IF YOU are wondering why you’ve not read about the exploits of Her Majesty’s Ship Cumberland these past few months it’s because she’s in the middle of a refit.

In fact the Type 22 warship is approaching the half-way point of the overhaul in the impressive ‘frigate shed’ in her home port of Devonport.

Shipwrights from DML completed their work on the hull below the waterline in early May, so the small ship’s company celebrated the milestone with some of the team overseeing the multi-million pound revamp with a rare glimpse at Cumberland’s bottom.

With the little celebration over, the party vacated the dock bottom and the sluices were opened.

With undocking completed, the men and women of the Mighty Sausage are gearing up for the next milestone – moving back on board in July.

“It’s an exciting time for us as we watch our ship having life breathed into her once more,” said Executive Officer Lt Cdr Mike Knott.

“DML have done a fantastic job on the hull and all indications are that she’ll return to the Fleet in first-class condition.”

This is the second refit in Cumberland’s in her 20-year life. This latest revamp sees her hull and machinery given some much-appreciated tlc, plus improved satellite communications, water processing plants and a new torpedo defence system.

Cumberland is due to re-join the Fleet towards the end of the year.