HMS Defender joins major fleet review in India

HMS Defender is gearing up to join a major fleet review involving dozens of naval warships in India this week.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Feb 2016, 05:55 BST

The Portsmouth-based destroyer is one of two dozen vessels from the navies of the world attending the Indian International Fleet Review, which formally opens tomorrow.

More than 70 ships will be taking part in the action close to Visakhapatnam.

It will see Indian president Pranab Mukherjee conducting a three-hour inspection of the vessels from a patrol ship on Saturday morning.

So to get ready for the day, Defender’s helicopter ‘Joanna’ has been holding a raft of training drills in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

The tasking comes hot on the heels of the Type 45’s mission to support French carrier Charles de Gaulle as she launched air strikes against Isil in Syria.