HMS Ledbury has now completed Exercise Noble Midas and is heading westwards towards Spanish waters, for further exercises with her SNMCMG1 counterparts.

Noble Midas, a huge two-week long exercise ranging across the Ionian Sea, saw Ledbury practise her minehunting skills in Italian and Greek waters. There was also manoeuvres with larger warships on the high seas (including Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland), and opportunity to practise Ledbury’s ability to deal with enemy aircraft with mock attacks from Greek air force Phantom jets.

During the minehunting phase off Greece, Ledbury’s sonar teams, submersible vehicles, and clearance divers battled with marginal weather conditions off the coast of Kefalonia whilst they searched for and neutralised mine contacts. To keep Ledbury topped up with fuel and food, the Ship replenished from the German Navy tanker FGS Rhein.

After a quick overnight stop in Patras, Greece, Ledbury sailed to Cagliari in Sardinia with the NATO group. Midway through the transit the force passed through the Messina Strait between Italy and Sicily, the second time in a month the Ship has done so.

After an intense period of exercises, the Ship’s company welcomed the opportunity to conduct ‘Hands to Bathe’ off the northern Sicilian coast. This is an age old Naval tradition whereby the Ship is stopped in the water, engines shut down, and crew members are allowed to go for a refreshing swim in the sea.

Ledbury is now making her way to Spanish waters for further exercises with units from NATO’s Standing MCM Force. The clear skies have allowed Ledbury’s Officer under training, SLt Matt Thomas, a chance to hone his classical navigation skills by taking star sights by sextant.

Ledbury is now preparing for another busy period of warfare drills that will see her crew flex their mine countermeasure muscle yet again.