Homecomings and rain in paradise: RFA ships visit ports around the world
Ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been visiting major ports at home and abroad as they continue to support Royal Navy operations across the globe.
Portland saw the long-awaited homecoming of RFA Cardigan Bay, which has spent the past three years deployed to the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean.
The Royal Navy's director of people and training, Rear Admiral Jude Terry, watched the amphibious ship's return to Devon from on board RFA Tidespring.
"Grateful to @RFATidespring for giving me access to the bridge (and coffee!) to watch the homecoming of @RFACardiganBay," she said on X.
"Good discussions with sailors across all ranks and grades on both ships about current operations and career experiences in this crucial part of the RN. #BZ"
Thousands of nautical miles away in the Indian Ocean, RFA Argus arrived in the usual tropical paradise of Diego Garcia - except the weather was far from idyllic.
Images published by US Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia show the hospital ship arriving in heavy rain, with crew members on the deck getting soaked from the downpour.
The base, which is part of a disputed British overseas territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean, said the ship had been making a scheduled port visit.
RFA Argus is in the Indo-Pacific region as part of the inaugural Littoral Strike Group (South) deployment.
The other RFA ship involved in LRG South is RFA Lyme Bay, which recently set sail from Singapore after a "short but very busy" period of maintenance.
The Bay-class dock landing ship shared images of her setting sail from the island nation on social media, adding she was "ready for some sea time".
While it's not been confirmed when Argus and Lyme Bay will return home, it's thought they will be back in the UK in the coming months.
They have been taking part in exercises across the Indo-Pacific while also supporting the Gaza humanitarian efforts following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The RFA is the civilian branch of the Royal Navy, staffed by merchant sailors.
It provides logistic and operational support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines operations worldwide.
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