Shipbucket

During World War Two both A & B batteries were fully re-equipped with the durable & versatile British 25 Pounder field gun. It combined both high-angle & direct-fire abilities in a highly mobile piece, remaining West Florida’s primary artillery field piece well into the 1970s. In December 1950, A Battery, along with a light anti-aircraft detachment from C Battery, an infantry company from 1st Battalion Royal West Florida Regiment, & a small headquarters unit constituted the volunteer force sent to assist UN troops in Korea. Fighting as part of the British 29th Independent Infantry Brigade the West Florida contingent saw action at the Battle of Imjin River in April 1951. For their actions at Imjin River, both A & C batteries, along with 1st Battalion RWFR, were awarded the battle honour Imjin in addition to receiving a US Presidential Unit Citation. In recognition of its service to the British Commonwealth in both World War One & Korea, the West Florida Regiment of Artillery was granted its “Royal” prefix, becoming the Royal West Florida Artillery in 1954. The 25 Pounder was withdrawn from operational service in the 1970s. However, army reserve personnel from No.7 Troop maintain a three-gun troop for gun salutes & state ceremonial occasions. They have a secondary role supporting both B & C batteries by providing fully trained crews for the L118 light gun on operations & exercises across the world, including recent deployments to Afghanistan.

Throughout the 1970s, the RWFN’s fleet consisted of both Type 16 Queen Elizabeth class frigates, along with the four ex-RN Ton class vessels. As a result of the ongoing alliance between Cuba & the Soviet Union, both “The Queen” & “The Duke” continued their patrol duties against the persistent Soviet presence in the region, along with the P-3 Orion aircraft of No. 471 Flight RWFAF & their USN allies. Of the four Ton class vessels, only Cormorant was employed in its originally intended minesweeping role, while Osprey remained dedicated to hydrographic survey work in West Florida waters & around the Caribbean. The final two of the class, Hawk & Kestrel, were permanently assigned to coastal patrol duties. At the start of the decade, the modified World War Two era landing craft Terrapin & Turtle were still in service but were showing their age & needed replacement. They were finally replaced in 1974 by two locally built, Australian designed Balikpapan class landing craft.


Modernised Queen Elizabeth Class:
During the first half of their careers, both Type 16 frigates spent the majority of their time in West Florida & Caribbean waters or on multinational exercises. Beginning in 1967 both ships underwent a refit & modernisation at GCD’s Pensacola dockyard. The refit included improvements to seakeeping & habitability, along with modification of the boilers & electrical systems. The twin Bofors mount was relocated amidships to accommodate a new quad-launcher for the SeaCat short range surface to air missile system. Aluminium & fiberglass weather shields were fitted to both twin 3-inch guns, while new radar & fire control systems from Signaal in the Netherlands were also installed. Following completion of the refit & sea trials, both ships had re-joined the fleet by early 1970. During post refit sea trials, “The Queen” became the first RWFN ship to launch a guided missile when she successfully downed a target drone with one of her Sea Cat missiles. Later in the decade, both ships made several official visits to US ports during 1976 in conjunction with the USA’s bicentennial celebrations.





Tobruk Class Landing Craft Heavy:
Based on the Balikpapan class design, the RWFN’s new landing craft were ordered in late 1971 as a locally manufactured replacement for the modified World War Two era LCTs that had been in service since 1948. As an Australian design, the new LCHs were named Tobruk (L203) & Bardia (L204) in recognition of the two battles in which HMWFS Tomahawk supported Australian troops in North Africa during World War Two. Constructed at GCD’s Panama City dockyard, both were laid down during 1971 & 1972, finally entering service in early 1974. They had a full load displacement of 517 tons, were powered by two General Motors Detroit diesel engines, & had a standard ship's company of 16, including two officers. Sensors were limited to an I-band navigational radar, & both ships had two 7.62-millimetre machine guns fitted for self-defence. The class had a maximum payload of 180 tons, equivalent to three Leopard 1 tanks, or 13 M113 armoured personnel carriers. When operating in the ship-to-shore role, they can mate their bow ramp to the stern loading dock of larger amphibious warfare ships & transport up to 400 soldiers over short distances. For longer voyages, they can embark up to 60 soldiers, & with a 150-ton payload, the class has a range of 4,220 km. The two Tobruk class LCHs would have long careers & become vital assets to the RWFN, particularly for humanitarian & disaster relief operations during hurricane season each year in the Gulf of Mexico & throughout the Caribbean.

