MoD criticised after delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus

MoD criticised after delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus A week since UK said Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer would be deployed it is still at dock Middle East crisis – live updates UK politics live – latest updates The pace at which HMS Dragon has been readied for deployment to defend a British military base in Cyprus from attacks by Iran has prompted claims that Britain’s proud naval history has been shamed. It has been a week since the government said the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer would be deployed, but it is still at dock and the ship is likely to take another five days or more to reach its destination. Sources within the Ministry of Defence say that the efforts of those involved in making the destroyer seaworthy in such a time period have been herculean. The defence secretary, John Healey, told the House of Commons on Monday that navy crews were working “tirelessly, 22 hours a day” and that HMS Dragon would be out to sail within “a couple of days”. It is claimed by those involved that a process that would normally take six weeks has been near completed within six days. Explore more on these topics Iran US-Israel war on Iran Middle East and north Africa Ministry of Defence news Share Reuse this content