MoD and Navy News

SOUTH WEST ROYAL MARINES CONDUCT FIRST OPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN

Plymouth-based 42 Commando and joint forces have hit the ground running on arrival in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, achieving early successes engaging Taliban forces.

42 Cdo RM has undertaken the role of Regional Battle Group South, working directly for the Regional Command (South) HQ in Kandahar . They are the regional task force right across southern Afghanistan , taking in an area of responsibility stretching from the Pakistani border to that of Iran , including Helmand Province .

Their first major action was under the command of Canadian forces Lima Company of the Commando unit which is based at Bickleigh Camp. They deployed into the rural and urban fringe south west of Kandahar City during darkness. This was the unit's first big convoy through the city and they used night vision goggles and were protected by a helicopter as ‘eyes in the sky'.

Lima Company and a small band of Afghan National Army soldiers entered a potentially hazardous area not regularly frequented by coalition forces. Their mission was two-fold, first to disrupt insurgent activity during the religiously significant period of Ramadan and then Eid; and second to better understand this key area by developing knowledge of the landscape, the buildings, the population and the enemy, to inform subsequent Canadian operations.

Lima Company's professionalism, their intelligent and dynamic patrolling and their balance in dealing with local nationals countered enemy threats and delivered a positive influence and message of reassurance to a weary population.

As the Royal Marines understanding of Afghanistan and their surroundings deepened it was time for the remainder of the Commando Group to join them - 42 Commando Group and the 3 rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment surged into an area known to be a Taliban staging post and command and control centre.

The Commandos succeeded in dislocating the enemy's early warning screen, forcing them to show their position give away an indication of their compounds the Commandos might target. At the same time the advance recce troop seized a sharp ridge that dominated the entire area and supported Afghan troops who were gathering information and insurgent activity.

Meanwhile, Kilo Company (the Black Knights) of 42 Commando landed by helicopter to seize and clear a village and fought a number of actions until they completely overwhelmed the insurgent threat. This success was supported by the watchful eyes of airborne surveillance systems and Apache attack helicopters. The Apaches were called in occasionally for effective air strikes.

The next five days saw sporadic contact only with the enemy- each time successfully dealt with while at the same time a huge amount of intelligence, insurgent kit and bomb-making equipment was uncovered. With the aid of Canadian allies using their tanks to create a new road home, Kilo Company boarded their helicopters once again and the Royal Marines all arrived back at camp safely after a job well done.

The Royal Marines' operations ranging from clearing insurgent safe havens to assisting in a delivery of voter registration and humanitarian relief before winter, so flexibility is already proving critical. Vital to success is close support to the Afghan Security Forces and engaging the local population, especially when the Royal Marines may well be the first ISAF forces the communities have encountered.

HMS CHATHAM RETURNS HOME FROM DRUG BUSTING PATROL

HMS Chatham, the Plymouth-based Royal Navy frigate is due to return home to a warm welcome on Wednesday (22 October) after seven months protecting Iraqi offshore oil platforms, policing maritime traffic and making a huge illegal drugs seizure.

The ship is expected to be greeted by 800 friends and families on the jetty and a Royal Marines Band.

HMS Chatham has been conducting maritime security operations in her deployment to the North of the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations Security Council. The ship has been protecting 2 huge oil terminals, the Al Basrah Oil Terminal and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. The output of these terminals accounts for over 90% of Iraq 's income and their protection is therefore essential for both the future of Iraq and wider regional stability.

The crew of over 250 have been professionally going about their business in oppressive conditions that have reached 50°C and 100% humidity with both people and equipment coping admirably. The ship was the flagship for the commodore of combined task force controlling maritime forces in the area. And was the neutral venue for meeting of the heads of the Iraqi Navy, Kuwait Navy and Kuwait coastguard, their first since before the first Gulf War, in order to plan regional security.

HMS Chatham's commanding officer, Commander Martin Connell said: “After almost seven months deployed on operations, the Ship's Company and I are very much looking forward to returning home and being reunited with our families. We have had a most successful deployment, kept oil flowing out of Iraq , helped foster relations in the area, succeeded in anti-narcotics operations and done so in challenging and demanding conditions.

“I am extremely proud of my ship's company and they can now proceed on some well-earned leave with their heads held high.”

He paid tribute to the support his crew have had from home: “It's true, we have spent a lot of time away, with 11 of the last 13 months being spent at sea and that is hard on my sailors and their families.

