THE Sun joined Britain’s most powerful warship in live-firing drills as a warning to Russia and Iran.
Exercise Sharpshooter simulated threats HMS Dauntless will face when it escorts a carrier strike group through the Red Sea later this year.
Dan CharityThe Sun joined Britain’s most powerful warship in live-firing drills as a warning to Russia and Iran[/caption]
Dan CharityExercise Sharpshooter simulated threats HMS Dauntless will face when it escorts a carrier strike group through the Red Sea[/caption]
The £1billion destroyer’s 260 crew leapt into action when radars detected an air and sea drone assault.
A Wildcat helicopter scrambled to shoot down an aerial drone with a Martlet missile.
A drone boat also raced across Cardigan Bay off Wales — and was greeted with a warning shot from Dauntless’s 4.5-inch main gun.
Sailors then opened fire with a 30mm cannon which fires bullets as big as milk bottles.
Officers also deployed the radar-controlled Phalanx gun.
Its barrels became a blur as it blasted 60 rounds a second at the drone boat — turning it into a fireball.
Dauntless’s Commander Ben Dorrington said: “Once you’re on operations, you’ve got to be prepared.”
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the drills were based on recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and Russia-Ukraine battles in the Black Sea.
Dauntless heads to Japan this year and Mr Pollard hinted the carrier strike group could even be used to support US strikes on Iran.
Dan CharityThe enemy in flames after a drone boat hit[/caption]
Dan CharityThe combat ready HMS Dauntless[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
