They may be thousands of miles from home, but the sailors and marines of the Royal Navy can’t outrun Cupid’s arrow.

From the scorching operational arenas of the Gulf to the frozen lands of Norway, sailors and Royal Marines have been taking a moment to think about their loved ones while they serve at home and abroad.

The men and women of Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring – currently deployed in the Gulf – took a brief pause in their busy day to form a red love heart on the flight deck of their Portsmouth-based ship.

Meanwhile symbols of Royal Navy sailors’ love for their sweethearts at home have been cropping up across the fleet – as the images below show.

While Valentine’s Day is a tedious event for some, for the men and women of the Naval Service it is a chance to reflect on the sacrifices made by their loved ones at home – and the continued support they offer their partners deployed on operations around the globe.