Frigate HMS Cornwall has redeployed as flagship of the NATO Atlantic maritime force following a break in her home base at Devonport.

The Type 22 warship sailed from Devonport yesterday, and her first port of call will be London, where her Commanding Officer Capt Simon Charlier is due to receive the Freedom of the City.

Cornwall will then begin a series of operational exercises based in the Baltic, including a key new equipment trial.

Between exercises the frigate is expected to make a number of port visits in Scandinavia, and once she has completed her final exercise next month she will head south to the Mediterranean to return to her Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) role in the Mediterranean, currently engaged in the campaign to beat global terrorism.

Cornwall is due to hand over her flagship duties to sister ship HMS Campbeltown in October.

The frigate originally sailed from the West Country in March to join the NATO task group, and has since worked alongside ships from Spain, Germany, Portugal and the United States.

The force, under the command of Commodore Richard Ibbotson, has spent much of the time operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, monitoring shipping and carrying out boarding operations as part of an initiative named Active Endeavour.

During the mid-deployment break, Capt Charlier said: “It has been an extremely worthwhile and rewarding four months working in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We have been on patrol acting as a deterrent to terrorists and have recently commenced boarding operations as part of NATO’s tough stance on terrorism.

“In true Cornwall spirit, we have also forged links with our NATO friends in the region and I am delighted to be working with our NATO allies.”