MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Atlantic Task force exercise in high seas

On a bright April morning but with the ever-changing South Atlantic weather bringing clouds sweeping in, HM Ships Liverpool and Dumbarton Castle in company with RFA Gold Rover put to sea this week from East Cove Military Port in the Falkland Islands for a day of exercises and manoeuvres.

At the same time, HMS Liverpool's Lynx helicopter, 332, launched from Mount Pleasant Airfield to photograph proceedings.

As 332 became visible, the ships of the Task Group conducted a series of Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres. These are ship handling exercises, designed to test the skills of the navigation and communications team on the bridge, as the ships assume different formations to strict timings. It also provides a good opportunity to get photos of the ships in company. The ship's photographer was busy too, getting shots of 332.

Once manoeuvres were complete, HMS Liverpool and RFA Gold Rover detached to conduct a Replenishment At Sea. This is how HMS Liverpool has been kept supplied with fuel for the last three months, enabling her to cover great distances without the need to go into port to fuel.

Operating two ships in such close proximity, joined together by fuelling hoses takes a team effort from all on board. The Bridge team, led by the Captain, Commander Duffy and Navigator Lieutenant Robey get the ships safely together, the engineers guide the fuel into the correct tanks, and the lines and wires are staffed by everyone from chefs to writers. Tanks topped up, the ships parted, HMS Liverpool recovered her Lynx safely onto her flight deck and another day of work for the Royal Navy's South Atlantic Task Group drew to a close