HMS Chatham deploys to 'Pirate Alley'
6 Jan 10
Royal Navy frigate HMS Chatham sailed from her home port of Devonport yesterday on a seven-month deployment to patrol the waters around the Gulf of Aden, the Horn of Africa and the Somali Basin.
Crowds braved icy conditions to see off their loved ones on Tuesday as Royal Navy frigate HMS Chatham set sail from Devonport
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
During its deployment, the Type 22 frigate will be the UK flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and the Group's Commander, Commodore Steve Chick.
HMS Chatham will also become the lead vessel for Operation OCEAN SHIELD, the NATO contribution to counter-piracy operations off Somalia, where three vessels - including two UK ships - were seized in the region known as 'Pirate Alley' last week alone.
HMS Chatham's Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Huntington, said:
"HMS Chatham is deploying to the Middle East to join NATO forces in the fight against piracy as part of the international effort to improve maritime security in the region.
"We are fully trained for the task and our ship is extremely well equipped for the challenges that we will face."
Family members wave farewell to loved ones as HMS Chatham steams out of Devonport, Plymouth
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The ship begins maritime security operations straight away, protecting the UK's shipping and maritime trade routes by deterring illegal activity and monitoring other vessels for any suspicious activity, as she makes her way through the Mediterranean and east of the Suez Canal.
HMS Chatham will join other ships in the NATO Task Group, including warships from Spain, Turkey, Greece and the USA, to patrol round the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.
This is a vital area for maritime trade, covering strategic shipping routes from both the Far and Middle East continuing through the Red Sea to the Suez Canal en route to Europe.
HMS Chatham will be monitoring these supply lines whilst also providing a reassuring presence in the area.
Cdr Huntington said:
"This will be a demanding operational deployment and it is always difficult being separated from families and loved ones for such a long time, but we are firmly focused on the task ahead and are now eager for HMS Chatham to take on this important role, which we have spent many months preparing for."
Crowds cheer off HMS Chatham as the Type 22 frigate sails off on a seven-month NATO counter-piracy deployment
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a multi-national, integrated maritime force made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team.
The Group is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.
Usually the Force is employed in the Mediterranean area but will be available to deploy whenever and wherever NATO requires.
In the busy year leading up to this deployment HMS Chatham undertook maintenance, including time in dry-dock, before completing an intensive series of sea trials to prove her systems and equipment.
The latter part of 2009 was spent completing demanding training under the close scrutiny of staff from Flag Officer Sea Training in Devonport; this ensured her crew is ready for any task, ranging from peacekeeping and humanitarian aid to conflict. The crew used Christmas to complete final preparations and to take well-earned leave before departure.