At the summit of the picturesque fens
There have been questions raised about the timescale it is taking for HMS Dragon to be readied and set sail for Cyprus.
The MOD issued a statement this morning explaining themselves:
"HMS Dragon started to be prepared to sail to Cyprus on Saturday 28th February. Unfortunately we found the ship to have a flat battery, so it was unable to start. A full investigation into the reasons why the battery was flat was carried out, with the results being published on Monday 2nd March. The reasons were determined that no-one remembered to attach the trickle charger.
On Tuesday 3rd March a purchase order was raised from the MOD procurement department for a new battery. On Wednesday 4th it was found that the MOD bank account didn't have sufficient funds to procure a new battery (£170 plus VAT).
The MOD asked central Government to lend them the money for a short period. This will be processed and a decision made in the next week.
If central Government deny the loan, the MOD will have to save up.
Assuming all goes well, a new battery will be sought and fitted within the next few weeks. The ship (assuming the captain isn't on holiday or off sick) will leave Portsmouth on around 27th March.
As long as the crew can remember the way to the Eastern Med, the ship should arrive off the coast of Cyprus by around the beginning of May to begin protecting the UK's assets in the region. Hopefully Iran will have run out of weapons by then, as we wouldn't want to have to use the ship for anything expensive.
In the meantime, the MOD are issuing advice to RAF personnel on Cyprus for self protection. We have asked that all staff travel to the nearest beach and gather small stones and pebbles which can be thrown at any enemy missiles or drones.
Thank you for your ongoing patience in this matter.
Your faithful servant, rear admiral Major Bumsaw"
The MOD issued a statement this morning explaining themselves:
"HMS Dragon started to be prepared to sail to Cyprus on Saturday 28th February. Unfortunately we found the ship to have a flat battery, so it was unable to start. A full investigation into the reasons why the battery was flat was carried out, with the results being published on Monday 2nd March. The reasons were determined that no-one remembered to attach the trickle charger.
On Tuesday 3rd March a purchase order was raised from the MOD procurement department for a new battery. On Wednesday 4th it was found that the MOD bank account didn't have sufficient funds to procure a new battery (£170 plus VAT).
The MOD asked central Government to lend them the money for a short period. This will be processed and a decision made in the next week.
If central Government deny the loan, the MOD will have to save up.
Assuming all goes well, a new battery will be sought and fitted within the next few weeks. The ship (assuming the captain isn't on holiday or off sick) will leave Portsmouth on around 27th March.
As long as the crew can remember the way to the Eastern Med, the ship should arrive off the coast of Cyprus by around the beginning of May to begin protecting the UK's assets in the region. Hopefully Iran will have run out of weapons by then, as we wouldn't want to have to use the ship for anything expensive.
In the meantime, the MOD are issuing advice to RAF personnel on Cyprus for self protection. We have asked that all staff travel to the nearest beach and gather small stones and pebbles which can be thrown at any enemy missiles or drones.
Thank you for your ongoing patience in this matter.
Your faithful servant, rear admiral Major Bumsaw"
Chester
for a while, although hopefully ours will be gone very soon.