UK: Commander Matt Syrett Takes Command of HMS ECHO

Commander Matt Syrett Royal Navy took Command of HMS ECHO during the Ship’s recent formal visit to Mumbai, India and is looking forward to returning to Sea as the Captain of one of the Royal Navy’s most modern Hydrographic Survey Vessels.

His early career saw service in HMS Sheffield, Orkney and Leeds Castle prior to becoming the Navigator of HMS Ledbury, a Mine Counter Measures vessel.

Having specialized as a Hydrographic Surveyor & Meteorologist and qualified as a Specialist Navigator, Commander Syrett held two staff appointments before briefly navigating the Type 23 Frigate HMS St Albans. His Command of HMS Gleaner saw him conduct inshore surveys around the United Kingdom, from the Isle of Skye to the Spithead anchorages where he conducted a high definition survey of the Mary Rose wreck site.

Whilst in Command of HMS Roebuk he acted as the Flag Captain for the Commander of the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One for 13 months.  During this period he participated in live mine disposal clearance operations in the Baltic, Mediterranean and West Africa. Commander Syrett took over at the helm of HMS Echo in April.

Cdr Syrett said; “I am thrilled to take Command of HMS Echo.  The Ship has a strong reputation for success and her fine ship’s company have proven themselves during a prolonged period of live operations thousands of miles from our families and base port in Plymouth.  Echo is an incredibly modern and versatile warship and I am looking forward to the challenges that our future missions will bring”.

HMS Echo is a highly capable warship optimised for survey operations.  She was built in Appledore, Devon in 2002. She has a Ship’s Company of 75 and deployed from the UK in Jan 2011.  Her previous survey operations have seen her work around the world in locations as disparate as Japan and Dublin.

The Ship employs an innovative three watch manning system to ensure that she is available for world wide operations in excess of 320 days each year.  This system ensures that Echo’s sailors are able to balance their family lives whilst conducting long term operations overseas, delivering success anywhere in the world.

Watch rotation also allows Echo’s Ship’s Company to conduct training both in the UK and abroad to ensure that they are able to adapt to whatever the mission demands. The Ship is expected to return to the UK later this year

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Naval Today Staff , May 01, 2012; Image: royalnavy