Operation Weald - Mediterranean

Discuss current, historical or potential future deployments, as well the defence of the UK's overseas interests.
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GibMariner
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Re: Migrant Crisis

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So is sending HMS Enterprise to replace Bulwark the result of a change in strategy in dealing with the migrant problem? Rather than acting as a ferry service on behalf of the smugglers, could this be in preparation of something being done to tackle the problem at its source?

If it is to continue Bulwark's "scooping up" mission, there is no way that Enterprise will be as effective as Bulwark, a Bay would be much better suited to that if it were to continue. Is it a case of reducing the mission because there are no other ships available and we just need to be seen doing something?

Note: I'm not diminishing the hard work put in by Bulwark and her crew or anything like that. Just wondering what everyone thinks about all this.

(Also, "The" HMS Enterprise seriously? Ugh)

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Tiny Toy
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Re: Migrant Crisis

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I think it's fairly clear to all concerned that simply scooping up migrants is a firefighting tactic rather than a strategy. Unfortunately the only two strategic solutions that seem to be available are (1) dismantling the people-smuggler networks and operations, which is very difficult if not impossible, and (2) socioeconomic stabilisation of the countries of origin, which is also difficult and potentially very expensive. The second option is perhaps slightly more possible since not all of those countries are actively in conflict (i.e. you could perhaps stabilise Ethiopia but not currently Syria). If you do so then as well as reducing the number of migrants from that origin you can also perhaps incentivise migrants from conflict areas to migrate to those areas as a haven, rather than to Europe. This is the approach favoured by Federica Mogherini (and Ban Ki-Moon) and has the best chance of success in the medium to long term (although IMHO she is wasting too much time trying to coordinate with the Libyan government, since even with the best will in the world they are not in control and cannot be made to be so). Realistically, in the short term, there is little that can be done so it's pointless wasting too many resources on it. That doesn't mean that there won't be rescue patrols or intelligence incentives to disrupt people-smuggling operations (i.e. solutions that the military can play a part in), just that there's no point throwing everything at those solutions.

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GibMariner
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Re: Migrant Crisis

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Parliamentary Q&A regarding HMS Enterprise replacing Bulwark in the Med:
Stuart McDonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons HMS Enterprise has been selected to replace HMS Bulwark on migrant search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean; and when that decision was made.

Penny Mordaunt

HMS BULWARK must return to the UK for planned maintenance on 3 July 2015, and we took the decision on 18 June to replace her with HMS ENTERPRISE, which will be well suited to contribute to the broad maritime capabilities desired by the Operational Commander for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation. HMS ENTERPRISE will help to understand and build-up a picture of how the operation will go on to seize and disrupt the assets of smugglers. All ships involved in the CSDP operation will continue to respond to vessels in distress as is customary for all maritime vessels.
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2015/06/3 ... -answered/
Stuart McDonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision to replace HMS Bulwark with HMS Enterprise on capacity to rescue migrants from the Mediterranean.

Penny Mordaunt

HMS ENTERPRISE with a Merlin helicopter, and in cooperation with other EU Member States’ naval assets, will make an important contribution to the Common Security and Defence Policy operation which will seek to disrupt the assets and operations of the smugglers. This is part of a longer term approach to manage the consequences of irregular migration in the Mediterranean, as agreed at the extraordinary European Council on 23 April 2015. All ships involved in the operation will continue to respond to vessels in distress as is customary for all maritime vessels.
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2015/06/3 ... -answered/

Also: Should the thread be renamed to Operation Weald if that's possible?

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GibMariner
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Re: Migrant Crisis

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The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Migrant Crisis

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

GibMariner wrote:Also: Should the thread be renamed to Operation Weald if that's possible?
Good point. Done.
GibMariner wrote:
Would have expected a larger contribution from France, considering the Med is in its backyard and it has a navy as large as ours.

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GibMariner
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Re: Migrant Crisis

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The Armchair Soldier wrote:
GibMariner wrote:Also: Should the thread be renamed to Operation Weald if that's possible?
Good point. Done.
GibMariner wrote:
Would have expected a larger contribution from France, considering the Med is in its backyard and it has a navy as large as ours.
Yes, I also thought that about France - might their navy might be as limited as ours now in this regard after years of cuts too? Might have too much pressure from standing commitments to be able to dedicate more assets to tackling migrants. Surprising as they've been taking centre stage in the last couple of years as Europe's leading power, while the UK has seemed to take a back seat.

