Crew of Devon Warship Completes Training After Refit

The Royal Navy has announced that the crew of a warship stationed in Devon has successfully concluded fleet operational sea training (FOST), marking the final phase following the vessel’s mid-life refit. The Type 23 Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans carried out this work at its Devonport base. According to the navy, this process entailed readying all personnel aboard for duties during both peacetime and wartime, alongside humanitarian missions. Executive Officer (XO) Byron Linn described the period as a lengthy undertaking, stating it had been “training alongside the trials and calibration of the ship since February”. He added: “This final six weeks has been the validation of our own training, plus all the good stuff FOST has taught us”. The refit of the ship, as reported by the navy, involved a total of 1.2 million working hours contributed by sailors, engineers, and software specialists, and incorporated the installation of new equipment. XO Linn emphasized the necessity of the training to ensure every individual was proficient in their roles. He stated: “My team has learnt lots of stuff in terms of the external battle, but also the internal battle when it comes to putting out fires or dealing with casualties.” He concluded: “FOST makes us work hard together on a daily basis. As a result, we have bonded as a crew”.