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==Operational history==
==Operational history==
{{Update|section|date=November 2018}}
{{Update|section|date=November 2018}}

===Cougar 11 deployment===
{{See also|2011 Libyan Civil War|2011 military intervention in Libya|Operation Ellamy}}
In April 2011, the Response Force Task Group deployed for the first time since its announced establishment in October 2010. The deployment was "designed to demonstrate the versatile capabilities and high readiness" of the Response Force Task Group and engage with foreign allies in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and [[East of Suez]].<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-cougar-11-force-begins-exercises-off-cyprus Royal Navy Cougar 11 Force begins exercises off Cyprus], gov.uk, 13 May 2011</ref> On 9 May (en route to [[Cyprus]]), 7 Senior NCOs and the Officer Commanding the Support Troop from 6 Assault Squadron Royal Marines held a service of remembrance at the [[Souda Bay]] Commonwealth Grave site in [[Crete]] to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the [[Battle of Crete|bitter battle for the island]].<ref>[http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1184-task-groups-link-up-for-exercises-in-cyprus.aspx Task Group Link Up For Exercise In Cyprus], navynews.co.uk</ref> ''Cougar 11'' saw, for the first time, [[British Army]] [[AgustaWestland Apache]] attack helicopters operating from the decks of a Royal Navy warship, HMS ''Ocean''.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/ArmysApacheFiresFirstHellfireMissilesAtSea.htm Army's Apache fires first Hellfire missiles at sea], mod.uk, 13 May 2011</ref>

During the deployment the RFTG was involved in several multinational exercises: The first was 'Cypriot Lion' which included [[Royal Marines]] from [[40 Commando]], elements of [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ and a detachment from the [[Netherlands Marine Corps]]. The second major exercise was code-named 'Albanian Lion', a joint UK-[[Albania]]n military exercise and the first joint operation between the UK and the [[Albanian Armed Forces]] since Albania joined NATO in 2009.<ref>Precise Media Planner, Joint UK-Albanian military exercise 'Albanian Lion' begins, Precise Media Planner, May 26, 2011</ref> The third major exercise was code-named 'Operation Red Alligator', described as a "major maritime security and anti-piracy exercise", it took place in the Persian Gulf with the [[Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia]].<ref>[http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1263-red-hot-cougar-task-group-sharpens-its-teeth-in-saudi-arabia.aspx Cougar task group sharpens its teeth in Saudi Arabia], navynews.co.uk {{dead link|date=August 2013}}</ref>

With the ongoing [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Civil War in Libya]], on the 3 June 2011, five ships of the Response Force Task Group were temporarily detached and deployed off the Libyan coast as part of [[Operation Ellamy]].<ref>[http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1226-task-force-sent-to-libya-to-ratchet-up-the-pressure-on-gaddafi.aspx Task Force Sent To Libya To Ratchet Up The Pressure On Gaddafi], navynews.co.uk {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310163926/http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1226-task-force-sent-to-libya-to-ratchet-up-the-pressure-on-gaddafi.aspx |date=March 10, 2012 }}</ref> ''Ocean'' launched repeated Apache gunships strikes from her flight deck and worked alongside the French [[amphibious assault ship]] {{ship|French ship|Tonnerre|L9014|2}}, which deployed her own [[Eurocopter Tiger]] attack helicopters.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/06/04/nato-uses-attack-helicopters-for-first-time-in-libya/?test=latestnews | work=Fox News | title=NATO Uses Attack Helicopters for First Time in Libya | date=4 June 2011}}</ref> {{HMS|Triumph|S93|6}} (a nuclear-powered fleet submarine) fired her [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] land-attack cruise missiles at Libyan air defence and command and control centres. Analysts believe that in total more than 15 cruise missiles were fired by the submarine during the operations.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13905914 | work=BBC News | title=No end in sight as RAF marks 100 days over Libya | date=4 October 2011}}</ref>

