TNAG-0539-FCO40-634-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 171

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backed up from time to time by larger ships, such as HMS Ark Royal,

and Royal Naval amphibious forces. The size and frequency of these

deployments will be adjusted in line with Defence Review decisions,

and we shall no longer permanently station ships in the Mediterranean.

9. One Royal Marines Commando Group, stationed in Scotland,

trained in Arctic and mountain warfare. The Group exercises in

northern Norway to fit it for service on the northern flank of NATO.

Deployments outside the NATO Area

is

10. Naval forces are at present deployed outside the NATO area

as follows:-

a. The Far East and the Indian Ocean. A guardship and five

patrol craft are stationed at Hong Kong for maritime policing

duties. The future size of this force and the arrangements

for financing it are being discussed with the Hong Kong

Government. A frigate is currently stationed at Singapore

as part of our contribution to the Five Power Defence

Arrangements but this ship will be withdrawn by April 1976.

A Royal Naval submarine is serving with the Royal

Australian Navy until September 1975. Other British naval

tasks in the Indian Ocean and the seas of South Fast Asia

are being met primarily by deploying groups of HM Ships from

the "nited Kingdom. At present each group includes a

cruiser or guided-missile destroyer, together with frigates,

Royal Fleet Auxiliaries in support and a nuclear-powered

submarine when possible. Group deployments will continue

in this way from time to time but will occur less fre-

quently in future.

ITI

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