British destroyer 'opens fire' in the Pacific as part of WW3 preparations

A British naval destroyer has 'opened fire' in the Pacific as part of a successful live-fire exercise to ensure it combat readiness as fears of World War 3 continue to grow.

HMS Dauntless, one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers, played a role in Operation Highmast on July 6.

It could be seen using General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) and 30mm cannons to engage floating targets as the vessel escorted the UK Carrier Strike Group on its first flagship deployment of the year.

Operation Highmast is an eight-month task group mission led by the HMS Prince of Wales, and supported by ships, aircraft and personnel from over a dozen allied nations.

The deployment spans the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific, culminating in joint exercises with key regional partners.

As a whole, it involves over 4,500 British military personnel - which consists of around 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines, as well as 600 Royal Air Force personnel and 900 soldiers.

Alongside large-scale training serials, the task group will also act as support for diplomatic port visits and to promote UK defence exports.

The HMS Dauntless-currently commanded by Commander Ben Dorrington-has been in action since it was first launched in Govan back in January 2007, before it was formally handed over in December 2009, and commisioned into the Royal Navy in June 2010.

It is a 152.4-metre-long guided missile destroyer with a displacement of between 8,000 and 8,500 tonnes.

The ship is designed primarily for fleet-wide air defence, powered by two Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines and three MTU diesel generators, driving two Converteam electric motors which help it achieve a top speed exceeding 30 knots.

Her combat effectiveness is impressive, boasting a range of over 7,000 nautical miles and 18 knots, holding a crew of 191 with berths of up to 235.

Mwanwhile, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier the HMS Prince of Wales has completed its maiden visit to Australia having taken part in a major military exercise.

The fleet flagship has now set off for Japan in the next stop of its eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment.

The £3billion warship sailed from Portsmouth in April for the mission which involves visits with 40 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia.

A Royal Navy spokesman said that the carrier had sailed from Darwin having taken part in the Talisman Sabre exercise as well as acting as a host for diplomatic visits, including from representatives of the indigenous Larrakia people.

He said: "The flagship hosted a string of senior British and Australian politicians, including Defence Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

"The aircraft carrier has also served as the impressive setting for a business and industry event, discussing the growing importance of defence links between London and Canberra.

"And the 2,500-plus personnel in the task group have enjoyed down time to explore the largest city in Australia's Northern Territory."