HMS Lancaster helped bolster security in the southern Indian Ocean and ties with the Seychelles on her second visit to the islands in four months.
Her commandos trained with local forces as the UK government committed nearly £2.5m to provide additional expertise and support to the Commonwealth nation in the ongoing fight to deter terrorism, smuggling, trafficking and piracy in the Indian Ocean.
The crux of the visit was a three-day combined jungle workout for the warship’s Royal Marines detachment.
The Royal Marines are the UK’s all-weather warfare specialists – at home fighting in the desert, Arctic, jungle as well as temperate climes – but the team from 42 Commando embarked on Lancaster devote most of their time to board and search operations (more than six tonnes of illegal narcotics seized so far in 2024).
So the stint in the Seychelles was a useful refresher for them, as well as gaining a useful understand of the operational theatre from their hosts.
And for the Seychelles Special Forces, the training allowed them to work alongside commandos with a wealth of experience of operations and exercises worldwide.
Cap Ternay, the westernmost tip of the Seychelles’ principal island Mahé, which is home to both a nature reserve and a military training area. It’s high canopy jungle with demanding terrain – beaches to mountainous peaks, making it a challenging environment in which to work for native or visiting military forces.
The teams spent two days honing their ‘green skills’ in the wild: jungle patrols, observation drills, reconnaissance, ‘green to grey’ ops (striking from the jungle into an urban area) and close-quarters battle. The exercise concluded with weapons and tactical live firing on the ranges.
Despite the close co-operation between the UK and Seychelles – in addition to frequent visits by Royal Navy warships, the islands have played a key role in the fight against East African piracy – the joint exercise was the first in many years focusing on soldiering skills/tropical jungle training.
As such it was observed by both the British High Commissioner Jeff Glekin, Special Forces Unit Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Didace Hoareau, and the Commander of the Seychelles Defence Force Land Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hollanda.
“The joint interactions between the Special Forces Unit personnel and the British Royal Marines is a great opportunity for us because modern warfare is always changing,” said Lieutenant Colonel Hoareau.
“The British commando has more exposure and experience in warfare, and they bring new knowledge and techniques, which will be a plus for our Special Forces. The interactions help in sharing knowledge in various tactics from both forces. We welcome more of those interactions in the near future.”
Captain Ali Rogers RM, in charge of Lancaster’s Royal Marines boarding team, added: “Following on from the success of previous RM boarding teams in Kenya, this was the first time in a few years that the Royal Marines have conducted training alongside the Seychelles Defence Force and we hope it continues because the Seychelles is a key player in the southern Indian Ocean regularly dealing with piracy and narcotics trade.”
On the ship herself, the commandos laid on demonstrations with their shipmates to give military leaders and other VIPs an idea of what the frigate does on her patrols, underlining the UK’s long-standing commitment to maritime security and the safe, free flow of trade across the Indian Ocean/Middle East.
To prove the point, British High Commissioner Jeffrey Glekin used the gathering to announce £2.4m extra support to help the Seychelles make the waters of the southern Indian Ocean – the Seychelles sit on the edge of the vast area patrolled by Lancaster and other vessels operating under the banner of the international Combined Maritime Forces – more secure by developing a bespoke maritime security strategy for the islands.
“We want to sail alongside you, to tame troubled waters, to build bridges of trust and respect and to conserve and allow to flourish, the natural beauty that we’re proud to call home at sea, and onshore,” he told guests.
“The UK wants nothing more than to help Seychelles protect her sovereignty and defend her freedom. We believe that our shared stability and prosperity are deeply rooted in the safety of our seas.”
During the visit, crew volunteered to carry out minor repairs and perform general maintenance to make life a little better for residents of Plaisance Home which provides a roof for elderly homeless Seychellois.
“It was a privilege to be invited into the elderly care home and assist in the renovation of their scenic grounds,” said Lancaster’s ship’s doctor Surgeon Lieutenant Haydn Bailey. “We received a warm welcome from the residents and staff who were generous in their hospitality.”
Meanwhile, another team of sailors got stuck into a clean-up of North East Point Beach, filling hessian sacks (rather than plastic bin bags) with the detritus of the Indian Ocean.
The sailors worked with environmental campaigners ‘Parley for the Oceans’, which has links with the fashion industry, promoting sustainable clothing… such as the vests the beach cleaners wore, made from recycled plastic bottles.
Weapons engineer CPO Chris Heywood said he was delighted “to give a little bit back to the Seychelles by spending the morning cleaning the beach to help with plastic pollution in the oceans”.
Leading Physical Trainer Rob Rowston, who joined Chris on the sand, added: “Being invited to assist a local environmental group with a beach clean was fantastic – the beaches of the islands are beautiful, so taking time out for just a few hours to keep them pristine was very rewarding.”
After a busy patrol of the Indian Ocean, Lancaster’s Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Grahame Flint said the few days in the Seychelles were a perfect blend of work and play for the 200 sailors and Royal Marines.
“The broader Middle East is vast, so opportunities to bring the ship to Seychelles are rare,” he added. “I know the whole crew hugely appreciated the chance to engage with the local community through outreach projects and sports fixtures, host local people aboard the ship, and enjoy the wonderful tourist experiences that the islands offer.”
And last but not least, the ship delivered a bespoke harness for Nico, the explosives search dog, employed by the Seychelles Defence Force’s Boarding Unit.
Crown Copyright
