| HMS RICHMOND is now back at sea following
a busy period of maintenance and leave following her return
from deployment on the 10 July 2002. The maintenance period,
which was conducted throughout July and August, enabled the
ship to upgrade its capability and change defective equipment
that had emerged during the deployment.
The maintenance of people is recognised as strongly as the
maintenance of equipment and all members of the Ship’s
Company were able to take a well earned period of leave during
the summer months. This period with friends and families has
left the crew re-charged and ready for the rest of the year’s
busy programme.
At present the ship is participating in Staff College Sea
Days. This annual event is where the Royal Navy demonstrates
its capability to members of industry, potential recruits
and RAF and Army visitors. The event takes place over a 5-day
period in the coastal waters off Portsmouth, with the ship
sailing daily, in company with other ships as part of a simulated
task force. A different group of guests are embarked each
day to witness the planned evolutions.
On completion of Staff College Sea Days the ship will sail
to the Plymouth exercise areas, where she will spend an intensive
six week period undergoing Basic Operational Sea Training
in preparation for deployment in 2003. The remainder of the
year will see the ship visit London and the opportunity for
the ship’s company to pay a visit to its affiliated
town of Richmond upon Thames. |
