HMS Richmond is now back at sea following her first major, run ashore in the Middle East.

Following the initial phases of OP TELIC, HMS Richmond remained at sea for forty days before going into Bahrain for a six-day period to enable the Ship’s Company to ‘regenerate.’

This visit was particularly welcomed by Lieutenant Sel Patch who had joined the Marine Engineering department from HMS Ark Royal as, by this stage, he had been at sea for over ninety days.

Everyone onboard was looking forward to the chance to get alongside to use the facilities available in the American Naval Base and partake in the Adventurous Training programme that had been put together by LPTI Jay Gorton.

As we neared Bahrain the judging of the ‘Comedy Facial Hair Competition’ heralded the beginning of a more relaxed atmosphere.

This competition had commenced two weeks earlier and allowed members of the Ship’s Company to grow non-regulation facial hair, normally only full sets of beard are allowed, with POSA Craig Humpleby winning.

The programme that LPTI Gorton had put together was substantial and catered for a wide range of sporting tastes.

It formed the linchpin of the run ashore and became a major asset to the visit liaison team, headed by Lieutenant Andy Brown.

During the time alongside the Ship’s Company were able to play rugby, cricket, football and netball.

In addition it was also possible to play golf, sail, water-ski, wake-board, tennis, desert ‘hash-run’ and swim at variety of pre-arranged locations.

The penultimate night alongside was spent in the American Naval Base enjoying a barbecue as a ‘whole ship’ event, with the Captain, Commander Wayne Keble and Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Richard Morris doing a great deal of the cooking.

This event also saw some members of the Ship’s Company try their hand at sumo wrestling and water dunking.

HMS Richmond’S visit to Bahrain was the first for a long time that enabled a United Kingdom’s Ship’s Company to go out and participate in the usual run ashore sporting activities.

Consequently the Ship’s Company was warmly received wherever it went by Bahrainis and expatriates alike.

Since returning to sea refreshed from the visit, HMS Richmond has been operating in the Northern Arabian Gulf once more concentrating on supporting operations on the two Iraqi oil platforms Khaw Al Abdullah Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Mina Al Abdullah Oil Terminal (MABOT).

These are controlled by United States forces and are currently being regenerated so that they may permit the export of oil from mainland Iraq once more. During this period, all the departments have been busy.

The Royal Marine contingent, along with the Ship’s Boarding Team, has practised boarding on a Danish vessel – the HDMS OLFERT FISCHER – that has also been operating in the Gulf.

Additionally Charge Chief Weapon Engineer Artificer Lambert arranged a ‘cross-poll’ with HDMS OLFERT FISCHER allowing seven members of the Ship’s Company to spend a day onboard with the Danes. Our flight has operated over the Al Faw peninsula performing airborne training serials.

The Commanding Officer and Operation’s Officer Don MacKinnon visited KAAOT and met the American personnel responsible for the platform.

HMS Richmond will soon be leaving the Northern Arabian Gulf for a Defence Diplomacy visit to Fujairah before continuing with more traditional ARMILLA Patrol duties.