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‘In high demand’ – Royal Navy ends 2024 heavily engaged around the globe

Royal Marines conduct a reconnaissance patrol in Norway
23 December 2024
More than 1,600 sailors and Royal Marines stand ready to protect your freedoms and way of life this Christmas season.

Twenty-one Royal Navy/Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are either at sea, deployed in a far-flung corner of the earth, or on five days’ notice to respond to events at home or around the globe.

Leading the way are the 130 submariners crewing the Vanguard-class submarine performing a strategic deterrence patrol – the 55th consecutive Christmas the Silent Service has performed the nation’s  No.1 military mission… while Royal Marines of 43 Commando protect the boat’s home base and missile storage.

In the UK several vessels, led by the Fleet Ready Escort, HMS Portland remain on standby should ships of interest pass through Britain’s ‘backyard’ – the North Sea and Channel.

Protecting our territories overseas, HMS Cutlass and Dagger and the Pacific 24 RIBs of the RN Gibraltar Squadron will be on patrol in the Rock’s territorial waters throughout the festive period. 

Patrol ship HMS Medway can be found in the Caribbean, while her sister HMS Forth will be visiting outlying communities in the scores of islands which make up the Falklands, where it is high summer.

Also in the Southern Hemisphere, icebreaker HMS Protector has begun her first stint of the 2024-25 season conducting key scientific research into global warming and the impact of tourism on the delicate Antarctic environment.

Royal Marines are taking a short break from their preparations for this winter’s deployment to northern Norway which will see them reinforce their skills and expertise as the UK’s specialist cold weather warriors, helping to safeguard NATO’s Arctic flank.

There is no doubt that we are in high demand and will continue to be so. The capability that we so expertly provide is essential and critical to the UK Government and our allies, and more importantly the safety and security of our homeland.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key

In the Middle East the staff of the UK Maritime Component Commander and Naval Support Facility will direct and assist the operations of frigate HMS Lancaster and Royal Navy minehunters working out of Bahrain. 

Further east the two ships flying the flag for the UK in the vast Indo-Pacific region can be found around Singapore (HMS Spey and Tamar).

Despite being 11,000 kilometres from the UK and their affiliated county of Cornwall, Tamar’s 45-strong crew will still be tucking into delicacies from home… on crockery specially crafted in the county.

Donated by Cornish businesses and gathered by the county council, they were handed over to a detachment from the patrol ship when they visited Truro last month during home time in the UK.

“It brings a small slice of home into our lives whilst we are away in the Indo-Pacific,” said Lieutenant Justine Lambert, who’s served aboard the ship for 12 months.

“All these goods – tea, cider and biscuits with their connections with Cornwall – don’t go unnoticed, it really means a lot to know people are thinking of us so on the other side of the world, it will make Christmas absolutely fabulous for us. I don’t think there will be much left come the New Year.”

And finally, four female sailors – known as the Valkyries – are bidding to become the first Royal Navy women to row the Atlantic. Heading for Antigua, they are about a fortnight into their 3,000-mile voyage.

After weather described as ‘gopping’ (horrendous) initially, the rowers are now making good progress – averaging around 70 miles a day – and are more than a quarter of the way to their destination, in the middle of the pack of three dozen boats making for the Caribbean.

Thanking personnel and their families for their efforts and support throughout 2024, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key said that the Royal Navy would enter 2025 with “many navies across the world” continuing to look to it “for advice and leadership”.

He continued: “I cannot list all that you have delivered this year: the submarines, the ships, the units, the operations, the exercises, the training, the sporting achievements. Your resilience and professionalism have allowed us to deliver on another demanding year.

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