But after spending almost half a year in the Atlantic and Caribbean taking part in wargames with the US Navy, it is not surprising she looks a little worse for wear.

A navy spokeswoman said: 'She's travelled more than 30,000 miles and has been constantly travelling at high speeds and in turbulent conditions.

'Trafalgar had slightly more wear and tear than normal, but there was no danger at all to anyone, we wouldn't have operated if there had been any danger.'

The cruise missile boat with its 130-strong crew pulled into Portsmouth on Monday for an eight-day stay after being turned away from her home, Devonport naval base in Plymouth.

The 4,500-ton boat was directed to Portsmouth because Devonport was full of warships in preparation for Navy Days, which takes place this weekend.

Nick Brown, editor of defence journal Jane's Navy International, said 'She does look a bit tatty but it's not the worst I've seen.'

When HMS Trafalgar finally makes it back to Devonport next week, she is in for a few months of intensive maintenance work.