HMS Kent returns to Portsmouth after 12-month revamp in Scotland

Making her first appearance in Portsmouth after 12 months in Scotland is HMS Kent, fresh from a £24m overhaul.

The frigate returned home to a gloomy Solent today after a year in the hands of engineers and shipwrights at Rosyth.

During her 12 months out of action, the ship has been fitted with a new ‘Kryten’ 4.5in gun in place of the older bulbous one, new 30mm guns, an upgraded Seawolf air defence missile system effectively doubling its range, and Sonar 2087.

The revamp took 50 weeks, devoured 295,000 man hours,15,000 litres of paint were applied to the hull and compartments – that’s enough to fill the tanks of more than 270 Ford Focuses – and in excess of 500 items of machinery and equipment were overhauled.

A new command system – the ship’s ‘brain’, DNA(2) – was installed as was the latest version of the military’s computer system, DII, which makes it easier for the ship’s company to work with the rest of the MOD, both at sea and when alongside.

Since the 180 ship’s company moved back on board in September they have completed an extensive number of engineering, equipment and manpower tests and trials in preparation to return to sea.

That they did for the first time a fortnight ago. After inspections, exercises and trials off the east coast of Scotland to put Kent’s new systems and equipment to the test, they brought the frigate south.

“It is a great honour to bring HMS Kent back to her home port of Portsmouth.

"The crew have worked for many months away from home – some for over a year – and our return today is a poignant moment for those who have seen her through the entire refit process,”

said her Commanding Officer Cdr Ben Ripley.

“The ship was fortunate to have had an excellent engineering refit with Babcock in Rosyth and our return to Portsmouth, on time and on budget, shows how the Royal Navy and British industry can work successfully together to a common purpose.

“We formally rejoin the fleet at the start of next year but until then we have the task of ensuring Kent passes all of her sea trials so we can meet all of the challenges required over the coming years.”