Approaching HMS Ocean
Deck landing training. Behind the Apache is a Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter (SKASaC) from 857 Naval Air Squadron. They were able to find targets and give us highly accurate steers as well as guide us over the sea on the way out to Libya or on our return to HMS Ocean (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter (SKASaC) from 857 Naval Air Squadron lands after a maritime surveillance sortie. It always felt close when an aircraft landed on the spot to your front.
Hellfire being prepared on the flight deck (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
The ground crew load another Hellfire to the wing-stub, Summer 2011 (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
The start of ‘cognitive effect’. An Apache from 656 Squadron fires a Hellfire missile at sea, 3 May 2011 (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
An Apache fires its 30mm cannon on a high seas range. The spent shells can be seen ejecting from underneath the gun. At the target end the high explosive warhead has a hand grenade-like effect. Crews preferred the 2-second, 20-round burst (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
Check firing personal weapons in the Mediterranean, June 2011
Screenshot from the BBC news channel, 4 June 2011. In the early hours of 4 June Will Laidlaw gave an interview which was transmitted widely. The first mission had gone in, the aircraft took us into danger, looked after us while we were there and brought us home. The whole team had worked and brought the newcomer into the operation flawlessly.
An Apache approaches to land on the deck of HMS Ocean at the conclusion of a pre-mission airtest
An Apache sits ready on deck at night, as seen through the infrared right eye Helmet Mounted Display
HH60G Pave Hawk from the 56th Rescue Squadron. ‘That Others May Live’ (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Fort Rosalie conducts a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with HMS Ocean, summer 2011. Fuel, ammunition and people were exchanged, as well as food and engineering spares.
Our fifth Apache, ZJ179, arrives on the back of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Fort Rosalie, 11 June 2011. Will Laidlaw and John Blackwell went across and flew it back to HMS Ocean (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
Hellfire re-supply at sea, July 2011 (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
An Apache is placed on the lift in the hangar of HMS Ocean. Blades folded, it was a tight fit (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
Sunset, engineering complete, airtesting complete, weapons loaded – two Apaches are ready for the mission (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
An Apache departs HMS Ocean on a training sortie, Summer 2011 (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
An Apache comes alongside for another deck landing, Summer 2011
HH60G Pave Hawks mission ready on deck. ‘That Others May Live’
HMS Ocean with her aviation assets on deck. An Mk7 Lynx from 847 Naval air Squadron sits on zero spot, three Apaches from 656 Squadron sit on 1, 2 and 3 spots, a Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter (SKASaC) is on 4 spot and two HH60G Pave Hawks from the 56th Rescue Squadron sit on 5 and 6 spots. The spare HH60G is on the aft starboard spot and another Apache and SKASaC sit next to the superstructure. (Published by the Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright, 2011)
The Raid on Brega, painted by Derek Blois. The image captures Jilted 1 and 2, feet-dry, south of the town, being engaged by AAA, while feet-wet in the foreground Underdog 1 fires flares to decoy a SA-24 heat-seeking missile as Underdog 2 engages the firing point with Hellfire.
Guntape Stills
All guntape stills are taken from defenceheadquarters on YouTube. As such, the following twelve images are Crown Copyright
The first target, the first Hellfire on the night of 3 June 2011.
A Hellfire missile destroys a building during the week of the 27.
A Hellfire missile about to strike a building. Delta-Hotel, the building is destroyed.
The communications node at Okba Airfield is destroyed.
A technical is targeted near Okba Airfield on 6 August. Pro-Gad soldiers can be seen running away. Once they are clear a Hellfire missile destroys their equipment.
The 99th Hellfire is lined up against a technical. Pro-Gad soldiers can be seen hiding at the foot of the trees in the foreground. The missile destroys the technical, leaving the soldiers unharmed.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to SSAFA and Combat Stress.
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for Veterans, providing specialist clinical treatment and welfare support to ex-Service men and women across the UK. Founded at the end of the First World War, it has since helped more than 100,000 Veterans and is today supporting almost 6,000 – more than at any time in its long history.
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