Jump directly to the content
SHIP SHAPE

Where is HMS Duncan now, what happened with the Russian jets and what is the Royal Navy ship’s crest?

HMS Duncan faced 'brazen hostility' in the Black Sea as Russian fighter jets dangerously buzzed it off the coast of Crimea

HMS Duncan was swarmed by Russian jets earlier this year but only now has footage surfaced.

The Royal Navy destroyer, which was built in Scotland, was leading a Nato fleet through the Black Sea at the time.

 The Russian jets buzzed HMS Duncan, pictured, in May this year
3
The Russian jets buzzed HMS Duncan, pictured, in May this yearCredit: PA:Press Association

Where is HMS Duncan now?

The Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyer is currently moored off Plymouth.

It had spent six months leading a Nato task force in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea.

The group of warships was on a mission to promote stability and security in the region.

HMS Duncan took charge of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2, a group of frigates, destroyers and patrol ships drawn from across the Alliance’s navies.

What happened with the Russian jets?

HMS Duncan and the other ships were sailing 30 miles off the coast of Crimea when they were swarmed by 17 Russian jets.

The incident in May was captured on camera by a Channel 5 film crew.

At times the jets came within just a few hundred feet from the £1bn destroyer, while ignoring repeated warnings from the ship.

Commodore Mike Utley, who was leading the Nato task force from Duncan, said: “HMS Duncan is probably the only maritime asset that has seen a raid of that magnitude in the last 25 years.

“I think their tactics are naive. What they don’t know is how capable the ship is.

 Recording equipment on board the ship captured this image of one of the jets
3
Recording equipment on board the ship captured this image of one of the jetsCredit: Warship: Life at Sea,Channel 5

“When you see that much activity, I think it reinforces the nature of what people expect at the moment and why there is a challenge from Russia.”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson described the dangerous encounter as "brazen hostility".

Mr Williamson said: "Over the past year, HMS Duncan and her crew have embodied the key role the UK plays in Nato.

"As Nato flagship, she has faced down brazen Russian hostility in the Black Sea with jets buzzing overhead, been stalked by Russian spy ships and played a vital role protecting Nato allies during the British, American and French strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities.

"Through her deployment, this world-leading ship and her crew epitomised the nation we are going to be as we exit the EU - a truly global Britain which is outward-looking and engaged on the world stage."

What is the Royal Navy ship's crest?

HMS Duncan was constructed at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yards at Govan and Scotstoun on the River Clyde, with the ship setting sail in August 2012.

It was the sixth and final Type 45 air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy.

 The ship's crest
3
The ship's crestCredit: Olivia West - The Sun

It was named after Adam Duncan, the first Viscount Duncan, who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.

Its crest is a silver hunting horn on a red field.

Moment Russian fighter jets swarmed Royal Navy warship HMS Duncan in Black Sea seen in new doc Warship: Life at Sea
Topics