HMS Norfolk has returned to her home port of Devonport after taking part in a two-week NATO exercise run by the Danish navy off Denmark.

DANEX 03 saw the Type 23 frigate successfully fire her 4.5in gun and one of her Seawolf missiles while training to work with ships from other friendly navies.

Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall, also based in Plymouth, also took part in the series.

The exercise allowed NATO allies to get used to working together as a team of surface ships and submarines, with Norfolk and her allies practising fighting against enemies attacking her in the air, on the sea and underwater.

At one point the Admiral of the Danish Fleet visited Norfolk to see how the ship operated – in this case, an exercise which involved recovering the ship after a collision, umpired by the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) which is based in Devonport.

Two port visits provided relief from the battle for the ship’s company, with one call to the capital Copenhagen and the other to Aarhus for the ‘Ship Ahoy’ festival and Danish Navy Days.

The visit to Aarhus looked particularly spectacular, as the numerous ships in harbour were decorated with flags (‘dress ship’) and floodlit at night. Street entertainment, side shows and a rock concert all helped make it a memorable weekend.

With Norfolk now back home she is undergoing maintenance before preparing for her next deployment.