Whether it has been helping to protect Iraqi waters, successfully taking part in the anti-narcotics fight, giving reassurance against piracy, playing a role in the future of NATO or furthering coalition relations, the fact this has all been done in the space of a year speaks volumes.”

HMS Chatham's boarding teams were involved in a huge drugs bust having spent two days searching for a suspected drug runner. The ship's Lynx helicopter finally found the smugglers' boat and the ship' s Royal Marines and boarding team secured the vessel. They then had the challenging task of searching the bilges surrounded by oil, sewerage, rats and cockroaches, to be rewarded by finding six tonnes of high grade hashish hidden away after an operation lasting over 18 hours.

The drugs proved to have links back to insurgent elements in Afghanistan and their disposal helped deny vital funding to terrorist forces.

The ship also provided security and reassurance for a number of vessels during anti-piracy operations and received a letter of thanks for her actions from the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.

By the time HMS Chatham reaches home she will have been away from home for 11 of the last 13 months; Before her Gulf deployment, she sailed to the Mediterranean to participate in Operation Active Endeavour, providing maritime security over a wide region. She also took part in huge 40-ship exercises before then.

Also on the Devonport jetty will be a brand new car to be collected by a lucky member of the crew in a prize charity draw, following a number of charity events they conducted to raise over £17,000.

The majority of Chatham's crew are then due to enjoy well-deserved leave. The ship will undergo maintenance.

HMS CHATHAM HOME TO A WARM WELCOME AFTER DRUG BUSTING PATROL

Hundreds of families and friends cheered the sailors of HMS Chatham as they arrived home at HM Naval Base Devonport (22 October) after a successful seven-month patrol.

The jetty was crowded with happy well-wishers waving banners and a Royal Marine Band as the Royal Navy frigate tied up after protecting Iraqi offshore oil platforms, policing maritime traffic, deterring pirates and making a huge illegal drugs seizure.

As soon as a he stepped on shore Petty Officer (Weapons) Jon Dodd, 29, was enthusiastically hugged and kissed by his wife Katherine Dodd and their three daughters twins Lily and Poppy, aged two and a half, and Erin, five. He said: “It is fantastic to be home again. I have missed my wife and family so much.

“I was responsible for the missile side of things and therefore, part of the team keeping responsible for force protection - keeping the ship safe. We achieved a lot in difficult conditions and have made a difference out there in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Aden . We were on alert for much of the time, there was little down time, little relaxation when at duty stations. But I was very rewarding.”

Jon has previously served in HMS Cornwall, HMS Cumberland, both Devonport ships, and the former HMS Coventry.

Katherine, who came from Burgess Hill, Sussex, with her family to meet her husband, said: “I have missed him very much and so have the children. The twins were a lot younger, relatively speaking, when they last saw him.

“It has been hard without Jon. There have been texts and a few phone calls, but it is difficult to remain in contact at such a great distance when we are both busy. But he has been doing a difficult and important job.”

Leading Aircraft Controller Alex Blake, 24, was almost speechless with happiness when he saw his first child Jake, aged only three weeks, for the first time on the jetty. As he delicately cuddled his son he

said: “It is a marvellous feeling to hold my first child for the first time. It is an indescribable feeling. I don't know what else to say, except I have been looking forward so much to this moment for months.

“The deployment was very busy and hard. I was working with our own Lynx helicopter, landing it on and off and working with other aircraft, including fixed wing from other nations' navies. It was challenging but rewarding, exactly why I joined the Royal Navy.”

Alex's girlfriend and Jake's mother Simone Blunden, of Pulborough , Sussex , 28, said: “Jake's so lovely and it's wonderful to see him in the arms of his father for the first time. I have missed Alex, especially being pregnant and having a new baby. But he is back now and the family is complete.”

The ship has been operating North of the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations Security Council protecting 2 huge oil terminals, the Al Basrah Oil Terminal and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. The output of these terminals accounts for over 90% of Iraq 's income and their protection is therefore essential for both the future of Iraq and wider regional stability.

The crew of over 250 have been professionally going about their business in oppressive conditions that have reached 50°C and 100% humidity with both people and equipment coping admirably. The ship was the flagship for the commodore of combined task force controlling maritime forces in the area. And was the neutral venue for meeting of the heads of the Iraqi Navy, Kuwait Navy and Kuwait coastguard, their first since before the first Gulf War, in order to plan regional security.

