News story

HMS Ledbury in Albania

The Royal Navy minehunter recently joined NATO allies at the Albanian port of Vlore for a series of exercises and manoeuvres.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 20 June 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

HMS Ledbury (left) alongside in the Albanian port of Vlore

As part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), HMS Ledbury arrived in port with ITS Crotone of the Italian Navy and TCG Edincik from the Turkish Navy.

The Task Group spent 3 days alongside liaising with Albanian colleagues in preparation for several exercises they had planned together. The port call also gave them the opportunity to explore this cultural city.

On departure the Task Group sailed in the company of 2 Albanian Navy ships, the Oriku and the Archangel.

The enlarged Task Group then conducted manoeuvres in the Bay of Vlore, led by HMS Ledbury.

On reaching open water, the Albanian warship Oriku conducted a replenishment at sea with both ITS Crotone and HMS Ledbury.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Ledbury, Lieutenant Commander Justin Hains, said:

I am very proud to have taken part in today’s exercises. The Albanian Navy and the city of Vlore have made us feel very welcome here.

I was delighted to see the high professional standards set by all of the ships involved. This was a great opportunity for our nations to practise working together at sea.

HMS Ledbury (library image) [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Vicki Benwell, Crown copyright]

HMS Ledbury is the British component of SNMCMG2, joining other mine countermeasures vessels from a variety of NATO nations for approximately 3 months.

The NATO Task Group contributes to maritime security as part of Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to practising its core role of defeating mines.

HMS Ledbury is one of 8 Hunt Class minehunters of the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron, based in Portsmouth.

Published 20 June 2013