Two Plymouth-based Royal Naval crews met in mid-ocean from the submarine HMS Trenchant and the frigate HMS Monmouth.
The rendezvous also allowed some sailors a rare opportunity to swap roles and experience life above or beneath the waves respectively.
Lieutenant Ian Shropshall Royal Navy, operations officer onboard HMS Trenchant, showed his appreciation for some time ‘up top’.
“Monmouth’s ship’s company were excellent hosts and made us feel very welcome. It is always good to see how another part of the RN does its business. It makes quite a change in the middle of our deployment to have so much space, fresh air and sunshine!”
Leading Engineering Technician Steve Pinder from HMS Monmouth, who has hopes of joining the submarine service, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to experience life underwater first-hand. The crew of Trenchant was very hospitable and I look forward to joining their branch in the future. I was particularly interested in the differences in weapons systems.”
HMS Monmouth is on deployment east of Suez on maritime policing operations, due back next year.