As part of the HMS Dragon’s long-term commitment in the Middle East, the vessel will make a quick stop at the Gibraltar Naval Base on Monday, in order to stock up on supplies, as well as to conduct a maritime security patrol.

As the fourth of the Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers she was commissioned into the Navy’s fleet in April last year.  Since then the highly capable multi-role ship and her190 strong crew have undergone intensive sea trials and training off the UK coast.  

This will be the vessel’s first deployment and will see the ship and crew spend seven months on operations helping to keep the seas safe, by preventing maritime terrorism, countering piracy, hunting drug runners and deterring human trafficking before returning to her base in Portsmouth.

Commenting on the deployment, Commanding Officer of the HMS Dragon, Captain Iain Lower noted, ‘it is with immense pride that HMS Dragon sails from Portsmouth for her first operational deployment. Since leaving the builder’s yard in Scotstoun nearly two years ago and through intense combat system and propulsion trials and operational sea training our focus has been about this moment but we deploy with a real sense of excitement, anticipation and confidence in Dragon’s ability to meet the challenges ahead’.