The destroyer, in the latter weeks of her deployment, has arrived in the home of the Royal Thai Navy, Sattahip Chuk Semat, just south of Bangkok.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Keith Morgan, HMS Daring
BRITAIN’S most advanced warship today sailed into Thailand as HMS Daring sailed into the home of the country’s Navy, Sattahip Chuk Semat.
On a deployment of firsts – first global tour by a Type 45 destroyer, first visit to the Pacific, first visit to Australia, Singapore, China, and Vietnam among others – the Portsmouth-based warship sailed up the east coast of the Malay peninsula and into the Gulf of Thailand, after spending Christmas and the New Year in Singapore.
She’s the first Royal Navy vessel to visit the country in five years – so there was a sizeable welcoming committee in the naval base, which lies about 70 miles south of the Thai capital Bangkok, as Royal Navy met Royal Navy.
Indeed, Daring was treated to a traditional welcoming ceremony supported by the Royal Thai Navy band and a garland for the ship’s CO Cdr Angus Essenhigh.
As with most of the destroyer’s previous ports of call over the past seven and a half months, the visit is a mixture of flag-flying for the UK and showing what a Type 45 air defence ship can do.
Whilst in Sattahip Chuk Semat, Daring is hosting an evening reception, a UK Defence and Security Industry Day, a visit to mark National Children’s Day in Thailand and a visit from the Thai branch of the Royal British Legion.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas is joining Daring for the visit, focusing on the development of Royal Navy-Royal Thai Navy links; the host nation has ambitions to modernise its military and become more involved with international and regional security partners.
“As Daring enters the New Year, the ship’s company are excited to start it with this visit to Thailand. We are delighted to be able to build on historic and current links between the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Navy with numerous exchanges concluding with an exercise at sea,” said Cdr Essenhigh.
“The hosting of a tour to mark National Children’s Day will highlight the varied roles of a Navy, including peace-keeping and humanitarian relief to a younger generation.”
Daring will remain in the Far East for the next few weeks before beginning the long journey home to Portsmouth; she’s already notched up more than 30,000 miles since leaving the UK at the end of May.
HMS Daring is paying her first visit to Thailand on the latest stage of her nine-month global odyssey.