If you've ventured over to Cowes Week in the past few days, you might have spotted a distinctive sight in the Solent.
HMS Severn sits proudly off the Isle of Wight, acting as a guardship for the prestigious sailing event.
The vessel - which measures 80 metres long and weighs 1,700 tonnes - has a top speed of more than 20 knots.
The ship regularly rotates one third of her crew, allowing her to be available for operations up to 320 days of the year.
Its job this week has been to make sure everything runs smoothly on the Solent, with hundreds of sailors taking part in competitive racing.
She was originally decommissioned in October 2017 after 14 years’ service, chiefly patrolling UK fishing grounds to ensure trawlers were sticking to regulations. However, 12 months later, she was later deemed too important to UK defence to be disposed of.
At the helm of the ship is Royal Navy Commander, Philip Harper.
As well as navigating and commanding Royal Navy ships across the globe for more than 25 years, Cdr Philip Harper is involved in the training and mentoring of junior officers.
(Picture: Commander Philip Harper)
Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, Cdr Harper explained more about the ship's role this week:
"HMS Severn is here this week as the Guardship for Cowes Week. We are here to add a bit of class, to ensure everything goes to plan as much as it can, and to also act as the start and finish mark for some races.
"We are here to represent the Royal Navy and to make better links with Cowes and the Isle of Wight - while supporting Cowes Week.
"I've got a core of 30 personnel on board, but we also have some extra people helping us too. They are out on the boats, at the Royal Yacht Squadron firing guns and cleaning cannons, out in yachts crewing and meeting people on shore. They have been made to feel very welcome."
So, should Islanders be concerned seeing a warship moored off the Island?
Cdr Harper explained:
"There is no real security threat out here, so no bad things will be happening. But on the water, it can be dangerous with so many boats racing, and booms flying everywhere. My message is really for everyone to respect the water."
Cdr Harper also explained about the distinctive livery and markings painted on HMS Severn.
He said:
"The combination of blue-grey and green-grey, on a background of white and light grey, is known as the Western Approaches paint scheme.
"First used by World War 2 destroyer HMS Broke, it was worn by ships operating in the namesake approaches – extending about 1,000 miles from the UK into the Atlantic – to hide more effectively from German U-boat commanders.
"HMS Severn is the first vessel to receive the paint job since World War 2, and is seen a tribute to sailors of the Battle of the Atlantic who operated in the same waters."
On board HMS Severn, off the Isle of Wight, for Cowes Week! ⛴⚓️
Posted by Isle of Wight Radio on Wednesday, August 3, 2022
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