HMS DAUNTLESS ON HER FIRST OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT

The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless departed on her first operational deployment early today. She sailed from Portsmouth this morning and is bound for the South Atlantic to replace HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate currently assigned to the area. The vessel, which was the second Type 45 to be launched, will protect British interests in the region, whilst also carrying out maritime security operations off Western Africa and the wider South Atlantic, which also includes the Falkland Islands. This deployment comes only days after the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, in which a territorial dispute over the Falkland Islands boiled over into a war between the United Kingdom and Argentina. The sovereignty dispute between the two countries remains today.

Dauntless is the second of a total of six Type 45 destroyers to deploy on operations. Her sister ship, HMS Daring, is currently deployed on operations in the Persian Gulf. The third Type 45 destroyer, HMS Diamond, will be deployed in the summer, and the forth, HMS Dragon, will be officially accepted into service later this month. The final two Type 45 destroyers, HMS Defender and HMS Duncan, have yet to complete sea trials before they can embark on operations.