ROYAL NAVY frigate HMS Northumberland is visiting the Port of Aberdeen this week as she prepares for NATO’s biggest sub-hunt exercise in the Atlantic.
The dedicated anti-submarine warship joins allies and partner nations for a ten-day workout testing allies and partners in tracking and hunting down ‘the enemy below’.
And NATO submarines will test their mettle in evading the dragnet cast around Icelandic and Atlantic waters and stage mock attacks on the warships searching for them.
Northumberland joins Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, which is hosted this year by the Icelandic Navy, fresh from her operations in the North Atlantic and North Sea.
The Plymouth-based ship is making the most of Aberdeen’s facilities to replenish food, stores, and fuel ahead of exercise, which begins on Tuesday.
The brief logistics stop will also be a welcome break for the ship’s crew, who have been working hard since returning from operations at Christmas, to prepare the vessel and her people for her latest mission.
HMS Northumberland and her specialist Merlin Mark 2 helicopter, both equipped with cutting-edge sonars, sensors, and weapons, represent a world-class submarine-hunting combination.
The ship has already been operating with NATO allies in the area and will continue to do so over coming weeks with a series of international exercises designed to built collective capacity across the underwater battlespace.
HMS Northumberland’s Commanding Officer, Commander Will Edwards-Bannon, said: “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to return to Aberdeen. It is an invaluable opportunity to replenish our stores, enjoy some down time after a busy period, and conduct routine maintenance to ensure that Northumberland is well placed to continue our operational tasking at sea. We will continue to be on-watch to protect UK interests and reassure our allies.”
Back in January this year, HMS Northumberland, and Royal Navy attack submarine HMS Artful joined Norway’s annual maritime exercise – “Flotex” – in the Norwegian Sea and Arctic.
Working alongside Danish warships, F-35 stealth fighters, and long-range maritime patrol aircraft, the exercise was also used as an opportunity to hold the “Perisher” Submarine Command Course.
A Royal Navy Type 23 Duke Class Frigate, HMS Northumberland is a versatile warship that has a wide array of weaponry to deal with multiple threats, either in self defence or for local area defence when protecting allies.
Based at HM Naval Base Devonport, she is a specialist anti-submarine warfare frigate and has recently completed routine maintenance and training to prepare for her return to naval operations in the North Atlantic and High North.
