Type 45 Destroyer HMS Defender has opened fire off the coast of the UK as part of gunnery training.

The vessel is sharpening her skills ahead of deployment.

The purpose of gunnery training is self explanatory, crews need to remain familiar with how to operate the weapons they’re responsible for to ensure the ship can fight.

HMS Defender is joining the rest of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Carrier Strike Group in Exercise Strike Warrior which is due to begin shortly off the Scottish coast.

This exercise is designed to prepare the Carrier Strike Group for their upcoming global deployment.

HMS Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Carrier Strike Group 21’ deployment will feature visits to India, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore.

According to the Ministry of Defence, on the 28-week deployment spanning 26,000 nautical miles the Carrier Strike Group will conduct engagements with Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan and India as part of the UK’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region.

You can read more about the global deployment by clicking here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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46 COMMENTS

  2. Need to sharpen up those skills. They will definitely be escorted through South China Sea by a very large contingent of PLAN warships. Maybe even their type 001 or 002 carrier might make an appearance. Also expect huge overflights and being continually buzzed.

    • If they know you are Trigger happy like the Turks were with the Russians and French they won’t buzz you ! Because they have 2 choices to retreat or to start an unnecessary serious war . It’s a situation of who blinks first? I would not want to blink first with states like that who respect strength only. As soon they get close to the Chinese they must start firing and claim we are conducting exercise and warm them to avoid accidents , that would deter the Chinese from getting closer . But if idle they will get closer!

      • Just my opinion, not that it matters anymore than anyone else’s on here, I don’t actually think China really gives a damn what a few British and Allied Ships, Aircraft (8 F35’s is all we can muster) and Submarines will actually be trying to do so far from home in their back yard. Take a look at their Inventory of Ships, Aircraft and Submarines not to mention the 1,400,000,000. population. It’s not like we are at War, nor is it 1982.

        • I am not so sure.

          The point is more to demonstrate that there is strength and resolve.

          USN sends one of theirs, French send CDG, USMC send a Gator, UK sends QEC that is a lot of pause for thought.

          Maybe sending a multi carrier force in one go would send a bigger message but that might get a bit OTT.

          The Chinese (and the Russians) do respect strength and certainly the Russians very much reappraised the UK after UK kept fighting and sustaining losses in ’82. I agree it is not ’82 but in order to prevent son-of-’82 occurring you need to demonstrate that the capability is there and deployable once a year. As has been said a good few times (I seem to recall you concurred) if a CSG was sailed to the Falklands every few years ’82 would never have happened.

          So in this case I think sending the CSG on a PHONOPS is very much the right thing to do.

          • As I mentioned though, It’s just my opinion and yes I agree with you on all your points, heck, I would rather have not got involved truth be known but…. and this is a very big but, China is on another planet when it comes to military strength. 8 F35’s on a deck floating around the SCS will not worry a nation hell bent on World domination at a rate not seen since Adolf ….. As a joint show of force and part of the greater Picture then, yes mate…. I’m all for it.

          • I have to disagree mate. The Chinese can only have wet dreams about putting 5th gen capability to sea, send it to the far side of the world, and sustain it for 7 months or more, along with some of the worlds finest escorts and nuclear sub. They simply don’t have that level of capability despite the numbers they possess. The statement goes much further than the number of aircraft on deck. And 18 F35’s is a very very capable airwing to take to sea for the first time. And we are not heading that way to start a war. Transiting a part of the SCS will only be a very small part of the overall 7 month deployment. 👍

          • But they do have @ 100 modern Frigates and Destroyers not to mention over 1000 Combat aircraft and countless other craft of all types. I’d hate to see them all turn up to welcome us !

          • Me neither 😆But just like every nation, they will have the same problems with maintenance, refits, crew training, availability. How many of these 1000 combat aircraft are in any operational fit state at any one time. Nations like China and Russia are very good at making the numbers look good on paper, but the reality can be very different. And what is the experience and training like. It’s not like they take part in Joint Warriors or Red Flags every year or had years of experience in Afghan or Iraq. And it’s not like a conflict would be a QE task group against the whole PLAN. The west and allied nations will have 29 vessels that will be able to put 5th gen F35 capability to sea. China will have zero. Now that’s food for thought.

          • Let’s just all keep in mind that China could just as easily send their carrier through the English channel

          • Yeah, there’s a lot of willie waving going on and each side will have what they see as good reasons to wave theirs.

            It is what it is but its a bit saddening that we’re so advanced in some respects but we’ve not really evolved since we lived in caves in others. 😞

          • They could, The English Channel is international waters, but whether they would be able to is a different matter. Sending and sustaining a carrier group on the other side of the world is a task that few navies can manage. Only the US, UK, and France can really manage the task, it is the mark of a true blue water navy. China, despite its growth in naval tonnage and ambition is still a regional navy when it comes to power projection and complex naval operations. A moot point perhaps if your country is adjacent to the SCS, but for anyone expecting to see a Chinese carrier group off the coast of say Florida, La Rochelle or Kent by return, well it won’t be today or tomorrow.

          • They can’t. They do not have the capability to send a carrier task group thousands of miles from home, and sustain it for 7 months. And they don’t have 5th gen capability to put to sea.

          • Morning Mate, funny enough I was just reading an article about China looking for a Base on the west coast of Africa to base Subs and Aircraft Carriers. It’s on the News Now site or Latest World defence breaking news 24/7. They are deffo heading our way.

          • Google Economist Port ownership: the Chinese have 33% of world ports under their control; the takeover of the Sri Lankan port just one more sign of their ambition / ability to interdict our SLOCs.

