The Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and other Plymouth-based ships are ready to take part in the major multi-national military exercise Joint Warrior. Exercise Joint Warrior is a tri-service exercise held in the spring and autumn of each year. Providing high quality tactical training for the three UK armed forces, as well as visiting units from allied nations, the exercise … [Read more...]
Black Duke relinquishes gulf patrol duties to Dragon
Plymouth-based warship HMS Monmouth is on her way home after handing over her Gulf Patrol duties to HMS Dragon in typical naval fashion. The two Welsh-affiliated warships, Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth and Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon, met up in the warm waters of the Gulf of Aden to conduct a formal handover of Maritime Security Patrol responsibilities for the Gulf region, the … [Read more...]
Royal Marines charity cycle on warship
Royal Marines on HMS Monmouth are cycling around the clock on the ship at sea to help colleagues. The commandos – who support sailors in providing the Plymouth frigate’s boarding team on patrol in the Gulf – intend to clock up 4,825 miles. This is the distance from their base in Scotland at 43 Commando Royal Marines Fleet Protection Group in Faslane to Dubai – a regular port … [Read more...]
HMS Monmouth visits USS John C Stennis
While the Royal Navy awaits delivery of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, members of HMS Monmouth were given a chance to experience life onboard the American Nimitz Class aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis in the Gulf. The RN party were shown the extensive capabilities of the huge nuclear-powered carrier, including watching several fixed-wing aircraft launches from … [Read more...]
HMS Monmouth bares its gunnery on patrol
The South West Royal Naval warship HMS Monmouth has been firing her guns as she sails into her patrol area in the Middle East at peak readiness. Having exercised her detachment of Royal Marines which are on board for the maritime policing deployment and their rifles, it was time for the ship itself to have some target practice. The Plymouth-based frigate, known as the Black … [Read more...]
Royal Marines live firing exercise.
Royal Marines based on the deployed Plymouth warship HMS Monmouth have been practising their ship-boarding skills to combat pirates and smugglers. Among the crew of HMS Monmouth is a detachment of the amphibious force of Royal Marines, vital for HMS Monmouth’s tasking at sea. One of the major roles of the Marines is conducting boarding missions against suspected … [Read more...]
HMS Monmouth meets HMS Trenchant
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 … [Read more...]
HMS Monmouth change of command
The crew of the Plymouth-based warship HMS Monmouth welcomed its new commanding officer during a traditional ceremony. Commander Gordon Ruddock addressed his new ship’s company at the event on board the Type 23 frigate berthed at HM Naval Base Devonport having received a command hand-over from out-going commanding officer Commander Gordon Ruddock. Cdr Ruddock said how proud … [Read more...]
HMS Monmouth in dry dock
Friends of the Royal Naval frigate HMS Monmouth did not stop the fact that the ship was in dry dock to have a visit with a difference. As a result, the affiliate organisations linked to HMS Monmouth were invited to see ‘their’ ship from a unique perspective. The highlight (or ‘lowlight’) of the visit was the dock bottom tour, where the visitors were given the rare chance to … [Read more...]
Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth home
Hundreds of jubilant families welcomed the Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth back to its base-port in HM Naval Base Devonport, today (Monday) from six months of operations. More than 500 packed the jetty to mark the arrival of the Type 23 frigate after a successful maritime policing patrol engaged on fighting -piracy, smuggling and terrorism east of Suez. The commanding … [Read more...]