Sailors Return To Modernised Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan After Refit

The 180-strong ship's company of HMS Duncan has returned to the Type 45 destroyer after an 18-month refit at Portsmouth naval base.

Improvements have been made to the ship's communications systems, safety equipment, living quarters and galleys, plus overhauls of machinery and weapons.

The work was completed despite the COVID-19 control measures the naval base's workforce has been operating under since March last year.

The aim is now to get the ship back to sea later this year.

Commander Hugh Harris, HMS Duncan's Commanding Officer, said the ship "has been one of the Fleet's workhorses" in recent years – with the ship completing deployments in the Gulf, Black Sea and Mediterranean. 

"She certainly earned her time alongside for these improvements," he said.

"Her refit will make her more capable on operations and more comfortable for the men and women under my command; our job now is to get her ready for sea and whatever operations we are tasked with thereafter."

It comes after a defence minister revealed last week only one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers was operationally available.

HMS Destroyer is the only Type 45 currently on operations, serving as part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) deployment.

Cover image: Sailors back on HMS Duncan (Picture: MOD).