HMS St Albans back in home port

HMS St Albans has completed a six-month tour of the Gulf

HMS St Albans has arrived back in her Hampshire home port after aiding the recent evacuation of southern Lebanon in the Middle East.

The type 23 frigate returned to Portsmouth on Friday after a six-month tour of the Gulf.

Her crew had been heading home last month when she was called up to assist with the then escalating crisis between Israel and Lebanon.

The ship's Cdr Steve Dainton said the tour was his most rewarding yet.

Very proud

"It has been a tremendously demanding but an ultimately satisfying six months, during which we have experienced a whole range of contrasting challenges," said Cdr Dainton.

"I am very proud of what HMS St Albans and her people have achieved in the past six months, and for me it has been the most rewarding six months of my career in the Royal Navy."

During its six-month tour of duty HMS St Albans sailed the equivalent of one-and-a-half times around the world visiting 16 countries, including Algeria, Albania, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Lebanon.

The ship evacuated 243 refugees in total from Lebanon to Cyprus.

Cdr Dainton added: "Our involvement with the evacuation demonstrated that a warship is a remarkably versatile platform."