HMS Montrose, the Type 23 frigate affiliated to Angus District and her namesake town, has been helping foil pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The frigate left Devonport last week on her latest NATO counter-piracy patrol to the dangerous waters off the coast of Somalia, and certainly did not hang about.
Just four days after sailing she disrupted a group of suspected pirates believed to be about to attack a North Korean merchant vessel in the international transit corridor in the gulf.
A distress call from the MV Mi Rae reported that a gang of men in a nearby boat were acting suspiciously.
Fearing that a pirate attack was imminent, the commanding officer of HMS Montrose, Jonathan Lett, sent the ship’s Lynx helicopter to investigate.
When the helicopter arrived, the suspected pirates moved away from the Mi Rae and the helicopter crew observed the men in the boat throwing objects, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, overboard before stopping.
HMS Montrose immediately despatched her team of Royal Marines and sailors to investigate and question the suspected pirates, before allowing them to continue on their way.
Commander Lett said, “HMS Montrose has quickly and effectively deterred piracy in the Gulf of Aden and I am proud of my ship’s company.
“As part of the NATO counter-piracy task force, HMS Montrose is providing much reassurance to the merchant shipping community.”
Since undergoing a multi-million-pound refit at Rosyth last year, HMS Montrose has been undergoing rigorous sea training.
She is now fully operational and the deployment to the gulf will allow her to conduct maritime security operations and remain ready for any other crisis response.