Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Defender refuels for counter-Daesh operations
21 January 2016
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.
Replenishing in an operational environment really focuses the mind, particularly when the task force is in such close proximity
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.