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A Royal Navy destroyer was dispatched to protect British forces after a drone strike on Cyprus, but spent three days lingering in the English Channel before finally leaving UK waters.
The £1 billion air-defence warship, HMS Dragon, sailed from HMNB Portsmouth on Tuesday but did not exit British waters until yesterday, despite being ordered to rush to the eastern Mediterranean following an attack on the British base at RAF Akrotiri.
The Type 45 destroyer, one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced air-defence ships, had already experienced a week-long delay for repairs before its departure. Shortly after leaving Portsmouth Harbour, the ship switched off its transponder, which normally broadcasts its position to other vessels. Instead of heading directly into the Atlantic, the destroyer spent three days transiting the English Channel before passing Land’s End and heading south.
At one point, the vessel was scheduled to stop at HMNB Devonport for a crew change, but this plan was later abandoned after senior commanders ordered the ship to proceed with its deployment.
The warship was sent following orders from Keir Starmer after an Iranian drone struck RAF Akrotiri on 1 March.
The drone evaded air defences and hit a hangar used by US surveillance aircraft, located near family accommodations on the base. Senior officers subsequently ordered the evacuation of military dependents due to fears of further strikes.
This episode has raised questions about Britain’s military readiness, as none of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers was at sea when the drone attack occurred.
While three were classified as operational, including HMS Dragon, the vessel was still in dry dock at that time, without weapons fitted and surrounded by scaffolding.
Sailors and engineers worked around the clock to prepare the ship for deployment, loading Sea Viper missiles and supplies. Navy sources indicated that the crew managed to compress six weeks of preparation into just six days.
Despite their efforts, the delays have intensified criticism regarding the UK’s military preparedness, particularly as tensions with Iran escalated.
Former First Sea Lord Alan West slammed the government, saying: “There is no understanding in government of the importance of maritime power. There isn’t a single warship between Singapore and Gibraltar. It’s astonishing that no one had the geopolitical sense to make these decisions earlier.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The deployment is intended to help safeguard UK assets and interests in the region.”
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