RAF AT to the Philippines?
As lmgaylard has confirmed, there has been much valuable inter-service cooperation. PJHQ is represented on the ground and a second C-17 has flown in. Daring's Lynx has also shown her worth:
As this photo on the MOD website (link) shows, it has been a case of 'all hands to the pumps' in more ways than one:
A work party from HMS Daring loads humanitarian stores onto a barge in Cebu
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Paul A'Barrow, Crown copyright]
Originally Posted by RN website 19 Nov 2013
Ahead of HMS Daring sailing in and RAF C17 transporters flying out, a specialist team from the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters arrived to co-ordinate Britain’s military relief effort, ensuring the right aid goes to the right place...
Cdre Clive Walker, the Royal Navy logistician in charge of the tri-Service disaster relief task force, says the UK response is already making a difference on the ground – and has been extremely well received both by the people affected and by the islands’ leaders. The destroyer HMS Daring has been focusing her efforts around Guintacan Island, about 80 miles west of the badly-affected city of Tacloban, while the aid brought in by the RAF’s giant C17 transporters has been directed towards the latter city and environs.
“The two RAF C17s have been really well received – particularly the first one which flew in with the heavy engineering plant: tractors, dump trucks and a crane,” said Cdre Walker. “They’ve been needed close to the city of Tacloban which was badly affected, opening up the roads so aid can be brought in. “It’s a simple mantra: more roads means more aid which means less suffering.”
As for Daring, which broke off exercises in the South China Sea and dashed east, her Lynx helicopter proved key in the first stages of her response. “We’ve been very lucky to be joined by Daring – and her Lynx especially, carrying out surveys of the more remote areas,” said Cdre Walker...
Cdre Clive Walker, the Royal Navy logistician in charge of the tri-Service disaster relief task force, says the UK response is already making a difference on the ground – and has been extremely well received both by the people affected and by the islands’ leaders. The destroyer HMS Daring has been focusing her efforts around Guintacan Island, about 80 miles west of the badly-affected city of Tacloban, while the aid brought in by the RAF’s giant C17 transporters has been directed towards the latter city and environs.
“The two RAF C17s have been really well received – particularly the first one which flew in with the heavy engineering plant: tractors, dump trucks and a crane,” said Cdre Walker. “They’ve been needed close to the city of Tacloban which was badly affected, opening up the roads so aid can be brought in. “It’s a simple mantra: more roads means more aid which means less suffering.”
As for Daring, which broke off exercises in the South China Sea and dashed east, her Lynx helicopter proved key in the first stages of her response. “We’ve been very lucky to be joined by Daring – and her Lynx especially, carrying out surveys of the more remote areas,” said Cdre Walker...
A work party from HMS Daring loads humanitarian stores onto a barge in Cebu
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Paul A'Barrow, Crown copyright]
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Good article. Now, would you ever see an Army major in that photo?
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Good to see both the RN and RAF working together and providing assistance. Not much mention of the US on this thread though. I see US Pacific Command has been directed to give air and naval assistance. I would imagine that as they have only recently (2012) been allowed access back into the Phillipines (after being thrown out in 92) they will be putting a tremendous effort into improving their image. Not sure whether they have rebuilt their presence in Bataan (Subic Bay and Cubi Point) but that area was missed by the Typhoon and would have provided an excellent base for relief operations. This is, after all, the Pacific Fleet's back yard.
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Going off topic very slightly...
In the early 1970's I was in Eritrea (Ethiopia) during the period of that really awful famine that effected a significant number of the population.
I watched customs officials sail out to approaching ships carrying large cargoes of Red Cross aid, they would then take 'possession' of the cargo and when the ship docked, they would then sell this cargo to the senior army officials who were waiting at the dock-side.
The cargo was unloaded, stored in warehouses over night and during that time I could hear gun-fire which I believe was coming from zealous guards 'deterring' those that dared to get near these Red cross supplies.
The next day there appeared to be some type of auction where this donated cargo was sold to the local black market, or in modern speak.. The local war lords.