Characteristic of the Cold War period, despite not being involved in any direct conflicts, the RWFAF’s fleet of 36 aircraft were kept busy throughout the decade. The P-3 Orion aircraft of No. 471 Flight continued their patrol duties in the Caribbean alongside the navy’s Type 16 frigates, while domestically & along the US Gulf Coast, the Wessex & Iroquois helicopters of No.4 Squadron were kept busy during hurricane season each year. Later in the decade, their disaster relief efforts were carried out in combination with the navy’s new Tobruk class LCHs.

No.1 Squadron:
After replacing the Pre-WWII Tiger Moth in 1947, the RWFAF’s DHC-1 Chipmunk training aircraft served until 1973, when they were finally retired & replaced with six Scottish Aviation Bulldogs. The side-by-side seating configuration of the new aircraft had the advantage of allowing easier interaction between student & instructor. Like its predecessor, the Bulldog would have a long career with the RWFAF, finally being retired at the beginning of the new millennium. In 1974, No.1 Squadron also acquired a Beechcraft Super King Air 200. Its main mission was multi-engine conversion for single-engine qualified pilots, & continuation training for multi-engine qualified pilots. The aircraft had a modified port-side cargo door, allowing the cabin to readily accommodate cargo, passengers, or both, giving it a useful secondary liaison & light transport capability. It was also occasionally tasked with transporting senior politicians & defence force personnel in a limited VIP transport role.





No.2 Squadron:
Although it first won fame during the Korean War, the versatile & adaptable design of the Sabre saw it still operating as the RWFAF’s front-line fighter at the start of the 1970s. Despite the Mk.6 often being considered the best Sabre variant ever built, a modern & capable replacement was required, & in 1975 No.2 Squadron finally received their new aircraft, the Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II. Smaller & simpler than contemporaries such as the F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to procure & operate, making it a popular option for export customers such as West Florida. Originally designed for a day air superiority role, the F-5 was also a capable ground-attack platform. The RWFAF order included 10 single-seat F-5Es, along with 2 two-seat, combat-capable F-5F trainers. Compared to the earlier F-5A/B, the new E/F variant had more powerful engines, with a lengthened & enlarged fuselage, accommodating more fuel. Its wings were fitted with enlarged leading-edge extensions, giving an increased wing area & improved manoeuvrability. Avionics were also upgraded & included a radar, which the F-5A lacked. Various specific avionics fits could also be accommodated at a customer's request. Another important option available on the F-5E was air-to-air refuelling. An additional Hercules aircraft was acquired in KC-130E configuration to support this new capability, bringing No.3 Squadron’s total number of C-130s to four. The training relationship that was established when West Florida purchased their Sabre aircraft from Canada in 1962 was continued. After completing initial pilot training at San Carlos Field in Pensacola, future RWFAF fighter pilots would continue their training at CFB Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, & then CFB Cold Lake in Alberta. Basic training was completed on the CT-114 Tutor, before progressing to the CF-116D, the Canadian variant of the F-5F, for more advanced training. This arrangement continued until the RCAF retired their CF-116s in 1995.





No.3 Squadron:
The C-130E Hercules transport aircraft of No.3 Squadron were kept busy throughout the 1970s. The true value of their strategic airlift capability was demonstrated for the first time in 1974 when two C-130Es from No.3 Squadron supported the initial deployment of West Florida troops to Cyprus. Men from 1st Battalion Royal West Florida Regiment helped form part of the UN peacekeeping forces following the Greek Cypriot coup d'état & subsequent Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island. This was the first time West Florida forces had been deployed outside the Caribbean since the end of the Korean War.

KC-130E Tanker Capability:
In 1975, the acquisition of an ex-USAF C-130E increased the size of No.3 Squadron’s C-130 fleet to four aircraft. The new aircraft was upgraded to KC-130E configuration, adding an aerial refuelling capability which provided support to the RWFAF’s new F-5E/F Tiger II fighter aircraft. The KC-130E tanker was equipped with a removable 3,600 US gallon stainless steel fuel tank which could be carried inside the cargo compartment. Two wing-mounted hose & drogue aerial refuelling pods were installed allowing the transfer of up to 300 US gallons per minute to two aircraft simultaneously. Similar conversions had been undertaken on Spanish & Swedish C-130Es.

