Sailing date for HMS Dragon as questions are also raised over HMS Prince of Wales' role in Iran conflict
HMS Dragon is leaving Portsmouth this afternoon to sail to help protect British troops in Cyprus.
The Type 45 destroyer was yesterday (March 9) at the Portsmouth Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility, and according to shipping movements was due to be moved to BOWS S berth. However she unexpectedly sailed from Portsmouth Harbour on Tuesday afternoon (March 10)
As previously reported by The News, the government confirmed on March 3 that the UK would be sending the Portsmouth-based warship, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, after RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone.
With half of the Royal Navy’s destroyers in the middle of maintenance and upgrades, Dragon was considered the most ready to deploy and has been spending the past week getting ready to go as originally she was preparing for something else.
But this has led to criticism that the Royal Navy is unable to be reactive to events and deploy ships to where they are needed immediately as a result of its reduced number of ships over the years.
Meanwhile questions are also being asked about HMS Prince of Wales following reports she has also been placed on five days’ notice to sail in response to Middle East crisis.
Currently in Portsmouth, the aircraft carrier is coming to the end of a maintenance period that followed her return from for Indo-Pacific deployment at the end of last year. However the carrier sails with an escort and questions are being asked as to which ships are available to accompany her.
Of the other five Type 45 destroyers, HMS Dauntless is undergoing maintenance following last year’s eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment alongside HMS Prince of Wales. HMS Diamond and HMS Defender are undergoing refits, while HMS Daring is coming to the end of a long-term ‘regeneration’ and is expected to be back in operation later this year and HMS Duncan is in need of maintenance.
But the government has poured cold water on the suggestions that the carrier, also the Royal Navy flagship, is being readied.
Today the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness. The MoD (Ministry of Defence) is increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment, but there is no decision taken to deploy her.”
The Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is also undergoing maintenance.