NORTHUMBERLAND Home – the Type 23 Frigate NORTHUMBERLAND has returned home after a seven month patrol to the Middle East and East Coast of Africa on counter-piracy and counter-narcotic operations.   The NORTHUMBERLAND sailed in October 2012 and the ship clocked up over 45,000 miles, crossed five time zones and visited 11 countries during this deployment.     During the patrol the ship conducted 71 boarding operations,   The NORTHUMBERLAND was relieved by sister ship KENT, the hand over taking place in the Red Sea – the NORTHUMBERLAND will now refit and is expected to return to operations in the region in summer 2014.