MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Gloucester heading for Brazil.

South Atlantic patrol HMS Gloucester left the Falkland Islands last Friday and is heading north towards Brazil.

The crew has been involved in a number of internal damage control and fire fighting exercises while the warmer weather has enabled the personal fitness regimes to flourish in anticipation of returning to the United Kingdom next March.

This season HMS Gloucester completed a very successful patrol of South Georgia and once back in Mare Harbour, Falklands, the ship took part in a tri-service exercise in Stanley, an Open Day for military and civilian personnel and conducted a Sea Day for 75 British Forces South Atlantic Islands Staff. The Sea Day was aimed at providing a brief insight into maritime operations encompassing warfare, flying operations, seamanship, damage control and habitability on board a modern warship.

In addition to all this the vessel's Lynx helicopter (Wildcat) had a busy flying programme including integration with the RAF fixed wing and rotary squadrons based at Mount Pleasant Airport. Ice Patrol HMS Endurance was also present in Stanley for a short time and her Lynx helicopters provided additional assets with which to enhance the Fleet Air Arm's presence within the Falklands.

Finally as part of the Fighting G's patrol she conducted an extensive Naval Gunfire support exercise, which involved close integration with the Royal Artillery (RA). During the exercise, HMS Gloucester successfully fired her 4.5 inch gun, using the Lynx and RA soldiers to spot the targets.