Royal Navy destroyer HMS Edinburgh has returned to sea following a two week mid-deployment period of maintenance in Simon’s Town, South Africa.
The Portsmouth-based ship will now continue with her Atlantic patrol and her third crossing of the South Atlantic so far in this deployment.
After two months of Maritime Security Operations and reassurance patrols around the British South Atlantic Islands, this visit has provided HMS Edinburgh’s ship’s company with the welcome opportunity to rest, recuperate and, in many cases, fly friends and family out for a well earned reunion.
Personal and professional relationships between the Royal Navy and South African Navy were cemented during HMS Edinburgh’s previous visit to South Africa in 2011 and have been reaffirmed through friendly, but hard-fought, sporting competitions.
The warship’s on-board Lynx helicopter and her crew took the opportunity in Simon’s Town to fly to South African Air Force (SAAF) Base Ysterplaat and train in the unique environment of South Africa.
The choppy South Atlantic seas may limit flying opportunities during their next passage west, so it was valuable practice which has allowed Edinburgh to sail with a fully current aviation capability.
The Commanding Officer, Commander Nick Borbone said:
“Six months in the South Atlantic will inevitably take its toll, and timely maintenance of the ship and the ship’s company is vital.
“Simon’s Town provides the resources to ensure Edinburgh is in the right material state for the remainder of the deployment; it also offers fantastic opportunities for the ship’s company to recharge ahead of the next phase of operations.”
As HMS Edinburgh sailed from South Africa she was joined by Commodore The Honourable Michael Cochrane OBE who is the head of the Portsmouth Flotilla.
Cdre Cochrane supports Portsmouth-based ships at home and at sea, and this visit gave HMS Edinburgh the chance to demonstrate their capability and readiness for future tasking.
HMS Edinburgh has been deployed on the Atlantic Patrol Task (South) since September 2012 and has held a number of high profile regional visits including Nouakchott in Mauritania and Casablanca.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 8, 2013; Image: Royal Navy