The Royal Navy has handed over command of one international task force engaged in the campaign against terrorism – and taken over the reigns of another group of warships.

Type 22 frigate HMS Campbeltown has been flagship of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL), taking over as the command ship of Commodore Richard Ibbotson in succession to sister ship HMS Cornwall last year.

But at a ceremony in her home port of Devonport today, the British frigate passed the baton on to the new Dutch commander, Commodore Leon Bruin, who will fly his flag in HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck – although the Royal Navy vessel will continue to be an integral part of the group for some time yet.

SNFL currently consists of nine ships from eight nations. Apart from Campbeltown and the Dutch flagship, the others are HNLMS Amsterdam (Netherlands), NRP Alvares Cabral (Portugal), FGS Koln (Germany), HNOMS Narvik (Norway), HDMS Peter Tordenskiold (Denmark), USS Klakring (USA) and SPS Santa Maria (Spain).

Next week the force will be undertaking a disaster relief exercise (DISTEX) under the auspices of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) at the special facility at Bull Point in Devonport.

Meanwhile Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans has become command ship for Task Force 150, which is enforcing Operation Enduing Freedom in a bid to cut off the supplies of terrorist groups operating out of the Middle East.

St Albans left Portsmouth on November 10, and has since visited Gibraltar, Crete, Jordan, the Seychelles and Oman.

She took over from sister ship HMS Kent at the end of November, taking her turn in the operation to strangle the supply of weapons and contraband which support terrorist organisations.

One of the key roles of Task Force 150, which includes ships from France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United States, is to monitor shipping passing through specific areas of sea.

Boarding teams – in the case of St Albans, Royal Marines and members of the ship’s company – use helicopters or sea boats to inspect merchant ships ranging from large container vessels to small dhows.

While in Salalah in Oman, St Albans embarked Commodore Tony Rix and his Battle Staff, relieving the French Rear Admiral Jacques Mazars, who was based in FNS Tourville.

The ceremony was attended by the commanding officers of all Allied units in the area, including Vice Admiral David Nichols, the Coalition Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, representing the American naval command in the region.

During the ceremony, Admiral Mazars told the gathered captains “Thanks to your flexibility, professionalism, willingness and all the support we gain from al of you, I think we have really increased the tempo – we have really put more pressure on terrorist activity, and that is a good thing.”

Accepting the responsibility of leading the force, Commodore Rix said: “It is a great privilege and challenge to tackle command of this highly capable multinational Task Force.

“I intend to build on the work of my predecessor, Rear Admiral Mazars of the French Navy, and to operate closely with the Commanders in other operational areas so that we can make an efficient and effective contribution to the campaign against terrorism.”

Commodore Rix, along with a dozen officers and ratings from coalition nations who form his Battle Staff, have tactical command of the Force and supporting assets from several countries in the area, including around 1,750 military personnel.

The Battle Staff help with planning, operations and logistics for the Task Force, and have access to support from the Maritime Battle Staff HQ at Whale Island in Portsmouth and the UK Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Robinson, and his staff in Bahrain.

This is the first time that a Type 23 frigate has been used as a flag platform, and before she left the UK she was upgraded in several key areas to fulfil her task, including enhancements to the Computer Information System on board.

Other tasks which fall to St Albans include a readiness to protect other Allied warships or merchant vessels passing through the region, and to keep sea lanes open.

St Albans will remain in theatre until the end of April, when she will hand over to Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland and return to the UK.