HMS Penzance[/caption]
ROYAL NAVY VISITS
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Penzance arrives in Gibraltar tomorrow for a short visit before heading back into the Mediterranean as part of the German-led multi-national maritime force ‘Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2’ (SNMCMG2).
HMS Penzance will conduct a maritime security patrol on her way into the Naval Base and will take the opportunity to stock up on fuel and supplies whilst visiting the Rock.
The minehunter’s role is to neutralise underwater threats and clear the sea-lanes for shipping. She is one of seven Sandown-class minehunters and she is the UK’s most up-to-date minehunter.
HMS Penzance is carrying out her first sea deployment since her six-month comprehensiverefit programme.
Also arriving tomorrow is HMS Dragon who is on her way back to the UK. She returns following a successful seven-month maiden deployment to the Middle East as part of the UK’s long term commitment.
She like HMS Penzance will conduct a maritime security patrol on her way into the Naval Base and will take the opportunity to stock up on fuel and supplies whilst here in Gibraltar.
As the fourth of the Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers she was commissioned into the Navy’s fleet in April last year. Since then the highly capable multi-role ship and her 190 strong crew have undergone intensive sea trials and training off the UK coast prior to her recent deployment.
ROYAL NAVY VISITS