MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Iron Duke visits Namibia; next calls South Africa and Falklands

The Plymouth based frigate spent four days in Walvis Bay. She is due to cross the South Atlantic sometime in the next weeks

HMS Iron Duke on Atlantic Patrol Tasking South, which includes the Falklands and South Georgia Islands, has visited the Namibian port of Walvis Bay where she has built on relations with the country’s Navy and its people.

 The Portsmouth based frigate visited the country on the west coast of Africa for four days of sports, capability demonstrations and friendship building, as well as a bit of downtime following a busy program down the African coast.

During their downtime the ship’s company had the chance to cycle roughly 70 kms in dusty, windy conditions as well as take part in quad biking and dune boarding.

Then it was the turn of the ship’s football and rugby teams as they took on the Namibian Navy in the Jan Wilken Stadium in Walvis Bay.

Having lost two previous matches during the deployment the football team was desperate to claw back some credibility on the field. Sub Lieutenant Dan ‘the met man’ Robbins, the ship’s meteorological officer, said: “It was a tough fought match with much effort, blood sweat and tears as well as a great deal of banter from both teams. The final score was in our favor with a well deserved 3-2 win over our hosts.

The local side were expecting great things from the ship’s company on the rugby pitch and drafted in players from the town of Swakopmund along the coast – some of whom had played for Premiership rugby Academy teams in the UK.

As a result the Iron Duke team ultimately lost the match but followed it up by presenting the Walvis Bay team with a painting of the ship signed by all the players while the Iron Duke received a Walvis Bay RFC playing top in return.

HMS Iron Duke left Portsmouth on 20 June deploying on Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South) which includes visit to Falkland Islands and South Georgia. She will maintain a continuous Royal Naval presence in the Atlantic, providing reassurance to British interests within the region.