HMS Dragon has docked in the eastern Mediterranean after experiencing a “minor technical issue” with its water systems, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The Type-45 destroyer, deployed to defend British air bases in Cyprus amid the Iran war, will undergo a “routine logistics stop” and a “short maintenance period”.
The MoD confirmed that repairs to the onboard water systems will take place during the stop, but stressed the issue has not affected the ship’s operational capability. The warship remains able to sail at short notice “if required”. All 200 crew have continued to have access to water and catering.
An MoD spokesperson said: “HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance. HMS Dragon will remain at a very high level of readiness during this period, able to sail at short notice if required.”
The destroyer is one of six Royal Navy air defence ships, capable of tracking 1,000 objects from 250 miles away and firing up to eight Sea Viper missiles simultaneously. It was last pictured at the NATO base in Souda Bay, Crete, on March 23, having left Portsmouth on March 10 to reinforce security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after a drone strike.
Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty criticised the Government’s management, saying there was a “crushing inevitability” about the maintenance stop. He claimed the Government knew a Type-45 deployment was needed in January but failed to prepare, forcing HMS Dragon out of maintenance in just six days. The MoD reiterated that the UK maintains a robust defensive presence in the region, including Typhoon and F-35 jets, helicopters, and advanced counter-drone systems.
