HMS Cumberland is due back in Malta today after her second rescue mission to save foreigners caught up in Libya’s spiralling civil war.
Some 200 civilians – many of them oil workers from refineries in eastern Libya – boarded the frigate in driving rain in rebel-held Benghazi yesterday.
The port is the focal point of the international evacuation effort and several hundred Britons are still thought to be spread across the country.
Most have been brought home by a combined Foreign Office-military rescue mission, Operation Deference, with charter planes bringing home Brits from Tripoli and RAF Hercules swooping into the desert to collect oil workers.
In the Royal Navy’s case, HMS York has been diverted from her voyage to the Falklands and is in Grand Harbour awaiting instructions.
As for Cumberland, she picked up 69 Britons and 138 civilians of other nationalities on her first trip to Benghazi on Thursday.
It was the small hours of Saturday before the warship reached Malta after a very rough crossing of the Mediterranean.
“It was a very tiring journey,” said evacuee Phil Douglas from Craigo, near Montrose, “but under the circumstances it was fantastic.”
The oil worker was full of praise for his rescuers.
“Many people in the Royal Navy have gone beyond the call of duty to help civilians stranded far from the UK. I can’t fault their performance in any way,” he added.
“Everyone looked after us absolutely superbly, the food was very very good, better than we get in the desert, so we were very happy.”
Throughout the crossing, the Fighting Sausage’s sailors provided food, water and medical attention to the men, women and children rescued from Benghazi.
“I am very proud of the way the entire ship’s company reacted to this challenge,” Capt Steve Dainton, Cumberland’s Commanding Officer, told his men and women after the first run to Benghazi.
“It has been hard work, but thank you for your superb performance, well done.”
One of Cumberland's leading hands carries a girl evacuated from Benghazi ashore in Malta. Picture: Cpl Randall, RLC
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