Warship to help US with patrols in Gulf

A Royal Navy warship has set sail to join a USled taskforce to protect merchant ships in the Gulf.

Type-23 frigate HMS Kent left Portsmouth Naval Base to take over duties in the Strait of Hormuz from Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan.

The move comes after the UK said it would join the initiative to protect shipping following the seizure of British-flagged vessel Stena Impero by Iranian forces.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “Type 23 frigate HMS Kent will relieve HMS Duncan of her duties in the Gulf and is scheduled to work alongside US partners as part of the newly formed international maritime security construct.

“HMS Kent will relieve HMS Duncan of her duties”

“She will be focused on providing regional maritime security, including counterterrorism and antismuggling activities.

“She will also work alongside HMS Montrose to escort British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Kent’s commanding officer Commander Andy Brown said: “Our focus in the Gulf remains firmly one of de-escalating the current tensions.

“But we are committed to upholding freedom of navigation and reassuring international shipping, which this deployment on operations aims to do.”

Duncan’s sister ship HMS Defender deployed from Portsmouth yesterday to head to the Asia Pacific region.

The Royal Navy spokesman said: “The deployment aims to strengthen already strong defence ties and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region.”