he Type 42 destroyer set sail on her Atlantic Patrol Tasking in
late January, heading first to Cape Verde for counter-narcotics
training with the island’s Coast Guard. After returning to the Falkland Islands, Manchester sailed further north to Rio de Janeiro for a short maintenance period during which a small group volunteered to work with a local charity providing care and support for abandoned street children. Working parties helped with general maintenance and labouring tasks at three of the charity’s sites.
On return to the Falklands the ship conducted remembrance services for HMS Antelope and Ardent and an anniversary service for the San Carlos landings of the Falklands conflict. The Antelope service was particularly poignant for Manchester’s Executive Warrant Officer, Bill Parry, who served on board during the 1982 conflict.
HMS Manchester left the South Atlantic in early June and crossed into the Southern Pacific Ocean through the Magellan Straits and Patagonian Canals. Manchester was in the South Pacific to participate in Exercise Teamwork South - a biennial Chilean naval exercise which this year involved 22 vessels from the Navies of Chile, France, Brazil, the USA and the UK.
Manchester exited the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal on July 16 before arriving in Cartagena, Columbia, to further military and civil relationships between the UK and Columbia. The UK contributes significantly to the counter-narcotics strategy in the region and regularly seizes cocaine bound for the US and Europe.
Her final port of call was to the Atlantic island of Bermuda to participate in celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the first permanent settlers arriving there following the shipwreck of the Sea Venture in 1609.
During her 198 days away from the UK Manchester has sailed more than
28500 nautical miles. Her Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Beattie,
said: “We return to the UK having made a significant contribution
to the security of the Falkland Islands and the counter-narcotics
effort in the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans. Our periods in South
America have served to develop familiarity, trust and co-operation with
a number of pivotal, regional allies and have established the
foundation for future engagement with the Columbian and Peruvian Navies.
“My ship’s company return to the UK proud of a job well done and looking forward to a period of maintenance and recuperation.”
Soure:royalnavy.mod