BALTOPS Commanding Officer Boards HMS Iron Duke

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Breaking from her busy training programme HMS Iron Duke has hosted US Navy Vice Admiral James Foggo III as well as sailors from the USS Jason Dunham.

Currently deployed in the Baltic Sea with Royal Navy Flagship HMS Ocean and the minehunter HMS Quorn; Iron Duke is part of a large NATO task group involved in the annual BALTOPS exercise.

A week into the programme and the frigate welcomed on-board Vice Adm Foggo, BALTOPS Commanding Officer and his Deputy Commanding Officer Rear Admiral Tim Lowe RN for a tour of the ship and her capability.

While on-board Adm Foggo also presented one of Iron Duke’s sailors with a Long Service and Good Conduct (LSGC) badge.

BALTOPS is a NATO maritime exercise that has taken place annually since the early 1970s.

This year 17 NATO, and allied nations, are participating with 49 ships and over 5,000 personnel from sailors to marines, army and air force.

Iron Duke is working closely with the USS Jason Dunham, the Danish ship HDMS Absalon, German ships FGS Hermelin and FGS Wiesel and the Lithuanian ship LMS Zemaitis.

BALTOPS continues until 20 June.

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Image: Royal Navy