HMS Daring is visiting Malta from 17 to 20 February 2014. She is the first of the Royal Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers and is currently on her way home following a nine month global deployment, which by its end will have taken in 21 different ports along the way in countries including the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, Vietnam and South Korea, to name but a few.

She has already clocked up more than 40,000 miles carrying out regional engagements as well as military exercises in the Atlantic Ocean, supporting anti-piracy operations in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Aden, tracking ballistic targets in the Pacific Ocean, and providing humanitarian support to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

HMS Daring has exercised with 15 Navies along the way, including in the Tasman Sea, South China Sea, East China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Red Sea. She will soon enter the Mediterranean Sea to continue her operations here.

She was the first British Ship to provide humanitarian assistance in the Philippines following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. This was the first disaster relief provided by a T45 Destroyer and Daring and her crew remained on task for 9 days until she was relieved by HMS Illustrious.

During that time she surveyed an enormous 42,200 square miles covering more than 70 islands, treated 300 patients, and delivered 21 tonnes of stores and 7,656 litres of fresh drinking water ashore to people in desperate need.

The ship’s Commanding Officer is Commander Angus Essenhigh Royal Navy. Commander Essenhigh joined the Royal Navy in 1992 and has served as the Navigating Officer of the USS Winston S.Churchill, an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer.

He later joined HMS Kent and during a varied 2 year posting acted as Gunnery Officer, then Operations Officer and finally Executive Officer, completing a 6 month deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of Operation TELIC. Sub-specialising as an Anti-Air Warfare Officer he joined HMS Daring in build in early 2008.

Leaving Daring he then commanded three single-role mine hunters including 7 months in HMS Pembroke in the Arabian Gulf as part of Operation KIPION, before returning in December 2012 to assume command of HMS Daring.

Commander Essenhigh said, “our visit to Malta will be a great way to round off a long, enjoyable, and deeply rewarding deployment. It is fantastic that the Royal Navy is still offered such fine hospitality by the Maltese people, we are lucky to be so welcome at this favourite Royal Navy Mediterranean destination. During our short stay we are looking forward to hosting an Evening Reception for many local Dignitaries.”

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