(6th July 2001)
HMS Bulldog Ends Final Deployment
After 33 years of service, the coastal survey vessel HMS Bulldog returned to Devonport for the last time today, flying her decommissioning pennant.
HMS Bulldog sailed in January for her final deployment to the Gulf. Her main objective was to gather military data and to conduct hydrographic surveys off the coasts of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. She also participated in multinational exercise Arabian Gauntlet along with 30 warships from various nations (including Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster). Her final weeks in the region were spent surveying the south east shores of Oman, in preparation for Saif Sareea, a joint exercise due to take place later this year between the Royal Navy and Omani forces. For her final survey period of the deployment the ship has been operating nearer to home off the Isle of Man.
During her final deployment HMS Bulldog, the oldest Devonport based vessel, traveled over 20,000 nautical miles, spent 2,500 hours at sea and visited over 10 countries, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Doha, Djibouti, Italy, Crete, Greece, Spain and the Balearic Islands.
HMS Bulldog's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Adam James said: "The ship has undoubtedly enjoyed a long and distinguished career and it has been a privilege and honour for me to have been her last Commanding Officer."
HMS Bulldog will officially decommission on July 26th.