THREE months ago, in the middle of the South Atlantic, HMS Southampton was rolling around in a huge winter swell, with rain lashing her decks.

In the midst of ashen, sea-sick faces, a rating announced he had counted how much of the deployment was left.

"Only 100 days to go," he said, then skipped on the spot and shot off down a corridor. Yesterday, the long wait was finally over for the crew and their loved ones, as the Type 42 destroyer returned to her home port of Portsmouth.

As she approached land, the excitement on board bounced off the walls.

In every cabin, bags were packed and snapshots stowed, no longer needed with the families themselves eagerly waiting on land.

The 236-strong crew clicked into Alpha Procedure, wearing their best uniforms and standing to attention on deck.

On the jetty, hundreds of loved ones, many of whom had risen at dawn to be there, beamed and waved in welcome.

The sailors scanned the crowds, then joyfully locked eyes with their relatives.

Once alongside, just metres from HMS Victory - one of the Navy's most famous historic ships - the band of the Royal Marines appropriately struck up with the tune When the Saints Come Marching In.

First up the gangway was 18-month-old Sam Trevor.

Gently guided by his mother Kelly, the toddler tottered into the arms of his father, Commander Mark Trevor.

It was the first time the ship's commanding officer had seen his son walk.

On the flight deck the throng laughed, cried, hugged and kissed.

Within a matter of minutes the greetings were over and sailors, who had been standing to attention on board just half an hour before, had changed out of their uniforms and were on their way home.

Commander Trevor said they were ecstatic to have returned: "The last six months in the South Atlantic and South America have been busy but rewarding times for the ships - as many readers know from following our progress in the Daily Echo.

"The men and women of HMS Southampton feel a real sense of pride in their achievements, which range from contributing to the defence of the Falkland Islands to helping street children in Brazil."

Three of the crew were returning to Southern Hampshire.

For LOM Richard Pattison, 31, from Fareham, embracing wife Helen ("definitely the better half") and children Bethany, five, and Sam, three, was the perfect birthday present.

He said they were going out to celebrate tonight in Park Gate.

Helen Pattison said: "It's been a long six months - I've been counting the days."

Chef "Stan" Matthews, 20, from Eastleigh, who has spent the past six months preparing hundreds of meals a day, said he was looking forward to hitting his favourite night spots, including Martine's and Charlie Parker's.

"It's good to know I'm going home.

"I'm not going to go anywhere near a kitchen for four weeks. KFC is going to cook for me," he said.

And Saints fan Sub Lt Nick Brooks, from Shirley, was greeted by his parents Yvonne and Robert, as well as girlfriend Laura Bailey, 21.

He was looking forward to listening to Southampton FC's first game of the season on the radio today. "I woke up this morning with a smile on my face," he said.

After taking exams, Sub Lt Brooks will go to HMS Sultan, in Gosport, where he will study to become a submariner.

HMS Southampton has been on six months' deployment in the South Atlantic, where she was acting as the Falkland Islands guard ship.

During her time there, she took part in the Brazilian Fleet Review, visited South Georgia twice and her crew were tested in two major exercises, Cape Petrel and Purple Strike.

In a month's time HMS Southampton will go into maintenance before taking part in a joint maritime course off Scotland in November.

She will depart on her next major deployment to the Gulf in around a year.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.