HMS RICHMOND recently traversed the Suez Canal with the assistance of the Royal Navy Defence Attaché, Commander Holihead, who was embarked throughout the passage.

The Suez Canal passage heralded the development of good weather, which was welcomed by all, after a relatively chilly Mediterranean Sea.

Since then the good weather has continued and a certain amount of relaxation on deck was possible during a pleasant Sunday afternoon in the Red Sea.

The more clement weather has also afforded an opportunity for upper deck maintenance to be performed in a relaxed rig thereby allowing the “dabbers” to gain a head-start in the suntan race.

Training serials have continued apace to ensure that the ship’s company and infrastructure are ready for whatever tasks may lie ahead. Highlights of the past week were: fast-roping drills, on to the ship’s flight deck, by the ship’s boarding team, replenishments at sea from both United States Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels and gunnery exercises with practice firing of the Mark VIII, 4.5 gun.

The “news photographer” LMA Evans, has been kept busy producing images of the various training serials and distributing them on the ship’s intranet.

The fast-roping was lead by Lieutenants Wagstaff, Rowberry and Brown, who, along with their boarding party of 14 men successfully “boarded” the flight deck of HMS Richmond from the ship’s Lynx helicopter piloted by our Flight Commander Lieutenant Willing.

This daunting and potentially hazardous task was performed effectively, rapidly and safely. All of this training is in preparation for the next task ahead that is the handover of the Armilla Patrol with HMS Cardiff.