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.
Upadate:
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.
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