Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Royal Navy warship primed for return to the Fleet for first time since Caribbean exploits
22 May 2025
The Royal Navy’s HMS Trent is primed to return upgraded – and with new dazzle camouflage – to the Fleet for the first time since her historic Caribbean mission.
The Portsmouth-based patrol ship has spent the last seven months in Malta in dry dock for a notable revamp, finalising modifications and preparations to return to sea.
Trent also joins her four sisters – HMS Spey, Tamar, Medway and Forth – in receiving the iconic dazzle camouflage wartime paint scheme.
The ship spent nine months last year in the Caribbean hunting drugs smugglers, including the Royal Navy’s first interception of a first narco-sub carrying cocaine, and providing reassurance to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season.
Trent will be in UK waters carrying out flying trials to certify her new flight deck lighting system – replacing the old LEDs with brand new versions that are significantly better (she is the first in the Royal Navy to get these upgrades).
The ship also has upgrades to her navigation lights, replacing the old incandescent ones with LEDs.
Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said: “Our time in Malta has been invaluable. We’ve completed a comprehensive maintenance period that’s left the ship in an excellent condition, and the Ship’s Company has made the most of their time alongside.
“It’s been a productive and rewarding chapter of Trent’s story, and particularly enjoyable in what used to be the home of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean.
“Our focus is now towards regaining our aviation currency before resuming our operational duties in the Caribbean later in the year.”
As well as the dazzle paint scheme, Trent’s upper deck also received husbandry work, while her radar system was overhauled.
The ship’s company took part in VE Day commemorations at Fort St Elmo in Valletta and before that supported Remembrance ceremonies in November.
Sailors also got the chance for downtime in Malta, taking part in adventurous training, including kayaking, mountain biking and fishing.
Trent departs Malta today, heading to Augusta in Sicily and Gibraltar before returning to the UK for flying trials and activation to the Caribbean for Hurricane Season, which sweeps the region between June and November.
“Malta has been great; we’ve had a lot of opportunities to get out and enjoy some adventurous training whilst also giving our systems some much needed maintenance,” said Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) Jack Fryer.
“There’s been so much RN history that we’ve been able to explore. We’ve really been stepping in our forefather’s footsteps; with the Royal Navy’s base of Mediterranean operations directly next to the dockyard.”