The UK has taken charge of a key naval force tackling terrorism and drugs smuggling across the Middle East. The Royal Navy has taken up the reins of Combined Task Force 150; tasking international warships and aircraft to patrol the Indian Ocean and waters of the Middle East to deter terrorism and illicit activities which support it, such as drugs smuggling. This is the … [Read more...] about Royal Navy takes command of key Middle East security force
HMS Montrose
Rapturous welcome in Plymouth for Royal Navy warship as four-year mission ends
After more than four years away from the UK, Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose today returned to Plymouth – the last major warship which is returning home for in time for Christmas. Around 800 family members and friends – many holding banners– lined the jetty at Devonport Naval Base to welcome home the ship, which hasn’t been in the UK since October 2018. Since leaving … [Read more...] about Rapturous welcome in Plymouth for Royal Navy warship as four-year mission ends
Royal Navy scores heaviest drugs bust in a decade with 6½-tonne-£6.5m hash haul
Drugs worth £6.5m were captured by the Royal Navy as HMS Montrose struck a third blow to traffickers in two months. The frigate pounced on a suspect dhow in a dawn raid – and five hours later Montrose’s sailors and Royal Marines had bagged 6½ tonnes of hashish, the heaviest haul of drugs seized by allied warships in the Middle East in a decade. It’s the third strike of … [Read more...] about Royal Navy scores heaviest drugs bust in a decade with 6½-tonne-£6.5m hash haul
Royal Navy hones Gulf security skills in key exercise
A dozen warships – three of them British – mustered off the coast of Oman for the host’s action-packed annual naval workout. Khunjar Hadd – Arabic for sharp dagger – is the principal test of the Royal Navy of Oman and its ability to work with its allies in the region above, on and beneath the waves. Britain, the USA and France accepted the invite for the 26th iteration of … [Read more...] about Royal Navy hones Gulf security skills in key exercise
Royal Navy scores second major drugs bust of month in Gulf
Sailors and Royal Marines bagged more than a tonne of cannabis when they intercepted drug smugglers on the infamous Hashish Highway. The team from HMS Montrose recovered bales of hash from the waters of the Gulf of Oman – then found a secret narcotics cache hidden aboard a dhow during a two-day operation which resulted in a haul worth more than £6m on the streets of the UK … [Read more...] about Royal Navy scores second major drugs bust of month in Gulf
HMS Montrose enjoys warm welcome in Chile
HMS Montrose joined Chile’s party of the year as the South American country celebrated the 200th birthday of its Navy. The frigate was invited to join old friends – former British warships HMS Grafton, Sheffield and Marlborough, now serving under the Chilean flag – and make new friends in the port of Valparaiso where a series of high-profile anniversary events were staged … [Read more...] about HMS Montrose enjoys warm welcome in Chile
HMS Montrose to become first forward-deployed frigate in the Middle East
Warship HMS Montrose has sailed from Plymouth on a deployment that will take her across three of the world’s oceans as part of the UK’s commitment to security at sea. HMS Montrose will cross three oceans and visit four continents as she begins a global deployment (Mon 29 Oct), before ultimately arriving at the newly-opened UK Naval Support Facility in … [Read more...] about HMS Montrose to become first forward-deployed frigate in the Middle East
The Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose shadows two Russian warships
The Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose shadowed two Russian warships in the approaches to the English Channel after they ventured out of the Baltic. The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate sailed up the Channel to meet with corvettes RFS Boikiy and Stoikiy as the Russian vessels sortied from their base in the Baltic and entered the North Sea. HMS Montrose worked alongside the Maritime … [Read more...] about The Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose shadows two Russian warships
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose welcomes crew back on board
The Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose welcomed her crew back on board to what is now one of the most advanced warships in the fleet after a complex refit. Sailors are once again living onboard the ship in Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth, as a milestone in the preparations to get back to sea. HMS Montrose has been transformed with the most sophisticated ‘brains’, … [Read more...] about Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose welcomes crew back on board
HMS Montrose changes command
The crew of the Royal Naval warship HMS Montrose has bid farewell to her outgoing captain before the ship enters dry dock. The ship’s 14th commanding officer, Commander James Parkin, handed over to the ship’s new temporary captain while the ship is in refit – a Senior Naval Officer and current Marine Engineering Officer, Lieutenant Commander Fergus Ochtman-Corfe as the ship … [Read more...] about HMS Montrose changes command