Rule, Britannia! UK deploys carriers to Indo-Pacific
A huge British Carrier Strike Group deployment will set sail from Portsmouth on a 28-week world tour to enhance British diplomatic, trade and defence capabilities.
A huge British Carrier Strike Group military deployment, described as “ambitious and challenging’’ will set sail from Portsmouth this weekend on a 28-week tour to enhance British diplomatic, trade and defence capabilities which includes a route through the South China Sea to the Indo-Pacific region.
“This deployment is a major strategic moment for the UK,” said Angus Lapsley, director-general for International and Strategy at the Ministry of Defence.
“This is about our commitment to playing a global role on security and in particular to upping our presence in the Indo-Pacific region … there is a very clear signal here, that Britain wants to play a bigger part in that region.’’
Mr Lapsley said Britain’s role is not just military, but about political, multilateral and economic engagements.
He added: “But there is definitely a role for the UK defence, just like some of the European militaries, France in particular that are engaging in that part of the world alongside partners we have in that region that are very close to us like Japan and Korea and Australia and New Zealand and Singapore.’’
Led by the new fifth generation 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Carrier Strike Group fleet will take part in exercises across 40 countries and more than 70 exercises to deepen Britain’s strategic and military relationships, and promote the allies’ commitment to free and open trade and freedom of the seas.
The fleet is expected to anchor off India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore during the 26,000 nautical mile operation which Defence says is the biggest deployment of maritime assets in a generation.
First up, the Carrier Strike Group will meet with French carrier FS Charles De Gaulle in the Mediterranean as well as navies and aircraft from allies such as the US, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan and the UAE.
The Carrier Strike Group will also participate in NATO exercises such as Exercise Steadfast Defender, and provide support to NATO Operation Sea Guardian and security operations in the Black Sea.
Then when the Carrier Strike Group gets to the Pacific in several months time, the ships will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Five Powers Defence Arrangements between Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the UK by taking part in Exercise Bersama Lima.
Vice-admiral Ben Key, Chief of Joint Operations at the Ministry of Defence, described hard power as “something that is kind of smarter power’’ by working with allies in an agile and flexible way. He said the deployment was “a real step change’’ in how the UK contributes to maintaining global security.
The carrier strike force will include destroyers HMS Diamond and Defender; frigates HMS Richmond and Kent; an Astute-class submarine and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships.
The force will also include more than 30 aircraft including F-35 jets from 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, and the US Marine Corps’ VMFA-211; Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin helicopters from 820 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons.
Royal Marines from 42 Commando will also deploy with the carrier. In a tweet earlier this week showing ground force fast-roping from helicopters, the 42 Commando said they were training to deliver high threat force protection for the Carrier Strike Group, as well as boarding teams and force protection teams and maritime snipers.
The Dutch and US forces will also be part of the group, contributing the frigate HNLMS Evertsen and the US guided missile destroyer, USS The Sullivans.
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