Advertise with us - 01737 64 24 24
Home Contact Us About Us Help/FAQs Shop Mail Jobs Forums
Search
Thursday February 9th 2012


  NEWS
Previous Page  

4 Out, 4 In For Navy BDEs


Thursday, March 11, 2010

Source: MOD



Four Royal Navy bomb disposal experts have set off for Afghanistan this week to play a part in the counter-explosives effort.

The quartet, from the Fleet Diving Squadron based at Horsea Island, Portsmouth, will be spending six months in Helmand province.

Predominantly based at Camp Bastion, they will work in support of the British Army's 21 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers, and also deploy to forward operating bases in Sangin, Banji and Kajaki.

There they will carry out offensive search and clearance operations of insurgent-laid improvised explosive devices and conventional munitions, and also accompany regular foot patrols.

They will also train the Afghan National Army in explosive ordnance recognition, search and disposal skills.

Heading the team is Petty Officer (Diver) Ward 'Sharky' Peers of Gosport. He will be joined by Leading Seaman (Diver) Lee Jackson of Paulsgrove, Able Seaman (Diver) Phil Brierley of Gosport, and Able Seaman (Diver) Ian Rowe of Portsmouth.

Petty Officer Peers said that they had just completed six months of pre-deployment training with the Royal Engineers, adding "We realise that training the Afghan Army is vital in helping the country get back on its feet so our presence will be worthwhile.

"Our operation is entirely land-based which will be somewhat unusual for us as a Royal Navy team, but it will be interesting for us working in a tri-Service environment.

"Now that we have completed our specialist training with the British Army we feel we are fully prepared and are now keen to get out there, complete our tasks to the best of our ability, and then return home to our usual duties with the Navy."

Once in theatre the team will replace four colleagues from the Fleet Diving Squadron who will return to the UK in April.

The Royal Navy Diving Branch is a small specialisation of the Mine Warfare Branch, dedicated to a wide range of underwater diving tasks and more specifically to mine and ordnance disposal underwater.

Print A Printer Friendly Version Of This News Item
For more information click on or go to http://www.mod.uk
Sign up for free
to the following
military news;
Patrol Store special offers newsletter
Weekly Newsletter
Select both
& keep up to date!

First Name

Surname

Email address


  © NSI (Holdings) Ltd 2011
News Archive  Military Information  Online Dating  Military Equipment UK  
Lowa Boots  Military Kit Reviews  Uniform Dating  Site Map  Disclaimer