The Royal Navy frigate St. Albans sailed into Palma today on the way home after a nine-month long deployment in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
The crew of just under 200 men and women will be looking forward to some rest and relaxation after a long tour of duty which has seen the ship escorting the French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, which was involved in air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
St. Albans is the most modern frigate in the Royal Navy. It joined the fleet in 2002 and completed a major refit before deployment to the Gulf. Equipped with Sea Wolf surface-to-air missiles and Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles along with a helicopter and a 4.5 inch gun, the St. Albans is a Type 23 frigate which forms the backbone of the navy's surface fleet.
The British Consul General, Lloyd Milen, hosted a lunch on board for local charities and associations. Among those who were attending was Jackie Codd of Age Concern, Adrian Elkinson of Calvia Lions, Dolina Reynolds and Eva Serra from Calvia town hall and the managing editor of the Bulletin Jason Moore.
The St. Albans last visited Majorca back in 2010 as part of a NATO task force.