The Danish Chief of Defence has paid a visit to the men and women involved in the removal of chemical weapons from Syria.
Plymouth based frigate, HMS Montrose, has been participating in the Danish led operation since the beginning of the year.
She is one of three warships tasked with carrying out the vital mission of escorting, and protecting, the Merchant Vessels removing the chemical ingredients from war torn Syria.
Most recently the Task Group was visited by the Danish Chief of Defence (the head of the Danish Armed Forces), General Peter Bartram.
He spent 24 hours in the Danish Command Ship HDMS Ebsern Snare seeing first hand the job being carried out by the multinational forces under his command.
Known as RECSYR (Removal of Chemical weapons from Syria), the Task Group is made up of two Merchant Vessels, Taiko and Ark Futura, as well as the three warships.
Whilst onboard, General Bartram also watched a number of training serials that demonstrated the readiness and cooperation between all of the ships in the RECSYR force.
The visit culminated in a live gunnery firing exercise in international waters, followed by a ceremonial steam past of the Esbern Snare by HMS Montrose, which paid the traditional mark of respect – firing saluting guns and using the Boatswain’s Call to bring the entire ship to attention as she passed the Danish flagship at 28 knots.
Commanding Officer of HMS Montrose, Commander James Parkin, said:
“It is a great honour to be working for our Danish Commander in this globally significant task, contributing as we are to ridding the world of Syrian chemical weapons.
“It is a mark of the importance of Op RECSYR that the head of the Danish Armed Forces visited the Task Group, and I was proud to be able to show off HMS Montrose to General Bartram.”
[mappress] Press Release, February 19, 2014; Image: Royal Navy