His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Kingdom of Bahrain visited HMS Atherstone in Bahrain on 20 Nov 2012. He was accompanied by Commodore Simon Ancona Royal Navy, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander.
During his visit His Royal Highness met members of the Ship’s Company and found out first hand about the Royal Navy’s presence in the Middle East.
The Royal Navy has based a squadron of Sandown and Hunt class MCMV’s in the region since 2006 as the warm water and challenging local environmental conditions make it an ideal location to train and maintain MCM capabilities.
They are currently supported by a Bay Class Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship which, when combined, makes the UK one of the few nations that can truly demonstrate an integrated and expeditionary MCM capability.
Speaking after the visit, Lieutenant Commander Justin Hains Royal Navy , Commanding Officer HMS Atherstone said:
“It was a great pleasure to host the visit of the Crown Prince of Bahrain today.
“HMS Atherstone has been very busy recently participating in Mine International Mine Counter-Measures Exercise (IMCMEX) 12 and exercises with US Naval assets.
“His Royal Highness was well informed of the Royal Navy’s world-class reputation and my Ship’s Company enjoyed meeting such an influential visitor and demonstrating its capability.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff,November 23, 2012; Image: Royal Navy