HMS Southampton returns to the UK

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One drugs bust, two rescues and six months worth of experience – HMS Southampton returns to the UK

24 Feb 06

After steaming over 24,000 miles, using six thousand tons of water, eating her way through 36,000 kilos of potatoes and drinking 180,000 cups of tea, HMS Southampton and her Ship's company returned home to Portsmouth today, 24 February 2006, after a six month Atlantic deployment.

Members of the Southampton's crew
[Picture: LA(Phot) Emma Somerfield]

Having sailed from the UK on 22 August 2005, Southampton's first stop was Freetown in Sierra Leone, where the ship paid a goodwill visit to the country and assisted in rebuilding a local school. After a short visit to Natal, in northern Brazil, the next stop was the Falkland Islands, the Ship's operating base for the next two and a half months.

In the Falklands, Southampton exercised regularly with RAF Tornado F3 fighters and Army units based in the islands, and conducted patrols of the operating area. Despite being over eight thousand miles away from home, the Ship was still able to join the rest of the Navy in celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of Trafalgar, with a Ship's Company revue and a formal dinner in honour of the occasion.

During her time 'down south', the Ship was able to experience warmer climes with a visit to Montevideo in Uruguay, where amongst other things the Ship's Company were able to deliver clothes donated in the UK to an orphanage in the city.

Over the Christmas and New Year period the Ship was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many were able to fly families and friends to the city, for others there was a Christmas Day barbecue on Copacabana beach, famous sights such as the statue of Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain to visit, and the famous Rio New Year celebrations to enjoy. Work was involved too, with a team from the Ship carrying out reconstruction and repair work at the well known 'Casa Jimmy' orphanage in Rio.

Heroic winchman AEM1 Ash Hinds reunited with his family
[Picture: LA(Phot) Emma Somerfield]

Sailing from Brazil three days into the New Year, Southampton next headed north to the Caribbean for the third stage of her deployment.

Primarily in the region to provide support to British Overseas Territories, the Ship is fully equipped and trained to deal with disaster relief activities.

During her time there the Ship was called on to take part in two rescue efforts. In the first, after the Ship received a Mayday call from a fishing boat, the Ship's Lynx helicopter and seaboat plucked six Guyanan fishermen from their boat moments before it sank. In the second rescue, the Ship steamed at full speed into the Atlantic to assist in the rescue of two oarsmen whose boat, 'The Spirit of Cornwall' had capsized during the Great Atlantic Rowing Race. Southampton was also in the Caribbean to conduct counter drug operations. Working with agencies from other countries in the region the Ship apprehended the drugs runner MV Rampage, which was boarded by a team from the Ship and found to have over £350 million of cocaine in her hold.

Despite being busy, Southampton was also able to pay goodwill visits to a number of islands in the region, visiting Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Curacao in the Dutch Antilles, and Grenada. The visit to Grenada coincided with the island's Independence Day celebrations, and a guard and platoon from the Ship were able to march through the capital, St George’s, to mark the occasion.

During each port visit the Ship's sports teams were able to challenge local sides to rugby, football and volleyball matches. Indeed the Ship's teams have enjoyed a good deployment. The rugby team played Army and RAF colleagues in inter-Service matches in the Falkland Islands, the Ship's football teams played against each other or against local sides in almost every port visit, and the golf team were able to play their sport in all four corners of the Atlantic.

Family members are reunited
[Picture: LA(Phot) Emma Somerfield]

After an extremely busy deployment, HMS Southampton arrived back in Portsmouth early on 24 February 2006.

Reflecting on the six month operation, Commander Rob Vitali said:

"Southampton has had a busy and immensely varied deployment in the Atlantic. Six months is a long time for anyone to spend away from home, and for many of the younger members of my Ship's Company this is the longest period they have spent away. However, as a Ship we can be proud of what we have done. Since sailing from Portsmouth in August last year, we have been involved in activities ranging from air defence and counter drugs operations, to search and rescue and humanitarian work. From West Africa to the Falklands and the Caribbean, the Ship has enjoyed a successful six months away."

Leading Operator Maintainer (Communications) Vikki Court has really enjoyed the tour:

"It's been an eye-opening six months; experiencing different cultures from Sierra Leone to Brazil and the Caribbean. It has also been very satisfying to be able to help out with some charity work, whether it's been delivering clothes or tennis rackets from the UK or doing a bit of painting and decorating."

Marine Engineering Mechanic Kevin 'Jonny' Wilkinson as also glad to be home:

"Six months seemed like a long time before we sailed, however we've been so busy that actually the time has gone really quickly."

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