THE government has announced that HMS Cornwall, currently in the Gulf following the huge Exercise Saif Sareea 2, will be the only Devonport-based ship staying on, as part of the war-effort against terrorism.

The news that HMS Cornwall would remain in the Gulf, and would be reassigned to Operation Veritas, was given in the House of Commons by Armed Forces minister, Adam Ingram.

The Type 22 frigate, which has links with The Cornish Times, will be joined in Operation Veritas by aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious which will be re-equipped for helicopter operations, assault ship HMS Fearless, a submarine presence to launch Tomahawk missiles, the destroyer HMS Southampton, and seven Royal Fleet auxiliaries including RFA Sir Percivale which has links with Fowey.

A Devonport Naval base spokeswoman said another Devonport ship, HMS Ocean, which has also been involved in Saif Seerea, is returning for a maintenance period before Christmas - but it has not been discounted that she will go back to the Gulf.

She explained: 'As we have taken on a very long term commitment military strategy takes into consideration that the ships will take over from each other over time. Cornwall has stayed behind at the start, but another ship will relieve her.' She added, however, that they could not make public the timescale.

In the meantime the priority is families, and organising events at Christmas for those whose loved ones would not be home for December 25.

The families of the personnel on HMS Cornwall were among those visited by Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, earlier this week.

These included Linda, who works at Devonport and is the mother of 21-year-old Air Engineering Mechanic David Smith, who is based at Culdrose and is on a Sea King helicopter on board HMS Cornwall.

David is allowed a telephone call a week. Linda, herself, spoke to Prince Charles and said he was genuinely sympathetic that her son would not be home for Christmas.

HMS Cornwall is a general purpose warship with 250 personnel. She will be tasked with providing HMS Illustrious with close range air defence.