HAVE you seen the British warships around the Isle of Wight?

Two Royal Navy warships have been easing their way back into service off the coast of the Island following extensive refits.

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HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate, headed out to sea for the first time in nearly four at the end of March.

After years of work by engineers, technicians and shipwrights, the warship has been testing her upgrades in patrols along the South Coast exercise areas, currently off the coast of East Wight.

Isle of Wight County Press: HMS Somerset departing this morning after a night at anchor in the Solent. Picture courtesy of scottyc298 Twitter.HMS Somerset departing this morning after a night at anchor in the Solent. Picture courtesy of scottyc298 Twitter.

She has undergone maintenance, received updates and structural improvements to her hull and living spaces, improved communications, navigation and computer systems and enhanced weapon systems – led the latest Sea Ceptor air defence missile system, replacing the obsolete Sea Wolf.

Commander Dave Mason, HMS Somerset’s Commanding Officer, said: “This is HMS Somerset’s first time at sea under her own power since a visit to Hamburg back in the spring of 2018.

“With a full complement of 176 sailors, everyone is looking forward to putting the ship through her paces.”

Isle of Wight County Press: HMS Duncan on sea trials. Picture courtesy of @CorbenJake Twitter.HMS Duncan on sea trials. Picture courtesy of @CorbenJake Twitter.

HMS Duncan began a major refit in 2020 and has returned to test her fresh, new upgrades on her ‘shakedown cruise’.

The Type 45 air defence destroyer, which carries 190 personnel on board, started her intensive sea trials off the coast of the Island yesterday (Sunday, May 2).

HMS Duncan is yet to receive her Power Improvement Programme (PIP), so will likely be out of service again for a while in the near future.

The warship is currently anchored off Shanklin, nearby to HMS Somerset.

Video below courtesy of Navy Lookout, showing HMS Duncan's return to Portsmouth yesterday.

  • UPDATE: HMS Somerset anchored between Portsmouth and Ryde this evening (Monday, May 2) Picture courtesy of Isle of Wight Webcams.Isle of Wight County Press: