Latest news with #BenDorrington
Daily Record
31-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
British destroyer 'opens fire' in Pacific with huge arsenal of weapons amid WW3 fears
HMS Dauntless took part in Operation Highmast, using a range of weapons to engage floating targets A British naval destroyer, HMS Dauntless, has 'opened fire' in the Pacific during a successful live-fire exercise to confirm its combat readiness amidst escalating World War 3 fears. The Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyer participated in Operation Highmast on July 6, where it was seen utilising General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) and 30mm cannons against floating targets while escorting the UK Carrier Strike Group on its inaugural flagship deployment of the year. Operation Highmast is an eight-month task group mission spearheaded by HMS Prince of Wales, with support from ships, aircraft and personnel from over a dozen allied nations. This deployment spans the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific, culminating in joint exercises with key regional partners. In total, it involves more than 4,500 British military personnel, including approximately 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines, as well as 600 Royal Air Force personnel and 900 soldiers, reports the Express. In addition to large-scale training serials, the task group will also provide support for diplomatic port visits and promote UK defence exports. Commanded by Commander Ben Dorrington, HMS Dauntless has been operational since its initial launch in Govan in January 2007, before being formally handed over in December 2009 and commissioned into the Royal Navy in June 2010. The vessel measures 152.4 metres in length and is a guided missile destroyer weighing between 8,000 and 8,500 tonnes. Built chiefly for fleet-wide air defence, the warship runs on two Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines and three MTU diesel generators, powering two Converteam electric motors that enable speeds of more than 30 knots. Its fighting capability is formidable, with a range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots and accommodation for 191 crew members, with berths for up to 235. Meanwhile, Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has wrapped up its first visit to Australia after participating in a major military drill. The fleet flagship has now departed for Japan as the next leg of its eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment. The £3billion vessel left Portsmouth in April for the mission encompassing visits to 40 nations across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia. A Royal Navy spokesperson revealed the carrier had departed Darwin following participation in the Talisman Sabre exercise whilst also serving as venue for diplomatic meetings, including with representatives of the indigenous Larrakia people. He added: "The flagship hosted a string of senior British and Australian politicians, including Defence Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. "The aircraft carrier has also served as the impressive setting for a business and industry event, discussing the growing importance of defence links between London and Canberra. "And the 2,500-plus personnel in the task group have enjoyed down time to explore the largest city in Australia's Northern Territory."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New director looks to lead Evergreen Chamber of Commerce
May 4—Ben Dorrington has set goals of economic growth and creating community-driven spaces for the community of Evergreen. He looks to shepherd those goals as the new executive director of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce. It's a position he will be taking on this summer following the retirement of Connie McCubbins. "There is so much potential," Dorrington said, sitting in the chamber office on the upstairs level of Snappy Sports Senter. "As you drive down the corridor, there's a question as to what may happen." In recent years, the Evergreen population has continued to grow with the greater Flathead Valley, introducing new businesses and places for residents and tourists alike. Dorrington hopes to keep up with that change, using it to Evergreen's benefit to expand community, social and business options. Dorrington grew up on a bluff in Kalispell overlooking Evergreen. After graduating from Flathead High School in 1996 he attended Linfield University and majored in psychology. "I had this calling when I was 17 that I needed to help people, so I was trying to find a way to do that," Dorrington said. After graduation, Dorrington worked with Wilderness Treatment Center in Marion for two decades doing various jobs, from being a staff therapist to taking over the marketing sector later in his career. The center was sold amid a lawsuit in 2018, and Dorrington left the company. He then worked in marketing for Averill Hospitality before the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in his layoff. From there, Dorrington returned to social services, working at Immanuel Living and Kalispell Public Schools before staying home with his kids. When he saw the job at the chamber, Dorrington was excited to keep the momentum in Evergreen going. "I saw how impactful that sidewalk project is and was," he said. "I really think this job can have a direct impact on the community. People can make an impact... and I think the chamber can do that here." Business owners, community members, the Evergreen Community Partners, and the Evergreen School District, along with the chamber have been working for years to bring sidewalks to Evergreen. Last year the first phase of sidewalk construction was completed with sidewalks now running from Tractor Supply to Evergreen Junior High. Funding has been secured for a second phase of sidewalks, but the community continues to work on bringing a third phase to fruition. Another goal for Dorrington is growing the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce's footprint in the greater Flathead Valley business community. As the population continues to grow, and businesses continue to put roots in and around U.S. 2, Dorrington is eager to have the chamber grow with it. He also looks forward to exploring community space options, toying with the idea of creating a space where the chamber could host events, concert series and other community events. "It's really an exciting time to be building on that momentum," he said. "We are for the people; Evergreen is for the people." McCubbins is set to leave the chamber at the end of June but has stayed on to help train Dorrington as he prepares to take over leadership of the organization. "I'm excited that Ben Dorrington will be stepping into my role as executive director," McCubbins said. "Ben is incredibly talented and will bring a fresh perspective to the job. Ben is going to be a great asset to the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce." To learn more about the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, visit Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@