'''Cougar 11 composition:'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604174512/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/operations/auriga/index.htm Global Operations COUGAR], royal-navy.mod.uk</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Ships
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Air Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Land Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Foreign Units
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Albion|L14|6}} (Flagship) || align="center"| [[815 Naval Air Squadron]] (Lynx) || align="center"| [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} || align="center"| [[845 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| [[40 Commando]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Liverpool|D92|6}} || align="center"| [[847 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| [[Royal Marines Armoured Support Group]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Sutherland|F81|6}} || align="center"| [[857 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| [[539 Assault Squadron RM]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Triumph|S93|6}} || align="center"| [[No. 656 Squadron AAC]] (Apache) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Argus|A135|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Mounts Bay|L3008|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Cardigan Bay|L3009|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Fort Victoria|A387|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Fort Rosalie|A385|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Wave Knight|A389|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|}

===Cougar 12 deployment===
[[File:Cougar 12 Task Force Group in the Mediterrean Sea MOD 45154450.jpg|thumb|Response Force Task Group in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] during Cougar 12]]
''Cougar 12'' saw Response Force Task Group deploy six ships and more than 3,000 marines and sailors to the Mediterranean in early October 2012. One of the principle purposes of the deployment was to conduct large-scale amphibious exercises with participating allies. Key exercises included: 'Corsican Lion' with France; 'Albanian Lion' with Albania; a visit to [[Malta]] and exercises with the [[United States Navy]] and the [[Algerian Armed Forces]].<ref name="Cougar 12 September">[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/naval-force-gears-up-for-cougar-12 Naval force gears up for Cougar 12], gov.uk, 27 September 2012</ref>

Commander UK Task Group, [[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] Paddy McAlpine said: "Cougar 12 provides us with a superb opportunity to rekindle our amphibious capability after a prolonged period when our focus has been on operations elsewhere."<ref name="Cougar 12 September"/> Exercise 'Corsican Lion' was the main focus of ''Cougar 12'' and was designed to towards developing the maritime and amphibious components of the Anglo-French [[Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF)]]. The exercise involved the Response Force Task Group working directly alongside the [[French Navy]]'s Task Force 473 and the {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle}}.<ref name="Cougar 12 October">[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-marines-face-french-counterparts-in-exercise-corsican-lion Royal Marines face French counterparts in Exercise Corsican Lion], gov.uk, 23 October 2012</ref>

Head of the RFTG's amphibious operations, [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] Martin Smith of [[3 Commando Brigade]], [[Royal Marines]], was quoted saying: "It is an incredibly versatile force and our burgeoning interoperability with the French further proves this. The quality of Royal Marines Commandos and French Marines delivers a highly effective first response capability which is optimised for early entry operations."<ref name="Cougar 12 October"/>

'''Cougar 12 composition:'''<ref name="Cougar 12 September"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Task Force Ships
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Air Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Land Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Foreign Units
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|6}} (Flagship)|| align="center"| [[814 Naval Air Squadron]] (Merlin) || align="center"| [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|6}} || align="center"| [[815 Naval Air Squadron]] (Lynx) || align="center"| [[45 Commando]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Northumberland|F238|6}} || align="center"| [[829 Naval Air Squadron]] (Merlin) || align="center"| [[30 Commando Information Exploitation Group]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Montrose|F236|6}} || align="center"| [[845 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| [[539 Assault Squadron RM]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Mounts Bay|L3008|6}} || align="center"| [[846 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| [[17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| MV ''Hartland Point'' || align="center"| [[854 Naval Air Squadron]] (Sea King) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| — || align="center"| [[No. 656 Squadron AAC]] (Apache) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| — || align="center"| [[No. 659 Squadron AAC]] (Lynx) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
|}

