Royal Navy warship primed for return to the fleet for the first time since Caribbean exploits

A patrol ship is primed to return upgraded to the fleet, with a new dazzling camouflage paint job, for the first time since her historic Caribbean mission.

Portsmouth-based HMS Trent has spent more than six months in dry dock in Malta being revamped and finalising modifications.

She joins her four sister vessels – HMS Spey, Tamar, Medway and Forth – in receiving the iconic dazzle camouflage wartime paint scheme.

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It comes after the ship spent nine months in the Caribbean hunting drug smugglers, which included the Royal Navy's first interception of a narco-sub carrying cocaine, and providing reassurance to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season.

"Our time in Malta has been invaluable," Commander Tim Langford, Commanding Officer, said.

"We've completed a comprehensive maintenance period that's left the ship in excellent condition, and the ship's company has made the most of their time alongside.

"It's been a productive and rewarding chapter of Trent's story, and particularly enjoyable in what used to be the home of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean."

The vessel will be in UK waters carrying out flying trials to certify her new flight deck lighting system. The flight deck had its old LEDs changed to brand new, significantly better versions.

The River-class ship also has upgraded her navigation lights, replacing incandescent ones with LEDs.

Meanwhile, Trent's upper deck has received husbandry work, and her radar system has been overhauled.  

"Malta has been great," Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) Jack Fryer said. "We've had a lot of opportunities to get out and enjoy some adventurous training whilst also giving our systems some much-needed maintenance.

"There's been so much Royal Navy history that we've been able to explore.

"We've really been stepping in our forefathers' footsteps, with the Royal Navy's base of Mediterranean operations directly next to the dockyard."

The sailors had the opportunity to relax in Malta, enjoying adventurous training, including kayaking, mountain biking and fishing.

HMS Trent is sailing from Malta to Augusta in Sicily and onwards to Gibraltar ahead of returning to the UK for flying trials and deployment to the Caribbean for hurricane season.