MOST of the 170 strong crew of HMS Marlborough will be spending Christmas with their families after more than four months on exercise in the Gulf of Oman.

The Royal Navy frigate has returned from exercise in the Gulf and steams into her home base at Portsmouth tomorrow after calling at Plymouth on the way.

The Duke Class frigate, which carries some of the Navy's most advanced weapon systems, set sail for the Gulf on September 3, more than a week before the atrocities in New York.

The Marlborough, whose crew was given the freedom of its namesake town in 1996, sailed for the Gulf to take part in a joint forces exercise called Saif Sareea. It was hosted by Oman and conducted together with the Sultan of Oman's own forces.

A Navy spokesman said: "As the ship sailed from Portsmouth no- one could have forecast the real world changes that would be brought about by the attacks of September 11."

The ship was upgraded for the new level of threat and the spokesman said that the exercise provided useful training for both UK and Omani forces.

During her three months at sea the Marlborough has visited Salerno and Civitavecchia in Italy, Muscat in Oman, and Goa and Bombay in India.

She hosted successful UK defence industry days in India and Italy, and undertook a number of official duties re-forging what the Navy described as existing strong relations with both the India and Omani governments.

On returing home, HMS Marlborough will go into dry dock for maintenance and for an equipment update.

Commanding officer Captain Duncan Potts said: "Whilst my crew and I are obviously very pleased to be on our way home, I am acutely aware that many friends and associates who expected to return along with us, have been re-tasked to remain in the Gulf region for some time to come.

"Our thoughts are with them today and their loved ones, I know that many families have been disappointed by these changes."

Captain Potts said that by remaining in the Gulf the task force continued to provide real and valuable support to the ongoing Allied operations in the fight against terrorism.

"I believe their contribution is important and will help to ensure a safer world for us all," he said.

"We can take strength from the knowledge that our people are well trained, well equipped and are amongst friends. We look forward to their safe return."