A familiar sight in the Naval Base over the next two weeks will be the Type 23 frigate, HMS Sutherland. The warship arrived on Friday October 16 to provide the platform for the final element of the Principal Warfare Officers’ Course.

HMS Sutherland will also carry the outgoing Governor Sir Robert Fulton away from Gibraltar on Wednesday October 21 on the first stage of his journey back to UK.

A British Forces spokesman said: “The Principal Warfare Officers’ course is a major career course for RN officers. It lasts for nine months and prepares officers for a role in which they co-ordinate a ship’s Operations Room and fight the ship on behalf of the Captain.

“Originally conceived as dedicated light anti-submarine frigates, essentially armed tugs for a towed array sonar, the Type 23 frigates have evolved into a much more capable general purpose frigate with self-defence anti-aircraft capabilities, anti-shipping Harpoon missiles, a 4” gun for providing naval gunfire support, and a helicopter deck for Merlin anti-submarine helicopters. These ships incorporate considerable stealth characteristics, with all vertical surfaces slopes at 7 degrees from the vertical to reduce radar signature and electric drive motors for silent running during Anti-submarine operations.”