Minehunter HMS Blyth returned home to Faslane today after completing two months of NATO duties in the Baltic.
The Royal Navy warship was attached to NATO’s dedicated mine warfare force patrolling northern European waters, Standing Group 1, carrying out combined training and dealing with wartime ordnance still blighting the Baltic.
During her two months with the NATO group, Blyth sailed more than 4,000 miles, took part in four multinational exercises, visited the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Sweden and conducted training in Danish waters.
Normally, there would also be families and friends of the crew waiting on the dockside to welcome their loved-ones home. However, due to current restrictions, reunions with families will happen when the crew members make their way home.
HMS Blyth sailed from Faslane at the beginning of February and joined the group comprising flagship BNS Godetia (Belgium) and minehunters FGS Datteln (Germany) ENS Ugandi (formerly HMS Bridport now owned by Estonia) and Blyth.
All in one Covid-safe bubble, the group was able to train, socialise and play sport together during port visits – although sailors couldn’t go out and explore.
As well as live gunnery exercises off the Danish coast, the group conducted a hunt for historic ordnance and found two WW2-era mines partially buried in the seabed off Denmark, both of which were neutralised.
In Kiel, the minehunter forces joined a large force of 14 warships including vessels from Germany, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania for several days of navigation training and seamanship exercises.
Before heading home, the NATO group sailed into the small Swedish port of Karlskrona where they took part in complex seamanship/force protection exercises with the Swedish navy.
“Both the NATO group and the Swedish navy worked well together and demonstrated their capabilities,” said Blyth’s navigator Lieutenant Conor Smith.
“It was great to be hosted by Sweden in Karlskrona but also to operate with the Swedish navy in a challenging exercise scenario.”
The ship has now arrived in HMNB Clyde, just in time for her 45-strong crew to enjoy some well-earned leave over the Easter break with loved ones.
“This deployment has helped to demonstrate the Royal Navy’s enduring commitment to NATO,” said the minehunter’s commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Peter Ellison.
“It has been a great opportunity to work with friends and allies, to learn from each other, and to support maritime security activity in the North and Baltic seas.
“We would also like to thank friends and families for their continued support and perseverance during these unprecedented times.”
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