Iran: 'World-class' HMS Dragon gears up for Middle East op - when Royal Navy warship may leave Portsmouth
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Preparations are coming thick and fast for Portsmouth-based Royal Navy sailors as they’re set to be deployed in response to Middle East hostilities.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Tuesday (March 3) that Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and two Wildcat naval helicopters will be sent to defence Cyprus. This is in response to kamikaze drone strikes on RAF Akrotiri on Monday (March 2) - minimal damage was caused and there were no casualties.
Sailors are being deployed to protect British personnel, with families being evacuated from the base as a precaution. Defence Secretary John Healey said: “We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat. I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our Armed Forces personnel who have in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests.”
Navy Lookout reports that the ship’s company and support teams are moving quickly to prepare the ship to sail at short notice. HMS Dragon was seen in the Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility (UHAF) at HMNB Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
The destroyer was originally earmarked to become the flagship of Nato’s Standing NATO Maritime Group One after a maintenance period, but this has been expedited with munitions being loaded onto the vessel today. Navy Lookout reports that she is expected to sail early next week. Definitive timings and dates for her departure are listed on the King’s Harbour Master shipping movements.
The ship’s company completed Fleet Operational Sea Training in December, but the destroyer has not been to sea since then. She may need a brief workup while transiting to the Mediterranean and Middle East. Many expected that HMS Duncan would be the destroyer signalled for the departure, given she had recently completed gunnery exercises off the coast of Wales. She may be earmarked to join HMS Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier Strike Group on Operation Firecrest.
The prime minister faced a grilling in the House of Commons after US President Donald Trump launched a personal attack against him over the refusal to allow initial US strikes on Iran from British bases. Mr Trump said he was “not happy with the UK” over the extent of its support and that “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.
Sir Keir had later on Sunday agreed to allow America to use British military bases, but only for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites to protect countries being targeted by Tehran. Downing Street has insisted the US remains a “staunch” ally despite the remarks from Mr Trump, who criticised the Prime Minister in interviews with the Telegraph and Sun newspapers. Hostilities began after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday (February 28).
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson addressed the timeframe to which HMS Dragon might leave HMNB Portsmouth. They said: “We are reinforcing our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are deploying within days. They will reinforce our RAF Typhoons, F-35B jets, ground-based counter-drone teams, radar systems, and Voyager refuelling aircraft already deployed.
“Our jets are now flying continuous sorties to defend against indiscriminate Iranian strikes threatening UK people, interests, and bases. The Royal Navy are working as fast as possible to prepare HMS Dragon for deployment, including resupplying her air defence missiles at our ammunition facility in HMNB in Portsmouth.”
Issuing a joint statement, Portsmouth MPs Amanda Martin and Stephen Morgan said: “We are living in a volatile world, and that requires us to act with clarity, moral purpose, and a cool head. We will always defend our national interests, but it is not in our interest to become involved in an offensive war in the Middle East. It is, however, our duty to protect British lives.
“The situation over the weekend changed dramatically Iran’s indiscriminate attacks across the region pose a direct threat to hundreds of thousands of British nationals. It was right not to join offensive action, and it remains right that we will not do so. At the same time, we must ensure our forces and our people abroad are safe. he UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and the protection of British military personnel based there.
“These defensive operations, including the deployment of HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters, ensure the safety of our personnel and citizens while maintaining our commitment to a calm and measured response. We know many Portsmouth families have loved ones in the Navy, including our own families, and we can assure you that our Armed Forces are always ready to protect our country and its citizens. We continue to monitor the situation closely and urge all British nationals in the region to follow FCDO guidance. Portsmouth can be proud of the professionalism and bravery of the men and women serving in our Armed Forces, and we support them fully in carrying out this vital defensive mission.”