sub Lieutenant Dornan successfully making the Royal Navy Netball 1st Squad this season (18-19).

With the main event of the netball season, the Inter Services Netball Championships, taking place in March 2019, the teams travelled to Cardiff, Wales for an intense training camp; staying in the reservist unit HMS Cambria and travelling daily to Royal Air Force (RAF) St Athan for their practices. Coach Maggie Barns assisted by Team Manager LNN Abbey Wrigley and LPT Emma Aindow led daily challenging and stimulating training sessions which included strengthening exercises, ball skills, attacking and shooting skills, defensive skills and game skills.

   

Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the Royal Navy team, the Army have been crowned Inter Services Netball Champions for the third year in a row. The tournament held at RAF Cosford saw the current holders defeat both the RAF and the RN in successive games. 

The RN Equestrian season 19-20 has proved to be a massively successful training year for HMS Hibernia’s AB McFadden. Congratulations is in order as she won the Addy Challenge Cup, for the RN Equestrian Teams’ best developing squad rider.

AB McFadden, who took part in the RN Spring Training in March 18, was selected for the squad but her first competition didn’t take place until Sept 2018 at the RAF Championships. 

AB McFadden has also recently received her confirmation letter securing her place on the squad for this coming season, along with a confirmed spot on the show jumping team for the UK Armed Forces Equestrian Championships (UKAFEC) which will take place in April 19.

Her final accomplishment of the season is her achievement in having been selected for the team competing in the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

BK 19 

HMS Hibernia once again held the annual maritime reserve training exercise in Ballykinler Training Ranges, one of the largest events to take place on the reservist calendar. With units from the North of the UK such as HMS CALLIOPE, CERES, DALRIADA, EAGLET, SCOTIA along with the Royal Marine Reserves from the Belfast Detachment of RMR Scotland all in attendance. 

The training weekend focused on the development of Core Maritime Skills (CMS), a variety of General Naval Training helping consolidate individuals existing knowledge and developing the Operational Capability (OC) of our Trained Strength (TS). 

Personnel arrived on Friday and were briefed and split into their teams, ahead of the weekend by Hibernia’s permanent staff. 
Saturday proved to be a busy day with a rolling training programme covering CMS 1, 3, 4 & 6 and specific command and development training for the newest Young Officers coming through the Royal Navy Reserves (RNR). A Medical stance led by the RNR’s nurses and Force Protection stance led by the Royal Marines gave in depth training to the individuals who attended. They shared their own experiences whilst working in the field on mobilisations for the RN and RM. This was followed by a social get together in the evening with a highly competitive quiz taking place. 

The last day of the training weekend consisted of a NEO/DISTEX, with actors used to create a real life scenario were the weekends training was put into practice and proved to be another extremely useful training exercise for all the units who attended.