HMS Dauntless hosts top Pakistan Naval Officer

HMS Dauntless showed off her prowess to one of Pakistan’s top Naval officers during a fact-finding visit to the UK.

The Type 45 destroyer hosted Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, the Pakistan Navy’s Chief of Naval Staff, as part of a day spent in Portsmouth.

Admiral Zakaullah was given a tour of HMS Dauntless including the bridge and operations room and inspected a guard of honour on the flight deck.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Charles Guy, said: “It has been an honour to host Admiral Zakaullah on board HMS Dauntless to show just a few of the capabilities that the modern Royal Navy can bring to bear in oceans around the world.

“The Pakistani Navy and Royal Navy have often operated in partnership and visits such as this serve to strengthen those working relationships for the future.”

Before visiting Dauntless Admiral Zakaullah met senior officers at Navy Command Headquarters at Whale Island and his day in Portsmouth was rounded off with a tour of HMS Victory.

Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Admiral Zakaullah to Navy Command headquarters and an excellent opportunity to discuss the good relations between our two navies and an increasing level of productive interaction between our ships.”

His five days in the UK also included visits to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall where he met First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas and discussed how the two navies worked together on global operations, including tackling piracy.

The visit culminated in a look round HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Navy’s new aircraft carrier under construction in Rosyth.