===Cougar 13 deployment===
{{See also|Typhoon Haiyan#International response}}
[[File:US Osprey Aircraft Landing on HMS Illustrious MOD 45156125.jpg|thumb|A USMC V-22 Osprey landing on the deck of HMS ''Illustrious'']]
Cougar 13 deployed during the early autumn of 2013. In the Mediterranean, Response Force Task Group held exercises with the [[Portuguese Marine Corps]] and once again conducted exercise 'Albanian Lion' with the [[Albanian Armed Forces]].<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/sitecore/content/home/news-and-events/latest-news/2013/august/23/130823-hms-bulwark-portuguese-marines HMS Bulwark Portuguese Marines], royalnavy.mod.uk</ref> Anti-surface exercises were also held with the [[Hellenic Navy]] and anti-submarine drills with the [[Italian Navy]].<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/29/130829-HMS-Montrose-Greek Warship practises hunter-killer scenario with Greek navy], royalnavy.mod.uk, 29 August 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/September/03/130903-Warship-hunting-skills HMS Westminster practises submarine hunting skills], royalnavy.mod.uk, 3 September 2013</ref>

During mid September 2013, Response Force Task Group deployed [[East of Suez]] for the second phase of the ''Cougar 13'' deployment where it linked up with the [[Royal Saudi Navy]] for exercise 'Red Alligator'.<ref>[https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/8855 Cougar wrestles with Alligator as task group exercises with Saudis], navynews.co.uk, 18 September 2013</ref> While East of Suez, a [[Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey]] from {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|6}} landed on ''Illustrious'' in a joint exercise with the [[United States Navy]]. Likewise, ''Illustrious''{{'}}s [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] [[Westland Lynx]] and [[Westland Sea King]]s dropped in on ''Kearsarge'', carrying a few passengers to get a brief insight into the American LHD.<ref>[https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/8865 ‘A little bit special’ – unique US aircraft lands on Illustrious], navynews.co.uk, 19 September 2013</ref> In the [[Gulf of Oman]], Response Force Task Group conducted anti-submarine drills against {{USS|Dallas|SSN-700|6}}.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/03/131003-HMS-Westminster-USS-Dallas HMS Westminster in hunt for USS Dallas], royalnavy.mod.uk, 3 October 2013</ref> {{HMS|Quorn|M41|6}} briefly met up with the RFTG for exercise 'Sea Khanjar'.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/11/131011-HMS-Quorn-guides-task-group HMS Quorn guides task group safely through troubled waters], royalnavy.mod.uk, 10 October 2013</ref> Exercise 'Sea Khanjar' was observed by [[Fleet Commander]] [[Vice admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice Admiral]] [[Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)|Philip Jones]], [[Commandant General Royal Marines]] [[Major General]] [[Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer)|Ed Davis]], [[Lieutenant General]] [[Mike Hindmarsh]] and Commander United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard Marines, Colonel A Al-Tenaji.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/15/131015-Sea-Khanjar The RFTG completes Exercise Sea Khanjar in UAE], royalnavy.mod.uk, 15 October 2013</ref>

When [[Typhoon Haiyan]] struck the [[Philippines]] in November 2013, HMS ''Illustrious'' was ordered to detach from the Response Force Task Group and assist in the disaster relief efforts.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24940632 British carrier HMS Illustrious to aid typhoon victims], bbc.com, 14 November 2013</ref> The mission was known as Operation Patwin, {{HMS|Daring|D32|6}} was already in the [[Far East]] when the tragedy struck and was swiftly able to provide humanitarian aid.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/operations/pacific/patwin Operation Patwin], royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 2014</ref>

'''Cougar 13 composition:'''<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2013/august/09/130809-cougar-13 Royal Navy sails for annual ‘Cougar’ deployment], royalnavy.mod.uk, 09/08/2013</ref><ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-set-for-cougar-13 Royal Navy set for Cougar 13], gov.uk, 8 August 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/August/30/130830-Supply-meets-demand Supply meets demand on Cougar 13], royalnavy.mod.uk, 30 August 2013</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Task Force Ships
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Air Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Land Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Foreign Units
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|6}} (Flagship)|| align="center"| (''Fleet Air Arm'') || align="center"| [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ || align="center"| {{ship|French oiler|Somme||2}}
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|6}} || align="center"| (''Royal Air Force'') || align="center"| [[42 Commando]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Montrose|F236|6}} || align="center"| (''Army Air Corps'') || align="center"| [[Royal Marines Armoured Support Group]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Westminster|F237|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| [[30 Commando Information Exploitation Group]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Lyme Bay|L3007|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| [[Commando Logistics Regiment]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Mounts Bay|L3008|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| [[29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Diligence|A132|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| [[24 Commando Regiment (United Kingdom)|24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Fort Austin|A386|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| [[17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Fort Victoria|A387|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| [[Point-class sealift ship|MV ''Hurst Point'']] || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|}

