A WEEK is a long time in politics.

And in the life of HMS Northumberland too.

The Devonport-based frigate squeezed a myriad of activities into a week of frantic training off Gibraltar, the highlight of a whistle-stop Mediterranean deployment.

Northumberland headed to the colony chiefly for a week of gunnery and warfare students to complete their various courses.

Fifteen prospective gun controllers and captains of the gun filed aboard, as well as nine principal warfare officer students.

All found themselves tested with medium and close-range gunnery exercises (air defence exercises were often thrown into the mix just to keep the students on the toes).

Also tested were the Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observers of 148 Commando Battery – the specialist artillery spotters who go ashore ahead of an assault/bombardment before picking out targets for the guns of the Fleet.

They dropped in – literally – on Northumberland, tumbling out of an RAF Hercules at 2,000 feet above the Med, and were promptly plucked out of the water by the frigate’s sea boat.

Surprisingly, this was the ship’s first visit to Gibraltar since 2003. Most sailors headed across the Spanish border to La Linea, but 30 hardy souls decided no visit to the Rock would be complete without a run up the 2-1/2 mile winding track to the top of the mountain which gives the colony. CPO Radcliffe and Clubz posted the fastest time – 26m 56s.

The ship also hosted Cdre Allan Adair, the outgoing Governor of Gibraltar, as he bade farewell to his staff.

With the visit to the Rock over, Northumberland headed across the Strait to north Africa and two ‘defence industry’ in Algiers where she hosted British industries looking to sell their wares to local firms and organizations.

The lightning trip to Gibraltar and Algiers proved to be the last act in Cdr Tom Guy’s command after two years at the helm.

“While I am sad to be leaving my team, this brief Mediterranean deployment allowed me to go out on a high,” he added.

“I’m sure that the ship will continue to show the spirit and professionalism that I have valued so much during my time in command.”

He brought his ship back to Devonport to hand over the frigate to his successor, Cdr Martin Simpson.