HMS Dragon compelled to dock within the Med amid ‘technical points’ with its water system in newest embarrassment for Royal Navy
The only Royal Navy warship deployed in the conflict with Iran has ported due to maintenance issues, the Mail can reveal.
In the latest saga involving HMS Dragon, the destroyer that was sent to the warzone weeks after the fighting began is having to pull out.
The Mail learned late last week that the warship was suffering issues with its water supplies affecting provisions to its sailors.
The Ministry of Defence denied the claims but today admitted that HMS has sailed to a safe berth to undergo repairs.
The stop will include attending to what officials described as ‘a minor technical issue with onboard water systems’.
Defence sources insisted the crew have had access to water and catering and that a logistics stop at ‘approximately this point in her deployment’ had been planned in advance.
The temporary withdrawal of the warship comes after US President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have repeatedly mocked the Royal Navy.
The HMS Dragon (pictured on March 4) which is currently deployed in the conflict with Iran has ported due to maintenance issues
Keir Starmer (pictured) has faced repeated jibes from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the state of the country’s Royal Navy
President Trump has described the UK’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys’ while Hegseth talked about the failure of the ‘Big Bad Royal Navy’ to enter the Strait of Hormuz.
While in port HMS’s Dragon’s weapons and other systems will be ‘further optimised’ allowing for what officials described as ‘greater flexibility for future deployments in the region’.
The precise location of HMS Dragon has not been disclosed for security reasons.
Today the Ministry of Defence said: ‘HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the Eastern Mediterranean allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance.
‘HMS Dragon will remain at a very high level of readiness during the period, able to sail at short notice if required.
‘The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean working in coordination with allies. This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and advanced counter-drone and air defence systems.’
