Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset set off from Plymouth yesterday, Tuesday May 13, for a six-week deployment that will take her to the Baltic and see her take part in exercises both military and vocal.

The main focus of her stint away will be a multinational maritime exercise called BALTOPS 2003, where 18 allied nations will work together.

This exercise is conducted in the spirit of Partnership for Peace and provides a basis for promoting mutual understanding among the participants, both NATO and non-NATO.

Somerset is due to visit a number of the countries in the area, including Riga in Latvia during the end of May – the weekend of the Eurovision Song Contest!

The ship’s company will be on hand to cheer on the UK entry in the singing competition.

Among the other countries she will visit are Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Germany.

The Commanding Officer, Cdr David Barker, said: “This promises to be a busy but enjoyable period.

“Not only will we have the chance to show off our capability to 18 other navies, but we will also be visiting six very different and interesting countries.

“Of course, separation from our loved ones is never easy but, for me, this challenge and variety is what being in the Royal Navy is all about.”

The time away will also give the Navy warship a chance to pass on the greetings from the Mayor of Plymouth to the Mayor of Gdynia, Plymouth’s twinned city in Poland.

Members of the ship’s company have plans to visit a number of children’s homes in Lithuania and Russia to deliver much-needed toys and clothes.