HMS Iron Duke conducts final preparations for Exercise Joint Warrior

The Portsmouth based Type 23 Frigate HMS Iron Duke is due to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior to test the Ship’s ability to warfight in a multi-threat environment, working jointly with UK, NATO and Allied military units.

The exercise places real ships, aircraft and troops operating ashore into a fictional scenario designed to fully test collaborative military skills in a realistic training environment.

Until her arrival in Faslane to prepare for the exercise, Iron Duke had been operating as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, headed by Rear Admiral José Enrique Delgado of the Spanish Navy. 

In addition to Iron Duke, the task group consists of Spanish flagship, ESPS Alvaro De Bazan, a Spanish F100 class Air-defence Frigate.

Both ships will be participating in Joint Warrior along with 10 other nations who have contributed maritime forces.

Iron Duke will be expected to practice using the full spectrum of her capabilities ranging from ‘soft’ effects such as surveillance and patrol, through activities involving boarding operations right through to the ‘hard’ military effects such as Naval Gunfire and air, surface and sub-surface warfare tactics. 

It will challenge the Ship’s Company of 190 personnel, some of whom are on their first deployment away from home.

This activity marks the halfway point of Iron Duke’s 6 month deployment and although the exercise brings the task group close to UK shores in Northern Scotland, Iron Duke is set to return to conducting Baltic Operations with ESPS Alvaro De Bazan on completion of this exercise. 

The presence of Iron Duke within SNMG1 is seen as a strong indicator of the UK’s commitment to both the Baltic region and to NATO.