Type 22 frigate HMS Chatham sailed from Devonport yesterday to relieve her sister ship on Operation Oracle, the international campaign against terrorism.

Chatham will initially take part in live firings of guns and missiles off the coast of the United Kingdom before deploying to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, where she will take over the duties of HMS Cumberland, which has been on station since June.

This will be Chatham’s third operational tour in support of the ‘war on terrorism’ since last January – although it will also be the first extended time away for many of the younger members of the ship’s company.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Chatham, Capt The Honourable Michael Cochrane, said: “As Chatham deploys away from the UK once more, her ship’s company are in good spirits, fully refreshed after the holiday period, but most importantly of all, we are ready for any operation that may arise.

Chatham and Cumberland are both Batch 3 Type 22 frigates, carrying a ship’s company of 250. Their main armaments include Sea Wolf anti-air missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a 4.5in gun.

Chatham is not part of the extended Naval Task Group 2003 deployment, which has started to make its way to the Mediterranean. Flagship HMS Ark Royal sailed on Saturday, and headed for Scotland to take on stores and ammunition before she sails south again.

Destroyers HM ships Liverpool, Edinburgh and York sailed from Portsmouth yesterday, and helicopter carrier HMS Ocean leaves Devonport later in the week.