U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Boards HMS Defender

During a visit to Bahrain, HMS Defender hosted Vice Admiral John W. Miller, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

Vice Admiral Miller was accompanied by Commodore Keith Blount OBE RN, United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander and Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces.

On her maiden deployment, HMS Defender is the fifth Type 45 destroyer to operate in the Gulf region and Indian Ocean.

During the visit, HMS Defender’s Commanding Officer, Commander Philip Nash, proudly showed the Admiral the new warship, demonstrating its state of the art capabilities.

Commander Nash said: “It has been a great pleasure to host Vice Admiral Miller aboard HMS Defender and to have the opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the UK’s most modern warship.”

HMS Defender will continue to conduct maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf region in support of Operation Kipion and providing support to Combined Maritime Forces’ counter-terrorism and counter-piracy missions alongside coalition ships until her return to Portsmouth Naval Base in time for Christmas.