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Okay, maybe a little background first; my family has a very long military history, and for a while I resisted the temptation to join the forces like my father, and his father before him, and his... you get the idea, I just wanted to go against the grain.

However, for a number of years now I have been seriously considering a life as a warfare-officer in the RN, but I have always repressed it since my fiancée was never too keen on the idea. Now, she seems okay with it and thinks she can cope. The question is (finally, I hear you say) - she lives in Birmingham, and although I know periods at sea vary considerably, how often am I likely to see her? Every three months or so? Every six? The RN website wasn't terribly clear about this, so I though I'd ask the people who'll tell it to me straight.

For example, what's the longest/shortest voyage you've had, and what would you say the average length of time away would be?

As I've said, sorry if this is a real newbie question, but it'd really help her to understand/cope if I let her know what she's in for in advance. Of course, if it's normally over 9/10 months, I won't have to worry about it, 'cause she'll leave me anyway!! lol

mmm well my dad was in the forces and the longestr time he was at sea was 6month, BUT he was a submariner.....
i dont think i welfare officer goes to sea that much, i could be wrong.. i am pretty sure it more of an on shore trade

hope i could help

Depends on your ship and what operations you are involved in at the time. Any deployments (shore) longer than six months i believe you can take your spouse with.
Warfare training will take up to two years and this is spread across sea training, HMS Collingwood, and Dartmouth.
Deployments really can vary in length but the problem might not be how long you are away for but how often. A lot of ships are going out for short sharp periods and then long deployments. However with the introduction of harmony time you are now "guaranteed" 435 days shore time in your three years service on a ship (do not know if that is the same as subs).