The men and women of HMS Argyll certainly enjoyed the big day – and we’re not talking about the Diamond Jubilee.
On the eve of national celebrations marking the Queen’s 60-year reign, a rather lower key, but no-less-enjoyable party was held aboard the Devonport-based frigate to mark her 21st birthday.
The ship was the second Type 23 frigate to be commissioned into the Navy on the last day of May 1991 – and with HMS Norfolk no longer under the White Ensign she’s now the oldest 23 in service with the Royal Navy.
Twenty-one years to the day later, her new Commanding Officer, Cdr Tim Neild , and the youngest sailor onboard, nineteen-year-old ET Martin Woods, sliced the birthday cake, prepared by the chefs onboard, in front of the rest of the crew.
Commander Neild said:
“It’s a special achievement for a ship to reach such an impressive milestone but despite being the oldest frigate in her class, following a multi-million pond upgrade in 2010, she remains one of the most capable ships in the Fleet.”
Cdr Neild had only joined the ship a week earlier and the birthday celebration provided a fitting culmination to a highly significant week in his career. He said:
“I am extremely privileged and honoured to be taking Command of a ship with such an impressive reputation.
“This is the pinnacle of my career and I look forward to leading a crew that has recently returned from a hugely-successful deployment to the Middle East and proven itself in the most demanding of operational theatres.”
After the celebrations the ship’s company have turned his attention to preparation for a period of high readiness over the summer, operational training under the team from the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in the autumn followed by a six-month deployment to the South Atlantic in 2013.
Cdr Neild added:
“With the uncertain nature of the world we live in it is vital that Argyll is ready for whatever task my commanders and the government require.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , June 7, 2012; Image: Royal Navy