A 3,500 tonne seafaring “saint” has returned to patrolling the UK’s shores after undergoing a £25 million upgrade.
Local dignitaries have attended a rededication ceremony for Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans, a Portsmouth-based warship.
The frigate is associated with the city of St Albans, and principally affiliated to the current Duke of St Albans, who lives in London.
The ship, dubbed “The Saint” by her company, has been out of action for more than a year during the refit which includes a new main gun known as the Kryten – named after the Red Dwarf character with similarly rigid features.
The latest version of Seawolf, the ship’s shield against air attack, has also been fitted.
At the Portsmouth Naval Base ceremony attended by hundreds of guests, St Albans Mayor Cllr Geoff Harrison wished the ship’s 150-strong company the “best of luck as they embark on their new tour of duty”.
The service was led by Richard Watson, Sub Dean of St Albans Cathedral.
Among the ship’s company taking part in the ceremony was Able Seaman Michael Nolan, 20, who joined the Navy after leaving Oaklands College in St Albans and has been on board the frigate for just seven weeks.
He said: “Serving on board what I consider to be my home-town warship is a great honour and makes today even more special.”
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