The slow deployment of HMS Dragon to defend a British military base in Cyprus has sparked fears of Britain's naval decline. The Type 45 destroyer, based in Portsmouth, was announced for deployment a week ago but has only just left dock, with the journey expected to take another five days.
Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Monday that crews had been working “tirelessly, 22 hours a day” to ready the ship. Sources within the Ministry of Defence described the efforts as herculean, compressing a process that typically takes six weeks into just six days.
The delay has prompted claims that Britain’s proud naval history has been shamed, as the government faces scrutiny over its ability to project military power rapidly. The destroyer is tasked with defending against potential Iranian attacks on a UK base in Cyprus.
