City marines arrive in Portugal

SAILORS and Marines from Plymouth have arrived in the Portuguese capital Lisbon after taking part in exercises with forces from Cape Verde.

The Devonport-based helicopter carrier HMS Ocean arrived in Portugal for a final port visit before returning home, after a five-month deployment covering more than 16,000 miles and four continents.

On the final leg of her journey home, the Royal Navy’s largest warship – which is under threat from Government cuts – has been supporting international maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea, working with the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency and regional maritime crime agencies from Cape Verde and Portugal.

Royal Marines from Turnchapel-based 539 Assault Squadron have also trained with members of the Cape Verde Armed Forces, conducting boarding operations, an amphibious beach assault and live firing exercises.

Ocean left the UK in June and has taken part in Exercise Auriga in the US, as well as maritime security operations and defence diplomacy in Brazil and along the west coast of Africa. On return to Devonport, the ship will undergo a three-month maintenance and reconfiguration period.