The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lyme Bay, a Falmouth-based “Cluster” ship is en-route to the eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf regions as part of the Cougar 14 fleet.

Thousands of Royal Navy, Royal Marine and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel have left the UK for the annual exercise.

The amphibious command and control ship Bulwark is carrying Royal Marines and a range of all-terrain vehicles. She is accompanied by HMS Ocean, RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Wave Knight. The RFA ships will provide fuel, stores, water and ammunition to ensure Ocean and Bulwark are kept sustained for the deployment.

The ships form part of the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) which regularly practices its world class maritime skills, and is designed to be deployed in emergency situations thousands of miles from home.

It has a number of units assigned to it including a helicopter carrier, an assault ship, two frigates, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship and commando units and several Fleet Air Arm squadrons.

Two Royal Navy warships, the Lead Commando Group from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines (40 Commando) and elements of Naval Air Squadrons, together with two ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are currently in the Mediterranean.

They will be joined on Cougar 14 by a range of other Royal Navy and RFA ships, as well as those from partner nations, during their deployment.

This is the fourth deployment for the task group, which will demonstrate its ability to operate a highly effective maritime force anywhere in the world to protect UK interests. The task group is able to conduct simultaneously a range of operations – from deterring adversaries and maritime security to international engagement.