Within hours some of this so called 'aid' could be seen on sale at the local markets. This aid was freely given by the likes of you and I, but how much gets to those in need? What was not sold locally, was loaded into lorries and taken to anywhere, where folks could afford to buy it, none was handed over to the rightful, lawful owners, who simply wanted to GIVE? it away to the starving masses.
I had a word with a very nice lady from the British Embassy and was politely told this is what happens. Palms are oiled and every so often a ship will get through and off load its cargo (usually when delegates, or official observers are scheduled to visit)
On a trip to the capital I went overland and saw trucks carrying the empty sacks that Red Cross grain had been in, these sacks were transported out to the bush where it was swapped for whatever these starving, desperate people possessed. This was usually brush or very dried out branches, twigs. This sacking was then used by these folk to make either clothing or tents. No doubt thy would first try to extract whatever grain was stuck within the material of that sacking.
I hate admitting this, but from that day, I have refused to give one penny to these well wishing charities. I totally accept some of our donations get through, but my experience is that a significant majority is making some very obnoxious people very, very rich. I am not for one milli-second alledging what I saw is endemic, but it certainly effected me and my opinion on aid donations.
Our military, be that any service will at least try to get it to those that need it and hopefully when the RAF are offloading their cargo at this latest area, it is not going anywhere near local officialdom!!!
This is not me repeating some Chinese whisper, I was at Massawa (a port that has undergone much modernisation since I was there) and I travelled over the mountains to Asmara. I saw what I saw and as a side issue I was also 'detained' up in the mountains by the National Army, but that is another story.
We all joke about what a white elephant our carriers will be but imagine what they would achieve if they were out at this location? During my time afloat, I never saw any piece of machinery that could not be repaired by the ship's artificers\mechanicians. These folks are amazing bodgers and if hardened chewing gum was able to fix something, chewing gum it would be.. In a crisis like this, where machinery is broken, I would be amazed if it stayed that way for any length of time. ''Can't be repaired sir' is not something anyone wants to hear if a ship is dead in the water. The workshops that these carriers will no doubt have, will allow these bodgers to actually replicate the damaged parts as opposed to 'bodge' something. These bigger ships will always have more support, bigger generators, more sailors, but we are where we are and every service is doing its very best.
Hopefully when Daring leaves the area, they will go off somewhere for a well earned rest??
When I prepared that first list, I wonder how many ex Royal Navy personnel read it and instantly went into flash back mode and reminisced about their time at Portland??
In the early 1970's I was in Eritrea (Ethiopia) during the period of that really awful famine that effected a significant number of the population.
I watched customs officials sail out to approaching ships carrying large cargoes of Red Cross aid, they would then take 'possession' of the cargo and when the ship docked, they would then sell this cargo to the senior army officials who were waiting at the dock-side.
The cargo was unloaded, stored in warehouses over night and during that time I could hear gun-fire which I believe was coming from zealous guards 'deterring' those that dared to get near these Red cross supplies.
The next day there appeared to be some type of auction where this donated cargo was sold to the local black market, or in modern speak.. The local war lords.
Within hours some of this so called 'aid' could be seen on sale at the local markets. This aid was freely given by the likes of you and I, but how much gets to those in need? What was not sold locally, was loaded into lorries and taken to anywhere, where folks could afford to buy it, none was handed over to the rightful, lawful owners, who simply wanted to GIVE? it away to the starving masses.
I had a word with a very nice lady from the British Embassy and was politely told this is what happens. Palms are oiled and every so often a ship will get through and off load its cargo (usually when delegates, or official observers are scheduled to visit)
On a trip to the capital I went overland and saw trucks carrying the empty sacks that Red Cross grain had been in, these sacks were transported out to the bush where it was swapped for whatever these starving, desperate people possessed. This was usually brush or very dried out branches, twigs. This sacking was then used by these folk to make either clothing or tents. No doubt thy would first try to extract whatever grain was stuck within the material of that sacking.
I hate admitting this, but from that day, I have refused to give one penny to these well wishing charities. I totally accept some of our donations get through, but my experience is that a significant majority is making some very obnoxious people very, very rich. I am not for one milli-second alledging what I saw is endemic, but it certainly effected me and my opinion on aid donations.
