Royal Navy's most advanced destroyer comes home after drug busts and hurricane support

HMS Dauntless, the most advanced destroyer in the Royal Navy, has returned to the UK after a 28,000-mile deployment during which she seized more than £200m worth of cocaine from drug traffickers and provided support during hurricane season in the Caribbean.

The Type 45 destroyer deployed to the Caribbean Sea in July to counter drug trafficking, working with the US Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies.

She also provided reassurance to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season in the region from June to November.

HMS Dauntless also took part in the world's longest-running multinational military drill, Exercise Unitas, at the start of her 200-day deployment.

• Royal Navy's most advanced destroyer returns to full frontline duties
• Royal Navy's most powerful destroyer deployed to the Caribbean
• Watch: HMS Dauntless leaves HMNB Devonport to train for emergencies at sea

This provided HMS Dauntless and her crew the opportunity to wield the new weaponry and improvements that had been made during the ship's major overhaul prior to her deployment.

Dauntless' powerful array of sensors proved their worth during anti-submarine warfare drills, with some help from the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

According to the crew, Dauntless intercepted five illicit drug trafficking operations, carried out 18 port visits and observed the 200th anniversary of the Colombian National Navy.