§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels were involved in the(a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan, (c) Saif Sareea II, (d) Sierra Leone and (e) Kosovo operations; and what primary role they played. [124059]
§ Mr. IngramThe following Royal Navy vessels took part in Op Telic in Iraq
HMS Ark Royal, in her Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) role and HMS Ocean in her role as amphibious carrier and Landing Platform Helicopter.HMS Edinburgh, Liverpool and York carried out their role as destroyers, providing air defence for the task group.HMS Marlborough, Chatham and Richmond carried out the role of close range protection for the carriers and other high value units.704WHMS Blyth, Bangor, Brocklesby, Sandown, Grimsby, Ledbury, Ramsey and Shoreham were deployed on mine clearance tasks.HMS Roebuck was deployed in her coastal survey role.HMS Splendid and Turbulent provided strike weapon platform capability.RFA's Sir Percival, Sir Tristram, Sir Galahad and Sir Bedivere were deployed in the Landing Ship Logistic role;RFA's Grey Rover, Bayleaf, Brambleleaf and Orangeleaf were deployed as Fleet tankers.RFA Fort Rosalie, Fort Austin and Fort Victoria were deployed as Fleet Replenishment ships, providing stores for the task group.RFA Argus was deployed in her role as Primary Casualty Receiving Facility.RFA Diligence was deployed as Forward Repair Ship.RFA Sea Crusader was used in the strategic sea lift role.Afghanistan—Op Oracle
HMS Illustrious provided air projection and a command platform.HMS York, HMS Southampton and HMS Cornwall provided air protection.RF'A Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Fort George, RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Sir Bedivere and RFA Sir Percival provided support, fuel and stores.RFA Diligence was deployed as forward repair vessel.Saif Sareea II
HMS Illustrious provided air projection and a command platform.HMS Ocean deployed as Landing Platform Helicopter.HMS Fearless deployed as Landing Platform Dock and provided an amphibious capability.HMS Nottingham and HMS Southampton deployed in an AA.W capacity, providing air defence.HMS Monmouth, HMS Marlborough, HMS Cornwall acted as escorts. HMS Quorn, Cattistock, HMS Walney, HMS Inverness, and HMS Roebuck worked as survey ships and also Mine Operations.RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Percival, RFA Diligence, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Victoria provided fuel, logistic support, stores, and land force transportation capabilities and a forward repair facility.Sierra Leone—Op Palliser
HMS Illustrious provided air projection and a command plat form.HMS Ocean provided a helicopter platform.HMS Chatham and HMS Argyll provided force protection and acted as escorts.RFA Fort Austin, RFA Fort George, RFA Brambleleaf provided tanker support.RFA Sir Bedivere and RFA Sir Geraint provided support, fuel and logistics.Kosovo—Op Allied Force
HMS Splendid and HMS Turbulent carried out submarine tasking.HMS Invincible was deployed as CVS.705WHMS Newcastle and HMS Iron Duke were responsible for anti-air warfare (AAW).HMS Somerset, HMS Grafton, HMS Norfolk and HMS Coventry carried out patrols and Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOPs).HMS Atherstone, HMS Sandown and HMS Bulldog carried out surveys and mine clearance patrols.RFA Argus acted as an aviation platform and Primary Casualty Receiving Facility.RFA Bayleaf deployed as Fleet tanker.RFA Fort Austin, RFA Sea Centurion, RFA Sea Crusader and RFA Sir Geraint provided stores and logistic support.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels have been decommissioned since 2000; and what measures are in place to ensure there is no loss in level of capabilities as a result. [124061]
§ Mr. IngramThe following Royal Navy vessels have been decommissioned since 2000:
- HMS Intrepid
- HMS Fearless
- HMS Brave
- HMS Coventry
- HMS Sheffield
- HMS Orwell
- HMS Herald
- HMS Bulldog
- HMS Beagle
- HMS Shetland
- HMS Alderney
- HMS Cromer
- HMS Bicester
- HMS Berkeley
- RFA Olna
- RFA Olwen
The Department regularly reviews the Defence programme to ensure that the Royal Navy remains a highly capable and potent force with the optimum level of capability to meet requirements.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what upgrades have been made to Royal Navy(a) surface ships and (b) submarines since 2000; and how these have improved their capability. [124062]
§ Mr. IngramNumerous upgrades have been made to ships and submarines since 2000 to ensure that the Royal Navy has the optimum level of capability to meet
PVR exit rates for UK regular forces (as percentage) Officers Other ranks Total Navy Army RAF Total Navy Army RAF 2002–03 2.8 2.5 3.4 2.1 5.0 5.3 5.5 3.9 2001–02 3.6 3.4 4.2 2.9 5.7 6.4 6.0 4.4 2000–01 3.2 2.6 4.1 2.5 5.3 4.2 6.4 4.2 1999–2000 3.1 3.6 3.5 2.2 5.6 5.2 6.4 4.2 1998–99 3.1 2.4 4.0 2.5 5.9 5.2 7.1 4.1 Note:
For the purpose of this table, PVR is defined as all exits from trained personnel which are generated by the individual except "as of right", "compassion", "redundancy" and "services no longer required". Those leaving at the end of their engagement from trained or commission are therefore excluded, but all notice givers are included.
706Wrequirements. For submarines I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 157W. For ships, upgrades have included major improvements to command and communication systems, ventilation and air conditioning systems, diver compression chambers, flight deck modifications and electronic warfare systems.