Daily Archives: April 19, 2013

Devonport RN chief retires after 37 years

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The head of the Royal Navy’s fleet in the South West retired this week saying while the service was smaller it was “more committed, more professional and effective”.

Commodore Jake Moores, commander of the Devonport flotilla’s 21 ships and submarines at Plymouth, stood down with his flotilla busy operating around the world.

 ​Commodore Jake Moores on submarine HMS Tireless on his final day as head of Royal Navy in the South West
Commodore Jake Moores on submarine HMS Tireless on his final day as head of Royal Navy in the South West

 

“I have finally come to terms with leaving the Navy after 37 years,” Commodore Moores, a former submarine commander, said. “I have seen great change in my time. I leave it in better shape.

“The Navy is smaller now, but it is more committed, more professional and effective. There are fewer ships, but they are more capable with more armaments, such as the amazing Type 45 destroyers.

 “I am proud to say Devonport flotilla is playing a strategically important role throughout the world – as I speak in the Middle East and the Atlantic. My focus has been there because of this presence.

“The future is very healthy too with the Astute class submarines proving already to have the potential to be hugely capable for years to come. I have seen HMS Astute operating at sea and was very impressed.”

A former commanding officer of the Royal Navy’s officer training school, Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, Commodore Moores was also the first captain of the nuclear-armed submarine HMS Vanguard following its refit in Plymouth.

Source – This is Cornwall

Spain – Navantia overhaul of submarine almost complete

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Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has floated the Spanish navy’s S-73 submarine, the Mistral, after finishing 80 percent of its dry dock overhaul.

Dry dock work on the vessel is being conducted at the company’s shipyard in Cartagena and, when completed, will give the submarine another five years of service life.

The S-73 is a diesel-powered vessel with a surface speed of 12 knots and a submerged speed 10.5 knots. It entered service with the Spanish navy in 1977.

The dry dock overhaul involved dismantling the submarine, replacing components and equipment in poor condition and then reassembling the vessel. Navantia said more than 15,000 pieces of equipment were removed and inspected, as well as its hull.

Mistral is docked at the shipyard for the remainder of the overhaul, which includes completion of assembly and testing at port and at sea.

The vessel is scheduled to be returned to the Spanish Navy in September, Navantia said.

Mistral is one of four Spainish Naval, S-70 “Agosta Class” submarines .

built by Cartagena dockyard

  • Galerna (S 71) – completed 1983 – in service
  • Siroco (S 72) – completed 1983 – decommissioned 2012
  • Mistral (S 73) – completed 1985 – in service
  • Tramontana (S 74) – completed 1985 – in service

Source – UPI.com

Source – Wikipedia