RN Photo

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS leads group to Indian Ocean
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious to Indian Ocean region for a series of exercises which will take place over the next four months...




Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious left Portsmouth, Monday 21 January 2008, to lead a multi-national Task Group to the Indian Ocean region for a series of exercises which will take place over the next four months.

The Task Group incorporates more than 2,500 personnel, 13 ships, a nuclear powered submarine and fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. 'Orion 08' is an element of the UK's continued commitment to boosting peace and stability in the area by exercising with a number of navies in the region. During its deployment the Task Group will be visiting 20 ports in the Mediterranean, Africa, Middle East, South Asia and the Far East.

The deployment is part of the RN's regular operating pattern, repeating a similar deployment to the Indian Ocean in 2006. It will exercise deploying a maritime strike force for a prolonged period away from the home base and working with allies.

During the deployment, the ship will carry Ground Attack Harriers flown by Royal Navy and RAF pilots from the Naval Strike Wing and No 1 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force, both part of the UK's Joint Force Harrier. A total of 20 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, including six Merlin helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron (the 'Flying Tigers') based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall have deployed with the Task Group.

Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, Commodore Tom Cunningham, said:
"Orion 08 is a great opportunity for the RN to demonstrate one of its core capabilities. The ships' companies and support networks have been working tremendously hard to get the ships to sea on time and we are now all looking forward to this deployment which will allow us to further develop Joint Force Harrier operations and UK relationships in this important region.”

Units in the group include the Air Defence Destroyer HMS Edinburgh, the multi-role Frigate HMS Westminster, the nuclear powered submarine HMS Trafalgar, and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Wave Knight, Fort Austin, Diligence and Bayleaf (carrying fuel, ammunition, stores and food).

Also working with the Task Group are USS Cole (an American Arleigh Burke Destroyer), SNS Mendez Nunez (Spanish F100 class Aegis Frigate), FS Jean Bart (French air defence destroyer), supported by UK Mine Countermeasures Vessels HM Ships Chiddingfold and Atherstone.