It faced down missiles and drones in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, the Royal Navy said. About 950 friends and relatives turned out to welcome the crew home, at Portsmouth Naval Base and along the city’s historic harbour walls.
Dragon was in dry dock for maintenance when the call came, and was deployed seven days later. The conflict had seen UK bases in Cyprus come under attack.
“HMS Dragon’s seven-month deployment has shown the Royal Navy at its best,” said General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff. “Deployed at short notice, her crew have protected our bases on the island of Cyprus, safeguarded shipping and worked closely with our allies across the Mediterranean and Middle East.”
Air defence for Cyprus, then east of Suez
Working with Army and RAF capabilities, the destroyer helped to deter and shield against air attack. It was later sent east of Suez to potentially provide the same protection for a proposed international mission to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Its route ran through the Bab el Mandeb Strait at the foot of the Red Sea, where Houthi rebel forces in Yemen have been firing missiles and drones at ships since 2023. Dragon also patrolled the Indian Ocean on maritime security duties and spent a spell attached to the French carrier strike group led by FS Charles de Gaulle.
Commanders praise the crew
“The commitment, skill and determination shown by our sailors over the last 214 days has been exceptional,” said Commander Graeme Hazelwood, the ship’s commanding officer. “I could not be prouder of this Ship’s Company, and they should be enormously proud of their achievements as they return home to their families and friends in Portsmouth.”
“In an increasingly uncertain world, we need a warfighting ready Navy that can respond at pace wherever the nation requires,” said Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, the Royal Navy Fleet Commander. “Dragon has shown exactly what that looks like.”
