- Standing Royal Navy deployments
Although the majority of the
Royal Navy fleet, unless required, remains training and exercising in and around Home Waters, the Navy has a number of standing commitments, including those held for contingent operations, to provide ships for various missions around the world:Fleet Flagship and R2 Carrier
The "Fleet Flagship" is an aircraft carrier held at not more than 48 hours notice to move, known as R2, whilst in UK. The remaining Aircraft Carrier may be undergoing maintenance, training or deployed.
Fleet Ready Escort (FRE)
This is a single
warship maintained at high-readiness around the UK on short-notice standby for deployment anywhere in the world. The FREdestroyer orfrigate has rapidly deployed for counter-narcotics operations as far away as the coast ofSpain , embargo operations in theAdriatic Sea and short-duration training in theCaribbean ,Africa and theMediterranean .Mine Countermeasures Force (MCMFOR)
MCMFOR (Group 1) is a standing commitment to
NATO to provide a Mine Countermeasures vessel to the Baltic, NorthernEurope andAtlantic areas.Fishery Protection Squadron
The Fishery Protection Squadron protects both the United Kingdom
fishing fleet and the oil and gas fields in the British areas of theNorth Sea .Atlantic Patrol Task (North)
(Formerly known as the "West Indies Guard Ship") [ cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/2000/jul/13/west-indies-guard-ship#S6CV0353P0-10061 |accessdate=2008-09-05 ] This is the
United Kingdom 's contribution to the NorthAtlantic andCaribbean areas, intended to protect British interests in the region. The deployment supports counter narcotics role and can provide humanitarian assistance where required; following the regular hurricanes and tropical storms. The Atlantic Patrol Task (North) is normally carried out by a singlewarship and/or RFA vessel during thehurricane season from May to November. Beginning in 2007 both awarship and a RFA vessel will be on-station 12 months each year. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060306/text/60306w32.htm]NATO Response Force
The UK normally deploys a
Vanguard class submarine SSBN , maintaining the British nuclear deterrent, and provides a singlewarship to theNATO Response Force (NRF), part of theStanding NRF Maritime Group 1 in theAtlantic andStanding NRF Maritime Group 2 in theMediterranean .Atlantic Patrol Task (South)
This deployment provides a British presence in the South
Atlantic and WestAfrica and is comprised of singlewarship accompanied by an RFA vessel. The patrol is tasked with maintaining the sovereignty of theFalkland Islands andSouth Georgia , and supporting the British forces in the South Atlantic.East-of-Suez
The
Armilla Patrol was established to ensure the safety of British shipping in thePersian Gulf and is also responsible for maintaining a British presence in the region. A singlewarship and supporting RFA vessels are on-station as part of Operation Oracle another aspect of the UK's contribution to theWar on Terror . The vessels are at-notice for deployments anywhere East-of-Suez.Though the permanent RN presence in the
Far East andPacific regions has ended, the RN regularly deploys a significant Naval Task Group (NTG) for task specific operations or as part of theFive Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The latest deployment is under the banner of 'Orion 08,' with Task Group 328.01 being led by HMS Illustrious. [Richard Scott, 'ASW Resurfaces,'Jane's Defence Weekly , Volume 45, Issue 24, 11 June 2008, p.25]Falkland Islands Patrol Task
The
Falkland Islands patrol ship is an Offshore Patrol Vessel that is permanently stationed around the islands, as part of the naval element of British forces in the South Atlantic. The Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship is deployed to the SouthAtlantic and theBritish Antarctic Territory .References
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