Yantar Banter – CO M2C7 Reflections

“Well done for your efforts during Mine Warfare OTAP. Unfortunately, due to the training time lost while rectifying the sonar defect, you have not reached the required standard and you will need to return for more FOST covered training. You are not ready for operations.” It was a predictable, but still disappointing result to our Operational Training and Assurance Period. Four hours later, after fuelling and storing ship in Faslane, Cattistock and MCM2 Crew 7 sailed for operations. Notwithstanding the OTAP result, Cattistock was now the on-duty MCMV in UK waters and we had tasking. The 42-year…