Exercise Verity
Exercise Verity | |
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Part of Cold War (1947–1953) | |
Type | Multi-lateral naval training exercises |
Location | |
Planned by | Western Union |
Objective | Deployment of anti-submarine, aircraft carrier, naval bombardment, convoy escort, minesweeping, and motor torpedo boat attack forces |
Date | July 1949 |
Executed by | Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick Robert McGrigor GCB, RN |
Outcome | Exercise successfully executed |
History of the European Union |
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European Union portal |
Exercise Verity was the only major training exercise of the
Command structure
The command authority for Exercise Verity was the
Admiral of the Fleet Sir
Operation
The 60-ship fleet gathered in Mount's Bay, near Penzance, prior to setting sail for the Bay of Biscay for the week-long exercise. Field Marshal Montgomery held a reception on board the flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands sponsored a cocktail party aboard the cruiser HNLMS Tromp.[5] Field Marshal Montgomery stayed on board the Implacable as an observer during the exercise.[5][6]
Submarines, including the highly advanced French boat
On 4 July the White force aircraft (RAF Lancasters and Dutch fighters) operated searches against the Blue force (escorted by French aircraft and British flying boats) as it approached the Bay of Biscay.
Later both naval surface forces combined in a simulated convoy - the aircraft carriers standing in for troopships - with Lancasters, Mitchells and Meteors as air cover. Land based fighters and naval strike aircraft practiced attacks with cannon and rockets against the smaller ships and then against the main force of four carriers, the battleship Anson and supporting destroyers. The same was practiced the morning of the following day.[10]
One unusual example of allied cooperation involved the replacement of the outer wing of a Netherlands Sea Fury fighter aircraft that had been damaged by a bird strike. Since the Royal Netherlands Navy did not provide such elaborate spare parts when the aircraft's group deployed to RNAS Culdrose, the damaged Sea Fury received a replacement wing with British markings.[11]
Admiral McGrigor summarized the accomplishments of Exercise Verity by noting: "The object of these manoeuvres is to show that we are willing and able to work together in case of aggression ... I can say straight away that it's been a very great success".[5]
Force composition
Major naval units included the British battleship
Aviation units included Royal Netherlands Air Force with Mitchell medium bombers and Meteor fighters, Royal Netherlands Navy Fireflies and Sea Furies Royal Netherlands Navy at French Maritime Air Force Dornier and Sunderland flying boats and Wellington bombers, operating from Brest and Lorient. Belgium contributed fighter aircraft in "a preliminary stage". The RAF forces included Avro Lancaster and Avro Lincoln heavy bombers, Sunderland flying boats and Meteor fighters. Overall control was RAF Coastal Command.
Implacable carried
See also
- Operation Grand Slam (NATO)
Notes
- ^ Actually sister ships, Arromanches formerly being HMS Colossus
References
- Notes
- ^ "Treaty of Economic, Social, and Cultural Collaboration and Collective Self-defense (Brussels Treaty)". The Avalon Project. Lilian Goldman Law Library - Yale University. 17 March 1948. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Did you know that Europe already had a defensive military alliance prior to NATO?". Allied Command Operations (ACO). NATO. 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-7425-3917-4. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ US Navy. October 1952. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 April 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Western Union: Exercise Verity". Time. 1 July 1949. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ^ a b c "HMS Implacable Leads Western Union Fleet". Pathé Films online. 14 July 1949. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0.
- ISBN 0-85052-835-6. Archived from the originalon 8 June 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-415-38532-9.
- ^ Flight 14 July p32-33
- ^ "Here and There: Quid Pro Quo", Flight: 36, 14 July 1949, retrieved 8 August 2010
- Bibliography
- "Truth In Action: Closing Stages of Four-Power Fleet Exercise 'Verity' as Seen from the Air", Flight: 32, 14 July 1949
- "Service Aviation: Exercise 'Verity'", Flight: 777, 30 June 1949
External links
- "HMS Implacable Leads Western Union Fleet" video newsreel film - Pathé Films online - 14 July 1949