THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994              TAG: 9411110666
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

FROM ONE NORFOLK TO ANOTHER BRITISH WARSHIP VISITS ITS U.S. NAMESAKE

Capt. James F. Perowne won't return to Plymouth, England, until next week, and he couldn't help feeling a little homesick Thursday morning.

Under a slate-gray sky and in a steady drizzle, Perowne brought the British warship HMS Norfolk up the choppy Elizabeth River and docked at the Nauticus International Pier.

``We are delighted to be here,'' he said. ``In living memory, this is the first time an HMS Norfolk has visited Norfolk. And the weather is like Plymouth in the winter.''

The Norfolk, the sixth Royal Navy warship to bear the name, has been at sea nine months this year. It participated in weapon trials off the Bahamas and was on standby during the U.N. embargo of Haiti.

A quick look around the ship, a 440-foot frigate, shows some similarities with American warships: high-tech missile and gunnery systems, torpedoes and an assault helicopter armed with torpedoes and depth charges.

But the differences stand out. Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip hang in the ward room. Cases of Guinness and Foster beer are stacked in a passageway.

``We drink alcohol,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Andy Davison, the ship's public relations officer. ``Mostly with supper. Not too much, of course.''

The 167 crew members, including 12 officers, have a busy agenda for their six-day stay, from cocktail parties to sporting events.

When the Norfolk pulled in Thursday, a famous fan was along for the ride. Tom Clancy, author of ``The Hunt for Red October'' and other techno-thrillers, became friends with Perowne nine years ago while researching his book ``Red Storm Rising.''

``I'm just bumming around,'' said Clancy, who brushed off questions about new projects. ``I don't talk about works in progress.

``I've really had fun the last few days. If there was an Olympic competition for hospitality, the Brits would win.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI/Staff

Welcoming guests Thursday to the HMS Norfolk, from left, are Amanda

Webb, Tommy Donachie, and Steve Corner.

A crewman watches the HMS Norfolk approach the Nauticus pier.

by CNB