RN Rescue Attempt

[Jordan D]

Well done and congrats to all involved - RAF, RN, James Fisher Rumic Ltd and anyone else ....

As they say in the A-Team ... I love it when a plan comes together.

Jordan

[nottaflake]

I didn’t go in the end, but I was close enough to events on Friday and have chatted with people to know much of what happened. Whilst we’re all back-slapping each other, I’d like to put in a particular mention for ASCOT Ops, who have been slated here on pprune plenty of times in the past.

While we were pushing out the stops to find sufficient crew and an ac, ASCOT were greasing the wheels to make things run without a hitch. They put on a C130 to ferry up a crew member (not needed in the end) and paperwork to the C17 loading at Prestwick, they also found an interpreter and put him on a passing heli that they hijacked, along with some ATSY, to meet up with the herc and got up the film crew that took the footage that we’ve seen plenty of over the past 36 hrs. They found us lots of info about where we were going and what we were doing and made some deal with the Americans for us to use their kit at the far end if the Russian airfield couldn’t unload us and got things moving even while permissions were being sought so that there was no delay once the green light was given. They also sorted the dip clears at very short notice and I doubt that was easy! (After all, out FCO wouldn’t jump to the tune of the RN and I doubt Russian bureaucracy is any less thank ours!) Putting all of this together meant things weren’t delayed at all, enabling the British team to be deployed first and save 7 lives.

Now, I’ve never had much to say about ASCOT Ops one way or the other – they’ve just been a bunch of people doing an acceptable, average job in my experience, but Friday proves to me that they can do things very well. It also proves that having Flt Ops there isn’t the disaster some around here would make out. The crew will be back soon and I suspect that they will share many of my thoughts. Congratulations to all involved, from the crew (who had a very long day) to the RN employed rescue team, but from my point of view, particularly for ASCOT Ops who put it together. Job well done.

[opso]

Yeah! Flt Ops rules! Any comment from Rev I Tin?

[Rev I. Tin]

@opso,

You are a tease!! Flt Ops rules what? You're forgetting that I'm not Flt Ops branch. Anyway I wasn't on duty on Friday (which is possibly why it went well!), however I was on over the weekend dealing with the crew out there. Very tired crew, don't mention the accommodation they ended up in.

@notaflake

Thank you for your comments. It's not often we get thanks so your 'well done' is gratefully received. Will pass on to the guys who did the work.

Best news of all is the successful rescue, so well done to the RN.

God Bless,

Rev I. Tin

[fat albert]

It's not often we get thanks

not often you earn it..............

[Rev I. Tin]

Fatty,

John 11:35

Job 38:02

Job 21:05


God Bless.

Rev I. Tin

[steamchicken]

Would it be presumptuous to add - Splice the Main Brace?

[doubledolphins]

Puts a whole new slant on the old adage that the Army and RAF are weapons systems delivered by the Navy. At least the C17 is painted Battle Ship Grey! Just a little after thought, did any one else think the Boat's Skipper had a Soviet Navy badge on his cap?

[adr]

I'll raise a glass tonight in honour of all involved.

Full marks to Adml Fyodorov who reportedly said on national TV in Russia, "We bow before the experience brought by the sailor rescuers of Great Britain's Royal Navy," and remarked on the RN team's "good technical equipment" and "highest professionalism".

Pity that the author of this report in Правда seemingly can't bring himself to advert to the British participation in the rescue.

adr

[doubledolphins]

Catch up old chap, got well into the Wood's last night! As to the submariners getting over it, wont take long but I supose they will prefer vodka. Now there's a thought. A rum and vodka mix. Might have a bit of fun in the wardroom trying that out tonight. Bottoms up!

[fat albert]

Rev: indeed he did.

However, of the ITOC he did also speak....

1 Timothy 1:7

And I'll get them in now before you do...

Job 16:3

Job 13:5

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen

[Rev I. Tin]

Falbert,

Isiah 60: 8

Ecclesiastes 10:3

Proverbs 12:1



Benedictus Benedicat

Rev I. Tin

[cobaltfrog]

per jesu christo dominum nostrum Amen!!

[fat albert]

Now now Rev....

Proverbs 12:16

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Dominus vobiscum

[Rev I. Tin]

Well this is making a rather slow day a bit more interesting, although we have slightly gone off topic. To take it back to a more nautical theme:

Ezekiel 27: 9

Rev I. Tin

[fat albert]

Quite. In fact, to get almost back on topic:

Jonah 1:17

Jonah 2:10

[egbt]

or perhaps

Ezekiel 27:29 -

"And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land;"

or in this case come up with their ship

[opso]

If the religious double-speak has finished... (Never listened at RE, so no idea what the references meant).

It was good to see the C17 crew get equal billing with the navy team at the press conference at Prestwick this morning. And extra coverage with OC 99 on the local news this evening. Lots of positive coverage of the military for a change.

And was it just me or did the Cdr drop a clanger when he said that he'd lied about their chances at the pre-departure press conference?

[Nil nos tremefacit]

Caught the main press conference, but missed the local news.

Sqn Ldr KH was doing a good advertisement for the C-17. Does this mean 99 get No 5 as well as No 6? I suspect not.

When the Lords and masters make their decisions they will still try to minimise defence expenditure despite the evidence staring them in the face.

If you wonder what was available to the boys down route, look at this thread from Jet Blast entitled predatory Russian girls, it's all the same region:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=184331

opso, ask your merry men if anybody partook!

[opso]

They're not my guys, but it would be disappointing if they didn't take advantage of the opportunities that travel presents wouldn't it - the sights, sounds and sensations that make memories...