HMS Dragon Visits India For War Games

Britain's most advanced warship has joined forces with the Indian Navy's state-of-the-art Destroyer Kolkata for exercise Konkan.

Before they struck out to sea together, the two destroyers met in Mormugoa, Goa, to prepare.

Exercise Konkan saw the two ships flex their Commonwealth maritime powers as they dealt with threats from the air - which was put on by the Indian Air force, as well as threats posed by Indian submarines.

HMS Dragon’s Commanding Officer, Commander Michael Carter Quinn, said the week with the Indians was a rich and rewarding experience.

“With a rich heritage of shared endeavour, having the opportunity to bring HMS Dragon as the first Type 45 destroyer to visit India and work alongside the INS Kolkota, has been a huge honour.”

Cdr Quinn, added: “Our time alongside allowed my Dragons some time to ‘reset’ following their significant efforts in the successes so far on deployment and provided the foundations with INS Kolkota to make a success of what has been a varied and beneficial exercise.

“The time, effort and resources the Indian Navy has committed to this exercise shows their investment and desire to forge stronger ties with the Royal Navy and we sail from here having forged genuine friendships with our contemporaries aboard INS Kolkata.”

Officer of the Watch No.2 Lieutenant Oliver Barrett spent four days on the Indian warship and was one of several officers on the bridge responsible for the safe conduct of Dragon at sea.“The pride the ship’s company on the Kolkata have in carrying out their duties to maximum effectiveness was clear to see and the professional standards we witnessed highlighted the similarities our navies share,” said Lieutenant Barrett.

HMS Dragon has recently conducted a £90 million drug bust in the Middle East

She will now resume her Gulf and Indian Ocean security patrol - she's expected to return to Portsmouth in Spring 2019.

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