The Falklands War (1982):
In March & April 1982, Argentine forces occupied the disputed British South Atlantic territories of South Georgia & the Falkland Islands. Shortly after the invasion, the UN called for Argentine forces to leave the islands & for both the UK & Argentina to seek a diplomatic solution. The UK received political support from several member countries of the Commonwealth, while Argentina was politically backed by a majority of countries in Latin America, with Chile being a notable exception. A British task force was rapidly put together from whatever vessels were available, with the entire task force eventually numbering 65 Royal Navy & Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, in addition to 62 merchant ships. The retaking of the islands was considered extremely difficult, but by mid-April the main British naval task force had arrived at Ascension Island, where the RAF had established operations at Wideawake Airfield & a small force had already been sent south to recapture South Georgia. The government of West Florida was one of the Commonwealth countries to offer support to Britain, with the corvette HMWFS Tomahawk taking over the duties of West Indies Guard Ship in the Caribbean, allowing RN resources to be redeployed to the South Atlantic. Declassified cables show the U.S. felt that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had not considered all diplomatic options & they feared that a protracted conflict could see the Soviet Union side with Argentina. They initially tried to mediate a diplomatic end to the conflict, but when Argentina refused the US peace overtures, the Americans announced that they would provide material support for British operations, including the supply of Sidewinder missiles for use on the UK’s Harrier jets. Chile gave support to the UK in the form of intelligence about the Argentine military & early warning of Argentine air movements. Following amphibious landings around San Carlos Water on 21st May, the British advance on the Falklands capital, Stanley, began with victories at Darwin & Goose Green. After British forces successfully took Mount Longdon & Mount Tumbledown, Argentine defences around Stanley began to falter, resulting in the declaration of a ceasefire on 14th June, followed by the surrender of Argentine forces later the same day. The British task force had accomplished what many, including the US Navy, had thought was a military impossibility.

Belize-Guatemala Border Dispute:
While the British recapture of the Falklands is well documented, previously unpublished Cabinet files released in a UK newspaper in 2020 revealed the Argentine threat was not the only one that Downing Street had to counter at the time. In 1982, the UK was on the brink of fighting two Latin American nations simultaneously, with Guatemala having also laid claim to the former British colony of Belize. With no army of its own, Belize relied on a garrison of 1,500 British troops, supported by a detachment of six RAF Harrier jets, to deter any Guatemalan aggression, but the garrison had been earmarked for withdrawal in June 1982. Less than a week after the Argentine invasion of the Falklands, the British Foreign Secretary wrote to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher suggesting that because of the recent military coup in Guatemala, the withdrawal of the garrison should be postponed. Adding to Downing Street's worries was a report from the British Embassy in Venezuela suggesting an imminent Guatemalan invasion of Belize, which Venezuela would feel compelled to support. Prime Minister Thatcher instructed the British Chiefs of Staff to make sure the Belize Garrison could be reinforced while at the same time conducting operations against Argentine forces in the Falklands. Although not publicly revealed at the time, West Florida deployed Alpha Company of 1st Ranger Regiment, West Florida’s main special operations unit, to reinforce the Belize garrison in case some of the British forces stationed there needed to be redeployed to the Falklands. Fortunately, the Guatemalan invasion never materialised & Alpha Company was able to return home.

Multinational Operations:
From 1974 to 1982, West Florida committed to deploying around 60 personnel to the ongoing UN peacekeeping operations in Cyprus. Troops were drawn from 1st & 2nd Battalion Royal West Florida Regiment & embedded within the British contingent of the UNFICYP mission on 6-month rotational deployments. In 1982, West Florida troops were withdrawn from Cyprus & redeployed to the Sinai Peninsula, becoming part of the Multinational Force & Observers. Following the signing of the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty in March 1979, the UN was asked to provide peacekeeping forces for the Sinai Peninsula mandated in the treaty. Unfortunately, the UN was unable to provide the force, due to the threat of a Soviet veto at the request of Syria. As a result of the UN Security Council impasse, Egypt, Israel & the US negotiated the setup of a peacekeeping organization outside the framework of the UN & in August 1981, the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) was established. Since 1982, West Florida has provided a contingent of 60 personnel as part of the MFO, with troops rotating every six to twelve months.

By the mid-70s, the RN practice of keeping ships permanently deployed in the Caribbean had ceased, except for the single vessel assigned as West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS). The role of WIGS was to provide support to the local islands in regional maritime security & provide humanitarian assistance when required in hurricane season. As destroyer & frigate numbers fell, it became harder for the RN to fulfill the multiple demands being placed on the fleet. Since the Caribbean posed an extremely limited military threat, sending a highly capable warship to the West Indies for six months each year was not ideal, especially when it was needed elsewhere. Following HMWFS Duke of Edinburgh’s successful deployment as WIGS during the Falklands War, West Florida offered to assist the RN on a more regular basis. After 26 years as the RWFN’s flagship, “The Queen” finally paid off at the end of 1979, with “The Duke” following just over a year later in early 1981. Originally commissioning into the RN towards the end of World War II, both ships continued to serve long after their RN sisters had been decommissioned. They were replaced by two new corvettes to be named after the RWFN’s first two flagships, Tomahawk (II) & Pensacola (II). Both new patrol corvettes filled the WIGS role a number of times throughout the 1980s in addition to their regular Caribbean patrol duties. Due to the potential impacts associated with hurricane season each year, an important capability for the West Florida Defence Force is the ability to provide disaster relief & humanitarian aid, domestically & within the Caribbean region. This was demonstrated in 1988 when both the navy & air force were deployed following Hurricane Gilbert. Both Tobruk class LCHs made the 1,000km journey to Mexico, delivering vital supplies around Cancun & the northern Yucatan peninsula where port facilities & infrastructure had been damaged.

