HMS Duncan has finally set off from Plymouth after “technical issues” meant the warship had to be towed back to land after leaving for NATO duties.
The £1 billion Royal Navy ship set sail to a European port after training exercises near Plymouth last week. But members of the public spotted the ship being towed back two days later.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman reportedly said it had experienced technical issues and was brought back to Plymouth as a “precautionary measure”.
HMS Duncan is twinned with Dundee, as it was once the home of the man whose name the destroyer now bears — Admiral Adam Duncan.
In 1797 he defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown.
HMS Duncan visited Dundee in 2013 , when hundreds of people enjoyed the opportunity to go onboard and tour the £1 billion vessel.
It is one of six Type 45s but the ships have been criticised for having various problems since their introduction. MPs attacked MoD for the “extraordinary mistakes” in the design of the destroyers after it emerged they had faulty engines.
A select committee said: “It is astonishing that the specification for the Type 45 did not include the requirement for the ships to operate at full capacity – and for sustained periods – in hot regions such as the Gulf.”
But on Friday HMS Duncan set sail to re-join the NATO Maritime Group 1 on duty.
The ship’s commanding officer, Commander Charlie Guy, told the Plymouth Herald: “I am delighted that my highly trained and capable crew have returned HMS Duncan to NATO operations in short order.”
