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| His Majesty's Naval Service of theBritish Armed Forces |
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| History and future |
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List of Royal Navy deployments is a list of operations and commitments undertaken by the United Kingdom'sRoyal Navy on a worldwide basis.[1] The following list details these commitments and deployments sorted by region and in alphabetical order. Routine deployments made by the Navy's nuclear-powered submarines and their location of operations is classified.
Antarctic Patrol is undertaken during the regional summer by the Royal Navy'sIcebreaker and survey ship,HMS Protector, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Its primary mission is "surveying and gathering data on the seas around Antarctica" while also providing support to theBritish Antarctic Survey operation stationed in and around theBritish Antarctic Territory.[2] ARoyal Research Ship is also deployed during the regional summer;RRSSir David Attenborough.
Formerly known as theWest Indies Guard Ship, the remnant of the formerAmerica and West Indies Station.[3] This is the Royal Navy's commitment to secure and protect the interests of the United Kingdom andBritish Overseas Territories in the regions of the North Atlantic and theCaribbean. The deployment primarily conductscounter narcotics missions and provides humanitarian assistance during hurricane season.[4]
This tasking was augmented byOperation Ruman in 2017 as a result of damage caused byHurricane Irma.[5]
The task is typically carried out by a single warship, or more recently by aRiver-class patrol vessel or aRoyal Fleet Auxiliary vessel.[6] Since 2020HMS Medway (P223) has been assigned permanently to the Caribbean.
The Royal Navy has maintained a permanent presence in the South Atlantic and West Africa to provide "ongoing protection and reassurance to British interests" such as the sovereignty of theFalkland Islands andSouth Georgia, while also supportingBritish Forces South Atlantic Islands. The commitment has, at times, consisted of two warships; either aguided-missile destroyer orfrigate accompanied by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel.[7] Since 2015, a major warship has not been deployed.[8] As of 2020, the commitment is maintained by the Offshore Patrol VesselHMS Forth. The 2021 defence white paper indicated that henceforth, oneRiver-class offshore patrol vessel,HMS Trent, would be permanently based inGibraltar for operations in the Mediterranean and also in the Gulf of Guinea.[9]
The Falkland Islands Patrol Task consists of a single warship (an Offshore Patrol Vessel) stationed around the EEZ of the Falkland Islands. It forms part of British Forces South Atlantic Islands and aims to reassure the inhabitants of the region and maintain British sovereignty.
HMS Forth (P222) has been permanently assigned to the task since November 2019.[10]Forth uses the deepwater naval base facilities of East Cove Military Port atMare Harbour,East Falkland.
TheStanding NATO Maritime Group 1 is part of the widerNATO Response Force, its standard area of operations is the Atlantic Ocean.[11] As of Feb 2023, the latest contribution to the task group was the Type 23HMSPortland.
Littoral Response Group (North), is the lead formation, based in Europe, with an area of responsibility in the Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean. As of 2024, it includes aBay-classlanding ship dock and a company of45 Commando Royal Marines and supporting elements. While anAlbion-classlanding platform dock is nominally assigned to LRG (North), bothAlbion-class vessels were in reserve as of 2024 withHMS Bulwark only to be activated "if required".[12] Then in late 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that theAlbion-class ships would in fact be taken out of service, putting the entire Littoral Response Group concept into question.[13]
LRG (North) had been supported by other Royal Navy and allied assets, including the Royal Navy'sCarrier Strike Group, as required.[14][15]
Baltops is an annual 2-week exercise run by theUS Navy. It is an exercise in which several NATO members come together to take part in a huge multinational exercise designed to strengthen the bonds of international partnership. The 2021 exercises included Royal Navy shipsHMSAlbion andRFAMounts Bay.