Type 16 Queen Elizabeth Class Frigate Replacement:
During the late 1960s, the Royal West Florida Navy began planning the replacement of their Type 16 Queen Elizabeth class frigates. Despite a refit & modernisation which allowed both vessels to stay in service well after their RN cousins had decommissioned, they were starting to show their age. To support the West Florida ship building industry, it was decided that the new ships were to be constructed in West Florida. Eventually, a variant of the British designed Vickers Vedette was selected, with Dutch company Signaal providing the sensors & processing systems. The Vedette had started out as a private venture design by Vickers for a small, simple & inexpensive patrol corvette, with excellent sea keeping ability & low through life costs. It could carry out a number of tasks including defence of shipping, escort of naval task forces, ocean patrolling, as well as reconnaissance & surveillance.

General Specifications:
The new corvettes had a CODOG propulsion system driving two shafts, using two Paxman diesel engines for cruising & a single Rolls-Royce Marine Olympus gas turbine for high speed, giving a top speed of around 32 knots. They were the first RWFN vessels to be powered by gas turbines & had a full load displacement of just under 1,200 tons. They had a range of almost 6,500km at 16 knots, with a complement of only 75 officers & ratings. This was a huge saving in manpower when compared to the crew of 175 on the ships they were replacing.

Armament:
Main armament consisted of an Oto-Melara 76mm dual purpose gun on the forecastle & a twin 40mm Oto-Breda Dardo aft. A quadruple Sea-Cat surface-to-air missile launcher was mounted for anti-aircraft defence, the two systems being salvaged from the retiring Type 16 frigates. Two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes, firing Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes, provided a limited anti-submarine capability & additional small calibre machine guns were carried for close in defence against fast moving small craft.

Sensors & Processing Systems:
Apart from the Kelvin Hughes Type 1006 navigation radar, all other sensors were supplied by Signaal of the Netherlands. A variant of the SEWACO V combat management system integrated the DA05 surveillance & targeting radar, the WM25 fire control radar, the M44 radar/visual director, & the hull-mounted sonar with the ship’s guns, Sea-Cat missiles, & the ASW weaponry. The SEWACO combat management system had previously been developed for the Dutch & Belgian navies for use on their Van Speijk, Wielingen & Kortenaer class frigates. Pensacola (II) was launched in August 1977 at GCD in her namesake port, commissioning into the fleet in September 1979. Her sister ship Tomahawk (II) was launched at GCD Panama City during March 1979 & joined the fleet in April 1981. Following the retirement of “The Duke”, HMWFS Pensacola (II) became the fleet’s new flagship.

The C-130s of No.3 Squadron were regularly kept busy during the decade supporting the West Florida troops deployed to the Middle East, first in Cyprus & then in the Sinai Peninsula. Towards the end of the 1980s, the C-130s were again put to good use flying valuable disaster relief supplies to Jamaica following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The second half of the decade also saw the RWFAF upgrade No.471 Flight’s P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, as well as replacing the long serving & hard-working helicopters of No.4 Squadron.

No.471 Flight:
Since their entry into service in 1965, the P-3s of No.471 Flight had undertaken regular reconnaissance patrols in the Gulf of Mexico & the Caribbean, which occasionally involved some close encounters with Cuban MiG-21 & MiG-23 fighters. From 1987, the two aircraft were designated P-3G after receiving parts of the P-3C Update II package, along with some local modifications, including the capability to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.





A Flight, No.4 Squadron:
A Flight’s AB-204 Hueys were retired in 1984 & replaced by four AB-212s from Agusta in Italy. The RWFAF’s new aircraft were similar to the AB212-ASW variant flown by the Italian & Spanish navies, with deck tie-down attachments, corrosion protection & a rescue winch. This variant of the Twin Huey was selected to allow for easier shipboard operation & cross-decking with allied RN, USN & USCG vessels. This often occurred during humanitarian & disaster relief missions, as well as during search & rescue operations & regular multi-national exercises. In addition to maritime operations, the new helicopters retained their predecessor’s multi-role capability & could still be armed with rocket launchers & twin machine gun mounts for door gunners.





