Royal Navy's most advanced destroyer returns to full frontline duties

The Royal Navy's most advanced destroyer has made a full return to frontline action, completing a large-scale exercise off the coast of Colombia.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless took part in the world's longest-running multinational military drills at the start of her deployment to the Caribbean Sea.

Exercise Unitas involved 26 ships, three submarines, 25 aircraft and 7,000 sailors from 20 countries.

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HMS Dauntless' Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Dorrington said: "It is an honour to be here in Colombia to mark the bicentenary of the Armada Nacional Colombia and to test the capabilities of Dauntless with 20 allies and partners from across the region."

HMS Dauntless is deployed to the Caribbean Sea to counter drugs smugglers alongside the US Coast Guard and provide support and reassurance to British Overseas Territories during the region’s hurricane season.

This year was her second appearance on Exercise Unitas; which means 'united' in Latin. The exercise is conducted in Atlantic and Pacific waters around Central and South America.

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.

The Royal Navy said HMS Dauntless' participation in the exercise shows the UK's commitment to deepening its relationship with Colombia, which is the only Latin American country to be a Nato partner nation.

Dauntless' powerful array of sensors proved their worth during anti-submarine warfare drills, with some help from the US Navy's P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

While the ship's Wildcat helicopters simulated how to hunt down and attack submarines.

Sub Lieutenant Anastazja Masters said: "Unitas has been an incredible experience to work with partners such as the Armada Nacional Colombia across an array of tasks with assets such as submarines and helicopters.

"This enables us to test our abilities from warfighting to supporting humanitarian aid and disaster relief."

HMS Dauntless now heads for Caribbean patrols with a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, Royal Marines sniper team and the Wildcat helicopter on board.