Cold Weather Training is a Royal Navy commitment to the annual Norwegian-led exercise in the Arctic regions. Its purpose is to build and strengthen military ties and to enable theRoyal Marines and Royal Navy sailors to "fight and win" in extreme conditions.[16]
The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron (FPBS) provides force protection in around the waters ofHMNB Clyde, where the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered submarine fleet is based. The squadron currently consists ofHMSTracker andHMSRaider.[17]
TheFishery Protection Squadron is charged with protecting the British fishing industry, providing security to the oil and gas fields in theNorth Sea and other duties in the United KingdomsExclusive economic zone. It consists of three warships:HMSTyne,HMSSevern andHMSMersey.[18]
The Fleet Ready Escort (FRE) is a single warship maintained at high readiness for deployment at short notice anywhere in the world. The FRE consists of either a guided-missile destroyer or a frigate.[1] As of January 2014, this commitment has been 'gapped' by the Royal Navy twice; for 19 days in 2011 and 18 days in 2012.[19]
Training in UK Home Waters is essential for preparing both crews and ships before overseas deployment.Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) is responsible for making sure that both Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships are fit for operational purpose after rigorous exercises and readiness inspections. This commitment is ongoing 365 days a year.[20]
Exercise Joint Warrior is a Royal Navy (and wider British Armed Forces) commitment to engage in a biannual tri-service exercise (including multinationalNATO forces) intended to achieve enhanced military effect. It is the largest military exercise in Europe.[21]
Towed Array Patrol Ship (TAPS) is a standing task for reactive anti-submarine patrol duties in support of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (Trident).[22] A Type 23 frigate is maintained at high readiness for this task 365 days a year.[23]
This is a list of operations and commitments presently undertaken by the Royal NavyEast of Suez in theRed Sea,Gulf of Aden,Persian Gulf,Arabian Sea, the wider Indian Ocean and theFar East:
The Royal Navy regularly contributes to two multinational coalitions;Combined Task Force 150 andCombined Task Force 151. Combined Task Force 150 is focused on maritime security and counter-terrorism; while Combined Task Force 151 is charged with anti-piracy missions.[24]
The Royal Navy remains committed to providing humanitarian aid East of Suez.
Operation Kipion has been an ongoing maritime presence in the Gulf and Indian Ocean by the Royal Navy to protect and secure the nation's many political and commercial interests. The enduring commitment usually consists of an escort (a guided-missile destroyer or frigate), a supporting Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship and several other ships with various roles.[25] Operation Kipion was formerly known as theArmilla patrol during the 1980s and 1990s.
In August 2022,HMS Lancaster departed Portsmouth en route to the Gulf to replaceHMS Montrose as the forward deployed Type 23 frigate[26] andMontrose departed the Gulf to return to the U.K. in November 2022.[27] However, as of 2025/26, both HMSLancaster and vessels from the navy's9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron were being withdrawn from the region and it was unclear how or whether they would be replaced.[28][29]
The Royal Navy has maintained a permanentpresence in the Gulf consisting of mine countermeasure vessels. These provided continued support to the region ensuring the "safe flow of trade and oil".[30] Typically the mine countermeasure vessels were supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship acting as a 'mothership'.
As of 2025/26, these forces were in the process of being withdrawn from the region leaving onlyHMSMiddleton tasked to the Persian Gulf, with her withdrawal slated for 2026.[31]
Littoral Response Group (South), to deploy from late 2023, is to be based at theUK Joint Logistics Support Base inDuqm,Oman with responsibility for theIndo-Pacific.[32] As of 2023, the principal vessels for LRG (South) were RFAsArgus andLyme Bay.[33] The LRG concept provides the UK options in an era of sub-threshold competition, a "grey zone" where nation states and actors compete in a hostile manner using tactics below the threshold of war.[34][35] The newly elected Labour government's decision to retire theAlbion-class assault ships meant that, in future, only vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary would be available to equip both Littoral Response Groups North and South. This put the viability of the concept into question.[36]
In September 2021, two Offshore Patrol Vessels,HMS Tamar andHMS Spey, sailed from the U.K. for a planned five to ten-year deployment in the Indian Ocean/Pacific region. The vessels were to be assigned missions ranging from "security patrols to deal with drug-running, smuggling, terrorism and other illegal activities" to "joining in exercises with other navies and armed forces". Crews would be rotated to the ships on a regular basis and the ships were expected to operate from friendly ports as required, though the primary logistics hub is at theBritish Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore.[37][38]
The Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD; or, Trident) is provided by the Royal Navy's fourVanguard-class submarines which deploy on a continuous basis around the globe. The Vanguard-class are each armed with a maximum of 16Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and 48 nuclear warheads.[39]
The Royal Navy remains committed to working with its International Partners around the globe. The principal purpose of these partnerships is to reassure allied nations, to share intelligence and expertise, to build trust and ultimately provide security across the worlds oceans.[40] Examples of such International Partnerships of which the Royal Navy plays a leading role include; the maritime component of the Anglo-FrenchCombined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization,AUSCANNZUKUS, theEuropean Maritime Force and theFive Power Defence Arrangements. The United Kingdom is a member ofRIMPAC also, although it hasn't participated in way of deploying a surface ship in several years.
