They last sailed together more than 30 years ago, experiencing and surviving attacks from Argentine forces in the Falklands War.
Now the 1982 crew of a Fife-based Royal Navy ship have gathered again in Rosyth for a reunion to mark a significant anniversary.
It was on June 8 1982 that HMS Plymouth, a leading vessel in the assault on the Falklands, was struck by four bombs dropped by enemy forces.
The ship, based at Rosyth Dockyard during her service, was severely damaged although helped dramatically by the failure of the Argentinian bombs to explode.
Five people were injured in the attack. To mark the occasion 31 years on, crew members from the ship assembled once again at their home port to mark the anniversary of the attack.
“It was very poignant at times,” said Jon Harrison, the ship’s leading seaman in 1982. “
“There was a great atmosphere and people had travelled from across Scotland and England to be there.
“We had a toast for those that could not be there but it was great to see so many old faces again. We certainly won’t be leaving it another 31 years though.”
Around 40 crew members from the Falklands tour were able to return to Fife for the evening and catch up with former colleagues.
HMS Plymouth would eventually be the location where Argentine forces in South Georgia would formally surrender to the British following their failed attempt at seizing the islands.
The drama was a far cry from their initial mission, with the frigate originially ordered to act as a guard ship in the Caribbean.
Jon added: “We were in Gibraltar and, while you are always on duty, the atmosphere was a bit more relaxed than it would have been if we knew we were going into action.
“We thought we were going to the sunshine of the Caribbean but were told we were going to the South Atlantic. The next stop from there is Antarctica.”
Jon lives in Rosyth, the port to where Plymouth returned following the conflict, and left the navy in 1983. He said that returning to Fife at the weekend was easy for many of the former crew who served on the ship during the Falklands War.
“I remember when we came back and people lined the dockyards,” he added.
“It was an incredible sight and I’ll never forget it. We all felt very proud.”
Photo by David Wardle