Royal Navy warship once under threat of being scrapped has rejoined the fleet after almost three years

HMS Severn has returned to operational status after being axed from the navy in October 2017.

The Portsmouth-based offshore patrol ship was saved from the scrapyard by former defence secretary Gavin Williamson in November 2018, alongside two of her sister ships.

The vessels will all bolster Britain’s ability to patrol UK waters after Brexit, while the more advanced batch two patrol ships are based on long-term missions overseas.

To prepare Severn for her return to naval service, her crew have spent three weeks carrying out an operational sea training assessment.

Severn’s skipper, Commander Philip Harper said the 1,700-tonne warship was ready to do its part to defend British waters.

Cdr Harper added: ‘We have regenerated Severn and successfully completed three weeks of basic operational sea training.

‘This is the first time in living memory that the Royal Navy has re-commissioned a ship, and it’s been a challenge. We’ve achieved all of this during a global pandemic.’

Severn will join sister ships HMS Mersey and Tyne, where they will be used on missions ranging from escorting foreign warships to policing fishing in UK waters.

HMS Severn will also have an important role to play training Royal Navy navigators, who will join the ship for testing pilotage off the west coast of Scotland and English Channel.

Her crew will operate on a new rotating system, spending four weeks on the ship and two on shore, with about a third making the switch at any time.

And with the coronavirus crisis still plaguing military operations sailors from the ‘off watch’ team have been isolating at home while the rest of the crew are at sea.

Speaking from HMS Tyne in 2018, Mr Williamson – who is now the education secretary – said the role Severn and her sister will have to play will be critical.

He said: ‘Britain’s patrol vessels are essential to protecting our waters, our fisheries and our national security.

‘Safeguarding the future of these three ships in the Royal Navy will ensure we can respond quickly to incidents at any time, further protecting our waters as we exit the EU."’

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