A Royal Navy warship fresh from the success of a massive high seas cocaine seizure has docked in Bermuda.

The crew of HMS arrived yesterday for some well earned rest and relaxation ? after delivering a ?sledgehammer? blow to drug traffickers when they intercepted cocaine worth $350 million in the Western Caribbean.

Commanding Officer Captain Simon Ancona told how Royal Marine sharpshooters on board a high-speed Lynx helicopter blasted the engines of a speedboat carrying two-tons of the Class A drug, ending a dramatic escape bid. HMS was in the Caribbean waiting to deal with the possible aftermath of a major hurricane when it ?got lucky? and received a drugs tip-off from the US Coast Guard.

They were alerted to the smugglers? 40 foot speedboat because of its large engines, often used for non-stop, cross-continent narcotic deliveries. Capt. Ancona said that despite repeated radio warnings ? in both English and Spanish ? the traffickers tore away at high speed on rough seas and refused to stop. ?They were determined not to stop,? the captain added. ?They were moving at up to 40 knots.?

Machine guns were fired ahead of the ?go-fast? three times before eagle-eyed Marines, with 50 mm sniper rifles, took out the boat?s engines as it tried to speed away. He said this was the first time this tactic had been needed by the Royal Navy to stop such a vessel. Four South Americans were arrested after the massive haul of pure cocaine was discovered in about 90 mail sack-sized bags. The traffickers were handed over to the US authorities.

Last month?s cocaine bust, described as a ?sledgehammer blow? against dealers by the UK Government, marks a major success for the Navy. The total street value of drugs seized in the last two years stood at more than the ?950 million even before that massive seizure.

Capt. Ancona said the high-profile drug busts were important, but the presence of imposing boats like HMS provided a ?physical deterrent? in the battle against trafficking.

The warship?s three-day stay in Bermuda is the final stop in a four-month tour of duty of the Caribbean ? and northwest Atlantic. During that time the frigate?s crew has visited Grenada, Barbados, Florida, Belize, Cayman Islands and Jamaica, and it is due back in Plymouth, England, before Christmas.

A reception for Government and local dignitaries was due to be held on the warship last night. HMS , the 16th Navy warship to bear this historic name, helps Government agencies in the fight against international drug smuggling. But its primary role is to be on standby to provide humanitarian aid to countries hit by hurricanes.

And Capt. Ancona said the stop-off in Bermuda underlined the Royal Navy?s close ties to the Island, and highlighted what help would be available if there was any repeat of Hurricane Fabian.

He added: ?HMS is in the Caribbean (and northwest Atlantic) to demonstrate the British Government?s commitment to the region including being on standby to provide humanitarian relief, if required, and to assist with the international war on drug trafficking.?

To help in crisis situations, the 4,000-ton, 148-metre long Navy frigate, which carries eight harpoon missiles that can be launched 80 miles, is equipped with a mini operating theatre for on-board medics. And every crew member is fully trained firefighter. Her crew of 250 operate the latest weapons and communications system, including a 4.5-inch gun.