The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon has encountered a series of technical issues while en route to the eastern Mediterranean, as tensions linked to the war in Iran continue to escalate.
According to UK media reports, the Type 45 warship experienced “power cuts and propulsion failures” shortly after departing Portsmouth on March 10. The vessel had been prepared for deployment within six days, despite originally being scheduled to remain in dry dock until April.
The ship was seen leaving Gibraltar on March 17 after taking on supplies and rotating crew members.
Issues described as manageable
The 260-strong crew reportedly faced repeated engineering faults during the voyage, compounded by difficult weather conditions, including strong gales and waves reaching up to six metres.
However, sources cited in UK reporting described the issues as minor and not unusual for a warship deployed shortly after maintenance, suggesting they do not affect overall operational readiness.
Deployment linked to Cyprus and regional tensions
HMS Dragon is heading towards Cyprus as part of a broader Western military presence in the region, following recent attacks near the RAF Akrotiri base. The base was reportedly struck by a drone believed to have been launched by a pro-Iranian militia operating in Iraq or Lebanon. European naval assets, including vessels from France and the Netherlands, have already been deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.
War continues to expand across region
The deployment comes as the conflict, which began on February 28 with large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Iran, shows no signs of de-escalation. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, while maintaining pressure on key maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, with reports of mines being laid and commercial vessels targeted.
Recent strikes have hit multiple Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with air defence systems activated in several locations.
Source: Portsmouth.co.uk