Navy warship heads to Falklands

Friends and family gathered to watch HMS Dauntless set off from Portsmouth for its maiden voyage.

As part of the six-month deployment, the destroyer will be stationed in the Falklands. To see ITV Meridian's coverage click here.

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless has set off from Portsmouth to the Falklands for her maiden six-month deployment.

• 8,000 tonnes
• 190 personnel
• Top speed: 30 knots
• As long as 16 double decker buses

Defence expert Bob Fox reported from the Falklands conflict in 1982. He told Daybreak HMS Dauntless is "the most advanced destroyer in the world".

HMS Dauntless is docked in Portsmouth this morning ahead of its six-month deployment to The Falklands.

HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, will maintain a continuous presence protecting British interests in the region and will carry out maritime security operations off West Africa and the wider South Atlantic.

Her programme includes planned port visits in West and South Africa.

The Ministry of Defence has described the deployment as "pre-planned and routine", but it could further anger Argentinian ministers who made a complaint to the United Nations over Britain's "militarisation" of the dispute.

The Royal Navy's newest destroyer is due to set sail on its maiden mission for the Falklands amid strained diplomatic relations between Argentina and Britain.

Warship HMS Dauntless will leave Portsmouth for a six-month deployment to the South Atlantic as Buenos Aires continues its vociferous criticism of Britain's control of the islands.

Argentina's Foreign Ministry yesterday accused David Cameron of "persistent glorification of colonialism" after the Prime Minister said the UK helped right "a profound wrong" during the 1982 war.

One of the Royal Navy’s most advanced war ships will set sail from Portsmouth for the Falklands today.

The Ministry of Defence says the deployment of the Destroyer HMS Dauntless is "pre-planned and routine" and not a response to recent tensions.