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L.E Eithne visit to Argentina

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  • #76
    It was a case of the Shark sentry getting bored....banging off a couple of rounds...and watch his shipmates walk on water and climb straight up the ship sides without aid of Accom ladder or jumping ladder.....only to see this guy rolling around the flag deck in knots of laughing.....and get a good kicking from his mates.....

    an oldie and a goldie...this was back in the days when very one was nuts..no health and safety..A7...the bad old days.

    I'm sure 'Able' will be able to add a few tales to this one....or how about the stripper...the large pesata coin..and the lighter..hee hee!!!!!
    Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

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    • #77
      yeah, I saw that thing on the rag about the NS shooting up a big Orange drum.Jaysus, is Big Ian on the boat? it's probably going to be on lambegs'r'us.com. Maybe the RN will retaliate by blowing up a container of Celtic jerseys.
      regards
      GttC

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      • #78
        Message from the crew of Eithne:

        Many thanks we got a fax of the Star - I thought they were talking about a different story in a different ocean with a different ship!
        As reported on the ships daily journal, The Captain spoke on the Gerry Ryan show yesterday.

        Click here to listen to the show

        You can forward past the rest of the tripe to 2 hours 15 minutes.
        Attached Files


        Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

        Comment


        • #79
          Originally posted by hptmurphy
          It was a case of the Shark sentry getting bored....banging off a couple of rounds...and watch his shipmates walk on water and climb straight up the ship sides without aid of Accom ladder or jumping ladder.....only to see this guy rolling around the flag deck in knots of laughing.....and get a good kicking from his mates.....

          an oldie and a goldie...this was back in the days when very one was nuts..no health and safety..A7...the bad old days.

          I'm sure 'Able' will be able to add a few tales to this one....or how about the stripper...the large pesata coin..and the lighter..hee hee!!!!!
          My lips are sealed....... What happened at sea... in the Med, in the Leb, in the Base.... Stays at sea, in the Med....... in the Leb..... in the Base.

          I'm just here to watch, don't drag me into your stories!:wink:

          Comment


          • #80
            Originally posted by Goldie fish
            26 Feb 06 LE Eithne P 31 Mar de la Plata
            01 Mar 06 LE Eithne P 31 Buenos Aires
            09 Mar 06 LE Eithne P 31 Montevideo
            16 Mar 06 LE Eithne P 31 Rio de Janeiro
            25 Mar 06 LE Eithne P 31 Fortaleza, Brazil
            Eithne will be escorted up the Rio de la Plata by the Argentinian Corvette ARA Guerrico.

            This is the vessel that during the Falklands war, was fired upon my Royal Marines with a Carl Gustav 84mm during the "Battle of Grytviken" in South Georgia, while bombarding their position with its 100mm main armament. By the time the vessel escaped the Royal Marines range, it had taken over 1000 hits from various calibres of weapon, including 84mm, 66mm and 7.62mm.

            Its pennant number? P32.

            The Ship is known as a Drummond class locally, but was built in France as a D'Estienne D'Orves type, one of two destined for South Africa,but due to UN sanctions to South Africa they were not delivered and were bought by the Argentine Navy in 1978. The third ship of the class was ordered by Argentina and was delivered in 1981.

            P-31 ARA Drummond (ex South African Good Hope)
            P-32 ARA Guerrico (ex South African Transvaal)
            P-33 ARA Granville



            Displacement: 1,250 tons full load
            Dimensions: 80.5 x 10.3 x 5.2 meters (264 x 34 x 17 feet)
            Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 12,000 shp, 24 knots
            Crew: 84
            Radar: DRBV 51A air/surface search
            Sonar: Diodon hull
            Fire Control: 1 DRBC 32E
            EW: DR 2000-53 intercept, Alligator jammer, 2 Syllex (33: Dagaie) chaff
            Armament: 4 MM38 Exocet SSM, 1 100mm DP, 1 dual 40 mm AA, 2 20 mm AA, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes

            Builders: Lorient Naval Dockyard, France.


            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

            Comment


            • #81
              Originally posted by Goldie fish
              Eithne will be escorted up the Rio de la Plata by the Argentinian Corvette ARA Guerrico.

              This is the vessel that during the Falklands war, was fired upon my Royal Marines with a Carl Gustav 84mm during the "Battle of Grytviken" in South Georgia, while bombarding their position with its 100mm main armament. By the time the vessel escaped the Royal Marines range, it had taken over 1000 hits from various calibres of weapon, including 84mm, 66mm and 7.62mm.

