When I was First Sea Lord 20 years ago, I tended to send warships towards the sound of the guns. Until recently, our east-of-Suez base in Bahrain hosted minesweepers and a supply ship as well as HMS Lancaster. Designed to track hostile submarines, she was also fitted with anti-aircraft capabilities, including the Sea Ceptor missile system. It would have been farbetter if HMS Lancaster had not been stood down. But as I say, to send ships to the sound of gunfire, first you must have the ships.

Source: Daily Mail March 08, 2026 07:29 UTC