HMS Dragon has begun her Gulf deployment in earnest – by slipping into the world’s most powerful naval task force: a US Navy Carrier Strike Group.
The Portsmouth-based destroyer joined the USS Dwight D Eisenhower and took part in an impressive five-way refuelling and resupply operation played out in searing temperatures.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Dave Jenkins, HMS Dragon, and MC2 Ryan D. McLearnon, US Navy
MEN of Harlech, march to glory…
It’s a shame we can’t give you a soundtrack to this photograph – and we’re not talking about the roar of the impressive array of jets on the deck of the USS Dwight D Eisenhower.
At full blast from the loudspeaker of HMS Dragon blares the new destroyer’s signature tune – that’s Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech for Welsh speakers – as the Portsmouth-based warship takes up station with the Ike’s battle group, with her captain Capt Iain Lower directing things from the bridge wing.
Just 36 hours after taking over the reins as the UK’s Gulf guardship, the Type 45 destroyer joined forces with Carrier Strike Group 8 – the most powerful naval task force on the Seven Seas.
As the Royal Navy’s premier air defender, it is Dragon’s mission to protect the strike group – flagship Eisenhower, one cruiser, three destroyers, and the various squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 7 who give Ike her awesome striking power – from aerial attack courtesy of her Sea Viper missile system and impressive Sampson radar.
Dragon’s arrival was greeted by the strike group’s commander Rear Admiral Michael C Manazir, who personally piloted an F18 Hornet from the deck of his carrier – and carried out a high-speed flypast of the destroyer.
The action did not stop there as the Royal Navy warship moved in as part of a five-way refuelling operation so she could top up her tanks.
The operation – known as replenishment at sea – is typically carried out individually; occasionally two ships take on sustenance from a support vessel simultaneously.
Dragon was due to take on fuel from the USNS Walter S Diehl – which was providing fuel and stores to the Eisenhower and the cruiser USS Hué City.
Once the Hué City peeled away in a graceful turn to starboard, it left the way open for Dragon to take station 55 metres (180ft) from the Diehl with her gas turbines singing.
For the destroyer’s navigator, 28-year-old Lt Carla Higgins from Wolverhampton, this was a true test of planning, preparation and ship handling.
“It was amazing to think that the ship had come from training in the South Coast exercise areas and the first RAS on the deployment was in company with the Eisenhower,” she said.
“The team worked really well and all the hard work put into the planning and practice by everyone involved paid off in having a two-hour pit stop without any incident, it went like clockwork.”
While this was going on, Ike was simultaneously receiving supplies by helicopter from the USNS Medger Evers as the Hué City stood guard over the force.
The operation was on a grander scale than RN warships would normally experience off Plymouth during weekly training, but the principles were just the same.
The refuelling was played out in 30˚C heat and 90 per cent humidity – physically exhausting for those involved on Dragon’s upper decks; they were sustained by a liberal supply of choc ices.
“With the Welsh Flag proudly flying from the halyards alongside the White Ensign, Dragon completed her refuelling withThe March of the Men of Harlech to sign off over the upper deck broadcast,” said Dragon’s weapon engineer officer Lt Cdr Kevin Miller.
“A Welsh flavour to the region that continues from where HMS Monmouth left off.”
As for Dragon’s Commanding Officer, Capt Iain Lower, he’s pleased with the way his ship’s company are getting stuck into the destroyer’s maiden deployment.
“The last few days have been really important in setting the right tone for forthcoming operations, we’ve done well so far and there is more that we can do to refine things even further,” he said.
“We welcome the opportunity to integrate with the Carrier Strike Group and to demonstrate what a really capable ship the Type 45 is. We are providing a baseline for operations here with our future Queen Elizabeth-class in mind and are capturing all the learning points to enhance the smooth integration of that significant capability into both the Royal Navy and joint operations.”
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