=== Cougar 14 deployment===
[[File:Royal Marine Landing Craft MOD 45158374.jpg|thumb|LCU Mk.10 approaching the dock of HMS ''Bulwark'']]
The RFTG departed on ''Cougar 14'' during early September 2014 for a four-month deployment scheduled to conduct exercises and engage with foreign navies in the Mediterranean and East of Suez in the (Persian) Gulf and Indian Ocean.<ref name="Cougar 14">[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/september/01/140902-cougar14 Royal Navy Task Force departs on Cougar 14], royalnavy.mod.uk, 1 September 2014</ref> Notable international warships that took the opportunity to rendezvous and participate with ''Cougar 14'' were {{USS|Makin Island|LHD-8|6}}, {{USS|San Diego|LPD-22|6}} and the French ships {{ship|French frigate|Courbet|F 712|2}} and {{ship|French ship|Dixmude|L9015|2}}.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/october/22/141022-bulwark-tries-out-osprey Bulwark tries out Osprey], royalnavy.mod.uk, 22 October 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/october/22/141022-sea-king-a-french-connection Sea King a French Connection], royalnavy.mod.uk, 22 October 2014</ref>

The first phase of ''Cougar 14'' was exercise Albanian Lion 2014, followed by exercise Dragon Hammer 2014, concluding by 17 October 2014.<ref>[http://www.aaf.mil.al/english/index.php/te-fundit/2451-albanian-lion-2014-exercise-opening-ceremony-conducted "Albanian Lion 2014" exercise opening ceremony conducted], aaf.mil.al, 8 September 2014</ref> Several ships also broke off to participate in the middle-eastern IMCMEX exercise. Once completed, they regrouped with the ''Cougar 14'' Task Group for further exercises in the region.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/november/07/141107-middle-east-exercise-2 HMS Bulwark leads ten-ship task group on Gulf exercise], royalnavy.mod.uk, 7 November 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/november/06/141106-middle-east-exercise-imcmex Core of Royal Navy's Middle East presence joins massive international minehunting exercise], royalnavy.mod.uk, 6 November 2014</ref>

During December 2014 on the return journey to Britain, ''Bulwark'' and ''Lyme Bay'' conducted exercise Sea Snake, where Royal Marines from 40 Commando and 4 Assault Squadron 'stormed' the beaches of [[Gibraltar]] during amphibious landings.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/december/10/141210-royal-marines-exercise-sea-snake Royal Marines storm beach as part of Exercise Sea Snake], royalnavy.mod.uk, 10 December 2014</ref>

'''Cougar 14 composition:'''<ref name="Cougar 14"/><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2014/January/24/140124-German-Frigate-London German frigate visits London], royalnavy.mod.uk, 24 January 2014</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Task Force Ships
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Air Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Land Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Foreign Units
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|6}} (Flagship) || align="center"| (''Fleet Air Arm'') || align="center"| [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ || align="center"| {{ship|German frigate|Schleswig-Holstein|F216|2}}
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} || align="center"| (''Royal Air Force'') || align="center"| [[40 Commando]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Northumberland|F238|6}} || align="center"| (''Army Air Corps'') || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Lyme Bay|L3007|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Fort Austin|A386|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| {{RFAux|Wave Ruler|A390|6}} || align="center"| — || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|}