HMS Chatham's commanding officer, Commander Martin Connell said: “After almost seven months deployed on operations, the ship's company and I are very much looking forward to returning home and being reunited with our families. We have had a most successful deployment, kept oil flowing out of Iraq, helped foster relations in the area, succeeded in anti-narcotics operations and done so in challenging and demanding conditions.

“I am extremely proud of my ship's company and they can now proceed on some well-earned leave with their heads held high.”

He paid tribute to the support his crew have had from home: “It's true, we have spent a lot of time away, with 11 of the last 13 months being spent at sea and that is hard on my sailors and their families.

Whether it has been helping to protect Iraqi waters, successfully taking part in the anti-narcotics fight, giving reassurance against piracy, playing a role in the future of NATO or furthering coalition relations, the fact this has all been done in the space of a year speaks volumes.”

HMS Chatham's boarding teams were involved in a huge drugs bust having spent two days searching for a suspected drug runner. The ship's Lynx helicopter finally found the smugglers' boat and the ship' s Royal Marines and boarding team secured the vessel. They then had the challenging task of searching the bilges surrounded by oil, sewerage, rats and cockroaches, to be rewarded by finding six tonnes of high grade hashish hidden away after an operation lasting over 18 hours.

The drugs proved to have links back to insurgent elements in Afghanistan and their disposal helped deny vital funding to terrorist forces.

The ship also provided security and reassurance for a number of vessels during anti-piracy operations and received a letter of thanks for her actions from the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.

The majority of Chatham 's crew are then due to enjoy well-deserved leave. The ship will undergo maintenance.

HMS SOMERSET SUPPO RTS PLYMOUTH CHILDREN'S CHARITY

Sailors deployed in a Royal Navy warship fighting maritime crime have raised £2,200 for a Plymouth childrens charity.

The Devonport-based frigate HMS Somerset recently returned from a six-month deployment helping to reduce criminal and terrorist activities in the Mediterranean and during the patrol sailors raised funds for the Plymouth children's charity Jeremiah's Journey.

Jeremiah's Journey is a self-funded charity based at Derriford Hospital's “Mustard Tree” cancer support unit. It provides support to bereaved children and their families, helping them come to terms with the loss of somebody special such as a parent. They also provide pre-bereavement counselling.

The Petty Officer's mess onboard HMS Somerset wanted to support a local charity during the ship's deployment. Petty Officer Martin Hopton said: “When we learned about the work of Jeremiah's Journey we knew we wanted to help them. We came up with the idea of running 4750 miles during the deployment – that's the distance from Devonport to the furthest point that HMS Somerset reached during her voyage. Everyone in the mess joined in, running as many miles as we could around the deck and also going on squad runs when we arrived alongside in foreign ports. We even did a 24-hour ‘runathon' on a treadmill!”. Petty Officer Hopton said: “We wanted something to achieve, both as a mess and personally. Presenting the cheque today has been a wonderful end to the project. It's also been good to get to know the local charity and to learn about what they do”.

When the ship returned home, Sarah Wilson, the fundraiser for Jeremiah's Journey, came onboard to collect the money and thank the sailors. She said: “It's been fantastic working with them and we really, really appreciate their efforts. It's a lot of money to us and will make a big difference. It will allow us to help more than 20 children, pay for days out for bereaved children and their families – we are all absolutely delighted.”

HMS VIGILANT ARRIVES IN DEVONPORT FOR MAJOR REFIT

The strategic deterrent submarine HMS Vigilant has docked today (11 October) at HM Naval Base Devonport, Plymouth, for a major refit and refuel of her nuclear power plant.

The long overhaul period and refuel will take about three years and provide work for hundreds of people in Devonport which is the only place in the UK which specialises in this work for the Royal Navy's submarine fleet - the dedicated home of submarine maintenance.

HMS Vigilant, a nuclear-powered vessel, normally based at Faslane Naval Base in Scotland, was commissioned in 1996 and is the third of the Royal Navy's Vanguard Class of submarines which is designed to carry the UK 's Trident nuclear missile and therefore, forms part of the UK 's strategic deterrent.

HMS Vigilant arrives in Devonport following the departure of HMS Victorious on completion of her successful overhaul earlier this year. HMS Victorious is now undergoing her sea trials.

