Albion and Sutherland return after Libya operations 09.08.11
14Two Royal Navy warships are being welcomed home by a crowd of around a thousand people in Plymouth.
HMS Albion and HMS Sutherland sailed from their homeport Devonport in April. Their deployment on Cougar 11 has seen them involved in operations off Libya and the Middle East.
Albion is the task force flagship and Sutherland is her escorting frigate.
Cougar 11 was the first deployment of the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), a new maritime quick reaction force announced in last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review, which allows the Royal Navy to respond at short notice to unexpected global events.
Commander Roger Readwin, commanding officer HMS Sutherland, said: "Our part in the Cougar 11 deployment has been professionally demanding and kept us very busy, as a responsive force our plans have frequently changed. My ship's company has delivered everything I have asked of them and they are a credit to the Royal Navy and their ship."
HMS Albion will remain on call throughout the summer and into autumn while HMS Sutherland's company will return to duties on the Type 23 Frigate in late August.