HMS Duncan ready for duty at head of Nato Maritime Group

The Royal Navy's Type 45 air defence destroyer HMS Duncan has been formally rededicated for her new duties with Nato.

Since leading a Nato task group around the Mediterranean in 2018 and 2019, the vessel underwent a two-year revamp at her home, Portsmouth Naval Base.

Since the beginning of the year, her ship's company has been readying her for renewed operational duties with Nato, culminating in a rededication ceremony.

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HMS Duncan's Commander Ben Martin, who took command of the vessel in 2022, said: "While cutting-edge equipment and rigorous training are crucial to our operational success, it is our people and the support of their families that remain the Royal Navy's most valuable component.

"They have shown commitment, professionalism and perseverance through Duncan's regeneration and will do so again during the deployment to come."

HMS Duncan's first deployment, later this spring, will be as the flagship of Nato's Standing Maritime Group 2 operating in the Mediterranean.

Her first mission is the same as her last although the geopolitical situation has changed substantially since her last deployment.

Engineering Technician George Cordon, the youngest member of the ship's company, cut the rededication cake, sharing the knife with Kim Martin, the wife of Commander Martin.

He said: "I was proud to be part of such an important milestone in the ship's life and we're now looking forward to getting out on operations after all the preparation."

The day after the ship's rededication ceremony, Duncan opened her gangway to families, giving the loved ones of those who serve on board the chance to experience life on a Type 45 destroyer.