HMS Southampton is taking the ‘long way round’ as she heads to the Falklands to relieve her sister HMS Edinburgh.

The destroyer – known as The Saint – paid a lightning visit to Peru as she continued her journey through the Americas bound for the South Atlantic dependency.

Callao, the port of Peru’s capital Lima, was home to the Portsmouth-based warship for just 48 hours.

So there was a lot to squeeze in: an official reception for dignitaries and Peruvian naval leaders, a press conference for the Peruvian media and, most heartwarmingly, a party for youngsters from La Casa la Panchita children’s organisation.

And after all that, there was still time for the sailors to pay their respects to Admiral Miguel María Grau Seminario – Peru’s equivalent to Nelson, a 19th-Century naval hero – who is honoured by an imposing and gleaming column overlooking the Pacific.

Upon leaving Callao, Southampton worked with  two Peruvian warship, frigate BAP Palacios and submarine BAP Pisagua.

Then it was south to meet an old friend in Chile, HMS Sheffield – now Almirante Williams.

The Type 42 was joined for her journey to the Chilean port of Mejillones by the French frigate FS Prairail for two days of exercises from jackstay transfers to combined gunnery mission.

The two ships were joining a much larger international task group, including vessels from the USA, Chile and Argentina for a major exercise as Navy News was printed.

The deployment has also seen the Saint pass through the Panama Canal for the first time in her quarter-century life.

Although her passage of the man-made waterway occurred by night, numerous crew stayed up to witness the occasion.

How much the POs’ mess saw of the canal is questionable, however.

They were in action on the flight deck, rowing the 48 miles of the canal while Southampton transited. In accomplishing the feat, they raised £2,500 for the ship’s charities.

Before entering the canal, the Saint sampled the delights of Barbados.

The Portsmouth-based destroyer is a quarter of the way through her deployment. She won’t see the Solent again until Christmas.