            China needs facing down and a combined carrier group accompanied by other 5 eyes plus ROCs, JPN, Singapore and Indian would give them pause… that and allied subs surfacing around the area.

            China are bullies who think their political doctrine should rule far and wide. No further should be made clear to them.

          • Yes I see what they are doing with the money we are all chucking at them and I see how they are Empire Building, I also see what Military equipment they are building including Aircraft Carriers, Landing ships, Amphibious ships, Frigates, destroyers and the likes…. You don’t do all that without a reason. I agree about us sending some sort of message but fear it’s akin to Beating a Wasp nest with a stick.

          • China already has Berthing rights in Sri Lanka I believe, as well as a Dock Facility in Djibouti, so yes they are edging closer. The Icing on the Cake would be similar options on the West or North African Coast enabling easier Deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.

          • Why would we worry about that? Russia used to do it all the time when their carrier was operational. It’s China that’s objecting to freedom of navigation, not us.

        • Agree, it’s all chest-puffing. A lot distracts from the domestic agenda in each country. I agree with it from freedom of navigation rules though.
          China is wanting access to the wider Indian/Pacific Oceans. Understandable, but the economic clout they have speaks louder than military equipment.

        • Yup mate, I know…. I read it in the Daily Star a few year back !!!! seriously though, It’s not another Cod Wars Scenario here, This is a potential WW3 in my book….

        • In peace, they will continue to play along but I fear this is just the start……. A bit like a Boxer weighing up his next opponent.

        • Next place for the massive Chinese fishing fleet … Kiribas – Kiribati? This could cause a real stir in the n’hood.
          I wonder if there is a food problem in China if they do any fish farming? Such a large population to feed. India is just as big.

    • We will call them or the Radio, they will call us….
      Everyone will gob off about intentions, driving safely , keeping clear and not to make stupid turns infront of vessels.
      The TG will get buzzed by aircraft.
      The PLAN will get buzzed by aircraft.
      Everyone on all sides will be trying to tickle the other side into breaking their EMCON plan so that they can listen, record and analyse transmissions from radio, radar, jammers, sonar etc. Add to that loads of picture taking and analysis of capabilities in doing maneuvers, RAS, Flight Deck Ops, High Seas practise firings of weapons

      I would not be surprised if an invite for dinner on QE goes out to the PLAN flagship which would be declined… no harm in asking…
      If there is a man overboard or an SAR shout (for real) everyone will stop the posturing anyway and do what all mariners do and make best efforts to save life.

      Its all part of the Great Game.
      Everyone did it in the Cold War.
      Its still happening now and it never really stopped.

  3. A single 4.5″ will never be as impressive as a full broadside of 8 x 15″ from yester year.

    • Hi JJ, I just hope that all UK ships have all their Harpoons on board too as aren’t these 4.5s only good out to 20-24km?

      • I didn’t see all the footage from the weekend departures but at least one of the 45’s didn’t have Harppon fitted. Gunbuster probably best to comment. I think he saw both in detail. P

        • Both T23 have harpoon.
          1 x T45 has launcher frame work but no missiles…it may get them at a point prior to departure. As they are conducting a 45 shoot they will need to Ammo ship anyway.
          They could do it in UK or even Gib.
          The other T45 has no Harpoon frames but lots of extra aerials fitted and they are not there for receiving Pearl or Star TV when in the SCS!

          • Hi Gunbuster, I just don’t understand all this under-arming of ASMs in the T45s. Aren’t the latest block of harpoons still one of cheaper missiles? I’m not a military person but if you’re going to send a $1bn vessel out as a deterrent surely you want to have some hardware armament to show for it!? And I will harp on about this too, putting some 48 Camm in 4*6 silos (if there’s room?) down the sides of the Asters would muscle these ships up!
            Quentin

  4. I believe a fourth is planned.
    15 Apr 2021

    “China’s New Aircraft Carrier Is In Same League As US Navy’s Ford ClassThe Chinese Navy is radically modernizing its capabilities. Chief among these are a fleet of aircraft carriers. A new satellite image clearly shows the Type-003 aircraft carrier taking shape in Shanghai, and it is the largest so far.”
    “One significant difference compared to the Ford Class is that the Type-003 is not expected to use nuclear propulsion. But it should still have a more modern propulsion system than the Soviet era steam turbines on the Liaoning and Shandong. Whether it uses advanced electric drive, known as integrated electric propulsion, remains to be seen however. While the lack of nuclear propulsion may limit its operational range, at-sea replenishment ships will travel with it to keep it topped up.”

    https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/04/chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-is-in-same-league-as-us-navys-ford-class/

    • Yes and they are looking for a Base on the west coast of Africa which gives them another level of operational capability.

      • Pre 2004 tsunami they were actively looking to set up a Naval base in Myanmar opposite the Andaman Islands and with a direct rail link back to China. If military stay in power i wouldn’t be surprised if they looked at that again.

        • Well yes mate… History shows how Empires are built and this is History repeating itself in my book. “We” are now the little player in the big game, however people choose to see it. Britannia used to rule the waves but she only managed it due to the sheer numbers of ships. 😧

  5. Things are not just heating up in the south China Sea but all over that Pacific region and over fishing is rampant. China needs to sustain a population of 1.4bn and intends to fish wherever it wants without permission. That is why they claimed the South China Sea as their own territory and if they have 100s of naval vessels what are the Philippines and Indonesia going to do to stop them. A US carrier or the RN are never going to get involved in a military convict over China over fishing in someone else’s eez.

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