CONFIDENTIAL
3RD DRAFT
The Persian Gulf
68.
Beira
HN Ships made regular visits to the Persian Gulf area.
69. The patrol off Beira to enforce the United Nations Resolution
was maintained.
The West Indies
70. Ships of the Fleet have continued to maintain a presence in
the West Indies.
Hydrography
71.
An ocean survey ship, HMS Hydra, has completed surveys in the
Solomon Islands to facilitate the passage of large ships through
hitherto inadequately charted channels. She also surveyed areas
off the Maldives, off Fiji, and in the New Hebrides.
Last year,
coastal survey vessels, HMS Fox and HMS Fawn, carried out surveys
in the West Indies and Belize. The ice patrol ship, HMS Endurance,
continues her surveys in Graham Land and the South Shetland and
Falkland Islands.
MILITARY AID TO THE CIVIL COMMUNITY
The Caribbean
72. During September 1974 the Belize garris on provided assistance
to the civilian populations in Belize and neighbouring Honduras
in the aftermath of Hurrican Fifi. Infantry, engineers and a hygiene
section took part, assisted by light helicopters and a Hercules
aircraft for the movement of relief supplies. In addition, the
coastal survey vessels, HM Ships Fox and Fawn, were diverted from
their normal programme to participate in relief work in the area.
III-33
CONFIDENTIAL