Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose has been officially welcomed back into front-line service at a rededication service held at HM Naval Base Devonport.
According to the Royal Navy, the rededication event marks the end of an extensive period of work in Devonport Naval Base. During the work package the ship received major upgrades and updates to the latest missile system, the Sea Ceptor surface to air missile, and to the ship’s command system and marine engineering plant.
Rear Admiral Chris Gardner, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships) addressed the ship’s company.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be here today representing the First Sea Lord to welcome Montrose back into the Fleet. Your tremendous hard work has brought this ship into fine shape. I wish you all safe passage as you move through to your next stage of training and work up into the Fleet.”
The Commanding Officer, Commander Conor O’Neil, said:
“After many months of hard work from both the ship’s company and our industrial partners, we are all very proud to show off HMS Montrose at her rededication to our chain of command, affiliates and families.”
The first HMS Montrose was commissioned on the 14th December 1919. Named after the 6th Duke of Montrose, who founded the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1903, she spent her first 10 years as part of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Unfortunately it’s hardly a fleet now.
Compared to who?
According to the RN website Type 23 ASW frigates to be moved to Plymouth and type 23 GP frigates to Portsmouth.
So that will mean Type 26 frigates for Plymouth and type 31e frigates for Portsmouth in the future.
Evening
Sounds like the RN are starting to put a long term plan together with regards to basing.
Plymouth:
ASW centre of excellence
Amphibious centre of excellence (including hydrography fleet)
SSBN refit centre (if required)
Supporting auxiliaries
Portsmouth:
Carrier fleet
AAW centre of excellence
GP centre
Other platforms
Faslane:
SSBN
SSN
Mine and counter measures
Yeovilton:
Rotary air
Culdrose:
Rotary air
Evening Lee Yes looks that way. All makes sense to me. With 2 main training sites at Raleigh and Collingwood, Fleet HQ and other bits at Excellent, and Ops HQ at Northwood. Several other minor sites as well. Questions. The Hunts are currently at Portsmouth, will they join the Sandowns at Faslane? I have never been clear where the RFA’s apart from the Bay’s are home ported. Waves and Fort Victoria seemed to be at Devonport. The older forts and the new Tides I had with the departed Leaf’s and Rover’s at Portsmouth. Anyone know? I see photos RFA’s at… Read more »
Morning Daniele
RFA’s are usually at Portland, maintained out of Falmouth.
The Hunt fleet is an interesting one. They have along side space and messing at Pompey, they would have to invest in Faslane. I don’t think the crews and their families would be happy with the move.
Cheers.
Yet from a purely defence perspective, to me it makes sense not to always put eggs in one basket. All very well having “Centres of Excellence” but I would like MCMV based at 2 out of our 3 naval bases.
Always thought “centres of excellence” just more Mod spin anyway.
Our assets and personnel should have excellence wherever they are located.
MoD have previous for this. Close or cut assets. Put remainder into 1 place, and call it “Rationalisation”
Suddenly you have a Centre of Excellence yet to me they were all excellent to start with, or should be.
Good move. The pie chart in this article indicates that 1/3 of the defence budget is for property and asset maintenance and estate management.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/defence-cuts-soldiers-tanks-and-helicopters-are-caught-in-political-crossfire-p0wf80w9n
Headlines this AM. see my post under Ocean article.
As a retired US Navy Officer, I had the privilege of working with The RN. I found to a man – RN Members were dedicated hard working professionals. I also found that the English Government was rather miserly when it came to equipping them properly.