              Its pennant number? P32.

              The Ship is known as a Drummond class locally, but was built in France as a D'Estienne D'Orves type, one of two destined for South Africa,but due to UN sanctions to South Africa they were not delivered and were bought by the Argentine Navy in 1978. The third ship of the class was ordered by Argentina and was delivered in 1981.

              P-31 ARA Drummond (ex South African Good Hope)
              P-32 ARA Guerrico (ex South African Transvaal)
              P-33 ARA Granville



              Displacement: 1,250 tons full load
              Dimensions: 80.5 x 10.3 x 5.2 meters (264 x 34 x 17 feet)
              Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 12,000 shp, 24 knots
              Crew: 84
              Radar: DRBV 51A air/surface search
              Sonar: Diodon hull
              Fire Control: 1 DRBC 32E
              EW: DR 2000-53 intercept, Alligator jammer, 2 Syllex (33: Dagaie) chaff
              Armament: 4 MM38 Exocet SSM, 1 100mm DP, 1 dual 40 mm AA, 2 20 mm AA, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes

              Builders: Lorient Naval Dockyard, France.



              GOLDIE : ANY CAPTAIN REPORTS TODAY??

              Comment


              • #82
                No mog. sorry.


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                Comment


                • #83
                  Originally posted by Goldie fish
                  No mog. sorry.

                  cheer's

                  Comment


                  • #84
                    LE EITHNE
                    DAILY JOURNAL

                    Captain’s Journal LE EITHNE – Friday 24th of February
                    This morning, we all wake as if we had not slept. The wind is a full gale and the seas are heaping up from the southeast. Our escort ship has (wisely) reviewed her rendezvous position so that it is closer to Mar Del Plata. My view is that the conditions are such that they are perhaps too extreme to justify the protocol of sending an escort to meet us, but this is a matter for the Argentine authorities and we are grateful that they will honour us in this way. As I look out on the grey wind swept waters it finally dawns on me as to why William Brown felt so at home in these seas – right now they look exactly like the squall ravaged waters of Blacksod bay on a dark winters day. While the probability of us experiencing these conditions are between 2 and 5 percent – when it occurred it must have brought Brown right home to his native Mayo – that is where my mind is right now.
                    We are now over 6000 nautical miles from Ireland. The air temperature has dropped to a cool 16 degrees which together with the gale also drags down our morale - at least a little. I am not unduly worried however because I simply could not see how the morale of the past two weeks could be sustained or go any higher – a slight dip today is timely leaving sufficient room to surge tomorrow when we enter Mar Del Plata.
                    Yesterday afternoon we had moved the generator out to the end of the flight deck. Even though it is well covered and protected from the elements on more than one occasion I thought of it overnight especially when we took a heavy wave. This generator along with a raft of other items were acquired by JJ O’Hara from the proceeds of the charity of the people of the Mayo and Galway. Such is the weight of the generator we used a block and tackle arrangement to give us the required purchase to haul it across the flight deck, using plywood sheeting to protect the paintwork. Once in position the ship’s company set to laying the deck for marquee. This was my second worry overnight – but I was well assured by the bosun PO Paul McCarthy that it was going nowhere.
                    By late afternoon we close the Argentinean coast and for the first time we see Argentinean soil. In some ways we are like a dog looking into a butcher shop so close but we still have nearly 24 hours before we enter the Port of Mar Del Plata. Besides torturing ourselves there is a practical reason why we close the coast to get a mobile phone signal. Within twenty minutes mobile phones, which have been dormant for the past two weeks, are popping up left right and centre.
