Archive - Tuesday, 4 September 2001


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Royal Navy sails for Operation Argonout

SHIPS of the Royal Navy spotted off South Pembrokeshire last week were taking part in an amphibious beach landing exercise.

The exercise was part of Operation Argonaut 2001, which involves the largest fleet of British ships to set sail since the Falklands War.

The fleet consists of 24 ships, two hunter/killer submarines, 35 helicopters, 15 Sea Harriers and 8,500 Royal Navy personnel. In command is Admiral Burnell-Nugent, whose flagship is the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

The amphibious landing task group is led by HMS Fearless and also involved is the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, the Royal Navys newest and largest ship.

The Royal Marines on board from 40 Commando were practicing beach landings by air and sea, in both daytime and at night.

The operation involved nearly 2,000 personnel and consisted of several simulated landings on beaches on the Castlemartin Range.

The ships set sail on Tuesday night for the Eastern Mediterranean and will meet up with the rest of the Argonaut 2001 fleet off the coast of Oman in October.

There, the fleet will take part in a huge exercise called Operation Saif Sareea 2.

Major Paul Harradine, a spokesman for the Royal Navy, said: This exercise will involve the RAF and the Omani military and is designed to demonstrate the key elements of the British rapid reaction force as well as our continued interest in stability in the region.