A Royal Navy warship has returned to Portsmouth after ensuring a number of Russian ships had a safe passage along the UK coastline at short notice over Christmas.
HMS Defender, one of the UK’s newest Type 45 destroyers, began her 700-mile journey from Portsmouth to the north east of Scotland on December 19 to meet the Russian task group. As the fleet ready escort, Defender was the Royal Navy’s high readiness warship over Christmas and the New Year, meaning she stands ready to respond to a wide range of short-notice tasks from search and rescue duties to maritime security patrols.
HMS Illustrious has also returned to Portsmouth after playing a major part in the typhoon relief effort in the Philippines.
Helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious helped to deliver aid after the country was struck by a typhoon in November.
aIllustrious and her 950 crew spent three weeks delivering emergency aid supplies and repairing key services and broken infrastructure.
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