SURVEILLANCE DESCRIBED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 17

SURVEILLANCE DESCRIBED

JN.Z. Press Assn. — Copyright) LONDON, April 5. The Ministry of Defence tonight gave some details of British policing of the oil em» bargo against rebel Rhodesia. The Ministry, in a statement, said: “From early March surveillance of the approaches to Beira and shipping in the Mozambique channel has been stepped up as a result of combined operations by units of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. “Most ships observed in or approaching these waters have proved innocent. “The Royal Navy effort initially involved H.M.S. Ark Royal with the frigates Rhyi and Lowestoft supported by the fleet auxiliary ships Tideflow, Fort Duquesne and Pearleaf. “Now the task is undertaken by H.M.S. Eagle with the frigate Plymouth and the frigate Gurkha supported by the auxiliaries Tidepool, Resurgent, Reliant, and Appleleaf. 100,000 Miles “Continuous patrolling by day and night and by sea and air is involved and the ships taking part can have steamed almost 100,000 miles. “Often the weather has been bad and conditions in the frigates uncomfortable. Carrierborne planes of the Fleet Air Arm have flown nearly 1000 sorties and observed more than 300 ships of many nationalities. “Gannet aeroplanes have

maintained constant watch over an area of some 12,000 square miles while Sea Vixens, Scimitars and Buccaneers have identified all ships detected by the Gannets. “H.M.S. Ark Royal’s air sorties over one period of nine days totalled 312 and since the Eagle took over on March 15 she has maintained an average of more than 20 sorties a day, each of two hours.

“Ark Royal’s Gannet flight flew 139 hours by day and 90 hours at night in 55 sorties. The air crew average over nine and a half days was 46 hours a man.

“Every effort has been made to avoid upsetting friendly and sympathetic countries but it is difficult to read ships’ names and ports of registry from high-speed jet aeroplanes and they must fly fairly close in order to do so.”