Pictured: The French Naval ship Jean Bart attached to the Amphibious Flag Ship, HMS Albion for a replenishment at sea drill before signing off and heading back on with their journey through the Mediterranean.
HMS ALBION LEADS UK TASKS GROUPS FOR THREE-MONTH MED DEPLOYMENT
MORE than one thousand sailors and Royal Marines have sailed on a three-month mission to the Mediterranean to forge the commando forces of tomorrow.
UK flagship HMS Albion has left Plymouth, heading a force which will visit numerous nations across the Mediterranean and Black Sea as the UK’s armed forces nurtures new friendships and cements traditional alliances.
In addition, it will allow the commandos to test and develop tactics using innovative new kit.
The deployment is intended to test new concepts of the Littoral Strike Group (which replaces the UK’s long-standing amphibious task group) and shapes the Future Commando Force (FCF) – the evolution of the Royal Marines into a hi-tech raiding/strike force – both of which are at the heart of the transformation of the Royal Navy as it enters the 2020s.
The group will also support NATO’s Mediterranean security operation Sea Guardian – alongside new patrol ship HMS Trent which is now permanently based in the region – and provide options for the UK to respond to any potential crisis in the area.
Known as the Littoral Response Group (Experimentation) deployment, the force includes the headquarters and staff of Commodore Rob Pedre, the Commander Littoral Strike Group, flagship HMS Albion, destroyer HMS Dragon and amphibious support ship RFA Lyme Bay.
