Royal Navy Sailor Serves on French Carrier

A Royal Navy sailor from Mansfield has been deployed on a French Navy carrier for the past few weeks as part of a joint exercise in the Mediterranean.

Petty Officer Wayne Fisher, 35, is an expert in Above Water Tactical Warfare on board HMS illustrious – one of the four Royal Navy ships currently taking part in Exercise Cougar 2012.

A three-month deployment which involves British and French forces working together, Cougar aims to test the capability of the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), a rapid reaction force that can be deployed to deal with unexpected world events such as Libya last year.

It is split into two main smaller exercises – the first of which was Corsican Lion which saw Royal Marines and French Marines storm beaches in Corsica from the naval ships which provided them with back-up air and surface protection.

The next, Albanian Lion will see a similar type of force, but will also involve the Albanian naval assets.

PO Fisher, attended Shirebrook Upper Comprehensive (now Shirebrook Academy) until 1993, is married to Diann and has a 14 year old daughter called Bridie. Diann is expecting a second child in December.

Along with a group of personnel with similar capabilities, PO Fisher deployed on board the French Flagship Charles De Gaulle to offer them guidance during Corsican Lion.

He said: “By having liaison officers on board helps manage the exchange of information between ships so that we can ensure continuity and timely arrival of information relating to exercise and any potential credible threats to the Task Group.

“This type of working together is essential for this type of operation in the future, and the advice that we provide on UK capabilities has been greatly appreciated by our French counterparts.”

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Naval Today Staff, November 7, 2012; Image: Royal Navy