Defender refuels for counter-Daesh operations

A Royal Navy warship has been given a vital uplift in stores and fuel as she continues her work fighting Daesh as part of the US Carrier Strike Group in the Gulf.

In a highly complex scenario Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender was refuelled with 500,000 litres from US tanker USNS Pecos at the same time as US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman. 

This means all three ships had to sail at the same speed of 14 knots and ensure they were less than 50 metres apart – a tough job when the carrier displaces 100,000 tonnes of water.

Adding to the mix was a transfer of 2,500 tonnes of stores by helicopter from the USNS Medgar Evers to the aircraft carrier.

HMS Defender’s Navigating Officer Lieutenant Barry Crosswood said: “Replenishing in an operational environment really focuses the mind, particularly when the task force is in such close proximity.”

In total six ships were involved in the replenishment: HMS Defender, USS Harry S Truman, USS Anzio, USS Ramage, USNS Pecos, and USNS Medgar Evers.

HMS Defender is on a nine month deployment, and will continue working with the American and French carrier strike groups to support their air campaigns against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.