Prior to this latest tasking, the Ship enjoyed a relaxing 3-day visit to the port of Fujairah in the UAE. Fujairah is located on the eastern side of the UAE on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.

HMS Richmond’S visit was the first by a Royal Navy warship for almost a year and was a new experience for virtually all onboard. The Ship’s Company’s first impressions of the port were extremely positive.

Set amongst some dramatic coastal hills, the port itself is very modern and well appointed and it was clear that the port authorities had put a lot of effort into meeting all the Ship’s needs whilst she was alongside.

During the run ashore personnel were able to enjoy the opportunity to sample the pleasures of the local cuisine and culture, with the Taj Mahal restaurant proving to be a popular choice for an evening meal.

A number of hotels and clubs allowed access to their facilities free of charge to the Ship’s Company and this was gratefully received.

Once again the Leading Physical Training Instructor excelled himself and organised a superb adventurous training programme for the three days alongside. Activities included football, beach rugby, mountain biking, deep sea fishing and water sports as well as try-dives and training for members of HMS Richmond’s Sub Aqua Club in preparation for the diving expedition arranged for later in the deployment.

When HMS Richmond sailed to return to her MIOPS task in the NAG, everyone onboard was refreshed and ready for what proved to be a busy and rewarding operational period. As other coalition warships rotate and leave the NAG, HMS Richmond has become much busier.

During the past week the Ship has been involved in a number of boarding operations performed by both the Royal Marine contingent and the Ship’s own Boarding Team. This increased operational activity has allowed a number of personnel to conduct cross-polls, where members of HMS Richmond’s Ship’s Company visit another unit and they, in turn visit us.

Successful cross-polls were arranged by Charge Chief Charlie Lambert to the US manned Iraqi oil platforms MABOT and KAAOT, the US Coast Guard Vessel WRANGELL and the Australian warship HMAS SYDNEY. They allowed personnel to take time off from their usual daily round and visit coalition forces on ships very different to our own.

Morale was boosted for US personnel on the Iraqi oil platform MABOT when HMS Richmond supplied refreshments for a barbecue they hosted on completion of a boarding exercise. This took the form of a helicopter borne fast rope insertion onto the platform by both the Royal Marine contingent and Ship’s Boarding Team.

During this busy period HMS Richmond was visited by First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West and the Commander in charge of all Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Gulf, Commodore Peterson of the United States Navy.

Both of these VIP’s were able to visit personnel around the ship and were shown how HMS Richmond conducts her business.

Notwithstanding operations, visits and cross-polls, HMS Richmond has managed to maintain a high level of training and whole ship entertainment. Last weekend featured a morning of NBCD training, cunningly disguised as an ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition, organised by Chief Petty Officer Stuart Black.

This proved to be an entertaining morning for all involved. All messes provided teams that rotated between a series of NBCD stances. Contestants were required to deal with fire-fighting, damage control and casualty handling tasks with the winning team eventually coming from the Chief Petty Officers’ Mess; the Petty Officers’ Mess team came a very close second however!

To mark the occasion the Commanding Officer, Commander Wayne Keble presented the winning captain, Chief Marine Engineer Artificer Pete Mowlam with a crate of beer.

Later the same day the ship’s company was able to enjoy it’s first flight deck barbecue of the deployment. This event was hosted by members of 2J Mess and had an Arabian theme.

Leading Marine Engineering Mechanics ‘Red’ Baron and ‘Jo’ Jordan did the cooking, assisted by Leading Air Engineer Mechanic ‘Bomber’ Brown who had made a splendid and authentic Bombay Potato side dish.

On completion of the barbecue, the Chief Petty Officers’ Mess hosted a horse racing night on the flight deck. This involved racing wooden horses on a large plastic sheet, the progress of the horses being determined by the roll of the dice.

The evening raised £400 for charity which was presented formally the following day to Commander Keble, during the ‘Cutting of the Log’ Ceremony, a Dutch tradition to mark the halfway stage of a deployment.

HMS Richmond has now completed the latest phase of MIOPS and has sailed south for a Self Maintenance Period (SMP). The ‘Club Swinger’, LPT Jay Gorton, busied himself once more with ensuring that the Ship’s Company were given every opportunity to conduct their Royal Navy Fitness Tests.

These took place throughout the day on the flight deck with everyone onboard having made an attempt and the majority passing. In view of the operational nature of the deployment this has been a considerable achievement, made possible by the enthusiasm of LPT Gorton who conducts fitness training serials at least twice a day, a task made harder by the searing temperatures of the Gulf at this time of year.

As well as fitness training, the flight deck has recently been used by members of the Ship’s Flight to enjoy some well deserved relaxation. Whilst cooling down from a circuits session, the CO posed for a photograph with the Flight’s mascot in their paddling pool.

The Flight’s mascot is an attractive green eyed, black Persian concrete cat. Normally Chimney, as she is known, belongs to the Flight’s Squadron back home in Yeovilton, but in accordance with tradition she has been ‘borrowed’ and lives in the hangar for the duration of the deployment.

HMS Richmond is now busy undergoing much needed maintenance in Jebel Ali. Once this is complete she will put to sea once again for the passage to her next port visit to conduct Defence Diplomacy duties.