HMS Medway has begun its mission in the Caribbean, taking over from its sister ship, HMS Trent, to support British Overseas Territories and combat drug smuggling, according to a press release.
The Portsmouth-based River-class patrol vessel will patrol the region during hurricane season, while continuing the Royal Navy’s efforts to disrupt the flow of narcotics.
HMS Trent’s deployment in the Caribbean was marked by significant success, including the seizure of nearly £750 million worth of drugs and the interception of the Royal Navy’s first narco-sub carrying cocaine.
Over seven months, Trent’s crew executed eight drug busts, preventing almost ten tonnes of cocaine from reaching the UK and other destinations. These operations dealt a serious blow to Transnational Criminal Organisations (TCOs), demonstrating the Royal Navy’s vital role in maintaining international maritime security.
Commander Tim Langford, HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, praised his crew’s efforts, stating in the release: “The Royal Navy’s River-class patrol vessels have proved eminently suited to a wide range of tasking across the Caribbean, and HMS Trent has delivered real challenge to narcotics smuggling in the region.” He added that the “exceptional output” of his team will be continued by HMS Medway as it takes over operations.
HMS Medway, following a period of upgrades and maintenance after its patrols around the Falkland Islands in 2023, will now be on the front line of the international fight against drug trafficking. The ship is also prepared to assist Caribbean communities during the hurricane season, which lasts from June to November.
Commander James Tibbitts, HMS Medway’s Commanding Officer, expressed the crew’s readiness for the new mission: “After an extended period away, every member of HMS Medway’s ship’s company is excited to be back as the Caribbean guard ship. We look forward to working with our regional partners as we take up the mantle.”
HMS Trent will now head to Malta for maintenance, with a stop in Gibraltar along the way. Meanwhile, HMS Medway will continue the Royal Navy’s work in the Caribbean, maintaining the pressure on drug smugglers and standing by to offer humanitarian assistance in the event of severe weather.
More appropriate to the mission than the frigates they used to send.
Not really, It still lacks an organic helicopter capability. T-31 will be more appropriate.
Hmmm…wonder how crew assignments are handled for B2 River class OPVs? Four of five assignments would seem to be nearly idyllic (Caribbean, Med, IP), w/ only the assignment to the Falkland Islands guardship being considerably less than ideal. Do all of the OPVs based in the Atlantic theater rotate through an assignment in the Falklands? Would seem to be the fair and equitable deployment system.
I don’t know if helping during the Caribbean hurricane season would be called idyllic.
The Falkland Islands are the province of HMS Forth. While it was in refit last year, Medway did a stint, but Forth then returned to its South Atlantic station, probably for another 5 years until its next refit. For all the complaints about wokeness you read here, fair and equitable deployments for ships aren’t really the Navy’s thing. HMS Clyde, Forth’s predecessor, spent 12 years based in the Falklands.
Malta? Why?
My thoughts as well. The RN’s link with Malta is tenuous with no permanent facilities there. Somewhere in the UK would have obviously been closer. Maybe she is due for a stint in the Med or the Indian Ocean via Suez so Malta is en route?