IF YOU think it’s all sunshine and plain sailing east of Suez, well here’s evidence to the contrary, courtesy of the good ship Northumberland.
Despite the approaching Cyclone Phet, which was barrelling its way around the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, the frigate’s photographer, LA(Phot) Caroline Davies, climbed to the crow’s nest at the top of the main mast after Northumberland had refuelled with the USNS Yukon to capture this sombre image.
Also undeterred by a spot of bad weather were the airmen of 829 Naval Air Squadron who clambered into their Merlin for some winching drills on Northumberland’s forecastle.
The Devonport frigate is conducting anti-piracy patrols east of Suez.
But in such weather, the pirates and their skiffs scurry for safety.
Instead, the ship’s company practised search and rescue drills – and you only carry out search and rescue missions when the weather’s less than clement.
Thankfully Phet abated and the Type 23 could resume her three-week anti-piracy/anti-terrorist/anti-smuggling patrol (aka Operation Calash) before turning south for the idyll of the Seychelles.
The frigate arrived at the main island of the former British colony – Mahé – in time for the Seychelles 17th National Day (June 29).
For the first time in the islands’ independent history, a platoon of British sailors took part in the National Day Parade through the streets of the capital Victoria.
The Northumbrians joined comrades from the French Army and Indian Navy as well as Seychelles Defence Forces, security services and youth groups conducting a march past in front of the islands’ president James Michel and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in slow time – a drill unfamiliar to many of the participants.
After a speech by President Michel, there was another march past by the assembled Servicemen and women, this time in quick time.
When not marching around Victoria, the Brits could be found touring the?INS Trishul – a Talwar-class Indian frigate which is a counterpart to the Type 23s – or taking a dip in the crystal blue Seychelles waters.
During Northumberland’s demanding patrols, many of the ship’s company have had sufficient off-watch time to complete the theory side of PADI diving qualifications...
...which allowed them to complete the practical side of the course in the Seychelles and achieve ‘open water’ diver status courtesy of a local diving school.
For shipmates who preferred rather drier sporting activities, the rugby squad achieved an impressive 49-31 victory over an invitational XV (it was mainly South African ex-pats who accepted the invitation), but the ship’s cricket team suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat to Victoria CC.