HMS Duncan 'plays the enemy' in first major exercise after refit
Royal Navy warship HMS Duncan has tested the capabilities of French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle by playing the "enemy" during a two-week exercise in the Mediterranean.
Exercise Orion is the first major exercise HMS Duncan has been involved in since a major refit in 2021.
The Type 45 destroyer was joined by ships from Nato allies in the French-led exercise involving 7,000 personnel, warships, submarines, fighter jets and land forces.
The aim of the exercise was to simulate scenarios that the French forces could potentially face in a conflict.
Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group and a French amphibious task group were put through their paces by HMS Duncan and ships from the US, Italy, and Spain.
HMS Duncan's role was to disrupt the French task group's operations while dealing with choppy seas and a well-equipped 'adversary'.
The Royal Navy ship had to remain undetected while seeking out the French task groups.
Exercise Orion saw the destroyer cover hundreds of miles, giving the ship the chance to create a picture of the western Mediterranean using her sensors.
To provide advanced warfare training, a team from the Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) was also on board.
"The scale of this exercise provided a real challenge for the team, requiring us to work effectively with our allies and react quickly to an elusive but highly-trained and capable opponent," said Lieutenant Commander Will Durbin, HMS Duncan's Senior Warfare Officer.
The Royal Navy's ship's participation comes after the UK and France have committed to strengthening the military co-operation between the two nations.
This will mean more regular deployments between France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and the Royal Navy's carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
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