===Cougar 15 deployment===
[[File:HMS OCEAN, Trident Juncture (22054434713).jpg|thumb|HMS ''Ocean'' with a USMC V-22 Osprey on her deck]]
''Cougar 15'' took place alongside the larger NATO wide exercise ''Trident Juncture 15''. Trident Juncture is a key exercise for the Royal Navy, as the country will take command of NATO's Very High Readiness Task Force in 2016. ''Trident Juncture 15'' consisted of over 36,000 personnel and 70 warships from several NATO and allied nations. The exercise saw both the [[Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces|COMUKMARFOR]] Rear Admiral Radkin and COMUKTG Commodore Connell deploy on HMS ''Ocean'' and HMS ''Bulwark'' respectively.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/30/151030-nato-class-photo NATO warships gather for "class" photo], royalnavy.mod.uk, 30/10/2015</ref> ''Bulwark'' deployed with almost 100 extra Royal Marines from across 3 Commando Brigade, and over 100 specialist personnel required to command the Task Group and its activities.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/november/25/151125-bulwark-christmas-pudding Bulwark feeds’ The Christmas Pudding], royalnavy.mod.uk, 25/11/2015</ref>

One of the first exercises during ''Cougar 15'' was ''Corsica Lion'', where ''Bulwark'', ''Ocean'', MV ''Hartland Point'' and the French Navy's ''Dixmude'' practised rescuing "civilians" off the northern coast of [[Corsica]].<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/16/151016-corsican-evacuation-exercise Corsican evacuation tests Anglo-French Task Group], royalnavy.mod.uk, 16/10/2015</ref> The RFTG also exercised with [[Standing NATO Maritime Group 2]].<ref>[http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Standing-NATO-Maritime-Group-TWO-exercises-with-British-Task-Group-COUGAR-following-Barcelona-port-visit-.aspx Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO exercises with British Task Group COUGAR following Barcelona port visit], mc.nato.int, 16/10/2015</ref> As part of ''Cougar 15'', [[United States Marine Corps]] [[MV-22 Osprey]]s flew off ''Ocean'' during Exercise ''Blue Raptor'', transporting Royal Marines from ship to shore. This exercised ended around 24 November 2015.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/november/13/151113-hms-ocean-osprey New addition to HMS Ocean's flightdeck], royalnavy.mod.uk, 13/11/2015</ref><ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/november/24/151124-partner-nations-storm-the-corsican-beaches Partner nations storm the Corsican beaches], royalnavy.mod.uk, 24/11/2015</ref> ''Bulwark'' temporarily remained in [[Malta]] along with {{HMS|Somerset|F82|6}} to provide security for the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015]].<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-military-supports-maltese-security-operation-for-2015-commonwealth-meeting UK military supports Maltese security operation for 2015 Commonwealth meeting], gov.uk, 227 November 2015</ref> This security arrangement ended with [[Queen Elizabeth II]] visiting Bulwark and the ship returned to its home port on 7 December 2015.<ref name="MaltaRoyalSendOff">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/december/01/151201-a-royal-send-off-in-malta|title=A Royal send off in Malta – Royal Navy|publisher=|accessdate=30 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/december/07/151207-hms-bulwark-returns-to-plymouth|title=HMS Bulwark returns to Plymouth – Royal Navy|publisher=|accessdate=30 July 2016}}</ref>

'''Cougar 15 composition:'''<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFodiham/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=C2BB810E-5056-A318-A841E7AB1A046F6B RAF ODIHAM – Cougar 15], raf.mod.uk, 13 October 2015</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Task Force Ships
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Air Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| UK Land Elements
! style="text-align:center; width:25%;"| Foreign Units
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} (Flagship) || align="center"| [[814 Naval Air Squadron]] (Merlin) || align="center"| [[3 Commando Brigade]] HQ || align="center"| {{ship|French ship|Dixmude|L9015|2}}
|-
| align="center"| {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|6}} || align="center"| [[847 Naval Air Squadron]] (Wildcat) || align="center"| [[45 Commando]] || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| MV ''Hartland Point'' || align="center"| [[No. 656 Squadron AAC]] (Apache) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|-
| align="center"| — || align="center"| [[No. 27 Squadron RAF]] (Chinook) || align="center"| — || align="center"| —
|}


===Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 16===
===Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 16===