Our military, be that any service will at least try to get it to those that need it and hopefully when the RAF are offloading their cargo at this latest area, it is not going anywhere near local officialdom!!!
This is not me repeating some Chinese whisper, I was at Massawa (a port that has undergone much modernisation since I was there) and I travelled over the mountains to Asmara. I saw what I saw and as a side issue I was also 'detained' up in the mountains by the National Army, but that is another story.
We all joke about what a white elephant our carriers will be but imagine what they would achieve if they were out at this location? During my time afloat, I never saw any piece of machinery that could not be repaired by the ship's artificers\mechanicians. These folks are amazing bodgers and if hardened chewing gum was able to fix something, chewing gum it would be.. In a crisis like this, where machinery is broken, I would be amazed if it stayed that way for any length of time. ''Can't be repaired sir' is not something anyone wants to hear if a ship is dead in the water. The workshops that these carriers will no doubt have, will allow these bodgers to actually replicate the damaged parts as opposed to 'bodge' something. These bigger ships will always have more support, bigger generators, more sailors, but we are where we are and every service is doing its very best.
Hopefully when Daring leaves the area, they will go off somewhere for a well earned rest??
When I prepared that first list, I wonder how many ex Royal Navy personnel read it and instantly went into flash back mode and reminisced about their time at Portland??
Perhaps in future countries likely to be destroyed by natural causes will be required to bury beforehand large amounts of stores and provisions.
GR4 thing is a lot of folk out in the Philippines don't have the luxury of naval gazing
@glojo I think you're right to not want to hand out money. For one thing, most of these governments are responsible for their own messes and even when your aid is completely responsibly and honestly handled, the fact that it is there means that the government of the day feels free to spend money on the army/secret police/whatever which they should have spent on preventing the famine in the first place.
Buying produce from country X, offering scholarships, setting up British Council libraries, investing in non-exploitative projects (if you can do it without having to buy off politicians). All those seem better to me.
It's also worth considering if there are ways to offer citizens of corrupt country X access to uncorrupt services from outside. The BBC World Service is one example but I do wonder with the advent of mobile phones if it wouldn't be possible to offer banking and finance or even a currency like bitcoin.
The elite will always try to jump on anything that threatens their status but there might be things they can't stop.
Buying produce from country X, offering scholarships, setting up British Council libraries, investing in non-exploitative projects (if you can do it without having to buy off politicians). All those seem better to me.
It's also worth considering if there are ways to offer citizens of corrupt country X access to uncorrupt services from outside. The BBC World Service is one example but I do wonder with the advent of mobile phones if it wouldn't be possible to offer banking and finance or even a currency like bitcoin.
The elite will always try to jump on anything that threatens their status but there might be things they can't stop.
Yes there are only a limited number of sailors but I can assure you they will be working around the clock, non stop, performing miracles. Yes that term might be a slight exaggeration but when others look back at what they have achieved in such a short time they will indeed be humbled. - Glojo
No exaggeration whatsoever - I recall having to lock the three-stripe XO in his cabin after several days of virtual non-stop dawn to dusk hurricane relief work in the Windies to avoid him becoming completely exhausted. In addition, the super-human efforts of the rest of the ship's company resulted in an OBE for the said XO, MBEs for a Surgeon Lieutenant and the Lieutenant who worked wonders on treating patients and re-establishing the local hospital respectively, and several other awards for other sailors, including the one who, ahem, decked the local airport manager for obstructing his team's efforts at runway clearance to enable the Alberts to arrive - which they very speedily and commendably did !
I never saw any piece of machinery that could not be repaired by the ship's artificers\mechanicians. - Glojo
Oh so true, as indeed is so much of what Glojo has said in his illuminating posts! On a lighter note, a team of my sailors were clearing the jungle road from the "capital" to the airport by the simple but effective means of a chainsaw on either side of the road, and "sailor power" to shift the resultant logs. They came round a corner to find a bulldozer sitting idle by the roadside. Obvious question, why don't we use that, only to be told by our local guide that it wasn't working. Next question, "Any one of you lads know anything about bulldozers?" and up steps Jack, who succeeds in firing it up after about half an hour's work and the addition of some dieso. Local guide's response, "Man, that's just amazing - that bulldozer hasn't worked for four years!"
