VIDEO: Big welcome home for mine hunter crews

Kevin Paterson 1530 - 1530 • Last updated 12 Mar 2009 09:35

For the sailors, it has been eight long months - for the ships themselves an incredible two and a half years.

But HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey are finally home . . . to be welcomed by hundreds of flag waving loved ones.

More than 200 people lined the quayside this morning (March 10) as the two Royal Navy mine hunters returned from an extended tour of the Gulf to their home port at HM Naval Base Clyde.

What started as an experiment - sending the ships out long term and rotating the crews by air - has been hailed as a resounding success.

The ships are part of the Faslane Flotilla and Captain Steve Garrett, the Captain of the Flotilla, said: 'I think it is important for people to realise what an important role these small ships have, despite their size. They do a tremendous job.

'They are made of glass reinforced plastic so that they don"t trigger today"s sophisticated mines and can therefore go where other ships cannot, clearing the seaways so that the bigger ships of the Fleet can go in.

'From bow to stern they are jam-packed with state-of-the-art technology - and to keep that technology working for two and a half years, five thousand miles from home, is an engineering achievement of the highest order.'

He went on: 'The crews have worked extremely hard - none of them saw Christmas at home - and it is very hot in the Gulf, even at sea, and the heat caused its own technical problems.

'Our people on the Base worked very hard to ensure that spare parts were not only supplied but even anticipated. And the rotations, of course, had to be very smooth - one crew off and one crew on with no disruption to normal operational service.'

The ships have had extremely busy programmes since deploying to the Gulf and have been involved in important strategic work to clear minefields left over from the previous Gulf wars.

They have assisted in the training of the fledgling Iraqi Navy, conducted surveys of the seabed along the key routes into regional ports and undertaken regional engagement visits and exercises in order to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation with the Gulf States.

All of this while maintaining extremely high readiness for operations.

Ramsey"s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Nick Borbone said: 'Ramsey and Blyth might be small ships but their impact in supporting UK interests in the Gulf region has been enormous.

'What they have achieved in the past two and a half years is testament to the dedication and professionalism of the eight different crews that have been involved in the deployment since its inception."

Within the Naval Base, special passes were issued to friends and family so that the quayside could be lined to welcome the weary sailors home. The Base"s Volunteer Band supplied a cheery tune.

But for the Royal Navy the operation continues. Blyth and Ramsey have already been replaced by HMS Grimsby and HMS Pembroke.

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This article appeared in Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 12 Mar 09

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