HMS Richmond completes disaster relief training exercise

The UK Royal Navy’s Duke-class type 23 frigate HMS Richmond (F239) has successfully completed Disaster Relief Exercise (DISTEX), which involved testing the adaptability of the personnel in dealing with humanitarian assistance operations among several other tasks.

Executed as part of the frigate’s training package to deploy on active operations next year, the Basic Operational Sea Training involved all environments, ranging from air to anti submarine operations.

Further, the testing involved serial assessment of the ship’s departments on their capability to rescue and treat casualties, while stabilising a locale that has been damaged by natural disaster.

Light Rescue Unit lead sub-lieutenant Thomas Stapley-Bunten said: "The team found a number of challenges on the ground, however the training that we have received ensured we were able to overcome all obstacles and save as many people as possible."

The exercise also involved deployment of specialist search and rescue teams to find and take care of survivors as a priority, further stabilising the situation and bringing down the pain of civilians.

HMS Richmond commanding officer commander Mark Anderson said: "The DISTEX training that my ship’s company received underlines one of the vital aspects of capability that we may be asked to fulfil once we have deployed on operations.

"The level of realism provided by the support actors helped to simulate the trauma of dealing with casualties whilst the complex damage control and engineering repair serials faced by my engineering and command teams ashore helped to develop our disaster relief responses to a very high standard."

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Image: Commanders on board HMS Richmond during DISTEX training. Photo: courtesy of Royal Navy.