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GULF MINEHUNTERS RETURN

Royal Navy News Service (UK)

Posted 6/19/2003

Royal Navy minehunters HMS Bangor and HMS Sandown return to their home base of Portsmouth on Friday, June 20, after a record deployment clearing mines laid in the Gulf waterways by Saddam Hussein.

The two Sandown-class vessels worked with the minehunters HMS Brocklesby and HMS Blyth to seek out and destroy the deadly weapons laid to target ships of the Allied task group.

Bangor was one of the first ships to clear the route into Umm Qasr to allow the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship Sir Galahad - carrying a vital cargo of humanitarian aid - to enter the port safely. Bangor and Sandown were the only coalition minehunters to go further north than Umm Qasr, clearing the narrow Az Zubayr waterway.

Lt Cdr Jerry Woods, Bangor's Commanding Officer, said: "It is absolutely wonderful to finally be back home. We have achieved a great deal over the last ten months and my ship and her people have performed magnificently. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished."

Sandown's role was highlighted when she led RFA Sir Galahad into Umm Qasr after the minehunters had cleared the route. Before the eyes of the world, the Sir Galahad brought in the first sea-borne humanitarian aid into Iraq during the conflict.

Lt Cdr Gavin Young, her Commanding Officer, said: "It's fantastic to be home. The ship and her crew can be justly proud of their achievements over the past ten months. There is a real sense of achievement in clearing the way for humanitarian aid.

"It is clear to me that the crew has achieved the high professional standards expected of the Royal Navy."

During the conflict the RN's minehunters - among the most sophisticated in the world -ensured that areas were cleared before landing craft carrying crack Royal Marines Commandos and US Marines were sent in to mount an assault on the Iraqi beaches.

With RFA Sir Bedivere in support, the ships were also tasked to keep ports and shipping lanes open and safe for military supplies.

They left Portsmouth on September 2 last year for what was intended to be a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean for the NATO exercise Argonaut 02. But as the Iraq crisis built, the mine ships were ordered to complete extensive route survey operations in preparation for the deployment of the Navy's Amphibious Ready Group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

Both ships retained close links with their affiliated towns - Sandown in the Isle of Wight and Bangor in Northern Ireland.

Lt Cdr Woods of HMS Bangor said: "I have been delighted at the strength of support we have received from our friends and families and our affiliations. Each letter or email goes a long way to helping us achieve our task at hand and gives a little boost when things become difficult."

He singled out Clifton School, Bangor, for special praise for sending dozens of letters, cards and pictures.

The ship is so proud of her affiliation, her crew painted part of the Bangor town crest on one side of the bridge roof.

Lt Cdr Young of HMS Sandown said: "I am impressed by the level of support we received from our affiliations. I have read many letters from our all our affiliations and local people wishing us safe return - it's fantastic. When you are deployed it's a great comfort to know people are supporting you."