Navy

Royal Navy Destroyer Joins US Carrier On Strike Operations

These images show Britain’s most advanced warship powering along in an American carrier battle group in the war against ISIL.

Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan is working around the clock to support day and night strikes against key ISIL targets in the Middle East launched from the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

She’s the latest Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer to take her place with a US carrier battle group on operations in the Gulf region, and is part of a coalition of more than 60 countries.

It's her job to shield the 100,000-tonne American carrier from any foe by sea or air – HMS Duncan’s Sea Viper missiles can take out the latter from up to 75 miles away.

Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan is currently on deployment, having left HMNB Portsmouth on the 2nd March 2015 to begin her nine month tasking.

But more important for the ongoing mission in the Gulf is her ability to provide air traffic and fighter control – the former keeps the aircraft apart while the latter guide F-18 Super Hornet bombers flying from the Roosevelt’s deck on to their ISIL targets.

“This deployment has been the highlight of my 24 years in the Royal Navy, and I know my sailors and Royal Marines are proud of all we have achieved so far,” said Commander Rich Atkinson, HMS Duncan’s Commanding Officer.

“Duncan’s cutting-edge capabilities make her the natural choice to escort the Theodore Roosevelt and provide the umbrella of protection she requires to carry out uninterrupted air strikes in the fight against ISIL.”