B Flight, No.4 Squadron:
B Flight’s Wessex were finally retired in 1985, & replaced by six SA.330 Pumas, assembled by Westland in the UK. West Florida’s Pumas were similar to those in RAF service, except they were powered by the newer & more powerful Turboméca Makila engines, providing good hot-&-high performance, & giving them increased payload & range compared to their RAF cousins. Additional modifications to RWFAF Pumas included lengthened & filtered twin air intakes & nose mounted radar. Like their Wessex predecessors, West Florida’s Pumas were regularly deployed on disaster relief & humanitarian missions along the Gulf of Mexico & around the Caribbean.

In the 1990s, as one old foe began to fade, other situations both at home & abroad would make the decade a busy one for the armed services of West Florida. Despite Cuba still being an important Cold War propaganda tool for the Soviet Union, after Gorbachev came to power in 1985, diplomatic relations between the two countries soon deteriorated. Finally, in September 1991, it was announced that all Soviet troops would be removed from Cuba. Three months later, the dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in the termination of Soviet-Cuban relations.

Gulf War (1990 & 1991):
The Iraqi invasion & annexation of Kuwait in August 1990 was met with international condemnation & immediate economic sanctions by the UN. The international military response involved a US led coalition of forces from over 30 countries, including West Florida, forming the largest military alliance since World War II. West Florida contributed the RWFN flagship Pensacola (II) to the maritime interdiction force operating in the Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman enforcing the UN authorized naval blockade to ensure compliance with the sanctions imposed on Iraq. The ship remained on station in the Gulf from December 1990 to May 1991. Following Pensacola’s deployment, her sister ship Tomahawk (II) was also deployed to the Gulf between October 1992 & April 1993. The RWFAF also contributed a KC-130 aircraft, providing airlift & aerial refuelling support. When it initially deployed, the aircraft also carried a clearance diving team from the RWFN’s 1st Marine Regiment, for explosive ordnance disposal & demolition tasks. Following hostilities, they also assisted with mine clearance operations around Kuwait's port facilities. The combat phase of Operation Desert Storm began on 17th January with a 5-week long aerial & naval bombardment, with the ground assault commencing on 24th February. It was a decisive victory for the coalition forces, who liberated Kuwait by March 1991.

Disaster Relief:
In 1992, both Tobruk class LCHs & two of the air force’s C-130s, along with army medics & engineers deployed to the Bahamas to assist with disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Andrew, which had caused significant damage in the north-western Bahamas. On the islands of Eleuthera, New Providence, Andros, & Bimini more than half of the houses were destroyed, along with severe damage to transport, communications, water, & sanitation facilities. Three years later, the helicopters of No.4 Squadron found themselves called upon to assist at home following Hurricane Opal. In 1998, West Florida troops were again deployed internationally, after Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras. An estimated 70–80% of the transportation network was destroyed, including most bridges & secondary roads, as well as widespread power outages & loss of access to fresh water. Two C-130s from No.3 Squadron used the British facilities at Price Barracks & Belize International Airport as a forward operating base, while the LCHs Tobruk & Bardia operated out of the Port of Belize.

Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) – Sinai:
A contingent of 60 West Florida personnel (WFCON) have been part of the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) in the Sinai since 1982, rotating every 12 months. Personnel had previously been drawn from 1st & 2nd Battalion Royal West Florida Regiment. However, following the 1993 decision to again contribute troops to UN peacekeeping forces in Cyprus as well, WFCON in Sinai was reduced to platoon size & the WFDF established the 150-strong Task Force Dove to administer both ongoing deployments in the region. Troops were now drawn from all three services, with Sinai Platoon & Cyprus Platoon supported by a Headquarters unit & a reserve platoon based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Return to UN Peacekeeping – Cyprus 1993:
The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) had originally been established in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek & Turkish communities on the island. Following the Greek Cypriot coup d'état & subsequent Turkish invasion in 1974, the UN extended & expanded the UNFICYP mission, which remains on the island supervising ceasefire lines, maintaining a buffer zone, undertaking humanitarian activities, & working with the two communities to seek an amicable diplomatic solution. 60 West Florida troops had participated from 1974 until 1982, drawn from 1st & 2nd Battalion Royal West Regiment on 6-month rotations. In 1993, following some reorganisation after Canadian troops departed, West Florida again deployed personnel to Cyprus. A platoon sized unit assists British troops with patrolling sectors around the Green Line in Nicosia.