The overhaul will include an intensive maintenance period and furnish HMS Vigilant with a number of enhanced capabilities. This demonstrates a considerable investment in effectively equipping our armed forces now and in the future.

The most significant element of the overhaul is the installation of a new reactor core for her power plant that will provide the submarine with propulsion for her remaining operational life. There will also be over 80 other design alterations and additions across a wide range of submarine systems.

The work programme will involve a major equipment overhaul, installation of improved strategic weapons system equipment, integration of the tactical weapons submarine command system (next generation), the installation of a new reactor core that provides the submarine with propulsion for its remaining operational life without further requirement for refuel, and 80 other submarine design alterations and additions.

HMS Vigilant needs to be refuelled because the life of the fuel in the reactor installed at build was less than the life of the submarine as the technology at the time did not allow fuel to be produced that would last as long as the submarine. However, improvements since then mean that future submarines, such as the next generation Astute class submarines, will not need to be refuelled. All nuclear powered submarines in the current fleet either have had, or will need, one refuel during their life. HMS Vanguard and HMS Victorious have already undergone their long overhaul and refuel and HMS Vengeance will undergo her's once HMS Vigilant has completed her's.

HMS OCEAN'S SUCCESSFUL SEA TRIALS

The Royal Navy's largest warship HMS Ocean returned to her home base of Devonport, Plymouth , today after two very successful weeks conducting trials at sea in home waters following a major upgrade.

A £30m investment in the ship and 14 months in the hands of Babcock Marine in HM Naval Base Devonport has maintained the commando carrier at the sharp end of the Royal Navy's capability after ten years' service.

The trials in south west waters are designed to test that the ships systems and weapons work perfectly after improvements and upgrades and the amphibious warfare ship will continue her programme in the region after passing the first round.

First the crew had to be tested in their ability to keep the ship safe from the potential hazards of being at sea, such as fire, floods and navigational risks. This involved a team of experts from the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation joining the ship to put the crew through their paces. The crew passed with flying colours and impressed the sea training staff with their enthusiasm and commitment.

The ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Simon Kings Royal Navy, said: “HMS Ocean has come a very long way in the last two months. When we moved back onboard in July the size and scope of the work yet to be completed was daunting. The crew and Babcock Marine have made tremendous progress, often working through the night with grit and determination to get the ship operational again on time. I am looking forward to the next stage when the sea training staff will come onboard again and this time help us to train not just to operate, but how to work as a fighting unit – to ‘fight the ship'.

“This has been an intense period of training that has seen the culmination of much hard work by all on board, including Babcock Marine and civilian contractors who came to sea to put last minute finishing touches to the ship.”

Following the assessment of the safety aspects, the ship then concentrated on material issues, ensuring the engines and diesel generators worked under various conditions. Radar systems were tested for accuracy and all guns test-fired, including the ‘Phalanx' radar controlled multi-barrelled cannon which successfully obliterated a target towed by an aircraft with its 3000 rounds-per-minute rate of fire.

After only a brief respite, HMS Ocean will return to sea again to resume her programme of sea trials before embarking on operational sea training in November – the next step up from basic sea training under FOST.

HMS Ocean facts: Displacement 22, 550 tonnes, length 208m, beam 34.4m, draught 6.6m, crew 370 up to a maximum of 1,150 with embarked forces. Weapons Vulcan Phalanx, 20mm BMARC, Mini Guns, general purpose machine guns and passive decoys, sensors: radar and Bowman communications. The ship can operate and support up to 22 helicopters, including Chinook, Merlin, Sea King, Lynx and Apache as well as a range of helicopters from other forces.

3 COMMANDO BRIGADE TAKE CONTROL FROM 16 AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN

Today at Headquarters Task Force Helmand in Lashkar Gah, Southern Afghanistan, a ceremony was held to mark the transfer of authority between 16 Air Assault Brigade and Plymouth-based 3 Commando Brigade.

During their six-month tour, 16 Air Assault Brigade took part in one of the most significant operations in Helmand province since British troops have been deployed to Southern Afghanistan.

Around 2,000 British troops, working with ISAF counterparts, formed a huge convoy to deliver a 200 ton hydro-electric turbine 180 kilometres by road from Kandahar airfield to the Kajaki dam. The turbine, when it is fully operational, will improve the provision of electricity and irrigation to southern Afghanistan.