                    At 1800 we sight the Naval Vessel Guerrico and we proceed to close her position. The wind has eased off to a force six and we do what we in the Irish Navy do best we despatch one of our boarding teams from six miles to close the Argentinean vessel. As I have mentioned before with an interception speed of up to 70 km per hour she can close the distance three times faster than LE Eithne and as dusk is approaching rapidly I am keen to get the formalities over with and get into the passage programme before our entrance to Mar Del Plata. ARA Guerrico then formally welcomes us as follows:
                    Ireland’s Navy Vessel LE Eithne this is Argentine’s Navy Vessel Guerrico. In the name of the Commander of the Naval Atlantic area Capitan De Vaio Roque Andres De Vicenzo, the Commander of the Navy Patrol Division Capitan De Navio Eduardo Castro Rivas and the Commander Task Element, Officers and Crew of this Warship welcome to Argentinean waters. For us it is a great privilege and honour to receive and sail with a warship of the heroic Irish Navy who carry the traditions and the blood of our most important Navy hero your fellow countryman Admiral William Brown. We truly believe that this visit will serve to reinforce even more the historical bonds that join us.
                    We wish you the greatest success in your task and we expect you to enjoy your time to the maximum in our country.
                    In response LE Eithne extended the following reply:
                    Argentine Naval Vessel Guerrico this is the Irish Naval Flag Vessel Eithne on behalf of Commodore Frank Lynch Flag Officer Commanding Irish Naval Service, Captain James Robinson Officer Commanding Naval Operations Command, the entire Irish Naval Service and the people of Ireland, Commander Mark Mellett fellow county man of your great hero Admiral William Brown and the crew of LE Eithne wish to thank you for your welcome and honouring us with your presence in this difficult weather. We have come a long way full of excitement and with high expectations and we look forward to our visit to your great country. With Spirit and Courage we have faced the unknown the same spirit and courage that your great hero and our countryman Admiral William Brown shared with your people.
                    As the greetings concluded LE Eithne’s executive officer Lt Cdr Aedh McGinn with the agility of a trapeze artist and accompanied by Ensign Sean Linehan boarded ARA Guerrico on its starboard side. Gifts were exchanged and the passage plan to Mar Del Plata was agreed. As dusk set in Aedh and Sean were again in the port Jaguar under the command of Able Seaman Adam Purcell and returning to LE Eithne. In doing so they reinforced what is the Irish Navy’s niche area of expertise, heavy weather small boat operations. With the Jaguar hoisted we set course for the overnight passage to Mar Del Plata carrying out a variety of evolutions underway such as signal lamp exchanges.
                    As I finish my journal for today ARA Guerrico is taking up position in our wake. With the evolutions now completed we will stay in company overnight. We switch our hangar red night lighting to white as we gather for the final of our darts competition (which is won instyle by Supply Paddy Lawlor beating Mechanician Patrick Collins). Already the morale metre indicates a rise, the lights of Mar Del Plata glow on the horizon and every sailor on board LE Eithne feels honoured and privileged for having been described as the blood of Argentina’s most important Navy hero our fellow countryman Admiral William Brown.
                    Midday Posn (Z) Irish Time –37 07S 56 06W
                    Dist to Cork – 6015 nm (nautical miles)
                    Dist to Mar De Plata – 88 nm
                    a historic day.