Multinational Operations in Bosnia – 1992 to 1996:
In October 1992, West Florida agreed to join the UNPROFOR mission, to protect humanitarian convoys in Bosnia. The WFDF contingent consisted of assault pioneers & combat engineers, along with medical & logistics specialists. They were accompanied by elements of 1st Ranger Regiment employed in reconnaissance & force protection duties. Following the UN handover to the NATO led IFOR mission in late 1995, West Florida personnel remained in Bosnia, attached to the British led Multi-National Division (South-West). Finally returning home at the end of the IFOR mission in December 1996, the West Florida commitment in Bosnia consisted of five deployments & lasted just over 4 years.

With fewer Caribbean patrols due to the demise of the Soviet Union & their alliance with Cuba, the RWFN began working more closely with US agencies to help counter illicit drug trafficking & people smuggling along the Gulf Coast & in the Caribbean. The navy’s two corvettes & new patrol boats, along with elements of 1st Marine Regiment, operated alongside the USCG Tactical Law Enforcement Team Gulf, in New Orleans, & a liaison officer was posted to Joint Task Force 4 (JTF-4) based in Key West. Early in the decade, both the fleet’s corvettes were deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm’s naval task force along with a clearance diving team from 1st Marine Regiment. The last Ton class vessel, the minesweeper Cormorant, was finally paid off in 1991 after 30 years of service in the RWFN & replaced with a new Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel built at Yarrow’s in Scotland. The fleet’s two amphibious vessels were kept busy throughout the decade & were deployed internationally on disaster relief operations following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 & Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

New Patrol Boats:
The RWFN’s Ton class vessels had originally been built as minesweepers for the British RN in the early 1950s, & despite being sturdy & reliable, by the middle of the 1980s they had been in service for almost 30 years. In March 1987, the navy awarded a contract to GCD to build three vessels based on an Australian design used for the Pacific Patrol Boat program. The first two vessels were constructed as patrol boats, but the third vessel was built to a modified design for use as a dedicated hydrographic survey vessel. Known as the Hammerhead class in the RWFN, they had a length of 31.5 metres, a beam of 8 metres, a draught of 1.8 metres, & a full load displacement of 162 tonnes. They were powered by two Caterpillar diesel engines driving two propeller shafts, giving a top speed of 20 knots. The boats had a maximum range of 2,500 nautical miles at 12 knots & could remain at sea for up to ten days. Each ship is equipped with an I-Band surface search radar & a usual ship’s company consisted of two officers & 12 enlisted personnel. Additional accommodation was provided for up to four personnel from other government agencies including fisheries & customs. Designed to perform search & rescue, maritime surveillance, law enforcement, & fisheries protection, the first two vessels, Hammerhead (P107) & Barracuda (P108), were armed with two M2HB 12.7mm (.50 cal) machine guns. Construction began in September 1987, with Hammerhead commissioning in July 1989, & Barracuda following a month later in August 1989. The construction of two more Hammerhead class vessels was authorised in 1990, with both ships, Wahoo (P109) & Tarpon (P110), joining the fleet during 1992.

New Survey Vessel:
After serving since 1961, the Ton class survey vessel HMWFS Osprey was finally paid off at the end of 1990. She was replaced by the third Pacific class vessel, built at GCD’s Panama City dockyard. Although quite similar to her patrol boat sisters, the RWFN’s new survey vessel had a slightly modified interior & superstructure. Commissioned in July 1991 with the pennant number A14, the new vessel was named HMWFS Gauld in honour of British colonial military engineer, cartographer, & surveyor George Gauld. Prior to the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War in 1763, the British possessed few detailed maps of the interior of North America. The land beyond the Appalachian Mountains had been dominated by the French & their Indian allies. However, when Florida came into the possession of Great Britain in 1764, George Gauld was assigned by the British Admiralty to make a thorough survey of the coast & harbours of the colony of West Florida. While completing this work in 1781, Gauld was taken prisoner by the Spanish during the Siege of Pensacola, which resulted in his work not being published until after his death in 1790.





Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel:
After serving the RWFN since 1961, the Ton class minesweeper Cormorant (M11) was finally paid off in 1991 & replaced with a new Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel. The new ship combined the separate roles of the traditional minesweeper & that of the active minehunter in one hull, with a secondary role as an offshore patrol vessel. When they commissioned into the RN in the 1980s, the Hunt class were the largest warships ever built out of glass-reinforced plastic & were the last to use the Napier Deltic diesel engine. The RWFN’s new vessel was built by Yarrows in Glasgow & named Pelican (M13), commissioning into the fleet in February 1991. She had an overall length of 60m, with a full load displacement 735 tons. As built, Pelican was powered by two Deltic diesel engines, which drove two propeller shafts, giving a speed of 17 knots. An additional engine powered a slow-speed hydraulic drive for the propellers during mine-hunting operations. She was also fitted with three Foden diesel alternators to generate electrical power for the ship's systems. Original main armament consisted of a single Bofors 40mm gun, in addition to two 20mm Oerlikon cannon. For mine hunting, a sonar was used to locate potential mines, which could then be investigated &, if necessary, destroyed. The ship also carried magnetic & acoustic sweeps. She had a crew of 45, including 5 officers & 40 other ranks. For the majority of the 1990s HMWFS Pelican spent most of her time in West Florida & Caribbean waters or on multinational exercises, except for a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf between November 1991 & April 1992.

