Huge Navy vessel docks in Capital after £37m refit

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus, which supports British sailors and troops across the globe, dropped anchor at Imperial Docks as part of an 11-day stay in Edinburgh.

The 28,000-tonne vessel, nicknamed "BUPA Baghdad", acts as a floating hospital in conflict zones, but differs from traditional red and white hospital ships in that it is armed and can deploy troops and aircraft.

In recent years, The Argus has played a crucial role in combat zones.

Among its 130 crew disembarking to enjoy the city's bustling Festival was Second Officer and engineer Paul Reynolds, who joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary after five years on P&O cruise ships and 16 years in the Royal Navy.

The 50-year-old, from Powderhall, is returning to his home town to see his family after six months at sea, and said that the ship's refit had only added to its prestigious reputation.

He said: "The Argus is a great ship to serve aboard and we have a reputation as being a major asset.

"We were sent to the Gulf in 2003 to support the coalition forces and we heard from the US liasion officers that some of the US troops had tattoos saying 'send me to the Argus if I get shot'.

"We differ from a hospital ship in many ways, but we are prepared for hostile situations. What makes us unique is that we have medical facilities to rival many hospitals but have the ability to receive aircraft bringing in injured and wounded in large numbers.

"If one thing's for sure it's a long way off from P&O cruises."

Among the facilities of the Argus, which is the same tonnage as an aircraft carrier, includes four operating theatres, ten intensive care beds and is one of the only ships in the world to have a CT scanner.

Commanding officer, Captain Ian Johnson, said: "This is the first time I have brought a ship into Edinburgh and I'm sure the crew will waste no time in enjoying the delights of the Edinburgh Festival."

THE FACTS

Type: Primary casualty receiving facility/aviation training vessel

Displacement: 28,081 tonnes

Length: 175.1 metres

Breadth: 30.4 metres

Draft: 8.1 metres (26ft 7in)

Speed: 18 knots (33km/h)

Complement: 80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel, 50 Royal Navy personnel, 137 Royal Navy air squadron personnel, 250 nurses, doctors and medical assistants

Arms: Two Oerlikon 20mm/85KAA on GAM-BO1 mountings (anti-aircraft), Four 7.62mm GPMGs (general purpose machine guns), Seagnat chaff launchers

Medical: Four operating theatres/100 beds

Laboratory: CT scanner/digital x-ray/

Helicopters: Can facilitate Sea Kings, CH-47 Chinooks, Merlins, Apache, Lynx and Harrier jumpjets.