As one of the ships largely assigned to home waters, the frigate has been activated 13 times in the past 12 months to monitor contacts of interest passing the UK, most recently a Russian task group. She also operated as part of a NATO task group in the Baltic over the winter months.
It was misty when the Devonport-based frigate arrived in Norway’s capital, prompting the bridge team to make a ‘blind pilotage’ into the prime berth their hosts provided them in the shadow of the capital’s iconic Akershus fortress.
“After challenging pilotages into Hamburg and Jersey, the opportunity to visit Oslo and further hone our bridge team skills on a long and technical pilotage was welcome,” said Lieutenant Simon Vernon, Iron Duke’s Navigating Officer.
“The visibility on approach, sometimes down to 50 yards, enabled us to conduct blind pilotage using our radar.”
Norway has been the focal point of much of the Royal Navy’s efforts so far in 2025, with Royal Marines, the RFA, Fleet Air Arm and P2000 patrol boats all committed in the High North for Arctic training.
And more P2000s plus Wildcats from 815 Naval Air Squadron are completing workups with the Royal Norwegian Navy in the fjords around Bergen to prepare both navies for the UK’s impending Carrier Strike Group deployment – to which the Norwegians are providing a frigate and tanker/support vessel.
Our close ties as navies extend back to the dark days of April 1940 and the Nazi invasion. To honor sailors who died in that conflict, as well as their forebears dating to 1814 when Norway broke from Denmark, plus back to 1509/10 and what is known as the Common Fleet, Iron Duke’s sailors visited the Orlogsgasten.
Literally ‘war guest’, the monument comprises the statue of a Norwegian sailor overlooking Oslo harbor and has become a focal point for national commemorations, with Iron Duke conducting what Norwegians call a ‘flower ceremony’ – similar to wreath laying – in memory of sacrifices.
The ship also laid on a capability demonstration for British and Norwegian VIPS, which included a simulation of ship’s team reactions to hostiles from the bridge and operations room.
Visitors included the British Ambassador Jan Thompson, Commandant General Royal Marines General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, Rear Admiral Bjørn-Erik Marthinsen, Norway’s Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Brig Gyda Ellefsdatter Olssen, Commandant Akershus Fortress, and representatives from the Norweigian Prime Minister’s Office.
The weather was considerably better for the frigate’s departure – “clear visibility despite falling snow,” said Lt Vernon, helping to make the passage “a career highlight”.
It allowed the ship to launch her Wildcat to both scout ahead of her for some of the 60-plus-mile passage to the more open waters of the Skagerrak – and AET Adam Sedgwick to record some of the journey on camera for posterity.