Royal Navy Vessels (Hansard, 22 October 2001)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are deployed east of Suez; and in what role they operate. [9036]

§ Mr. Ingram
The following Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are currently deployed east of SuezHMS Illustrious, HMS Cornwall, HMS Marlborough. HMS Southampton, HMS Monmouth, HMS Fearless, HMS Ocean, HMS Nottingham, HMS Inverness, HMS Cattistock, HMS Quorn, HMS Walney, HMS Roebuck, HMS Kent, HMS Beagle, HMS Northumberland, HMS Triumph, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Superb, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Brambleleaf, RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Percivale, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Oakleaf, RFA Diligence, RFA Sea Centurion, RFA Bayleaf.
The majority of Royal Navy vessels deployed east of Suez are part of Argonaut 01, a routine training deployment, the primary focus of which is Exercise Saif Sareea II in Oman. The vessels involved in Exercise Saif Sareea II are split into a number of Task Groups as follows:
A Carrier Group led by HMS Illustrious comprising: HMS Cornwall, HMS Marlborough, HMS Southampton and HMS Monmouth. The group is supported by RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Brambleleaf.
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An Amphibious Group led by HMS Fearless comprising: HMS Ocean, HMS Nottingham and Landing Ships RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Percivale, RFA Sir Galahad with support provided by RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Oakleaf.
A Mine Countermeasure Group comprising of HMS Inverness, HMS Cattistock, HMS Quorn and HMS Walney with support from RFA Diligence.
The survey ship HMS Roebuck is conducting Survey Operations and Beach Survey in support of Saif Sareea II.
In addition, RFA Sea Centurion, which remains in the Gulf, has provided heavy lift for Exercise Saif Sareea.
HMS Kent is deployed to the Gulf as the Armilla Patrol ship with her support ship RFA Bayleaf. RFA Bayleaf is also participating in Exercise Saif Sareea II. In addition, the survey ship HMS Beagle is in the Gulf on a long planned deployment and briefly participate in Saif Sareea II before resuming her Survey Operations.
HMS Northumberland is also deployed east of Suez. Initially tasked as the Armilla Patrol ship, on relief, she subsequently deployed out of area in order to participate in long-standing commitments in Australia.
HMS Triumph, HMS Trafalgar and HMS Superb are currently deployed east of Suez on operational tasking.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits are planned by Royal Navy ships to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore in the next 12 months.[9037]

§ Mr. Ingram
HMS Nottingham is scheduled to deploy to the Asia Pacific region between March-December 2002 to meet our annual commitments to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Her programme is currently under consideration, and while specific details remain confidential for security reasons, it is hoped that port visits to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand will be undertaken during her deployment.
HMS York is also scheduled to deploy to the Asia Pacific region between January-June 2002 as an integral part of a multinational French Task Group deployment. Her programme is currently under consideration in consultation with the French authorities but it is anticipated that the programme will include visits to both Singapore and Australia.