HMS Montrose – SeaWaves – the BEST naval news since 1995

Royal Navy Has Escorted Over 90 Ships Through Strait of Hormuz

September 4, 2019September 4, 2019 seawaves

September 2, 2019 – Nearly six million tonnes of British shipping has been safeguarded by the Royal Navy in the first two months of protecting vessels from unwanted aggression. Nearly 90 British merchant ships were safely shepherded through the Strait of Hormuz by frigate HMS Montrose and destroyer HMS Duncan during a hectic two months responding to threats by Tehran. Montrose passed through the narrow gateway to the Gulf 38 times – each time observed by Iranian forces, broadcasting on radios, with drones watching every move overhead and boats often…

HMS Kent Deploys to Persian Gulf

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 seawaves

August 12, 2019 – Portsmouth-based warships HMS Kent and HMS Defender today left their homeport to embark on operations to the Gulf and Asia Pacific respectively. Type 23 frigate HMS Kent will relieve HMS Duncan of her duties in the Gulf and is scheduled to work alongside US partners as part of the newly-formed International Maritime Security Construct. She will be focused on providing regional maritime security, including counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activities. She will also work alongside HMS Montrose to escort British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Commander Andy…

UK Reaffirms Persian Gulf Commitment

August 5, 2019 seawaves

August 5, 2019 – The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and safe passage through the Gulf. The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and safe passage through the Gulf by playing a leading role in a new international maritime security mission, announced today. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Events in the Gulf over the last four months, including attacks on four tankers…

HMS Duncan Arrives in Persian Gulf

July 29, 2019 seawaves

July 28, 2019 – Royal Navy vessel HMS DUNCAN has arrived in the Gulf, where she will support the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz along with HMS MONTROSE. Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global trading system and world economy, and the Government has committed to doing all it can to defend it. Last week the Government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accompany British-flagged ships through the Strait, to provide reassurance to the shipping industry. The Type 45 Destroyer, HMS…

HMS Montrose Prepares for Japan Visit

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019 seawaves

February 21, 2019 – A cross of remembrance floats in the South China Sea over the last resting place of 840 British sailors as HMS Montrose paid her respects to the men of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. The new battleship and veteran battle-cruiser were sunk just three days after the raid on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 as they tried to stop Japanese forces overrunning Malaysia. Instead, the two ships – the kernel of task group Force Z which Churchill sent to the Far East in a bid…

US, British Navies Conduct Maritime Security Drills

February 20, 2019 seawaves

February 20, 2019 – U.S. Navy fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) and Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) conducted maritime security and logistics training in the South China Sea, Feb. 18. The drills involved Royal Marine commandos, Royal Navy sailors and Guadalupe crew members. During a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) scenario, Montrose’s boarding team embarked and secured Guadalupe, which simulated a vessel engaged in high seas trafficking. The ships also practiced replenishment at sea using NATO procedures, which ensured that the two ships, despite never having…

HMS Montrose Transited Panama Canal Enroute to Chile

November 30, 2018 seawaves

November 11, 2018 – Warship HMS Montrose navigated the narrow locks and lakes of the Panama Canal to get to the Pacific Ocean and start the next phase of her deployment. The Type 23 frigate spent seven hours crossing the waterways which join the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, saving the ship a 3,000-mile journey around Cape Horn in South America. It was a busy day for the navigation and seamanship teams which started at the entrance of the canal, the port of Colón, and continued into the series of…

HMS Montrose Departs for Three Year Deployment to Bahrain

October 27, 2018October 27, 2018 seawaves

October 26, 2018 – HMS Montrose is preparing to become the Royal Navy’s first frigate to provide an enduring presence in the Gulf as part of the UK’s commitment to security in the Middle East. The Plymouth-based warship will not see the shores of the UK again for more than three years when she deploys on Monday (29 Oct 18), although her ship’s company will rotate in spring 2019. This forward-deployment serves two purposes – to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to maritime security in the Gulf while also ensuring those…

Ships from Five Countries to Attend Exponaval 2018

October 23, 2018 seawaves

(Google Translation) The presence of vessels belonging to the marinas of Colombia, China, the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom will strengthen the strong international presence at Exponaval 2018, XI International Naval and Maritime Congress Exhibition for Latin America, to be held between December 4 and 7 in the Concón air base, which is organized by the Chilean Navy and FISA. These naval units will participate, together with units of the National Navy, in the Great Naval Magazine that the Navy has organized for Sunday December 2 in the…

HMS Montrose Trains in Baltic

July 13, 2018 seawaves

Just days after Britain committed to closer military co-operation with nations bordering the Baltic, Royal Navy warship HMS Montrose threw herself into two weeks of training with the Finnish and Swedish Navies. The Plymouth-based frigate – fresh from shadowing Russian corvettes in the North Sea – headed to the tip of the Baltic for a two-week workout with stealth ships and missile boats. On the eve of Exercise Baltic Cross, the Defence Ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom signed a ‘memorandum…

£850m Sea Ceptor missile system enters service with Royal Navy

May 24, 2018 seawaves

Sea Ceptor provides a powerful shield against airborne threats, including hostile combat jets, helicopters and other missiles, and has been developed and manufactured through Ministry of Defence contracts worth around £850m. It will be carried by the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, and has been successfully demonstrated through a trials and test firing campaign that started last year. Most recently, Plymouth-based HMS Montrose became the third ship to test fire the system. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said, “Sea Ceptor will protect our nation against the intensifying threats we face today…

HMS Montrose Returns to Devonport Friday After Week at Stavanger Ranges

February 8, 2018 seawaves

The Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose has spent a busy week on the NATO weapon and sensor range at Stavanger, in southern Norway. The ship arrived in time for a much anticipated weekend alongside in one of the busiest and oldest ports in Norway, berthed in the heart of the city, adjacent to the new Opera House. After a day of harbor checks, the ship went to sea on this advanced test range for 3 days, with the aim of the process to provide objective checks of the accuracy and…