The UK Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Albion, commanded by Colonel Tim Neild, docked at the international port of Ho Chi Minh City on September 3, beginning its four-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.


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Amphibious assault ship HMS Albion (Source: ukdefencejournal.org.uk)


The visit is one of a series of activities to mark the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties (September 11, 1973-2018), and to implement contents of agreements signed between the two countries’ defence ministries, thus helping to strengthen the bilateral friendship and defence cooperation. 

Officers of the ship are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to leaders of the HCM City People’s Committee, the High Command of Military Region 7 and the High Command of Navy Zone 2. 

They will also participate in friendly sport exchanges with Vietnamese soldiers of the High Command of Military Region 7 and the High Command of Navy Zone 2.

The ship crew includes 353 officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and civilian personnel. The ship also carries a marine unit of 202 officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers during its visit to HCM City. 

HMS Albion is an amphibious transport dock of the UK Royal Navy, the first of the two-ship Albion class. With the length of 176 metres and beam of 28.9 metres and displacement of 18,500 tonnes, it is one of the newest ships of the UK Royal Navy and provides an amphibious assault capability.-VNA