Iceland Welcomes HMS Somerset

Sailors on board HMS Somerset were given the rare opportunity to visit the spectacular sights of Iceland while on a short break between North Atlantic patrols.

Although the North Atlantic is a regular operating area for Royal Navy warships it is not often that there is a stop in Iceland and it was the first time that many of the ship’s company had visited Reykjavik.

As the warship toped up her supplies at the jetty the sailors took advantage of the opportunity to broaden their horizons visiting spectacular waterfalls, glaciers, the hot volcanic springs as well as taking on the capital’s rugby team.

After recharging the batteries it was back to sea for the ship’s company to test fire the ship’s main gun against a target just off the coast of Scotland.

They also practised their boarding skills – which were used for real earlier this year when HMS Somerset took part in the UK’s largest ever drugs bust, seizing three tonnes of cocaine with a value of half a billion pounds.

Image: Royal Navy