Warship returns home after Iraq mission

A WARSHIP returned to its home port yesterday after a six-month deployment tackling pirates and guarding Iraqi oil platforms.

HMS St Albans sailed into Portsmouth Naval Base having completed its mission to maintain security in the Arabian Gulf and to promote British trade.

As the frigate travelled through the Suez Canal on its way to the Gulf, it was scrambled to join a multinational task force to combat piracy off Somalia.

The vessel's Merlin helicopter spotted two ships which were subsequently boarded by Royal Marines who found they were being used by pirates to store equipment.

The pirates were sent back to Somalia and their equipment was destroyed, according to a navy spokesman.