1st Marine Regiment – Royal West Florida Navy:
The 1st Marine Regiment is the coastal defence arm of the Royal West Florida Navy. Although their natural combat environment is coastal zones, river deltas & other amphibious areas, they can operate in all types of terrain. The regiment originated with the establishment of the navy’s clearance diving branch in 1952. Although divers had been used since the 1920s, it was not until the Second World War that clearance diving operations became a focus, when a small number of RWFN volunteers worked alongside RN divers to remove naval mines from British waters. Some RWFN divers were also used to perform reconnaissance of amphibious landing sites. The skills learned in the European theatre were brought back to West Florida, & after the war, divers were used during the clean-up of defensive mines in Gulf Coast waters. The utility of clearance & commando divers demonstrated during & after the war prompted the establishment of the RWFN’s clearance diving branch, with responsibility for mine clearance & reconnaissance operations along the West Florida coast. RWFN clearance divers carry out maritime tactical operations including clandestine hydrographic survey & beach reconnaissance (including up to 2 km inland), & clandestine document collection. They are also involved in mine countermeasures, locating & disposing of sea mines in shallow waters, rendering safe & recovering enemy mines, as well as the search for & disposal of ordnance below the water. They also clear surface ordnance in port or on naval facilities. They can embark on warships to provide specialist support for boarding parties with improvised explosive devices (IED) & explosive ordnance. They also work closely with the commandos from the army’s 1st Ranger Regiment. In addition to the clearance diving teams, the regiment’s patrol troops are responsible for engaging landing parties, monitoring sea & airspace, & protecting base & port areas. All units of the regiment are trained to conduct small scale raids & assaults, gather intelligence, & undertake sabotage operations. 1st Marine Regiment consists of a HQ company, three clearance diving teams, & three naval security patrol troops. Within HQ Company there is a staff & admin element, an intelligence & surveillance cell, a signals troop, a logistics support troop, & a small boats troop which includes specialist boarding parties. In total, the regiment has a strength of around 300 personnel. During the first Gulf War in 1991, clearance divers were deployed to carry out explosive ordnance disposal & demolition tasks. Following hostilities, they also assisted with mine clearance operations around Kuwait's port facilities, while other elements from within the regiment provided force protection for the deployment.

1st Ranger Regiment – West Florida Army:
At the beginning of the Second World War, West Florida did not possess any special forces units. However, following the war, the effectiveness of such units was realised & it was decided that a dedicated commando style unit should be established. As with many special operations forces around the world, West Florida’s new commando unit took its inspiration from the British Commandos of World War Two. Ranger Company, from 1st battalion Royal West Florida Regiment, drew their heritage from the original West Florida Rangers. Initially raised as an independent company in the 1770s from loyalists who had settled in West Florida, they were a rapidly deployed light infantry force tasked mainly with reconnaissance, patrolling, & raiding operations. Often scouting for the British 16th Infantry Regiment, the Rangers ability to gather intelligence on the enemy was highly valued. It was for this reason that Ranger Company was chosen as the foundation for West Florida’s new commando unit, becoming 1st Ranger Regiment in 1951. Today’s regiment consists of three commando companies, & a headquarters company with an integrated heavy weapons troop & a signals troop to provide long-range communications support. Headquarters company also contains a staff & admin element, an intelligence & surveillance cell, training wing, joint fires cell, & a logistics support troop. In total, the regiment has a strength of just under 300 personnel. Specialised training is undertaken for tasks such as raids, demolitions, sabotage, reconnaissance & long-range patrols. All members of the regiment are trained paratroopers & wear the distinctive maroon beret, similar to the British Parachute Regiment. The original Rangers had a strong association with the British 16th Regiment of Foot, due to their colonial service in West Florida. The 16th Foot sailed to Florida in 1767, establishing a headquarters at Pensacola with detachments in various areas of the territory. Following the Siege of Pensacola in 1781, the remains of the 16th Foot returned to England. This relationship is maintained today through 1st Ranger Regiment’s close ties with D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment.

