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BLOG: How I Survived A Week On Exercise Albanian Lion

It's Sunday evening and I’m just about to settle on the sofa when my work phone goes. It's my office:

"Can you go to Albania tomorrow for a week with the Royal Navy?"

"Uh…yes."

So instead of relaxation, it's frantic packing, and swotting up before an early morning flight to the Albanian capital, Tirana.

It’s my second month at Forces TV and I was about to get a baptism of fire!

Whilst on assignment I'd be on board three ships, HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Ocean - out in the Adriatic during Exercise Albanian Lion 2016.

Cameraman Chris was along for the ride and, escorted by our very own crew of Royal Marines, we entered our first floating home...the looming grey bulk of HMS Bulwark.

The late notice meant I didn't know much of what to expect, but I wasn’t prepared for such a lovely welcome. There were big smiles, a cuppa (or a 'wet') and some dinner (otherwise known as 'scran'), before an early night in my three-person cabin.

I had hoped to make a good impression with my new roomies but unfortunately, I got into the wrong bunk... so halfway through the night I was kicked out by the rightful owner, returning from her night watch.

Not my finest moment, but I think I was eventually forgiven!

Everywhere we went on board Bulwark we were greeted with a ‘wet’ and some ‘scran’, and following an interview with the men in charge, they even let me take the wheel. It was thought it was best for all involved, however, that the controls were turned off.

Life when reporting on an exercise isn't always exciting - day three involved a lot of sitting, waiting and wishing.

Our helicopter ride to our next stop, RFA Mounts Bay, was first postponed because of a possible fault, then commandeered by some Albanian troops and then roped into an exercise testing the ship's response to migrants in the water.

However, it was eventually our turn to climb on board the Green Merlin, and wow, it was worth the wait.

After picking up some Royal Marines we flew over some of Albania's incredible scenery.

RFA Mounts Bay has a very different feel to Bulwark, as it is mainly manned by civvies. She has wide corridors and stairwells, which was a treat after carrying a tripod up and down Bulwark’s narrow ladders. We were even given much bigger cabins complete with en suite bathrooms.

Mounts Bay’s role during the exercise was supply and support. She hosted over 200 service personnel, along with her regular company of 56.

It was an early start on day four and we had to board a landing craft to get across to our third ship, HMS Ocean. Here's where things got hairy.

Midway through our journey it was decided that we needed to be on a different landing craft so we could be lifted up the side of Ocean, as she has no dock. Therefore, Chris and I had to jump ship with all of our equipment and land, amazingly, unscathed.

Once we get alongside Ocean we are lifted up, until we suddenly fall towards the water.

We fall 14 feet until the emergency brake kicks in and saves us from hitting the sea below.

When we eventually get on board we are soaked and shaken but we were greeted by big smiles and shouts of 'welcome to HMS Ocean'... so we had to laugh!

The days filming was worth the treacherous journey. We covered the whole ship, with everything from Apaches and Merlins landing on board, to the galley and the noisy, hot engine room.

Evening draws in fast and it's back to HMS Bulwark on a Chinook – a definite highlight!

On Bulwark we dine with the crew and watch a little bit of the Great British Bake Off (yes, Mary and Paul reach the ships!) before a night in my correct bunk – the top one.

Day five was supposed to be the main event. A beach assault demonstration had been planned, but unfortunately due to abysmal weather it was cancelled. So we had to leave the ship early to ensure we made it to land and our flights home before the storm.

We packed up and rather nervously boarded another landing craft.

With the men in charge on board, it was a pretty smooth ride straight into Vlore Bay. Despite walking like Bambi after being at sea all week, it was pretty good to be back on solid ground.

In one week I learnt a lot and met a huge range of people. From the straight-laced to the truly hilarious, everyone on board all three ships were kind and welcoming. I now look forward to my next deployment, wherever it may be!