Navy

Warship Life At Sea Airs Unseen Footage From HMS Duncan

Warship Life At Sea HMS Duncan Credit: Channel 5

In July 2019, Channel 5 was onboard one of the most advanced warships in the world filming for ‘Warship: Life At Sea’ when it was sent to the Gulf as tensions rose between Britain and Iran.

Channel 5 crews were filming the crew of HMS Duncan in the Black Sea when the ship was caught up in international hostilities with Iran in the Gulf.

The Type 45 destroyer joined HMS Montrose to double Britain’s presence there after Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps announced it had seized the 30,000-tonne British-flagged and Swedish-owned ship ‘Stena Impero’ in the strategic Strait of Hormuz "for failing to respect international maritime rules".

Video: Channel 5

The Gulf region is home to three of the most important maritime strategic choke points in the world - the Bab-el-Mandeb, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz. These narrow sea channels must always be kept in use for global trade purposes. What goes through those chokepoints every day at sea directly affects what happens at home.

Commander Tom Trent, the Commanding Officer of HMS Duncan, spoke about the deployment on July 28, 2019. He said:

"HMS Duncan has arrived in the Strait of Hormuz to continue the outstanding work to protect British maritime interests conducted by HMS Montrose and the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander’s staff in Bahrain."

Stena Bulk, which owns the tanker, released a statement on July 19, 2019, saying that ship manager Northern Marine Management had lost contact with the crew of 23 after "unidentified small crafts and a helicopter" approached the vessel.

The company said the tanker was in international waters at the time but appeared to be heading north towards Iran. Stena Bulk said:

"There are 23 seafarers aboard. There have been no reported injuries and their safety is of primary concern to both owners and managers.”

Unseen footage of the UK and Iranian hostilities aired in Channel 5’s new series of Warship: Life at Sea. The series follows the crew of the Type 45 Destroyer as they set sail on a brand new seven-month deployment to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. However, when news of the capture of British flagged tanker Stena Impero is released, the crew are ordered to the Gulf on a new mission.

While speaking with some of his team, Commander Tom Trent said:

"Be under no illusion, we're heading on Operations.

"I'm going to want and I know I'm going to get pretty steely, hard-edged leadership."

Viewers were able to follow HMS Duncan’s 4,000-mile journey, from the Black Sea through the highly dangerous Suez Canal to the Gulf, where they were sent to escort British ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

As news broke of the Iranian situation, HMS Duncan found itself in the headlines around the world as both Donald Trump and Boris Johnson denounced the Iranian regime for their actions.

Warship: Life At Sea gives audiences an extraordinary insight into HMS Duncan’s tour. After arriving in the Gulf, Iranian forces immediately make a move and try to capture another ship resulting in a tense stand-off. HMS Duncan’s crew is then forced to hold the line but also avoid escalating tensions with Iran any further.

The international tension is unlike anything HMS Duncan has faced before. Sub Lieutenant Jack Mercer said:

“If people on this ship get this wrong, it will result in conflict between the UK and Iran and probably that will escalate. So, it’s vital that we get this right.”

Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk, released a statement on September 28, 2019, which said:

“We are delighted to report that this afternoon the Stena Impero safely docked in Dubai.

“We met with all the crew and I am pleased to confirm they are in good spirits and looking forward to a well-deserved extended leave ashore.”

In total, HMS Duncan was away for seven months, longer than planned. Her initial mission was to be part of a carrier strike group in operations against the so-called Islamic State.

HMS Duncan made 29 transits of the Strait of Hormuz, escorting nearly 1.3 million tonnes of shipping. It meant more time away for the 250-strong ships company.