HMS Defender leave Portsmouth on Monday as the Type 45 destroyer leaves on her second major deployment.
The destroyer will spend nine months in the Middle East after taking over from sister ship HMS Duncan.
HMS Defender is the fifth of the Type 45 destroyers built for the Royal Navy. The ship completed her first sea trials in October–November 2011, and was commissioned during March 2013.
The Type 45 destroyers were built to replace the Type 42 destroyers. The National Audit Office reported that, during an “intensive attack”, a single Type 45 could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five Type 42 destroyers operating together.
Admiral Sir Alan West, former First Sea Lord, stated that it would be the Royal Navy’s most capable destroyer ever, as well as the world’s best air-defence ship.
Commander Stephen Higham said:
“We are ready to undertake missions across the military spectrum ranging from counter piracy and disaster relief to defence engagement and high-intensity war fighting. We will be working closely with our coalition partners and allies and playing a key role in promoting Britain’s interests overseas and keeping our country safe.”
The vessel will pass Round Tower at 10:10am.
it,s just a shame the original target of 12 type 45,s were not kept…even 8 that were ordered would have been better especially when the QE carriers enter service…
More would have been a good idea, but realistically we don’t have the manpower to cover another 2 or more destroyers on top of the 2 new carriers.