MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Dumbarton Castle opens her doors for the last time

HMS <i>Dumbarton Castle</i> alongside the FIC East jetty

THE Falklands' patrol vessel, HMS Dumbarton Castle is nearing the end of her time in the Islands.

After completing her final patrol of South Georgia, she berthed alongside the Falkland Islands Company East jetty over the weekend and opened up for visitors to have a look around.

The ship is a Falklands Conflict veteran – she arrived in the Falklands in May 1982, just a few months after being taken into service. Since then, she and HMS Leeds Castlehave taken it in turns to act as the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel. She is due to hand over to HMS Clydeat the end of this month, when she starts her passage back to the UK. Capable of achieving a large variety of tasks, there is no such thing as a standard patrol around the Islands, according to Lieutenant Thomas McPhail, the ship's PR man. "The ship can be used to transport and insert troops, conduct search and rescue operations, provide a sea based helicopter landing pad, visit remote areas of the South Atlantic Islands including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. "In addition it can stop and inspect foreign vessels within the economic zone and provide up-threat air radar coverage to give early warning of hostile elements." However, he said, she will be best remembered for visits to settlements, "...providing peace of mind and assistance to those living in Camp..." In the last few months of her time in the Falkland Islands, HMS Dumbarton Castle's crew have been preparing for their journey home to Portsmouth. For many of the ship's company, the patrol in South Georgia was a first. After a three day passage, the ship entered King Edward Harbour at Grytviken. There she spent the next three days visiting the British Antarctic Survey, delivering mail and stores, deploying soldiers for a patrol whilst at the same time enjoying the stunning surroundings of South Georgia in the snow. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Ian Lynn, commented, "I imagine that HMS Dumbarton Castle will be missed by the majority that know her, but we clear the way for the new patrol vessel, HMSClyde, who arrives in a few weeks ready and capable to continue providing what the Castle Class has provided over the past 25 years." He added, "It was appropriate that the ship was able to play a major part in the recent 25th Anniversary commemorations in San Carlos and Stanley, as she is one of the few surviving veterans of the conflict." Dumbarton Castlehas also left her mark on the Camber opposite Stanley along with the other former guardships: in April, the ship's companies were given permission to lay her name in stone on the Camber. She leaves the Falkland Islands on September 27. Source: Penguin News