Revision as of 08:05, 28 March 2020

Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime)
HMS Albion (the then Fleet Flagship), RFA Fort Rosalie and HMS Ocean of the RFTG conducting replenishment at sea during Cougar 11
Active2010–present
LandVereinigtes Königreich
BranchRoyal Navy
RoleExpeditionary & Direct Fleet Operations
Part ofUnited Kingdom Task Group
Garrison/HQStonehouse Barracks, Plymouth
EngagementsOperation Ellamy 2011
Commanders
Current
commander		Cdre James Parkin
Vereinigtes Königreich
His Majesty's
Naval Service
of the British Armed Forces
Components
  • Special Forces
History and future
Ships
Personnel
Auxiliary services

Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (or JEF (M)) (formerly Response Force Task Group (RFTG)), is the Royal Navy's expeditionary task force maintained at high-readiness and available at short notice to respond to unexpected global events.[1] In addition to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the RFTG also includes elements of the British Army and the Royal Air Force. While it is primarily poised to conduct war-fighting or amphibious operations, the JEF (M) is capable of undertaking a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, disaster relief or humanitarian aid.[2]

The JEF (M) (formerly RFTG) was established under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Since its establishment, the JEF (M) has seen six successive years of deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and East of Suez to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. The JEF (M) also deployed on operations during the 2011 Libyan Civil War and provided humanitarian aid during Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

The RFTG is now known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF (M)).[3][4][5]

Command structure

JEF (M) is directly commanded at sea by Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), typically an officer the rank of Commodore. COMATG reports to Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR) who is responsible for directing "UK, Allied or Coalition maritime forces anywhere in the world".[6]

Commander UK Task Group has been as follows:

From March 2015 the title changed from COMUKTG to Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG).[9] COMATG was re-titled as Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG) on 1 October 2019.[11]

Composition

The "scaleable nature of the Response Force Task Group" means the Royal Navy assigns a wide range of relatively significant assets to the force, with its composition changing depending on the scenario and the range of ships available.[12]

Operational history

Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 16

LPH HMS Ocean during the JEF(M) Amphibious Task Group in October 2016

In September 2016, HMS Ocean, along with helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron, No. 662 Squadron AAC and No. 27 Squadron RAF, HMS Bulwark, and element of 3 Commando Brigade HQ Royal Marines, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Eddystone Point, deployed on the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 2016. The JEF (M) would sail to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, where Commander Amphibious Task Group Commodore Andrew Burns would assume command of the United States Fifth Fleet Task Force 50 until March 2017.[13][14]

JEF (M) 16 composition:

Task Force Ships UK Air Elements UK Land Elements Foreign Units
HMS Ocean (Flagship) 845 Naval Air Squadron (Merlin) 3 Commando Brigade HQ —
HMS Bulwark No. 662 Squadron AAC (Apache) — —
RFA Mounts Bay No. 27 Squadron RAF (Chinook) — —
MV Eddystone — — —

See also

References

  1. ^ The Response Force Task Group (RFTG) – The UK's Very High Readiness Maritime Force, Royal Navy (PDF), Retrieved 3 June 2014
  2. ^ a b Royal Navy ready for unforeseen global events, gov.uk, 9 May 2011
  3. ^ HMS Bulwark prepares for major deployment, gov.uk, 15 September 2016
  4. ^ "Royal Marines under the wing of Ospreys on joint exercises in the Mediterranean". thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. ^ "UK Royal Navy elements conduct amphibious landings training". Naval-technology.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  6. ^ Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (archive), nationalarchives.gov.uk, Retrieved 3 June 2014
  7. ^ Royal Navy sails for annual ‘Cougar’ deployment, royalnavy.mod.uk, 9 August 2013
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cougar 14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b "Navy News – Reporting from the Fleet". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. ^ "COMMODORE ANDREW BURNS OBE ROYAL NAVY" (PDF). .exeterflotilla.org. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  11. ^ Rosamond, Jon (11 September 2019). "DSEI: Royal Marines Embrace Littoral Strike and Prepare to Forward Deploy". USNI News. London. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  12. ^ The Response Force Task Group, Royal Navy Fact Sheet, 2011
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference MaltaRoyalSendOff was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "HMS Ocean deploys on joint expeditionary force". Royal Navy. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
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