British destroyer ‘fights off’ Harrier jets in Mediterranean exercise

Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan has been protecting a US Navy task group in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of a regional security mission, according to a press release.

The Portsmouth-based warship deployed at the end of May and, after intensive training and a short stop in Cyprus, linked up with two US Navy task forces – the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Carrier Strike Group and USS Wasp’s Amphibious Ready Group.

“I am proud of what my ship’s company have achieved in such an extremely short period,” said Commanding Officer, Commander Dan Lee in the news release.

“As a team they rose to the challenge and with FOST support achieved the extremely high standards required to ensure we are ready for anything asked of us.”

Duncan joined the USS Wasp’s task group in early July, soon after the vessel demonstrated her capabilities during an air defence exercise, which saw the Type 45 fight off attacks from Harrier jets from USS Wasp. This all comes during a busy time for Duncan, which underwent weapons training and a FOST training package. It resulted in the sailors successfully navigating an exercise involving multiple incidents a week after deploying, as highlighted in the news release.

A short stop in Gibraltar followed for a visit to some familiar, and, for some on their first overseas visit, less familiar haunts, including Casemates Square and seeing the infamous apes during the even more infamous Rock Run – a race at first light from the dockyard to the top of the mountain which dominates the Overseas Territory. Next up was a training package that saw Duncan conduct a Thursday War – a war-fighting and damage control exercise, which puts previous training into practice.

This phase required 50 per cent of the ship’s company working around the clock 24/7, providing increased readiness of workforce and equipment. During this period there were several gunnery shoots, firing all surface weapon systems multiple times.

This six-day training period ended in a final assessed exercise, with Duncan proving her ability to fight at the same time as dealing with multiple incidents on board. The ship then visited Souda Bay, Crete, for stores replenishment, a weapon and sensor trials period, and phase three training period and boarding accreditation.

Since completing this intense training period, alongside normal maintenance and training routines, the ship’s company have enjoyed a hands-to-bathe in the Mediterranean Sea and a short port visit to Limassol, Cyprus. Duncan has most recently been in Catania, Italy.

More about the ship

The Daring class consists of six Type 45 destroyers (HMS Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan)  that were purpose built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare. The destroyers all feature a ‘clean’ exterior superstructure thanks to their deck equipment and life rafts being concealed behind panels.

The Type 45 destroyers are fitted with a Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS45), which provides voice, intercom, data links and conference calls – both internally and externally. This comms suite also includes a Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) system for total awareness of the ship’s surroundings.

Armed with the Sea Viper missile system, the vessels can target and destroy multiple targets simultaneously. Designed to protect both land and sea forces from aircraft attacks and defend the naval fleet against supersonic anti-ship missiles, Sea Viper is the principal weapon system of the Daring Class of destroyers. Comprising of long-range and missile-directing radars, a combat control centre and vertical missile silos, Sea Viper can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously.