Vigilance can confirm that Naval ships set sail this week as the lead element of the Cougar 11 deployment.
Vigilance authoritatively learnt that HMS Albion, HMS Sutherland, and RFA Cardigan Bay, together with elements of 40 Commando Royal Marines, will leave for the Mediterranean and Middle East from Devonport and from Marchwood in Southampton between 6 and 8 April.
A source at the MoD said their long planned deployment as part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) would see them transit through the Mediterranean where they would take part in multi-national amphibious exercises before moving further east through the Suez canal for further exercises in the Indian Ocean.
According to the source this deployment is not linked to events in Libya, which involve other elements of the UK Armed Forces.
Vigilance gathered that the ships and their embarked Commando will be deploying on Cougar 11 to develop and demonstrate contingent capability for UK defence - in effect, the ability to respond to short notice tasking across a diverse range of defence activities such as disaster relief, humanitarian aid, or amphibious operations. All of these are capabilities that are regularly required of a versatile maritime force.
The Task Group is commanded from the Fleet Flagship, HMS Albion, by Commodore John Kingwell Royal Navy, Commander United Kingdom Task Group.
Commodore Kingwell said: “COUGAR 11 is an important opportunity to develop international interoperability and build long term Defence relationships, and for the RFTG to demonstrate operational contingent capability. It is a great privilege to lead such a versatile force and I thank all those ashore who have worked so hard over the last week to make this possible.”
Vigilance also learnt the units have spent the last week preparing to sail taking on sufficient stores and provisions to enable self-sustaining operations at sea. The ships are planning to be away for up to six months.