Oman- UK warship involved in anti IS operations docks at PSQ

1/24/2016 3:28:17 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

The UK Royal Navy's HMS Defender warship which is involved in operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria has docked at Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) in Muttrah.

HMS Defender arrived from the northern Gulf where it was supporting the French Charles de Gaulle and American USS Harry S Truman aircraft carriers conducting military operations.

It departs on Sunday after five days of docking at PSQ. 'We play a very tangible part of that ongoing battle' Stephen Higham commanding officer of HMS Defender said during a media tour of the ship. 'But we can't do that unless we have the support of our friends particularly the Omanis. We have a very strong link with the Omani government.'

Commander Higham said the stop allowed the ship to get maintenance and supplies while giving the crew some rest. 'It's got some of the most advanced and complex technology and machinery afloat anywhere in the world. That level of complexity requires constant maintenance' he said.

HMS Defender was the first British ship to participate in operations against IS. It has been involved in the operations since late November according to Lt Commander Sean Trevethan weapons engineer HMS

Defender. 'We're very fortunate to have such a good relationship with Oman. The trip to Muscat gives the ship's crew some rest and recuperation and take on board some essential supplies in order for us to continue with our deployment and operations' Lt Commander Trevethan said.

The ship has a crew of 250.

HMS Defender D36 is considered the 'most advanced' warship the UK Royal Navy has ever operated. It's the second-newest and most powerful of the UK's six Type 45 destroyers. It was commissioned in 2013.

It's mainly an anti-aircraft and reconnaissance ship designed to protect aircraft carriers. It's also capable of anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities and disaster relief work.

It has a Sampson radar system that can detect objects 400km away and a Sea Viper anti-missile system that can intercept targets at a distance of up to 75 miles.

Its flight deck is large enough to land a Chinook helicopter. It also has its own Lynx Mark 8 Wildcat helicopter. After Oman HMS Defender heads to India for a fleet review. It will return to join operations with the USS Harry S Truman in May for a month.

In June it will conduct maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden and then deploy to the southern Red Sea.

It will return to the UK on July 8 ending its nine-month deployment which began on October 19 2015. This is the second deployment for the ship which is based in Portsmouth UK. It was deployed for six months in the Gulf in 2014.

After returning the ship will be out of commission for around a year for maintenance work according to Commander Higham.

HMS Defender will return to the region somewhere between the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 for its third deployment. Higham said at that time it may be deployed along with the UK's HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier which is nearing commission.

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