TNAG-0538-FCO40-633-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 120

CONFIDENT I AL

3RD DRAFT

b.

The West Indies. Two frigates, with a detachment

of Royal Marines normally embarked on each, are deployed

in the West Indies, augmented occasionally by other units

for exercises and trials. These forces will be withdrawn

by April 1976 and thereafter will be provided when

needed by redeploying ships of our forces from the Fastern

Atlantic.

C.

The South Atlantic. The ice patrol ship HMS Endurance

is in the Antarctic to support the British Antarctic Survey

and to conduct hydrographic surveys. A small Royal Marines

detachment is based on the Falkland Islands.

11.

ROYAL NAVAL SHIPS, AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT

The status of major programmes for 1975-76 is as follows:

a.

New Construction

(1)

Cruisers

HMS Invincible, the first of the new class of

anti-submarine cruisers, is under construction by

Messrs Vickers.

She will have a standard displacement

of 16,000 tons and accommodation to the latest standards

for 1,000 officers and men. The new cruisers will be

the largest gas-turbine propelled warships in the world.

(ii)

Nuclear-Powered Fleet Submarines

The seventh and eighth nuclear fleet submarines,

HMS Swiftsure and HMS Sovereign, have entered service.

These are the first of a new submarine class, capable

of deeper diving and greater speed than the previous

III

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