Strange to see so few Mediterranean countries involved, and to see so many northern countries instead. It must be noted, that while Spain isn't included in that infographic, I believe they have one or two Guardia Civil boats operating in the central Med. They are also heavily involved in a similar mission around the Strait of Gibraltar (and the Canary Isles), sometimes with the cooperation of Moroccan and/or Algerian vessels.

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Re: Operation Weald

Post by RetroSicotte »

It's often forgotten that France has a whole heap of forward deployed ships worldwide. They do have the 2nd largest EEZ in the world after all.

As a result, they may not have as many on station as one might expect around Europe, with so many foreign assets to take care of, not to mention supporting their current adventures in Mali. Add on that at least one of their ships is currently moored up after an engine room fire (always nightmarish) and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some struggling to find hulls for tasks right now with their own shrinking fleet.

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald

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HMS Bulwark will be arriving at Gibraltar tomorrow on her way back to the UK from her migrant rescue mission in the Med.

http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/society/ ... is-weekend

This marks the end of Bulwark's contribution to Operation Weald. I believe HMS Enterprise was East of Suez when the announcement of her replacing Bulwark was made. Does anyone know if Enterprise has arrived in Italy yet?


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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Image

Image

Image
A Merlin from 814 Naval Air Squadron normally based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose is guided down on to the flight deck of Italy’s flagship for the first time as part of the international migrant mission in the Mediterranean.

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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HMS Enterprise Rescues Over 450 Migrants
HMS Enterprise has contributed to a major rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean, working under an Italian-led EU mission.

As the nearest ship to the scene the Royal Navy hydrographic ship identified four small vessels and safely brought aboard 453 people. They were later transferred to the German frigate Schleswig Holstein and taken to the southern Italian port of Taranto.

Several other European ships were involved in Saturday’s rescue off the coast of Libya, where more than 20 vessels had issued distress calls and around 4,400 people were saved. It was the largest operation of the mission so far to take place in a single day.
Read More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms- ... 0-migrants

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Migration Crisis: Royal Navy To Target Smugglers
Britain is to send a Royal Navy frigate to the Mediterranean to fight the smugglers at the centre of the migration crisis.

HMS Richmond, currently in the Suez Canal, will be ordered to sail to the region.

She is carrying a Lynx helicopter and a Scan Eagle drone onboard, both of which will be used to search for boats.

Richmond does not have the capacity that other ships have to rescue and transport hundreds of people.

Significantly however, she has a detachment of Royal Marines sailing with her who are trained to board suspicious vessels using force.
Read More: http://news.sky.com/story/1553230/migra ... -smugglers

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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HMC Seeker & Protector heading home:
Two UK Border Force vessels, HMC Protector and the HMC Seeker, will arrive in Gibraltar’s Naval Base on Sunday on a scheduled stopover on their way home at the end of their deployment to the FRONTEX Operation Triton.

Both vessels have been heavily involved in the search and rescue mission as part of the wider European response to the migrant crisis off the coasts of Italy and Libya.
http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/politics ... -gibraltar


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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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HMS Enterprise starts hunting for people smugglers in Mediterranean as part of new EU operation.

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More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ation.html

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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UK Sends Second Warship To Combat Smugglers
A second Royal Navy warship has been sent to the Mediterranean to help the fight against people smugglers.

Frigate HMS Richmond has arrived to join EU patrols off the coast of Libya.

The patrols are aimed at stopping human traffickers who offer to take refugees on a dangerous - and often fatal - journey to Europe.

HMS Enterprise is already gathering intelligence in the region but was needed to save almost 400 migrants last month after Italian authorities were overwhelmed.
Read More: http://news.sky.com/story/1575787/uk-se ... -smugglers

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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24322 – Migration: Mediterranean Sea (Answered)
Stuart C. McDonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what coordination he is undertaking with other EU member states on the deployment of military assets to rescue migrants and refugees at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean.
Penny Mordaunt

The Royal Navy is not currently involved in a Search and Rescue Mission in the Mediterranean. However, HMS Enterprise, which is currently deployed as part of the EU Naval Forces Operation in the Mediterranean, will coordinate with assets from other EU member states in order to respond to vessels in distress.

In addition, a Royal Marine force protection team is deployed on board the Border Force chartered vessel MV VOS GRACE currently in the Aegean Sea, supporting the EU’s FRONTEX-led search and rescue operation.