16 Air Assault Brigade have also been involved in the training and mentoring of the Afghan security forces and have led several highly successful operations against key Taliban elements.

Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith said:

“16 Air Assault Brigade can reflect with great pride and professional satisfaction at its achievements in Helmand this year. The quiet resolve and sustained determination of the task force has been outstanding and through their selfless commitment, every soldier has played his or her part in delivering progress in support of the Afghan government. We also honour the memory of those members of the task force who have been killed and those who have been wounded. Their sacrifice and courage will never be forgotten and our thoughts are with their family and friends.”

The Royal Marines' 3 Commando Brigade is the Royal Navy's amphibious infantry on permanent readiness to deploy across the globe, and is a core component of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Their deployment is expected to last until April 2009. For 3 Commando Brigade this is the second deployment to Afghanistan in the last 2 years. It represents a significant contribution from the Naval Service in terms of both Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel.

Brigadier Gordon Messenger, of 3 Commando Brigade, said: “I pay tribute to the sterling work carried out by 16 Air Assault Brigade over the last six months, which has delivered real progress in Helmand. My priority will be to continue the momentum; working closely with our Afghan and coalition partners to develop the capacity of the Afghan governance structures and security forces and to deliver much needed stability and security to the people of Southern Afghanistan ”.

More than 600 families and friends braved the biting wind to welcome their loved ones home aboard HMS Montrose when the ship arrived in Plymouth this morning (Friday 3 October).

The crew of the Type 23 frigate were praised by their commanding officer Commander Andy Hogben after a successful seven-month operational deployment in the Gulf which included a ten-tonne illegal drugs seizure.

The jetty at HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, was packed with a Royal Marine Band and happy families cheering and waving hand made banners greeting the crew who have been away for seven months in 40-50C heat working in arduous and difficult conditions protecting the world's oil and other shipping from illegal activity including drugs, arms and people smuggling and piracy.

The Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Hogben said: “It's fantastic to come home to such a warm welcome. It is great to see so many families on the jetty. My ship's company have been waiting for this moment for seven months and it more than makes up for the time away from them. I must say thankyou to the families on behalf of the whole ship - without their emotional and practical support back home while we have been away in the Middle East this would have been a harder job than it already was.

“I am extremely proud of my ship's company, they have worked really hard in harsh conditions. We had several successes out there and the major one was the biggest ever seizure of illegal drugs in the “region. We intercepted a dhow and the whole ship and the Lynx helicopter crew worked together on this operation. The boarding party and search party worked for hours in cramped, very uncomfortable conditions in very hot temperatures searching the boat for the hashish. It only dawned on us later that drugs we were destroying were being taken off the streets of Britain . The real reward of pour efforts.”

Commander Hogben, from Portsmouth , sailed into Devonport today with two of his three children Sam and James who embarked with his father-in-law Gavin in Spain. The CO was greeted on the jetty by his wife Julie and son Joe, age six.

Commander Hogben said the ship also provided a reassuring presence working alongside the regional navies of the Gulf States to ensure maritime security in the region.  The area was infamous for piracy and a merchant ship was holed by pirates armed with rocket propelled grenades while HMS Montrose was there.

HMS Montrose and fellow Plymouth warship HMS Chatham, Portsmouth-based HMS Edinburgh and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus (with Sea King helicopters on board) were jointly involved in the successful anti-drug smuggling operations amounting to 23 tonnes seized due to Royal Naval interceptions over a five-month period earlier this year.

Leading Logistician Danielle, 22, of Liverpool, was greeted by her family including her aunt Margaret Monnington and boyfriend Luke Monnington. Danielle said: “It's been a great deployment, my second, but the longest. The drugs bust was the highlight, but it's great to be back home.” Margaret said: “We missed her a lot. It's great to have her back home. She stayed in touch out there and enjoyed it.”

The excited three daughters of Leading Stores Accountant Karl Want, 31, of Plymouth , cheered his ship from the jetty and hugged him on shore. The girls, Katie, 10, Tia, 6, and beth,12 months, were with their mother Elaine. Katie said she missed her father seeing her swim with the Devonport Naval Base swimming club and going out cycling. Elaine said: “We're all so pleased he is back and he can share the girl's activities and go out with us all. He's also missed a large part of Beth's life as she is so young.”

