Dragon roars as she arrives home into Portsmouth

Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon has fired a 17-gun salute to hail the First Sea Lord’s presence in Portsmouth.

The Type 45 destroyer roared into her home port as she returned from a series of exercises off the South West coast and off the coast of Scotland.

The number of guns fired designates the seniority of the recipient – in this case Admiral Sir Philip Jones, the Head of the Royal Navy. Her Majesty the Queen would receive 19.

Lieutenant John Richardson, Principle Warfare Officer on HMS Dragon said: “Gun salutes are rarely done except for an event of great occasion.

"The Commanding Officer took this opportunity to salute the First Sea Lord who is in Portsmouth as we return home today."