The 1990s saw the introduction of new aircraft to the fleet, including the latest version of the venerable C-130 Hercules, new VIP transport aircraft, & turbo-prop Tucano trainers from Brazil. The helicopters of No.4 Squadron received updated GPS navigation equipment & flight deck instrumentation compatible with night vision goggles. Later in the decade, No.2 Squadron’s F-5s went through an upgrade programme, allowing them to serve well into the new millennium.

No.1 Squadron:
To enhance the RWFAF’s training capabilities, in 1993, three of No.1 Squadron’s six Scottish Aviation Bulldogs were retired to make way for three new EMB-312 Tucano turbo-prop trainers from Embraer in Brazil. The three remaining Bulldogs soldiered on until 2001 when they were finally retired. The T-27 Tucano, like other modern turbo-prop trainers, can replicate many handling characteristics of jet aircraft. Its tandem seating arrangement has a raised rear seat giving an uninterrupted view from the rear cockpit & the frameless bubble canopy provides unobstructed visibility. Excellent manoeuvrability & stability at low speeds, along with four underwing pylons for up to 1,000 kg of ordnance, give the aircraft a useful secondary light attack capability. Two underwing fuel tanks can also be fitted for extended endurance.





No.2 Squadron:
The F-5E/F aircraft of No.2 Squadron had been in service since 1975, & by the late 1980s, options for their eventual replacements were being investigated. The higher running costs & more complex maintenance procedures of the F-16 meant that an offer from the US of refurbished ex-ANG F-16A/B aircraft was not taken up. Beginning in 1996, with significant assistance from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), West Florida’s F-5E/F aircraft underwent a modernisation program, extending their service life well into the 2000s. Similar F-5 upgrade programs were undertaken by Brazil, Chile, & Singapore. No.2 Squadron’s aircraft were equipped with a new Elta EL/M-2032 multi-mode radar, compatible with the Rafael Python & Derby air-to-air missiles. Fitting of the new radar necessitated the removal of the port side 20mm cannon mounted in the nose of the F-5E. The single cannon in the F-5F was also removed for the same reason. If required, the fully combat capable F-5F can be equipped with detachable gun pods. To help reduce pilot workload, a revamped cockpit included HUD, HOTAS, LCD multi-function displays, & INS/GPS-based navigation, along with other onboard computer upgrades. The upgraded aircraft had a fully integrated electronic warfare suite with RWR, ECM jammer & chaff/flare dispensers. Rafael Litening targeting pods were also acquired as part of the program.





No.3 Squadron:
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron were kept extremely busy throughout the decade. In December 1990, the KC-130E transported a clearance diving team from 1st Marine Regiment to the Persian Gulf & remained deployed in the region until May 1991 providing airlift & aerial refuelling support during Operation Desert Storm. The final operational deployment for the squadron’s two C-130Es was to the Bahamas in 1992 to provide humanitarian relief following Hurricane Andrew. In early 1993 the squadron’s four E series Hercules that had been in service since 1963 were replaced by four new H3 series aircraft, two of them equipped to provide aerial refuelling. They were designated KC-130K & C-130K in RWFAF service. Following the creation of Task Force Dove, No.3 Squadron’s new aircraft made regular flights to RAF Akrotiri, supporting West Florida’s commitment to peacekeeping operations in Cyprus & Sinai. In 1998, the squadron’s two C-130Ks forward deployed to Belize supporting disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras.





No.3 Squadron VIP Flight:
In 1993, the RWFAF leased a BAe 146-100 to test its suitability as a replacement for the HS748, which had been in service since 1966. The aircraft demonstrated a 60% increase in range compared with the HS748, with a larger interior capacity for more passengers. So, in 1994, the HS748 of No.3 Squadron’s VIP Flight was replaced by a BAe 146-100. The new aircraft was fitted with a bespoke, VIP configured interior with a capacity of 18 passengers & six crew. The distinctive VIP livery used on the HS748s was not carried over to the new aircraft, with the new BAe 146 adopting a similar livery to the other aircraft of No.3 Squadron.





No.471 Flight:
As with their navy colleagues, No.471 Flight’s P-3 Orion aircraft had fewer Caribbean patrols due to the demise of the Soviet Union & their alliance with Cuba, so they also began working more closely with US agencies to help counter illicit drug trafficking & people smuggling along the Gulf Coast & in the Caribbean. During operation Desert Storm, many vessels destroyed during the conflict were targeted by P-3 aircraft, demonstrating the shift in operational emphasis for the Orion to the littoral regions. The aircraft’s long range & loiter time made it an ideal platform for battlespace surveillance. Accordingly, West Florida’s P-3s went through an upgrade program to enhance their anti-surface warfare (ASUW) & over-the-horizon targeting capabilities. They received a new mission computer, multi-mission surveillance radar, & acoustics system.