HMS Montrose engineer Cheryl Simmons, 25, of Plymouth, returned from her first deployment and immediately had her arms full when two babies were thrust into her arms on the jetty - her nephews,aged five week and 11 weeks. She said: “I've been looking forward to seeing the babies and I am."

Warfare specialist Kieran Robinson, 21, was met on dry land by his sister Kelly, holding her baby Mischa, aged six weeks, – the first time he had seen his new niece. Lucy said: “We are dead close as brother and sister. I so wanted Jason to see Layla for the first. It's so exciting.” Jason was also met by his father Barry and friend Rob and girlfriend Harriet who also went out earlier to Dubai to meet him on the ship. She said: “I've so missed him. He's only been in the Navy two years and this is his first proper deployment.”

Plymouth-based HMS Northumberland has temporarily taken over from HMS Montrose in the region. After well-deserved leave the crew will return and deliver the ship to Rosyth in November for upkeep maintenance. The ship has been on four deployments in four years.

HMS Cumberland has left the Eastern Mediterranean and has completed the initial work up phase of the Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 Deployment a multinational task group of naval ships.

The ship spent a night in the Sicilian port of Catania before sailing for Exercise Noble Midas, which is being held in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas between Italy and Greece with the task group.

Exercise Noble Midas is an annual two-week exercise in the Mediterranean involving ships from NATO. There are over 30 ships involved from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Turkey, UK and the US. The UK ships are HMS Roebuck from Devonport, HMS Ledbury, HMS Cumberland and a submarine. The exercise is focussed on a mock political dispute on a fictitious Mediterranean island. The exercise includes operational scenarios with anti-submarine and air defence exercises.

In Catania teams from HMS Cumberland met other ships from across the task group to discuss the programme and plans for the exercise. The ship's crew took a break to visit the historic town in the shadow of Europe 's largest volcano, Mount Etna , and sampled Italian dishes, before a lengthy time at sea in defence watches which are a series of watchkeeping duties under a strict regime.

HMS Cumberland left her baseport in Devonport on 29 August 2008 to patrol the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf and is due to return before Christmas.

HMS Montrose is on her way home to Plymouth from a successful seven-month operational deployment in the Gulf which included a major illegal drugs seizure.

Now back in the Atlantic the Type 23 frigate is heading north up the coast of Spain and Portugal ready for an emotional return to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, on Friday morning (October 3).

HMS Montrose left her home port in March and has been the UK 's contribution to a combined task force, a coalition naval force operational since 2001, spearheading the fight against terrorism and illegal activity on the high seas east of the Suez Canal .

HMS Montrose and fellow Plymouth warship HMS Chatham, Portsmouth-based HMS Edinburgh and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus (with Sea King helicopters on board) were jointly involved in the successful anti-drug smuggling operations amounting to 23 tonnes seized due to Royal Naval interceptions over a five-month period.

The highlight of HMS Montrose's deployment was the covert operation conducted in the Gulf of Aden , which resulted in the ship's company seizing 10 tonnes of hashish with a street value of over £20 million in a single boarding on a Dhow off the coast of Yemen . After HMS Montrose had tracked the suspect Dhow using radar, the Lynx helicopter and boarding teams in small sea boats. Only when the Dhow was declared not to be a threat did boarding start.

The Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Hogben said: “ The Royal Navy is a highly trained organization and this is one of the ways in which we can put our training to good use. The successful boarding operation conducted by HMS Montrose was a combined operation with the Royal Marines conducted in challenging and unpleasant conditions. It is pleasing that, along with a strong coalition presence, the RN is providing a strong deterrence, which is impacting on drugs trafficking and other illegal activity.”

Countries round the Indian Ocean co-operate with the coalition, which is formed by navies from over 20 nations. The area of responsibility under the task force covers over two million square miles of ocean, 6,500 miles of coastline and the interests and coasts of 14 nations.

This is an area of great significance with about half of the world's oil and natural gases transported by sea and pipeline and millions of tons of goods carried by sea along with fishermen. However, a great deal of illegal activity takes place such as drugs and arms smuggling, human smuggling/trafficking and piracy.

HMS Montrose has been playing a vital role in order to deter illegal activity by making her presence felt by daily searches from the air and sea by the combination of the ship's Lynx helicopter nicknamed ‘Rattler' and her smaller sea boats in and around the numerous fishing and Dhow fleets.