And one for the Loggies, it was the only time I ever had to authorise a "Flash" stores demand, the end result of which Albert duly dropped at sea the next day.
Certainly no shortage of inter-Service co-operation there, thank you.
Jack
No exaggeration whatsoever - I recall having to lock the three-stripe XO in his cabin after several days of virtual non-stop dawn to dusk hurricane relief work in the Windies to avoid him becoming completely exhausted. In addition, the super-human efforts of the rest of the ship's company resulted in an OBE for the said XO, MBEs for a Surgeon Lieutenant and the Lieutenant who worked wonders on treating patients and re-establishing the local hospital respectively, and several other awards for other sailors, including the one who, ahem, decked the local airport manager for obstructing his team's efforts at runway clearance to enable the Alberts to arrive - which they very speedily and commendably did !
I never saw any piece of machinery that could not be repaired by the ship's artificers\mechanicians. - Glojo
Oh so true, as indeed is so much of what Glojo has said in his illuminating posts! On a lighter note, a team of my sailors were clearing the jungle road from the "capital" to the airport by the simple but effective means of a chainsaw on either side of the road, and "sailor power" to shift the resultant logs. They came round a corner to find a bulldozer sitting idle by the roadside. Obvious question, why don't we use that, only to be told by our local guide that it wasn't working. Next question, "Any one of you lads know anything about bulldozers?" and up steps Jack, who succeeds in firing it up after about half an hour's work and the addition of some dieso. Local guide's response, "Man, that's just amazing - that bulldozer hasn't worked for four years!"
And one for the Loggies, it was the only time I ever had to authorise a "Flash" stores demand, the end result of which Albert duly dropped at sea the next day.
Certainly no shortage of inter-Service co-operation there, thank you.
Jack
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I hate admitting this, but from that day, I have refused to give one penny to these well wishing charities.
Fresh proof that the services are becoming 'top heavy'
Latest RN update: HMS Daring provides shelter kits for families in need
451 and its crew have been clocking up the hours, too.
451 and its crew have been clocking up the hours, too.
It's that Lynx effect again!
Latest updates with some good piccies:
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Great team effort going on down there, well done all involved
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...philippines--4
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...philippines--4
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HMS Illustrious hard at it now as well.
HMS Illustrious packed to the rafters for Philippines relief mission | Royal Navy
HMS Illustrious packed to the rafters for Philippines relief mission | Royal Navy
Ah, same link. Some good photos and latest news about RN and everyone elses effort here.
Hangars now a large store for food and aid. Guess they will be in for the long haul for this, looking at a few weeks I imagine. Hard on the Ships Company what with Xmas around the months corner of course. But thats life in a blue one as we used to say.
Best ships for this role are the RFA Bay Class I always think, but I guess they are thousands of miles away.
Well if Illustrious saves but one life or helps one person it will be for the greater good. God bless 'em.
Looking at the photos, they've taken only green Lynx, no sign of the Merlin or Sea King? Unless theyre out of phots.
Must be a good slick team on there, look very organised to me.
HMS Illustrious packed to the rafters for Philippines relief mission | Royal Navy
Ah, same link. Some good photos and latest news about RN and everyone elses effort here.
Hangars now a large store for food and aid. Guess they will be in for the long haul for this, looking at a few weeks I imagine. Hard on the Ships Company what with Xmas around the months corner of course. But thats life in a blue one as we used to say.
Best ships for this role are the RFA Bay Class I always think, but I guess they are thousands of miles away.
Well if Illustrious saves but one life or helps one person it will be for the greater good. God bless 'em.
Looking at the photos, they've taken only green Lynx, no sign of the Merlin or Sea King? Unless theyre out of phots.
Must be a good slick team on there, look very organised to me.