
Families in Portsmouth today welcomed home the crew of a Royal Navy patrol vessel which has travelled more than 30,000 miles during an eight-month deployment to the Caribbean.

HMS Severn visited 29 ports across 20 different countries and islands during the deployment, providing security and reassurance to British Overseas Territories and dependencies while also being on standby to assist in the event of a natural disaster.

Lieutenant Commander Steven Banfield, the ship's commanding officer, was greeted by his wife, Georgina, 33, and daughters, Florence, three, and Arabella, one.

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Families in Portsmouth today welcomed home the crew of a Royal Navy patrol vessel which has travelled more than 30,000 miles during an eight-month deployment to the Caribbean. Carol Dowsett (centre), from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was meeting her son, Able Seaman Ben Dowsett, 23

Sailors disembark from the Royal Navy patrol vessel as they return to Portsmouth Naval Base

Able Seaman Chris Mackins - one of the vessel's 48-strong crew - is reunited with his son Leo, one

Amelia Montagu (left), four, waves to her father Lieutenant Tim Montagu, from Stockbridge, Hampshire. Right, Arabella Banfield, one, awaits the arrival of her father, Lieutenant Commander Steven Banfield, commanding officer of the ship

He said: 'It's great to be back and to have a big crowd to welcome us back is amazing.

'We are all glad to be back and we are all proud of the job we have done.

'My ship's company have performed admirably to achieve our mission across the North Atlantic.

'Our thanks must go to our families. Without their support, we would not be able to do the job we love and would not have achieved as much as we have done in the past eight months.'

Lieutenant Commander Banfield embraces his wife, Georgina, 33, and Arabella

Little Arabella gets to grips with her camera to make sure she gets the perfect shot of her returning daddy. The ship - a 1,700-tonne River-class patrol ship armed with three machine guns - visited all of the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean

Amelia Montagu gives her father a hug as he arrives home. Lt Montagu said: 'It's fantastic, really special. It's my last deployment so it's particularly special'

Meanwhile, Pollyanna Montagu, with children, Amelia, four, and Theodore, six months, welcomed back her husband, Lieutenant Tim Montagu, from Stockbridge, Hampshire.

She said: 'It's absolutely wonderful, really lovely. It's probably his last deployment before he leaves so it's a great home-coming.'

Among the ship's destinations were the Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Anguilla and Grand Cayman.

Lt Montagu said: 'It's fantastic, really special. It's my last deployment so it's particularly special.'

Carol Dowsett, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was meeting her son, Able Seaman Ben Dowsett, 23.

While in the Caribbean, HMS Severn took part in training exercises as well as counter-narcotics operations

The crew also worked with the Red Cross and got involved with the local community

She said: 'It's wonderful - these guys go out there and do not know what they are going to find.

'It's lovely to have him home but I'm not looking forward to all the washing.'

The ship - a 1,700-tonne River-class patrol ship armed with three machine guns - visited all of the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, where the 48-strong crew carried out training with local maritime fisheries enforcement agencies.

Left, the Banfield family share a happy moment; right, sailors look on as their ship arrives at port

They also worked with the Red Cross and got involved with the local community.

HMS Severn's doctor and medical team offered medical training and the crew painted children's homes, took part in sporting competitions and disaster relief exercises.

The ship also took part in training exercises, as well as counter-narcotics operations.

Able Seaman Ryan Partington, 25, said: 'It's been a fantastic deployment - I've visited more places over the last eight months than I have in my seven-year Navy career, done a multi-national exercise and helped local communities all over the Caribbean.