Exercise Verity

{{Further|Western Union (alliance)#Defence Organisation}}

The command authority for Exercise Verity was the Western Union. Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein was WUDO's senior officer as Chairman of the Commanders-in-Chief Committee.*{{cite book | first=Richard| last=Mead| title=Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II| year=2007| publisher=Spellmount| location=Stroud (UK)| pages= 309 | isbn= 978-1-86227-431-0}}

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor, RN, was in overall command of Exercise Verity. At the time of the exercise, Admiral McGrigor was serving as Commander-in-Chief of the British Royal Navy's Home Fleet.{{cite book |title= The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, A Biographical Dictionary |last= Heathcote |first= Thomas Anthony |year= 2002 |publisher= Pen & Sword Ltd. |location= Barnsley |isbn= 0-85052-835-6 |page= 162 |url= http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/journal_of_military_history/v070/70.3clayton.html |access-date= 8 August 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110608162425/http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=%2Fjournals%2Fjournal_of_military_history%2Fv070%2F70.3clayton.html |archive-date= 8 June 2011 |url-status= dead }}

File:Monty and Prince Bernhard.png of the C-in-C Committee wearing the WU shoulder badge when meeting Dutch Prince Bernhard aboard HNLMS Tromp in July 1949 during Exercise Verity.]]

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|R86|6}}. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands sponsored a cocktail party aboard the cruiser HNLMS Tromp. Field Marshal Montgomery stayed on board the Implacable as an observer during the exercise.

Submarines, including the highly advanced French boat Roland Morillot,{{cite book |title= The Royal Navy and anti-submarine warfare, 1917-49 |last= Llewellyn-Jones |first= Malcolm |year= 2006 |publisher= Routledge |location= Abingdon, Oxfordshire |isbn= 978-0-415-38532-9 |page= 152 }} made simulated attacks against convoys and naval formations using dummy torpedoes. The exercise included bombers flying from land-based airfields. French and British carriers also launched air strikes, with Implacable successfully carrying out strike operations against the enemy ("White") aircraft carrier force led by the light aircraft carriers HMS Theseus and the French Arromanches.Actually sister ships, Arromanches formerly being HMS Colossus Naval bombardment and convoy escort operations were also carried out. Finally, motor torpedo craft of the Belgian Navy joined other Western Union warships to execute mine-sweeping operations in Weymouth Bay.

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.Flight 14 July p32-33

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.{{citation | title=Here and There: Quid Pro Quo | url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201272.html | journal= Flight | date= 14 July 1949 | access-date=8 August 2010 |page=36}}

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".

Major naval units included the British battleship {{HMS|Anson|79|2}}; the British carriers {{HMS|Implacable|R86|2}}, {{HMS|Victorious|R38|2}} and {{HMS|Theseus|R64|2}}; the French carrier Arromanches; three British and five French cruisers; and 21 "destroyers and destroyer escorts".

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 de Havilland Sea Hornet fighters and Blackburn Firebrand strike aircraft.

The British 15th Carrier Air Group operated Fairey Fireflys and Hawker Sea Furies from land bases.

• Operation Grand Slam (NATO)

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;Notes

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;Bibliography

• {{citation |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201268.html |date=14 July 1949 |page=32 |journal=Flight |title=Truth In Action: Closing Stages of Four-Power Fleet Exercise 'Verity' as Seen from the Air}}
• {{citation |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201232.html |date=30 June 1949 |page=777 |journal=Flight |title=Service Aviation: Exercise 'Verity'}}

• [http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=29118 "HMS Implacable Leads Western Union Fleet"] video newsreel film - Pathé Films online - 14 July 1949

{{Common Security and Defence Policy}}

{{Cold War}}

Category:Western Union (alliance)

Category:1949 in military history

Category:Military exercises and wargames