HMS Richmond celebrations

15th February 2016

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The British Forces Foundation stepped up to help the crew of HMS Richmond and their families celebrate following a successful nine-month deployment.

The Charity laid on the entertainment at a special dinner in Portsmouth marking their return home from operations which saw the ship seize drugs worth over £29 million and join the fight against people smugglers, in the Mediterranean.

Clocking up more than 40,000 miles, the Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate travelled as far as the Indian Ocean on security patrols, where her highly-trained crew intercepted their first major drugs haul, £26.5 million of heroin, followed by a second of £3 million of cannabis in the Mediterranean, just weeks before returning home.

On both occasions the crew were aided by the eyes-in-the-sky of the ship’s unmanned aircraft ScanEagle, her Lynx helicopter and their Royal Marines boarding team.

The ship sailed to the Mediterranean to join the European Union-led operation against people smuggling where they were involved in multiple rescues, saving hundreds of lives and disrupting people trafficking by putting smuggling vessels beyond use.

Her Lynx helicopter was used to identify smugglers at range, directly leading to the detention of suspected people traffickers. 

Commanding Officer, Commander Mark Anderson, said: "I am extremely proud of every single member of my ship’s company; together we have saved lives, stopped traffickers, and disrupted illegal narcotic smuggling, helping to protect UK interests globally.”