TWO days after summer leave, the men and women of HMS Northumberland joined the war against terrorism.

The Devonport-based Type 23 frigate left the south-west behind and is now bound for the Mediterranean to take up station with NATO’s 2nd Standing Naval Group Mediterranean.

NATO has run Operation Active Endeavour continually since the September 11 2001 atrocities, hoping to snare terrorists, fundamentalists, people and drug traffickers and other criminals using the sea lanes of the Mediterranean.

Much of 2007 has been spent in home waters, although the frigate did head to Gibraltar for training then hopped across the Straits to Algeria, before returning to Blighty for an engine change, new kit, and a fortnight of intensive pre-deployment training from those nice chaps at the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation.

The bulk of her Active Endeavour work will be conducted in the eastern Mediterranean where Northumberland and fellow Allied warships will interrogate passing merchant vessels and board any should suspicions not be allayed.

‘”This is an enormously-exciting time ahead for Northumberland,” said CO Cdr Martin Simpson, who has recently taken charge of the ship from Cdr Tom Guy.

“I have inherited an enthusiastic ship’s company and I’m sure their thoroughly-deserved reputation for professionalism will serve them well during our autumn deployment.”