HMS York Returns Home

A helicopter flypast has marked the return of a Portsmouth warship, which has been helping refugees in Libya.

To mark its arrival back at Portsmouth Naval Base on Friday, 8 July, the HMS York also fired a 15-gun salute to the Second Sea Lord.

The Type 42 destroyer has been making sure aid supplies get through to the war-torn country as well helping many women and children and oil field workers, evacuating them to Malta. Whilst at Benghazi, its Force Protection Group Royal Marines set up a cordon on the port to protect the ship and allow the lorries to take the aid to local hospitals.

The ship then took up its original deployment and sailed to Gibraltar and Madeira before heading to the Falklands where it spent eight weeks patrolling the islands.

It also visited South Georgia for 12 days to support the British Antarctic Survey which is based in the area to conduct conservation surveys of the glaciers and wildlife.

HMS York's Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Staley, said:

"There has never been a quiet or dull moment. HMS York has just sailed 26,858 miles, which is further than once around the equator, and delivered a really impressive tally of positive effects across a huge swathe of the world.

"I have asked much of my Ship's Company and they have risen to the challenge without fail - not just through the excellent but hugely testing training we received prior to deploying, but also in keeping this fine old lady, now 27 years in commission, sustained and in peak performance ready for any task at any time.

“We are of course delighted to be home, back to our families and friends who have been nothing short of brilliant in their unstinting love and support for us whilst away.”