Castle Class Patrol Ships

HC Deb 15 January 2003 vol 397 c631W

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Castle class patrol ships will be deployed in 2003. [90336]

Mr. Ingram

There are two Castle class patrol ships, one of whom is always allocated to the Falkland Islands as the FI Patrol Vessel. This is currently Leeds Castle. She deployed from the United Kingdom in January 2001 and will remain in the Falklands until June 2004.

Dumbarton Castle is acting as Flagship for Commander Mine Countermeasures Force (North) until May 2003—a role she took up in May 2002. When she leaves the NATO Squadron she is programmed to enter Refit, in Rosyth, in June 2003 until February 2004.