As part of a four day visit to Valletta, Malta, RFA Mounts Bay hosted a Royal Visit from the Duke and Countess of Wessex.
The visit, on Nov 20, coincided with the gifting of two ambulances from the East Midlands Ambulance Service to Malta St John’s Organisation. RFA Mounts Bay has transported the vehicles from the UK throughout deployment in the Mediterranean.
Commanding Officer Mounts Bay, Captain David Buck , said:
“Along with my Ship’s company and the embarked military force of Mounts Bay, I am honoured and delighted to host this visit amidst the stunning and historic backdrop of the Grand Harbour in Valleta.
“Given his role as Commodore-in-Chief Royal Fleet Auxiliary, it is fantastic to see that their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Countess of Wessex have been able to renew their acquaintance with the ship so soon after the high profile role fulfilled by Mounts Bay during the 2012 Olympic Games in the summer.”
Mounts Bay is concluding COUGAR 12, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises included Corsican Lion, which has tested the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which provided superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces.
Captain Buck further commented:
“The presence of the Malta RFA Association has very much added to today’s event, providing a further link to the special relationship between the service and the Maltese seaman who served aboard our ships with distinction in years gone by.
“The chance to reminisce over RFA Ships of the past was clearly enjoyed by all. Mounts Bay will look back at today with much pride and very much looks forward to future visits and fostering further links with Malta.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff,November 26, 2012; Image: Royal Navy