Leonard T. Koonce 
One of the most modern frigates of the Royal Navy will remain off Alicante on the Costa blanca for a week, under Spanish command.
ARCHIVED – British Navy Frigate HMS Kent docks in Alicante Harbor on the Costa Blanca “style =” margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; floating: left “width =” 100% “/>
The frigate HMS Kent is the first British Navy ship to dock in the port of Alicante this year, and will remain in the city before leaving with the Spanish Navy to participate in the maritime surveillance operation, Sea Guardian.
“We have already had a very good week with the Spanish Navy, working as part of the NATO Naval Forces. We took part in the Steadfast Defender maneuvers, which are NATO’s most important this year, and we did a few maneuvers near the Spanish coast with the helicopter we are taking on board and air force fighters. Spanish, “said frigate captain Matt Sykes.
ARCHIVED – British Navy Frigate HMS Kent docks in Alicante Harbor on the Costa Blanca “style =” margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; floating: left “width =” 100% “/>
British Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott, who is on the Costa Blanca this week to meet with local authority leaders, was in port to welcome the arrival of the Navy vessel ahead of an official reception today, Wednesday June 2 .
“I am delighted that HMS Kent is visiting Spain at the start of the new program as part of the deployment of British aircraft carriers,” he said, adding that the participation of flagship HMS Kent in the naval group of l NATO under Spanish command “shows the flexibility and interoperability of our navies and the joint work of our nations as close allies to support European defense and security”.
The ambassador @HughElliottUK visited hoy el @hms_kent y mañana acudirá a una recepción para las autoridades locales. The fragata🇬🇧y was able to participate in @ com_snmg2 es un ejemplo del Compromiseo🇬🇧con @nato y del esfuerzo para mejorar la seguridad marÃtima en el Mediterráneo #wearenato pic.twitter.com/gymqaKduOJ
– UK in Spain (@ukinspain) June 1, 2021
When it sets sail from Alicante with the Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez at the weekend, HMS Kent will support NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean, explained Captain Sykes, adding: “This operation ensures maritime security on the southern flank of the Alliance, so we are delighted to represent the British contribution. “
The frigate, one of the most modern in the British Navy specializing in anti-submarine warfare, was launched by Princess Alexandra of Kent on May 27, 1998.
He entered service with the Royal Navy on June 8, 2001.
The versatile and heavily armed vessel, which entered service with the Royal Navy in June 2001, is fitted with the Sea Ceptor vertical launch system – the ship’s first line of defense against incoming aircraft and missile attacks – and a 4.5 Mk8 cannon.
However, its main function is to locate submarines.
IMAGE: British Embassy in Madrid
