The government announced a week ago that HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer based in Portsmouth, would be deployed to defend a British military base in Cyprus from Iranian attacks. However, the ship has only just left dock and is expected to take another five days or more to reach its destination, prompting claims that Britain's naval history has been shamed.
The delay has raised questions about the readiness of the Royal Navy. Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Monday that navy crews had been working “tirelessly, 22 hours a day” to prepare the vessel. Sources within the Ministry of Defence described the efforts to make the destroyer seaworthy as “herculean”.
A process that typically takes six weeks has been nearly completed in six days, according to those involved. Despite this, the slow pace has drawn criticism, with some arguing that the situation reflects poorly on the UK's naval capabilities.
