Royal Navy warship HMS Spey opened 2025 with a bang as she proved her gunnery prowess to France’s No.1 naval force.
The patrol ship – on a long-term mission to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister HMS Tamar – was invited to join the latest exercise involving the French Navy’s carrier strike group on its mission east of Suez, codenamed Clemenceau 25, led by France’s flagship FS Charles de Gaulle.
Exercise La Pérouse focused on three of the world’s key maritime choke points: the straits of Malacca (between Sumatra and Malaysia), Sunda (between Java and Sumatra) and Lombok (between the namesake island and Bali).
Together, it’s estimated more than half the world’s shipping traffic pass through the three straits – making their security essential for global trade.
Spey joined the task group, plus Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa and Indian destroyer INS Mumbai, in the Sunda Strait – at its narrowest, just 15 miles wide and home to the volcano Krakatoa – where a series of scenarios were played out by night and day.
The Royal Navy vessel pitted her wits against a French frigate, trying to hide from the task group (plus a maritime patrol aircraft) in the Java Sea.
The following night Charles de Gaulle launched her fast jets to simulate aerial attacks on the task group, testing Spey’s handling as she maneuvered to avoid being strafed by fighter-bombers.
The exercise scenarios included a simulated ‘hit’ by the attacking aircraft, leading to a major fire incident exercise requiring the crew to tackle the fire whilst continuing to fight the battle.