HMS Dauntless to Falklands not provocative act, says PM

THE ROYAL NAVY has insisted today that the coming deployment of its ultra-modern warship HMS Dauntless to the Falklands is not a riposte to renewed claims from Argentina over the islands.

"The deployment of HMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic has been long planned, is entirely routine and replaces another ship on patrol," said a Navy spokesman.

The news means that Dauntless will be in the area at the same time as Prince William carries out a tour of duty there – already criticised by the Argentine government as "political".

While Downing Street also insists that the deployment of Dauntless is not provocative, the Evening Standard reports Tory MP Julian Brazier, a member of the Commons defence committee, saying: "This sends a very powerful and timely message to Argentina that Britain means business when it comes to defending the Falklands.

"These islanders want to remain British and any oil or gas found in its waters will be British."

Lord West, former head of the Navy, said today: "Should there be any foolish nonsense from Argentina, Dauntless can sit just off the airfield and take down any aircraft coming in. It's a game-changing capability."

Some commentators have drawn the conclusion that (a) David Cameron is backing up his rhetoric about Argentina's "colonialism" with a show of strength and (b) he's taking a leaf out of Margaret Thatcher's book by upping the ante as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War looms.

Dauntless is one of six new Type 45 destroyers. Costing £1bn each, they can accommodate large helicopters, carry 60 troops, and are armed with high-tech Sea Viper anti-air missiles. Their futuristic design makes it difficult for the enemy to detect them using radar.

Dauntless's sister ship, HMS Daring, has already been sent to the Gulf for her first mission amid threats from Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz. ·