§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy warships have been on station in the Caribbean region as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) in each of the past two years; and for how long each vessel was in the area. [76342]
§ Mr. IngramThe Royal Navy warships that have been on station in the Caribbean region as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) in each of the past two years, and how long each vessel was in the Caribbean Area of Responsibility (AOR) is as follows: 347W
Ship Inside Caribbean AOR HMS Cardiff 21 June 2000–20 November 2000 HMS Sheffield 18 February 2001–25 July 2001 HMS Coventry 23 July 2001–16 November 2001 HMS Sutherland 22 February 2002–02 April 2002 HMS Newcastle 13 July 2002–11 August 2002 HMS Grafton 08 August 2002–03 December 2002 When not on station, the ship allocated to APT(N) was held at a maximum 14 days notice. Throughout the period in question, the duty RFA APT(N) tanker has remained on station providing a permanent presence in the Caribbean Area of Responsibility. Whilst not APT(N), HMS RICHMOND was deployed to the United States Eastern Seaboard between 09 April 2002ߝ01 July 2002 and was available throughout this period for contingency tasking in the Caribbean AOR had the need arisen.