HMS Richmond patrols Baltic Sea with allies

HMS Richmond has carried out patrols and escorted British supply ships alongside allies in the Baltic Sea.

The Type 23 frigate has spent the past few weeks in the region working with navies and personnel from NATO as well as those from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

Her time in the Baltic gave Richmond’s ship’s company the chance to conduct exercises and operations with ships from Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, France and the US.

She joined her JEF partners in escorting Danish and British supply ships as they delivered military vehicles and equipment to re-supply the UK-led NATO Battlegroup in Estonia.

Troops from the UK and Denmark are serving side by side in the country with the UK recently doubling its number of boots on the ground in Estonia as part of wider NATO efforts to strengthen its eastern defences following Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Richmond also worked with a Poseidon P8A submarine-hunting aircraft from the Royal Air Force.

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a UK-led task group which is held at high-readiness to respond to global events. Regular exercises are carried out to ensure nations are ready to deal with emergencies from warfare to humanitarian missions.

Richmond’s short time in the Baltic Sea saw her practise close manoeuvring sailing, exercise alongside Polish frigate ORP General K Pułaski, carry out air defence exercises with Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets and patrol the region with Lithuania ships LNS Kursis and Varonis.

She also spent time sailing with Estonian minelayer EML Wambola and trained with the Danish military including frigate HDMS Niels Juel, patrol ship Najaden and F-16 jets.

Richmond’s skills and knowledge during the patrols and exercises have impressed her Commanding Officer Commander Chris L’Amie.

“Our short but intense period in the Baltic Sea has seen Richmond integrate with a number of Joint Expeditionary Force nations,” he said.

“I have been highly impressed with the adaptability and professionalism of the ship’s company.”

The Plymouth-based warship will now join Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel in the Arctic for Exercise Cold Response.

She will meet up with aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales for the NATO exercise off Norway.