• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Commodore in Chief Royal Fleet Auxiliary Visits British Units in Bahrain

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090915-20
Release Date: 9/15/2009 4:47:00 PM

By Lt. Cmdr. Steve Smith Media Operations Officer Royal Navy

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- HRH Prince Edward, in his capacity as Commodore-in-Chief to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), paid a special visit to Bahrain to meet with members of the RFA, Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Navy Reserve (RNR).

These sailors are currently supporting RN units throughout the maritime area of operations, which encompasses the Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Somali Basin. During the course of his visit, HRH received briefings at the headquarters of the United Kingdom Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) in Juffair, and toured British vessels RFA Lyme Bay, a Bay-class landing ship, and HMS Pembroke, a mine counter-measures (MCM) vessel.

Prince Edward was welcomed to the UKMCC by Commodore Tim Lowe, Royal Navy, United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander and Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, and given a comprehensive briefing on the work underway throughout the area of operations. This was followed by a tour of the headquarters where Prince Edward was able to meet both regulars and reservists, and see firsthand the vital work done in supporting RN units at sea, whether it be from national tasking or as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, NATO or European Union task forces.

"It is a great honour to receive this visit from HRH Prince Edward and a privilege to be able to show him the vast range of work we do out here in the Middle East on behalf of the UK," said Lowe.

On leaving the UKMCC, HRH visited RFA Lyme Bay where he was met by the Commanding Officer Capt. Kim Watts and the Commanding Officer of the RFA Cardigan Bay Capt. David Buck. During the visit, Prince Edward met RFA personnel from both ships and also met the RNR team who provide Force Protection for the RFAs in-theatre.

On completion of his tour of Lyme Bay, Prince Edward visited mine counter measures (MCM) vessel HMS Pembroke, where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Andy Lamb RN, met crew members, and had discussions with COs regarding the role of RN and RFA units in support of MCM operations.

The senior naval officer in the region, United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander, Lowe, was quick to offer praise to personnel working both ashore and afloat within his area of operations.

"During the course of my career I have had the pleasure to work with, and be supported by, many members of the RN and RNR. The ability of my team in the UKMCC, and the personnel on board RN and RFA vessels in this challenging and dynamic area of operations, both regular and reserve, is a testament to their training and professionalism. I cannot praise them enough for their dedication and commitment."

In support of Commander Joint Operations' mission, UKMCC operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, commanding and providing operational and logistic support to all RN ships within an area of over 2.5 million square miles of sea. The Royal Navy is here with coalition colleagues to conduct Maritime Security Operations that help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as to complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations safeguard lawful sea users and deny international terrorists use of the regions' expansive maritime environment as a venue for attack, as well as limit their ability to transport personnel, weapons or other illicit material.