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Ark Royal crew braced for war
The official line may still be that the Ark Royal is leaving Britain for long planned operations, but on board the message is very different. Crew members have been told they could soon be fighting a war and on the eve of their departure they say they are more than ready. With 3,000 marines now set to join the six vessel taskforce being led by the Royal Navy flagship, its commander, Rear Admiral David Snelson said a "classic use of maritime power" has been prepared. With 45 troop-carrying helicopters replacing the planes usually found on board the ship, he says deployment will ensure there is a "ground combat capability in the Gulf region". Ah ha, helicopter assault. Going inland, are we? The Ark Royal's skipper, Captain Alan Massey, said "The line I take with my ship's crew is that we always hope for the best but plan for the worst." It is a message backed up by the marines' lieutenant colonel, Ben Curry, who said his troops were ready to do whatever was necessary - whether it was combat or training. Underlining the marines' flexibility he said: "One of the most unique things is being on a ship where we can wait for months at a time and then at a moment's notice fly to where we are needed." Suprise! Posted by: Steve 2003-01-10 |
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