THE Royal Naval frigate HMS Monmouth has returned home to Plymouth to prepare for a major refit period throughout 2014.

Following her final port call to Belfast, the Plymouth-based warship has returned to Devonport dockyard for the last time this year as she prepares for an extensive upgrade work package to update her weapons and sensors.

The final return into base port also marked the final time the commanding officer, Commander Gordon Ruddock, will guide the ship alongside before moving on to a new challenge. Commander Ruddock said: "My time in command of HMS Monmouth has been extremely rewarding and I have been lucky enough to enjoy a vast array of experiences, from an operational deployment to returning to my home town during my tenure.

"I have been blessed with a highly motivated and talented crew throughout my time and I will look back on my command of the 'Black Duke' with very fond memories."

In 20 years of service the 'Black Duke' has sailed over 560,000 miles in more than 54,000 hours at sea, the equivalent to over 2236 days or six years of constant sailing across the world's oceans. In this year alone, HMS Monmouth has been alongside 13 different ports in 12 different countries, fired more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition and consumed over 300,000 potatoes.

The navigating officer of HMS Monmouth, Lieutenant Ed Phillips Royal Navy, will be piloting the ship through Plymouth harbour as she makes her final return for some time. "During my time as navigator of HMS Monmouth I have made the trip through Plymouth harbour more times than I can recall, however, knowing this will be my last will make it a very memorable occasion, and this will be a fond farewell to the ship which has served me so well over the last couple of years."

The current and seventh HMS Monmouth recently returned from a seven month deployment to the Arabian Gulf deterring piracy and other illegal activities, and has spent the autumn in UK waters conducting Maritime Security operations.