MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
HMS Edinburgh leaves the Falklands for the last time
The ‘Fortress of the Seas’ will be decommissioned on her return to UK Known as the ‘Fortress of the Sea’, HMS Edinburgh is the largest and the last Type 42 destroyer to serve in the Royal Navy. She finished her six month tour of the South Atlantic Islands this week and is due to be decommissioned in June, but before heading north again Falkland Islands residents were given the opportunity to have a peek on board.
Open days are held on most tours said Commander Nick Borbone: “They are a good way of showing what the Royal Navy is all about. People who have no contact with the sea don’t necessarily see the relevance and applicability of maritime forces so it’s a good opportunity to show what we do.”
Commander Borbone said he has enjoyed his time in the Falklands. This being his second tour he was particularly glad to see the abundance of wildlife over summer.
“I have more photos of penguins than I know what to do with but my family is looking forward to the slide shows when I return home”.
Flight Observer Russ Chandler has had the privilege of viewing the Islands by Lynx helicopter: “We’ve visited Saunders, Pebble Island and the Neck and luckily get to fly every four days or so. We’ve been lucky too with the weather and there is a professional photographer on board who has captured some great shots of the wildlife,” he said.
MA Sasha Noates, one of the three medics on board, was assigned to HMS Edinburgh only on Tuesday: “The travel is a great part of my job and the Falklands has been a real surprise; I couldn’t find the cash machine but Stanley is a lovely town. In the last nine months this is the third place I’ve been deployed to”.
The next ship to tour the South Atlantic will be HMS Argyll, a Type 23 ‘Duke’ Class Frigate. (PN).-
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Read all commentsSave journey home, job well done. May the next ship bear your name with pride.
Feb 09th, 2013 - 09:42 am 0Nice to see HMS Protector in Montevideo harbour
Feb 09th, 2013 - 11:36 am 02 Rooter
Feb 09th, 2013 - 11:48 am 0But I thought Uruguay supported Argentina over the Falklands so therefore would not allow a UK military ship into port.
It looks like Uruguay doesn't really support Argentina over the Falklands at all. Here's what Uruguay have sanctioned lately:
- Free trade between the two countries
- Chamber of Commerce visit to the Falklands
- Cargo flights between the countries
- Uruguayan politicians attending to observe the referendum
- British war ships - in the role of defence of the islands- visiting Montevideo port
It's the same as the Bloggs family's support for Arsenal Football Club. We wear the rip-off T-shirts but the club has received no actual support from us at all.
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