A group of 29 scouts recently visited assault ship HMS Bulwark during its visit to Malta. The ship was here for a four-day stop during the end stages of the Cougar 13 deployment, as part of the UK Response Force Task Group.
The Devonport based amphibious ship hosted a number of affiliate groups during the visit, including 29 scouts from the St Aloysius College Scout Group as well as members of the George Cross Island Association and Royal Naval Officers’ Association.
The scouts hold an annual inter-patrol competition in Gozo each November which involves a 25-30 kilometre trek over two days, during which the troop pass checkpoints where their skills in scouting and field craft are tested. Points are scored for their performance with map and compass, first aid, knotting, scouting history and current affairs. The winning patrol is awarded the HMS Bulwark Shield which is held until the next competition and is the culmination of the year’s scouting activities.
The affiliation of St Aloysius College Scouts with the Royal Navy can be traced from 1949. A boy seaman from the light fleet carrier HMS Triumph taught the cast of the College production of HMS Pinafore to dance the Hornpipe. The affiliation has remained strong ever since.
The guests enjoyed informative tours of the 18,500 tonne amphibious assault ship as members of the Ship’s company proudly illustrated the ship’s capabilities using interactive stances to allow them to get a “hands on experience”. This included the Inflatable Raiding Craft and the SA80 rifle, before the guests were treated to some of the contents of a 24-hour ration pack. The most popular part of the tour for the scouts was the chance to sit in the Captain’s chair on the Bridge.
Lt Thomas Bowler who organised the visit of St Aloysius Scout Group said: “It was a great opportunity for our affiliated Maltese scouts to visit the ship to get an understanding of what life is like onboard a deployed operational warship. The visit has helped to strengthen the bond with our long held affiliation. The scouts had fun and were very inquisitive throughout. The highlight of the day was when the Captain presented the Bulwark Shield to the winning team.”
HMS Bulwark is one of the Royal Navy’s two Assault Command and Control ships. Launched in November 2004 she has a ship’s company of 350, a quarter of which is made up from four Assault Squadron Royal Marines (4 ASRM). In addition the ship can carry up to 225 marines in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 in austere conditions for short periods. Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft with another four carried on davits on the ship’s side.
The Cougar 13 deployment has operated in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, the Gulf and Horn of Africa. It involved exercising with partner nations and showed the UK Armed Forces’ capacity to project an effective maritime component anywhere in the world as part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group, commanded by Commodore Paddy McAlpine OBE ADC Royal Navy.
The RFTG is the United Kingdom’s high readiness maritime force, comprising ships, submarines, aircraft and a landing force of Royal Marines, at short notice to act in response to any contingency tasking if required.