HMS Defender escorts Queen Mary II

Dwarfed by the enormity of transatlantic ocean liner RMS Queen Mary II is Royal Navy warship HMS Defender as she provided escort duties through the Gulf of Oman.

She may look small in comparison but the Type 45 destroyer has an array of deadly weaponry and radar tracking sytems to ensure the safe passage of the luxury ship through the potentially dangerous sea lanes.

This was the second time in two days the Portsmouth-based warship had escorted a ‘High Value Unit’ through the area – previously she took the RMS Queen Mary II’s sister ship RMS Queen Elizabeth though the same route, using her Lynx Mark 8 helicopter for additional protection.

Commander Steve Higham, Commanding Officer of Defender, said: “This serial was an excellent opportunity to reassure high-profile merchant shipping in the Gulf of Oman and beyond, while at the same time promoting Royal Naval engagement in the region.  

"Interaction with merchant shipping is crucial to promoting Maritime Security and maintaining the Rule of Law.”