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A Royal Navy gun salute has welcomed the return of HMS Montrose to the UK. The frigate made its way back home after four years spent on service in the Gulf, Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

The iconic vessel left Bahrain in November after being based at the island state in the Persian Gulf for three years. It is due to be decommissioned next year.

When not in use, HMS Montrose is stationed at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, Devon, one of three UK naval bases and the largest in Europe, according to the Royal Navy.

The gun salute was heard across Plymouth at about 9.15am today (December 16) with red, white and green fireworks set off to mark the occasion, Plymouth Live reports.

The same publication describes huge crowds gathered at Devonport with families welcoming home crew members they have not seen in months.

In a statement, the Royal Navy said: “Her mission has been key to the UK’s and international prosperity and security, safeguarding merchant shipping, tackling criminal and terrorist activity including smuggling arms and drugs, and working with allies across the region.”

HMS Montrose is one of the Royal Navy’s 13 Type 23 Frigates.

The 5th of the frigate fleet, the vessel has a highly sensitive suite of radars which allow her to track aircraft and missiles up to 120 miles away as well as a missile system with a 20 mile range.

She is equipped with sonar to detect submarines and a helicopter armed with torpedoes and depth charges, meaning she can take the fight to submarines miles away from the ship.

Her motto is “Mare ditat rosa decorat”, which means “The sea enriched but the rose adorns”.

Since she was commissioned, HMS Montrose has covered 420,377 miles. She has a maximum range of some 7,500 miles without needing to refuel and a total displacement of 4,950 tonnes, according to the Royal Navy.

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