Where is HMS Dragon? Her journey explained as Royal Navy warship arrives in Gibraltar
HMS Dragon has arrived in Gibraltar, the latest phase of her closely watched journey to the Eastern Mediterranean to safeguard British personnel and assets as the US-Iran war continues.
The Type 45 destroyer departed Portsmouth on 10 March, meaning it has taken her seven days to reach Gibraltar on an assumed nautical passage of around 1,300 miles.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: "HMS Dragon is continuing her transit to the Eastern Mediterranean, where she will play a vital role in safeguarding UK assets and interests in the region.
"As part of her pre-planned programme, HMS Dragon will make a short stop in Gibraltar to take on stores and conduct a personnel changeover."
Prior to her arrival, a report in The Sun suggested HMS Dragon had "bobbed around" in the English Channel for several days immediately after leaving Portsmouth, which the newspaper termed a "ship shambles" and a "farce".
However, several commentators, including Navy Lookout, were quick to clarify that the vessel was likely to be conducting a series of safety drills as crews reacclimatised to maritime conditions after several months ashore.
So was HMS Dragon's departure unfeasibly slow, or was she simply going through necessary drills to ensure she was ready to face the conditions ahead of her? There's likely truth on both sides.
Departing for Gibraltar: What we know
Navy Lookout reports HMS Dragon spent several days in the South Coast Exercise Areas, a series of zones off the coast of Devon and Dorset where Navy vessels can prepare for longer journeys by conducting drills such as man overboard and calibrating equipment.
It's likely at least part of these drills were conducted with the support of the Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training, which is responsible for preparing warships for deployment.
Reports suggest HMS Dragon obtained FOST certification in December last year, but she has not been to sea since, after a refit period, and will undoubtedly have different crew members aboard given the rush to prepare her to deploy.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence previously said: "It's not uncommon for ships to continue final maintenance and preparations while on deployment at sea, shortly after sailing."
The English Channel was also subject to strong winds at the end of last week, with gusts of up to 50mph affecting maritime navigational conditions.
Was her deployment delayed?
HMS Dragon's eventual departure on 10 March was preceded by several days of reporting and speculation on her readiness to sail.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said HMS Dragon was being "fitted out for a different task" when the war in Iran began, while Defence Secretary John Healey praised the Royal Navy for completing "six weeks' work in six days".
Commodore (Ret'd) Steve Prest previously told BFBS Forces News: "Because she's been alongside in a period of maintenance… she probably will have had the minimal amount of ammunition necessary, because keeping ammunition on board when you're doing that sort of work actually can become prohibitive."
HMS Dragon was equipped with a variety of munitions, including the Sea Viper missile system, before her departure.
The classified nature of operational details surrounding her deployment means it is complex to make a true and fair assessment of whether HMS Dragon should have departed Portsmouth sooner.
However, commentators do concur that her state of readiness is symptomatic of wider resource issues within the Royal Navy.
"The fleet we've got, the ageing Type 23s in particular, and to a certain extent the Type 45s as well, have suffered from a lack of spend, a lack of maintenance effort," Mr Prest previously told BFBS Forces News.
"Getting them out in sufficient numbers and sufficient readiness has been problematic."
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