Lucky Royal Navy officer takes up rare post on US destroyer once held by HMS Queen Elizabeth's captain
A ROYAL Navy officer has taken up a rare post on an American warship named after wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.
Lucky Lieutenant Cameron Fisher has taken up the prestigious role as the navigator of guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S Churchill.
The 27-year-old Hampshire sailor is guiding the warship as she works alongside the Royal Navy in the Gulf as part of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
The unusual position is part of a unique link between the American ship and the UK stretching back 20 years, which sees the vessel always sailing with a Royal Navy navigator.
Previous incumbents include Angus Essenhigh – who is now the commanding officer of Britain's future flagship, aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
‘It really is an honour to be representing the UK on USS Winston S Churchill,’ said Cameron. ‘Since being on board, I have learnt more about Winston Churchill than I think I ever had done before.
‘The crew are very knowledgeable when it comes to his history and feats and everyone has a lot of respect and pride for their namesake, which is great to see.
‘We fly the Churchill house flag for special evolutions, and we proudly fly the Royal Navy’s White Ensign from our outboard halyard in acknowledgement of the tie between our countries. The crew even wear a combined UK/US patch on their arm in lieu of the normal US flag patch.’
The link previously saw a US Navy officer serving on former frigate HMS Marlborough.
However, when the British ship was paid off in 2005, the Americans decided to maintain the tradition on USS Winston S Churchill.
‘The UK and US are indispensable allies and our co-operation is the broadest, deepest and most advanced of any two countries in the world. To be able to live and work alongside the US has allowed me a far greater understanding beyond what before I had only known from popular media,’ said Cameron.
Despite being a qualified Royal Navy navigator, Cameron attended the US Navy’s navigation school to learn its ways of working before joining the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
He added his appointment to the Churchill has been the highlight of his naval career to date.
‘I don’t know anyone else my age who can say that they personally are responsible for the lives of 300 plus souls as they keep watch, driving one of the most technologically advanced 10,000-tonne warships in the world,’ he added.