                    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                    Comment


                    • #85
                      Thanks Goldie Fish for being first to post the latest news from LE Eithne, do you know when Saturdays and Sundays will be available its great reading and it makes you very proud of the LE Eithne and the crew.

                      Brian

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                      • #86
                        They're already up on military.ie i've just finished reading them.
                        Blog

                        WHAT FLIES DIES

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                        • #87
                          LE EITHNE
                          DAILY JOURNAL
                          Captain’s Journal LE EITHNE – Monday 27th of February
                          Today will be the busiest day since we have arrived in Argentina so some of us rise before 7am for a session in the gym doing a series of “supersets” consisting of bench press, lateral raise, chin ups, pull downs and so on. Within the Naval Service the physical requirements for diving are such that you must maintain a higher than normal standard of physical fitness. Getting it out of the way early means that no matter how busy the day becomes you have your session complete and it also means you meet the day with the right frame of mind.
                          At 0900 the Irish Ambassador to Argentina HE Martin O Fanin boards LE Eithne. He has flown up from Buenos Aires and will accompany me on the calls of protocol to the Commander of the Naval Base and also the calls of custom to the Mayor of Mar Del Plata and the Chairman of the City Council. These calls are quite formal and medals and swords are worn. It is normal for an exchange of gifts to take place as well as plaques. The Base commander is Captain Vincenzo and he greets us in his headquarters. He explains that it is a great honour to have a visit by Ireland’s Flagship and assures me that he will continue to make available whatever resources he can to ensure our visit to Mar Del Plata is a great success. Captain Vincenzo then accompanies the Ambassador and myself to visit the mayor. We arrive at the town hall in the centre of Mar Del Plata – it is bustling with activity – democracy in action. The mayor then bestows an unexpected honour on the Ambassador, Mr JJ O’Hara and myself declaring us “Guests of Honour” presenting us with a certificate in which the “Articles” of the honour are set out.
                          We then complete our calls with a visit to the Chairman of the Local Government. I notice that our liaison officer continues to watch the time closely and just before 12 am with calls complete we are being driven at speed to a wreath laying ceremony at the statue of Admiral William Brown. We arrive at the square to find a crowd of several hundred people have gathered applauding as the cars pull up. The Argentine Naval Band strikes up and LE Eithne’s ships company come to attention. The Ambassador and myself are escorted to our position and the significance of our visit to Mar Del Plata is explained to the gathered citizens who continue to applaud. There is a sense of great joy and genuine appreciation with people old and young calling in Spanish and English – welcome to Argentina, welcome to our country. The Ambassador and I lay the wreath and take up our position for the conclusion of the ceremony as the band play St Patrick’s Day in the Morning. With the ceremony finished people come forward shaking hands and greeting us – “my name is Moore my family came here from Ireland in 1857”, “my name is Lennon my family came here in 1876”. Some people with no English just shake our hand – I feel like a politician after a successful election convention. It is now 1235 and we are behind schedule – back to the cars and we speed off to visit the Spanish research vessel Hesperides (A-33) which has stopped off in Mar Del Plata after a cruise in the Antarctica. A reception is held onboard the vessel and we exchange greetings and plaques. At 1325 we depart for LE Eithne where I am to host a lunch at 1330. At the lunch return calls will be taken from those I have already called on this morning. We have an Irish menu of starter with Clonakilty puddings on a bed of lettuce with a main course Irish spring lamb with brown bread. The chefs have done a great job but I realise I should have opted for something a little lighter. Lunch is finished by 1500 and the guests depart – an interview with Icanews English Language newspaper is postponed from 1600 to 1900. I have three free hours before our evening reception and I go for a run. The run gives provides the chance to plan the greeting for the evening reception – it also helps me unwind.
                          The interview with Icanews goes well – I think! By 1915 guests are gathering on the quay wall. The Argentine Band has also taken up position. Sunset will be at 1934 and I sense that the Naval guests will not board until the ceremony is complete. At sunset we lower our national colours – first we pipe the still and then the carry on and as we do the Argentine band plays “Evening Colours”. Then the guests board. The guests are a mixture of political, judicial, military and Mar Del Plata citizens including a significant number of second and third generation Irish. The reception is an outstanding success with the music of the Argentine Naval Band providing the entertainment up to my address. In my address amongst other things I say that William Brown who’s courage and spirit helped define the Argentine Nation is our blood brother. We then introduce our new secret weapon LE Eithne’s band called “Hercules” after William Brown’s flagship– they steal the show. Before the evening ends Leading Seaman Mark Ansboro and his team including WO John Walsh, PO Chef Eddie Stauton, Chiel Electrician Tom Kelly, Senior Chief Robie Byrne, PO Paul McCarthy and Seaman Fergal McDonagh have our guests waltzing to the music of When Irish Eyes are Smiling. Our last event in Mar Del Plata has been a WOW – tomorrow we sail for Buenos Aires – more about that later.
                          Midday Posn (Z) Irish Time –38 02S 57 32W (Alongside Mar Del Plata)
                          Dist to Cork – 6100 nm (nautical miles)
                          Dist to Mar De Plata (Centre) – 1 nm
                          ANother update


                          Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                          Comment


                          • #88


                            In the latest leg of its trip, Eithne is being accompanied up the River Plate by the vessel above, ARA Robinson.
                            Its a MEKO 140 class, Locally known as Espora, and entered service in 2000, after its building was delayed due to economic reasons.
                            Note the Alouette 3 on the helideck. I'm sure Cdr Mellett is paying close attention to this also.


                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                            Comment


                            • #89
                              Jaysus...Jim Robinson isn't dead yet and the Argies are naming ships after him....Irish Naval heroes.....whats next..ARA Moggy?
                              Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

                              Comment


                              • #90
                                Did anyone see the 6pm news on RTE yesterday evening they showed a piece of the Eithnes visit to Argentina including the crew in uniform laying a wreath, the showed a shot of Eithne in dock and she looked very impressive, pity about the weather it was lashing rain.

                                By the way what do people on the board think about the Bronze Statue of Admiral Browne that Eithne is bringing home, they say its going to be erected in Dublins Docklands, I would have thought it would be put in Mayo.


                                Brian

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