Fresh HMS Dragon embarrassment as warship forced to dock less than a month after deploying
The ship, which is the only British warship in the region, has been forced to dock as tensions continue to rise.
The Royal Navy ship deployed to the Middle East following an Iranian backed attack on an RAF base in Cyprus has been forced to dock due to “technical issues”. HMS Dragon set sail for the Eastern Mediterranean on March 10, 10 days after a drone struck RAF Akrotiri.
However, less than a month after its deployment, the only warship in the region has been forced to dock after suffering issues with its water supplies affecting provisions to its sailors. According to the Daily Mail, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) initially denied the claims before later confirming that it had suffered ‘a minor technical issue with onboard water systems’. It is not thought that the issue prevented sailors from access to water or food.
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Defence officials maintain that a logistics stop had always been factored into the planning process for the ship’s deployment, which will now occur slightly earlier than planned while the issue is addressed.
While in port HMS’s Dragon’s weapons and other systems will be ‘further optimised’ allowing for what officials described as ‘greater flexibility for future deployments in the region’, the Daily Mail reported.
The Royal Navy type-45 destroyer will still be able to sail at short notice “if required”, the Ministry of Defence said.
The precise location of HMS Dragon has not been disclosed for security reasons.
Today the Ministry of Defence 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 the period, able to sail at short notice if required.
“The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean working in coordination with allies. This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and advanced counter-drone and air defence systems.”
It comes as the war in Iran shows no sign of de-escalation with Donald Trump threatening that “a whole civilization will die tonight”, if his demands are not met.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Iran is “conducting terrorist activity” against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as a deadline set by Donald Trump for Tehran to end its chokehold on the vital waterway looms.
As the UK urged “de-escalation” in the face of dire warnings by the US president, Mr Rubio said: “The whole world’s been impacted unfortunately because Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the Straits of Hormuz, and it’s a big problem for the world.
“I mean, this is a regime that doesn’t believe in laws, rules or anything like that.
“It’s a state sponsor of terrorism, so it’s not surprising that they’re now conducting terrorist activity against commercial vessels.”
