HMS Duncan Shows Off Air Defence Capability On Exercise

HMS Duncan spent two weeks on Exercise Mare Aperto off the coast of Italy (Picture: Royal Navy).

HMS Duncan has been showcasing her air defence capability alongside NATO allies off the Italian coast.

The Type 45 destroyer was tasked with providing air and surface defences as Exercise Mare Aperto moved through the Messina Straits which divide Sicily and mainland Italy. 

In the scenario, Italy and Sicily played the role of allies while Sardinia played a hostile nation.

To retake control of the region, an amphibious taskforce was deployed to Sardinia while an Italian and Spanish ship landed two battalions of marines ashore.

Meanwhile, HMS Duncan provided protection from surface, sub-surface and air threats during the 'invasion'. 

Lieutenant Commander Ben Dorrington said the exercise was an "ideal opportunity to align tactics and procedures within a task group".

In total, nine countries and 57 ships, helicopters and aircraft took part in the exercise.

HMS Duncan had been in the Mediterranean conducting security operations as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). 

The Portsmouth-based ship will now continue her deployment in the region, rejoining SNMG2 later this month.