When you read Commander Mike Utley’s résumé you cannot help but be impressed. The Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, the Royal Navy ship visiting Anguilla this week, described by crew as akin to ‘Star Trek’, is obviously a high flyer. ‘I’ve been lucky,’ the man affectionately known as ‘Father’ on board says. ‘I’ve had some fantastic opportunities.’

Commander Mike Utley Commanding Officer of HMS Portland

Born in Cardiff, Wales, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen because he wanted ‘more activity.’ He completed training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, South West England, which has been training Naval Officers since 1863, and embarked on a career that has led him to become the youngest Captain, ‘The Job’, at the age of thirty seven, of a state-of-the-art Type 23 Frigate, in a highly competitive service.

He trained as a navigator. ‘I love driving ships. The navigator is closest to the Captain so you know everything that is going on, a wonderful position to be in. It is a challenging job which appealed to me.’

Given Command of Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit, and its training ship HMS Exploit, at the age of twenty five, was ‘very good fun.’ He commanded fifty honorary midshipmen, some of whom were older than him, and was tasked with giving them a taste of military life. His aim was not to recruit but to make sure that these future professionals understood the role of the Royal Navy. ‘A by product of this is that people join the Navy,’ he explained. ‘I ran my own budget, ship and unit,’ he admitted after some prodding, clearing not wanting to blow his own trumpet. Being given a command at a young age and at the relatively junior rank of lieutenant ‘meant I had done well to date, was capable and therefore had potential.’

Given an opportunity to learn more of how the Navy works at a higher level in 1997 when Commander Utley completed a Staff Course, he then went on to warfare training in 1998.

Back at sea he progressed from the bridge to the operations room, ‘where we fight the ship from,’ as Principal Warfare Officer. He served on HMS Norfolk, sister ship to HMS Portland, first as its Gunnery Officer and then as Operations Officer, following selection for early promotion to Lieutenant Commander.

His first sea command was in 2002 when he took control of HMS Leeds Castle, a Castle Class Patrol Boat capable of taking a Sea King helicopter. Next he commanded HMS Tyne, a new River Class Patrol Boat built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton, England. During his captaincy the ship won the Jersey Cup for Fishery Protection. What is this? Commander Utley smiled and shrugged his shoulders at the question. A modest man put on the spot. Pressed, he admitted that it was an award for being ‘good at its job; fishery protection, policing the sea. We also tried out a broadened role for the new class of ship’ resulting in the award.

On his first day on shore as the Above Water Warfare Officers’ Career Manager, ‘I was told that I had promotion to Commander’ but he had to wait for a ship. Essentially a Human Resources position, Commander Utley clearly enjoyed his time in the ‘demanding’ role. ‘I was invited to do it. I was a career manager, helping to broaden, round off and look after those of my own rank, developing their careers and potential in the military. Ensuring each job had an officer.’ He shows clear enthusiasm but added, ‘Fascinating job, but I was not going to give up the chance of a ship!’ by staying on and not taking up the promotion to Commander.

He joined HMS Portland in December 2006. His first ship was HMS Jupiter, a Leander Class Frigate. How does he feel the new Type 23’s compared to their earlier counterpart? ‘The ethos has not changed. There is the same sense of belonging, living in close quarters, sense of family and teamwork as there was. What has changed is how the Royal Navy is doing business. The new technology nowadays means less manpower is needed. Weapons technology has increased. Our ability to influence an area has improved and moved on massively, but the core values are the same.’

Commander Utley brought HMS Portland out of a period of refit and then took it for sea trials and demanding operational sea training, for which the ship was given a ‘Very Satisfactory’ result. I later learnt that this was very high praise indeed in Royal Naval parlance.

The ship left the UK in June with an operational mission ‘to be ready to fight and win.’ In practice this covers such diverse tasks as Supporting Overseas Territories, providing Disaster Relief and Counter Narcotics Operations. The ship was on standby to assist Montserrat early on in the deployment and then found herself chasing a Category Five hurricane one hundred and fifty miles away with its Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, Wave Ruler.

‘Within one and a half hours of receiving the request for help at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, we had people on the ground in Belize assisting twenty nine villages. Our two helicopters ran for thirty seven and a half hours in three days, moving many tons of equipment.’ The two ships assisted with roofing, road cleaning and water distribution, while the ship’s doctor set up a medical clinic. How can all of this be done so quickly? ‘We underwent Operational Sea Training for two weeks before we left England, which covered counter narcotics and disaster relief. We practiced and tested our organisation, achieving our aim of getting the right number of people in the right place. The training is excellent, it works. We also have a plan devised and tailored to what we are looking at, at the time. It is also down to management and utilising experience. For example, you are stupid if you don’t listen to the most junior sailor who’s done something before.’
‘The small pack HMS Portland carries is designed to assist for the first 48-72 hours, to help stabilise things. We work with local authorities and do not go in saying ‘We’re in charge.’ It is a team effort with constant communication. It is pointless to waste effort when people have been to hell and back.’

Hurricane Felix left HMS Portland ten days late for its mid deployment maintenance in Barbados, as the ship had to rapid sail, with 12 hours notice for sea. Commander Utley chuckled as he mentioned that when the ship left there was ‘no roofing felt left in Barbados’ as the ship had sailed with it all!

The ship will be home for Christmas after having been away for seven months. What does the Commander’s wife think about his being away so much? ‘She knows it is my chosen career and I enjoy the Navy. She’d not be happy if I’m not happy. She sometimes meets me but not this time.’ He smiles at me as he says, ‘I will have a months’ holiday with my family when I get home.’
Sadly for Anguilla, the ship had to leave our shores abruptly on Tuesday afternoon. We will no doubt hear of her exploits in due course.

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