The roar of live ammunition thundered across the Mediterranean this week as Royal Navy warships HMS Richmond and HMS Dauntless opened fire, but this was no battle. It was a test, and a warning.
The two vessels, deployed as part of Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) on the UK’s flagship global mission, Operation Highmast, have been sharpening their gunnery skills under the Mediterranean sun, sending a clear message: Britain’s Navy is ready for anything.
As part of Exercise Med Strike, a massive NATO operation involving 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets and over 8,000 allied personnel, the British ships conducted live-fire drills to maintain combat readiness and fine-tune their layered defence systems.
HMS Richmond, a veteran Type 23 frigate, made its message clear on social media:
“Since the days of Nelson’s Navy, gunnery training has been critical in keeping us sharp and accurate. We’re keeping that tradition alive.”
Meanwhile, destroyer HMS Dauntless echoed the sentiment:
“As part of the task group we continue to practise our skills to protect each other. Our upper deck gunners honed their aim with heavy machine guns and general-purpose machine guns.”
Putting Firepower to the Test
This training wasn’t just symbolic. It’s part of the first major test of CSG25’s combat capabilities during an ambitious eight-month global deployment led by aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The British-led Carrier Strike Group is now steaming ahead on a strategic journey that will take it through the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia, a mission designed to project power, strengthen alliances and protect freedom of navigation in increasingly contested waters.
Along the way, the UK will partner with over a dozen allied nations, reaffirming its global military reach at a time of rising geopolitical tension.
Operation Highmast: More Than a Show of Force
Commanded by Commodore James Blackmore, Operation Highmast reflects Britain’s evolving defence strategy in a world where threats to maritime security are mounting fast.
Over 4,500 British personnel are taking part, including:
- 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines
- 900 British Army soldiers
- 600 RAF personnel
This marks the second global deployment for a UK carrier strike group in recent years, following HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden voyage in 2021. But unlike that mission, launched in the shadow of the Covid pandemic, Highmast unfolds amid an increasingly volatile global landscape, from the Red Sea to the South China Sea.
Meet the Firepower: Richmond & Dauntless
HMS Richmond, a Type 23 Duke-class frigate, may have been originally built for anti-submarine warfare, but she’s now a multi-role powerhouse. Armed with the Sea Ceptor missile system, a 4.5-inch naval gun and cutting-edge sonar, she can defend against threats above, on, and below the water.
HMS Dauntless, a Daring-class Type 45 destroyer, is one of Britain’s most advanced air defence ships. Her Sea Viper missile system, combining Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, gives her the ability to detect, track and destroy incoming threats over hundreds of miles.
Together, they form a key layer in the Strike Group’s defensive shield, a crucial capability when operating in contested regions where state and non-state actors are increasingly willing to challenge international norms.