In total, the UK has rescued over 12,500 people in the Mediterranean.
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2016/01/2 ... -answered/

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Royal Navy Ship To Help In Migrant Crisis
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Mounts Bay will be acting as a patrol boat and deterrent to people smugglers in the Aegean Sea.
The Royal Navy is to send a ship to assist with the migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea, Sky News has learned.

It comes as Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has warned the Government that migration from the EU has left the UK "creaking at the seams".

RFA Mounts Bay, a landing dock, will join a NATO maritime group recently deployed to the region.

She is currently in Crete, waiting for diplomatic clearance to begin her mission in the waters around Greece and Turkey.

A Wildcat helicopter, from 825 Naval Air Squadron, has flown from Oman to link up with her.

A detachment of Royal Marines Commandos will also be on board.

If she doesn't receive diplomatic clearance within 10 days, she will sail into international waters and conduct airborne surveillance using the Wildcat.
Read more: http://news.sky.com/story/1653822/royal ... ant-crisis

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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From the RN:

RFA Mounts Bay deployment to Aegean Sea
The Prime Minister has announced that naval ship Mounts Bay will support the international response to the migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea.

The Prime Minister has announced that naval ship Mounts Bay will support the international response to the migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea.

As the Prime Minister attends an EU summit on the migration crisis, the Royal Navy is deploying amphibious landing ship royal fleet auxiliary (RFA) Mounts Bay alongside 2 border force cutters to join the NATO mission in the Aegean Sea that aims to reduce the flow of migrants from Turkey to Europe.

RFA Mounts Bay, supported by a Wildcat helicopter, is expected to start operations in the coming days – identifying smugglers taking migrants to Greece and passing the information to the Turkish coastguard so they can intercept these boats.

They will be supported by 3 border force boats – VOS Grace which is already in the Aegean; the cutter Protector which is on its way to the region and a further Border Force cutter that is expected to start operations later this month.
Read more: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-la ... aegean-sea

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Gibraltar offers logistical support in Nato migrant operation
A UK Border Force cutter will stop in Gibraltar today on its way to the Aegean Sea as part of a Nato deployment to tackle people smugglers.
HMC Protector will stop in the Naval Base to pick up fuel and stores before sailing east into the Mediterranean.
The vessel is part of a wider deployment announced by the British Government yesterday.
http://chronicle.gi/2016/03/gibraltar-o ... operation/

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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RFA Mounts Bay To Call Into Gibraltar
RFA Mounts Bay will utilise Gibraltar’s Forward Mounting Base facilities when she calls into HM Naval Base on Monday.

The Bay Class Landing Ship will offload three heavy good vehicles via a mexeflote at sea before offloading 42 further vehicles when she is berthed on the jetty.

Whilst in Gibraltar RFA Mounts Bay will undergo a month long period of pre-planned routine maintenance in Gibdock.

RFA Mounts Bay deployed to the Aegean Sea in January where she supported the international response to the migrant crisis by providing a continuous amphibious capability.
http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/society/ ... -gibraltar

Mounts Bay supposedly replaced in the Aegean by RFA Fort Victoria according to BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale:

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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Mediterranean Sea: Human Trafficking:Written question - 37643

Asked by Mrs Anne Main
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's naval contribution to EU anti-people trafficking operations in the Mediterranean.
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
The UK is contributing HMS ENTERPRISE to Operation SOPHIA and eight staff to the Operational Headquarters. HMS ENTERPRISE has been valuable in developing a picture of the maritime environment and smuggling routes. UK assets have destroyed 27 vessels to prevent re-use and identified nine smugglers to the Italian authorities. Furthermore, UK ships have rescued over a quarter of the total number of migrants saved by the entire operation - 3,700 out of 13,700. More broadly, we assess that Operation SOPHIA has left the smugglers unable to operate with impunity in international waters. This is progress on which we can build. We remain committed to working with the Libyan Government of National Accord to move to the later phases of the operation once the right conditions are in place and prevent the smugglers from putting people to sea.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... -19/37643/

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GibMariner
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Re: Operation Weald - Mediterranean

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Mediterranean Sea: Human Trafficking:Written question - 39020

Asked by Mrs Anne Main
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the length of time for which UK naval resources will be committed to Operation Sophia.
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
We have committed to maintain our naval vessel HMS ENTERPRISE in Operation SOPHIA until August 2016. We will continue to assess our contribution in line with the changing mandate and requirements of the operation.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... -03/39020/

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