HMS Portland and HMS Iron Duke have returned to their respective home ports of Devonport and Portsmouth, marking the end of a demanding year of operations, according to a press release from the Royal Navy.
HMS Portland arrived in Devonport this morning to a gun salute and cheers from well-wishers at Devil’s Point. After undergoing a weapons upgrade in Norway, the frigate spent recent weeks conducting operations in home waters.
HMS Iron Duke followed suit, entering Portsmouth this afternoon after a six-week deployment to the Baltic. The frigate worked closely with NATO allies and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), focusing on regional security and maritime exercises.
Busy Year for HMS Iron Duke
HMS Iron Duke has spent over 200 days away from home this year. The ship’s activities included:
- Monitoring Russian naval movements in the North Sea and English Channel, responding to 11 such activations in 2024.
- Escorting HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group.
- Participating in Exercise Freezing Winds, supporting NATO’s newest members, Finland and Sweden, and gaining experience operating in the Baltic during winter.
- Visiting Riga for Latvia’s independence day celebrations, along with stops in Hamburg, Belfast, and Jersey, one of the ship’s UK affiliations.
The ship also hosted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Tallinn after the 2024 JEF Summit, where he joined the crew for a festive mince pie.
Reflecting on the year, Commander David Armstrong, Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, said as quoted in the release:
“I reflect on an exceptionally busy and rewarding year for the ship; I am immensely proud of my ship’s company who have delivered everything asked of them with professionalism and a smile! Our key focus across all of the year’s activity has been national defence and resilience – playing our part in securing the UK’s territorial seas, critical undersea infrastructure and protecting NATO’s maritime flank.”
Lieutenant Commander Chris Carnie, the ship’s Logistics Officer, as quoted in the release:
“2024 has been a very busy year for the ship, completing our generation period with Operational Sea Training and returning to front-line operations, culminating with a period in the Baltic working closely with our NATO allies and hosting a visit from the Prime Minister himself.”
As HMS Portland and HMS Iron Duke return home for a festive break, the Royal Navy maintains 21 vessels, including Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, deployed or on standby to respond if required during the holiday season.
