Royal Navy warship HMS Medway put to the test in high-speed drills in the Caribbean

SAILORS from a Portsmouth-based warship have been put through their paces in a series of high-octane drills in the Caribbean.
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River-class offshore patrol ship HMS Medway is on deployment in the region as part of a Royal Navy task group to help islanders during the hurricane season.

Medway was joined by city-based support ship RFA Argus from Royal Fleet Auxiliary – which gives logistical support to the navy – as the pair were pitted against one another in a series of tests at sea.

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Training was kick-started with Medway carrying out close-up passes of Argus before carrying out a series of high-speed manoeuvres.

Full-steam ahead as Portsmouth-based warship HMS Medway carries out high-speed drills at sea  Photo: Royal NavyFull-steam ahead as Portsmouth-based warship HMS Medway carries out high-speed drills at sea  Photo: Royal Navy
Full-steam ahead as Portsmouth-based warship HMS Medway carries out high-speed drills at sea Photo: Royal Navy

Sailing behind the larger support ship, Medway increased her speed and passed the vessel in close quarters and at speed during several passes.

The complexity of the drill ramped up a gear as helicopters based on Argus carried out flight drills between the two ships, landing on Medway’s deck and taking off again.

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The tailored air group – made up of three Commando Merlins and a Wildcat of 815 Naval Air Squadron – are embarked on RFA Argus to provide disaster relief but they took the meeting with Medway as an opportunity to practise landing on her flight deck.

HMS Medway in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task group working alongside with RFA Argus. Photo: Royal NavyHMS Medway in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task group working alongside with RFA Argus. Photo: Royal Navy
HMS Medway in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task group working alongside with RFA Argus. Photo: Royal Navy
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Lieutenant Teddy Bradley, operations officer on HMS Medway, said the training was a perfect end to a period of counter-narcotic operations by the crew in the region.

‘Finishing a counter-narcotics patrol with these officer of the watch manoeuvres as a task group was a fantastic opportunity to train our Bridge Team in ship handling and yeomanry, skills they’re going to need in a two-carrier navy,’ he added.

‘Add in flying and it demonstrates just how versatile Medway and the Batch 2 OPVs really are and why they are the Royal Navy’s choice for forward presence in the Caribbean.’

HMS Medway and RFA Argus sailing side-by-side in the Caribbean, Photo: Royal NavyHMS Medway and RFA Argus sailing side-by-side in the Caribbean, Photo: Royal Navy
HMS Medway and RFA Argus sailing side-by-side in the Caribbean, Photo: Royal Navy
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Second Officer Jake Bryan, RFA Argus’ navigating officer, added: ‘With plenty of sea room we had a good opportunity and safe environment to train. This is such a good way to really test our teams.

‘The fast communications needed pushed our signallers, and the officer of the watch has to be very aware of safety in all manoeuvres. It is great training that practises ship handling and reacting quickly.’

The vessels have since resumed their operational work in the region, with Medway joining forces with the Dutch ship HMNLS Groningen to carry out more training. RFA Argus has resumed patrols in the north of the Caribbean.

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