Royal Navy warship set for Falkland Islands

ONE of the Royal Navy’s most advanced new warships is due to set sail for the Falkland Islands, it emerged today.

Officials at the Ministry of Defence said the deployment was long planned, however, and not a response to increased tensions over the sovereignty of the islands.

HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, will leave for the South Atlantic on her maiden mission in the coming months to replace frigate HMS Montrose.

It comes amid a diplomatic war of words over renewed Argentinian claims to what it calls Las Malvinas, with David Cameron accusing them of “colonialism”.

The issue is especially sensitive as the 30th anniversary approaches of the liberation of the islands by Britain from an Argentine invasion.

A Royal Navy spokesman rejected suggestions the decision to send the ultra-modern destroyer to the region represented an escalation of the UK’s position.

“The Royal Navy has had a continuous presence in the South Atlantic for many years. The deployment of HMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic has been long planned, is entirely routine and replaces another ship on patrol,” he said.