NEWS FEBRUARY 1991
READY AND W
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"THERE is unprecedented and stimulating Allied co-operation, the workload is consistently very high but the operational machinery is all in place and the Task Force is ready for whatever may develop in the days and weeks ahead". So said the Commander of the Royal Navy's Gulf Task Group and Senior Naval Officer Middle East, Commodore Christopher Craig, as war broke out in the Gulf. The group of 16 ships, forming the Navy's contribution to the multinational force ranged against Iraq, included two destroyers, two frigates, three MCM vessels, an MCMV support ship, primary casualty receiving ship, forward repair ship, and a variety of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. There were also many embarked forces and, in addition, several more ships were shortly due in the area, some of them planned as relief vessels. Royal Marines air defence detachments serve afloat in RN and RFA vessels and more Royal Marines provide defence of ships alongside. Ashore the task group is supported by a logistic element, manned by RN and RNSTS personnel, to collect, log, trace and despatch stores and mail to the ships at sea. For the British naval element in the Gulf the command chain runs from the Chief of Defence Stan in MOD, through the Force Commander at Joint HO at High Wycombe, to the Commander British Forces Middle East. Operational control of naval forces is delegated to the RN Gulf Task Group Commander, embarked in the flagship HMS London, which is
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left - dawn on the Gulf and the supply ship RFA Fort Grange prepares for another rendezvous. - the " Centre, left Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff exercises with Tornados from the RAF at Bahrain.
" Top,
" Left ships of the Task Group assemble in the central Persian Gulf.