HMS Richmond, the town's adopted ship, which helped in relief operations after Hurricane Ivan hit the Caribbean, returned to the UK on Wednesday.

The Type 23 frigate, which is back in Portsmouth, sent medics and medical supplies to the islands of Grenada and Grand Caymen, which bore the brunt of the storms in September. Dozens of casualties were treated in hospitals on the islands, with HMS Richmond's team supported by colleagues from the tanker RFA Wave Ruler.

The ship was the first vessel on the scene at Grenada, declared a national disaster area, and was used by the prime minister, Keith Mitchell, as a base to liaise with relief agencies and to broadcast messages to his nation through BBC World Service. Emergency service co-ordination was run from the ship and her Lynx helicopter ferried key personnel around the island.

Engineers from the vessel helped restore power to Grenada's badly-damaged radio station and cleared the airport and roads of debris. The ship's company then repaired damage to the British High Commissioner's offices.

After two days on the island, the 183-strong crew made a fast passage to the island of Grand Caymen.

Teams from the ship and Wave Ruler gave first aid to casualties ashore, while engineers repaired generators and communications systems at the hospital and emergency operations centre. Many of the ship's company also distributed food and water to hurricane shelters housing about 1,800 people.

Though hurricane relief work dominated the six-month deployment, HMS Richmond spent much of it on counter-drugs operations across the Caribbean, working closely with the US coastguard. Surveillance operations resulted in two suspect vessels being boarded, but nothing illegal was found.

Goodwill port visits also featured in the ship's itinerary, including stop-offs at Bermuda, Key West, Belize, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Martinique and Barbados.

The commanding officer, Commander Mike McCartain, said: "We have had a long and eventful deployment but have made a difference everywhere we have gone, and to make a real difference to people in such desperate need as those we have experienced is truly rewarding."