HMS Kent will join HMS Montrose in the region as the two warships escort every British tanker sailing through the Strait.
HMS Kent’s captain Commander Andy Brown said: “Today’s departure on operations has been achieved through the hard work and support of the ship’s company, their families and the wider defence enterprise.
“Our focus in the Gulf remains firmly one of de-escalating the current tensions. But we are committed to upholding freedom of navigation and reassuring international shipping, which this deployment on operations aims to do.”
The frigate is one of the Duke class vessels, like HMS Montrose, and weighs 4,900 tons.
She is bristling with missiles and torpedoes, can carry a helicopter and also has a 4.5 inch naval gun.
HMS Kent and HMS Montrose will work together to make sure Iran can snatch anymore tankers.
They will be part of an international task force with the US and Israel to protecting shipping in the Strait.
Five tankers and a cargo ship were attacked earlier this year, and Iran claims to have seized three oil tankers – including Stena Impero.
Iran this week also claimed its gunboats chased HMS Duncan, but the video released appears to show the wrong warship.
