FOST and OST as ships and a sub arrive in the Sound

By The Captain, maritime correspondent, The Beagle

Another busy few days in the Sound for naval shipping.   This week, the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) Frigate Otto Sverdrup arrived, almost certainly for Operational Sea Training (OST) with Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). 

I assume she will be here for a week or two yet.

Although FOST is a British Admiral, the training conducted by his staff (many of whom are from other Nations) is mainly for NATO.  FOST, fortunately for us, provides OST to all the European NATO navies and, from time to time, the Royal Canadian Navy & US Navy too. 

Just to give an idea of how much FOST’s activity contributes to the City, in just the last three months we have seen the following warships and auxiliaries here: 1 Canadian, 8 French, 1 German, 2 Italian, 2 Netherlands and 2 Spanish.  Sailors from all these ships have contributed to our economy – not just in the individuals ‘runs ashore’, but also the food and other supplies that their ships have needed, repairs in the dockyard sometimes, too. 

Meanwhile an unusual arrival yesterday (Thursday June 5) was one of the Royal Navy’s latest Astute-class nuclear submarines (name not declared).  There are five Astutes in service with another one, HMS Agamemnon, about to enter service.  And the last of the class, the re-named HMS Achilles (ex-Agincourt), should be in service by the end of next year. 

Yesterday’s visitor arrived in the morning and after a period out in the Sound, entered Devonport at lunchtime, shepherded by three tugs. 

The Astute class displace 7400 tons and are 98m (318ft) long.  Because of their nuclear propulsion, their endurance is, effectively, unlimited – as long as the 98 crew have enough food.  ‘Fresh’ air (not fresh as most of us would understand it, but fresh enough for life) and fresh water are produced onboard, using power from the reactor. 

For practical purposes, they need to be restored at least every 90 days.