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Royal Navy Task Group to visit Asia
A Royal Navy Task Group led by the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, is to deploy to the Far East and Australasia at the beginning of 1997, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Mr Nicholas Soames, announced in London today (Thursday). The deployment, known as "Ocean Wave 97", will involve about a dozen ships which will be away from the United Kingdom from the middle of January until late August 1997.
The Royal Navy has undertaken similar deployments to this part of the world over a number of years, the last major one being "Orient 92".
The purpose of these deployments is to demonstrate the United Kingdom's continuing ability to deploy a self-sustainable force out of the NATO area for a significant period, and in turn, to contribute to promoting the United Kingdom's wider security interests through the maintenance of international peace and stability.
During their time away, the ships will take part in exercises and participate in joint training with regional navies. Ocean Wave 97 will also provide opportunities to demonstrate the excellence of British defence technology to potential customers.
Vessels of the Task Group will pay some 40 courtesy visits to ports throughout the area, and, on current plans, two or three of them will be available to help withdraw the last elements of the British garrison from Hong Kong on the transfer of sovereignty in June 1997.
The deployment, to be commanded by Rear Admiral Alan West, the Commander United Kingdom Task Group, will in addition to the carrier, be made up of destroyers, frigates, submarines, an amphibious element, and ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Supplementary notes
Major Royal Navy deployments to Middle and Far East take place regularly. They promote UK's wider interests outside Europe and demonstrate the Royal Navy's ability to operate world-wide. The ships operate with the forces of other nations en route, underpinning British support for the maintenance of security and stability in the areas they visit.
Such deployments also provide an opportunity to support British defence companies in promoting their products overseas.
Last major deployment was in 1992 (Orient 92). A smaller deployment to Australasia and the Pacific took place last summer (Australasia 95).
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