A Royal Navy frigate has conducted a series of manoeuvres with Kuwaiti forces in the Northern Gulf to highlight the close co-operation and interoperability of the two navies. Plymouth-based HMS Monmouth and Kuwaiti Naval vessel Al-Ahmadi conducted the exercises to train both crews in ship handling. The vessels engaged in a complex set of Officer of the Watch manoeuvres that tested the signalling and ship-handling skills of the bridge teams. This was followed closely by an impressive air display from 2 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters of the Kuwaiti Air Force. Their low level simulated air attacks over the Type 23 ‘Black Duke’ tested the reactions of both Monmouth’s crew and the pilots themselves. The final stage of this exercise came from an AS332 Super-Puma Search and Rescue helicopter of the Kuwaiti Air Force. By conducting winching exercises from the flight deck of HMS Monmouth it was able to demonstrate the interoperability of the two forces. The exercises comes just day after HMS Monmouth hosted students from the Kuwaiti Staff College for two days of demonstrations and exercises at sea. Commanding Officer of HMS Monmouth, Cdr Gordon Ruddock, said:
HMS Monmouth is undertaking a seven month deployment to the Gulf region as part of an international effort to deter piracy and smuggling, taking her turn to provide the standing commitment to Maritime security in the region which the Royal Navy has maintained for over 30 years. Handing over the duty to fellow Welsh affiliated warship HMS Dragon next month, the Black Duke will then return to the UK just before she celebrates her 20th year of service in May.
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