Nations link up for naval 'War Games'

[Anth]

Four leading naval nations, Britain, France, Russia and the US, have linked up for a series of war games and talks which begin today, Monday 26 June 2006, off the coast of Portsmouth.

Ready for the off; the FS DE GRASSE heads into Portsmouth harbour.
[Picture: Royal Navy]

Known as FRUKUS - letters from the names of each nation involved - the series of discussions, naval exercises, ceremonies and official visits will begin with an opening ceremony today at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, and will finish when the ships leave the UK on Friday 30 June 2006.

Over 1,000 personnel from the four countries will be taking part. The four ships involved this year are the Devonport-based Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth, the French air-defence destroyer De Grasse, the Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko and the air-defence destroyer USS Barry.

Host of this year's event will be the Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Alan Massey RN, who will fly his flag on HMS Monmouth while at sea. He will also host talks with flag officers of the other participating countries, the focus of which will include maritime security and future co-operation.

The annual event is valued by all four powers as a means of fostering the co-operation needed to meet future operational needs and contingencies, including peacekeeping and maintaining the oceans as safe and free for legitimate maritime trade.

It is the first time that Britain has hosted the sea-going event, which was established in 1988 between Russia, the UK and the USA. France joined in 2003, and the first sea exercises involving all four nations were held last year. Naval co-operation between the four nations will be tested and enhanced to jointly meet the threats of terrorism, threats to maritime security and to conduct joint operations under different commands.

The Admiral Levchenko is one of ten of Russia's Udaloy-class destroyers which form the backbone of the nation's surface fleet.
[Picture: Royal Navy]

A joint operations cell and command group has been set up at Fleet Headquarters, Whale Island in Portsmouth. While at sea the ships will be tested in helicopter flying, boarding exercises, and co-ordinated manoeuvres. A sports event involving members of the ships' companies is also scheduled at HMS Temeraire, the Royal Navy's sports and physical training facility in Portsmouth.

On Tuesday 27 June the four ships will leave together for a series of exercises in Weymouth Bay, including a co-ordinated entry into Portland harbour, although they will not berth there. They return to Portsmouth on Friday for the event's closing ceremony.

Key facts about the ships taking part:

• HMS MONMOUTH: HMS Monmouth is a type 23 (or Duke-class) frigate commissioned in 1993. Her primary role is as an anti-submarine warship wih surface to surface and air defence capability.
• FS DE GRASSE: The De Grasse is one of two Type F67 destroyers. She was commissioned in 1977 and displaces 6,100 tons full load. She is 152.8m long and has a beam of 16m with a full compliment of 301. Her steam turbines give her a speed of 32 knots. She is armed with Excoet surface-to-air missles, two 3.9in and two 20mm guns.
• ADMIRAL LEVCHENKO: The Admiral Levchenko is one of ten of Russia's Udaloy-class destroyers which form the backbone of the nation's surface fleet. She was commissioned in 1988. She displaces 8,500 tons, has a length of 163.5m and a beam of 19.3m. Her full complement is 249.
• USS BARRY: One of a multitude of highly capable, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, the Barry is the second of the class to be commissioned, in 1992. At 8,315 tons displacement, she has a length of 153.8m and a beam of 20.4m. She has a full complement of 346 officers and men.

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