Scottish-based mine hunter HMS Grimsby returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde on Friday, February 12, after completing a successful NATO deployment.
The Sandown Class Mine Counter Measures Vessel (MCMV) was operating off the coast of Denmark, working alongside international partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Estonia and Latvia.
The Group, known as Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), participated in exercise Northern Coast, coming under simulated attack as part of their combined training.
But the exercise saw some real-world action too with HMS Grimsby helping to discover more than 15 historic mines, keeping important sea lanes safe and secure.
Commanding Officer of HMS Grimsby, Lieutenant Commander Neil Griffiths, said: “I am hugely proud of everything that Grimsby has achieved in the last seven-and-a-half months away from home. The skills and lessons we have learned working with NATO allies will put us in good standing during future deployments.”
HMS Grimsby sailed from HM Naval Base Clyde on June 26 last year. During the deployment the ship, sailed by Crew 5 from the Faslane-based First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1), stopped off at Kiel in Germany, transiting the Kiel Canal enroute to Brest, France. Sailors from the mine hunter took the opportunity of a leg stretch during the transit, cycling the 61 mile length of the canal.
Visits to the Spanish ports of La Coruna, Rota and Cartagena followed as the NATO task group headed south to take part in Exercise Trident Juncture. This exercise saw the gathering of the largest allied amphibious task force in over a decade, with HMS Grimsby mine clearing ahead of landing operations.
Port visits to Lisbon, Vigo, Brest and London followed as the group headed north, continuing to train together on the way, honing their skills.
Grimsby returned to the UK in December, spending the winter at HM Naval Base Portsmouth – the first Sandown Class vessel to do so in ten years – before retuning home to the Clyde.
