Former Chairman of the OP Society Merrick Rayner reports of the recent departure of F239 HMS Richmond under the command of Commander Hugh Botterill RN (I 89-95).

Hugh was awarded an MBE in 2018 in recognition of service on HMS Diamond and HMS Daring.

Hugh returned to the College as guest of honour to take parade in January 2020.

HMS Richmond left Plymouth on Saturday 5 May with 5 other ships including the HMS Queen Elizabeth to join the UK Carrier Strike Group in Portsmouth.

The UK Carrier Strike Group will undertake its first operational deployment in May 2021. It will cover 20,000 nautical miles and will take the CSG from the North Atlantic, through the Mediterranean and into the Indo-Pacific, visiting more than 40 countries.

The CSG includes the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Type 45 destroyers HMS Diamond and HMS Defender, Type 23 frigates HMS Kent and HMS Richmond and an Astute-class submarine. Underway replenishment will be provided by RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring. No. 617 Squadron RAF will provide F-35B Lightning II strike fighters, whilst 815 Naval Air Squadron, 820 Naval Air Squadron and 845 Naval Air Squadron will provide various helicopters, including the newly-introduced Merlin HM2 Crowsnest airborne early warning system. Foreign contributions to the carrier strike group will include the surface escorts USS The Sullivans of the U.S. Navy and HNLMS Evertsen of the Royal Netherlands Navy, as well as F-35B aircraft from the United States Marine Corps' VMFA-211 "Wake Island Avengers"

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