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Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF(M)) -formerly the Response Force Task Group (RFTG) created under the 2010Strategic Defence and Security Review- is the Royal Navy's amphibious expeditionary task group maintained at high-readiness and available at short notice to respond to unexpected global events. In addition to amphibious operations, the JEF(M) can undertake a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, disaster relief or humanitarian aid.[41] The composition of the JEF(M) generally consists of several largeamphibious warfare ships (both RN and RFA) and replenishment ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
To demonstrate the operational readiness and global reach of the JEF(M), the Royal Navy deploys the amphibious task group on annual large scale international exercises, primarily in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.[42][43] As an international deployment, the JEF(M) gets the chance to engage in "intense" exercises with foreign and allied navies, such as (for example) theRoyal Navy of Oman.[44]
The 2021 JEF (M) is centred on the Type 23'sHMSLancaster andHMSWestminster supported byRFA Tiderace (A137) where they are operating in the Baltic. HMS Lancaster is the flagship for the group. The group comprises Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian vessels supported by aircraft from Sweden. The group have recently been operating with SNMG1 within the baltic.
This is the Royal Navy's commitment to support NATO MCM operations in theBaltic, Northern European Waters, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (though it is capable of deploying globally if needed). There are two organisational structures;Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 andStanding NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2.[45]
As of April 2022 the latest ship to be assigned wasHMS Grimsby (M108) withStanding NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.
Since 2015, the Royal Navy has maintained acarrier strike group based around theQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers with the aim to facilitate carrier-enabledpower projection.[46][47] It took to sea for the first time in October 2020 and its inaugural operational deployment is scheduled for 2021.[48] CGS21 will demonstrate a fullysovereign UK carrier strike group comprising:[49]HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08),HMS Diamond (D34),HMS Defender (D36),HMS Kent (F78),HMS Richmond (F239), an attack submarine of theAstute class,RFA Fort Victoria (A387) and aTide-classtanker. Also accompanying will be a U.S. Navy destroyerUSS The Sullivans.
TheGibraltar Squadron consists of two fast patrol boats:HMSCutlass (P295) and HMSDagger (P296). The squadron provides force protection for NATO or coalition warships entering the naval facilities ofGibraltar and conduct maritime security in the surrounding British territorial waters.[50] The 2021 defence white paper indicated that henceforth, oneRiver-class offshore patrol vessel,HMS Trent, would also be permanently based inGibraltar for operations in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Guinea.[9]
The Royal Navy routinely provides a single warship to theStanding NATO Maritime Group 2 (part of the NATO Response Force). The standard area of operations for the Standing NRF Maritime Group 2 is theMediterranean Sea.[11] In 2017,HMSDuncan deployed as flagship of the group, HM ShipsDiamond andOcean also took on the role prior toDuncan resuming her duties in early 2018 till July 2018.[51] The latest ship to be assigned wasHMSDuncan in June 2023 as flagship.
In April 2016,IHS Jane's reported that the Royal Navy had formed a new marine task group, named the Special Purpose Task Group (SPTG), in December 2015. The task group is reportedly 150-strong and centred around Zulu Company of45 Commando Royal Marines. It conducts counter-trafficking, counter-terrorism operations as well as providing support toUnited Kingdom Special Forces. The SPTG's first operational deployment was in January 2016 to the Mediterranean on boardRFA Mounts Bay (L3008). Additional personnel from29 Regiment Royal Artillery,17 Port and Maritime Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps,24 Engineer Regiment, and30 (Information Exploitation) Commando Royal Marines were attached to provide specialist capabilities and expertise.[52]
Ships transiting or operating in the Mediterranean will routinely be assigned in Associated Support to Operation Sea Guardian. With the forward basing of HMSTrent to Gibraltar, she has been assigned to OSG in direct support. In 2020HMS Albion andRFALyme Bay have also operated in support of the operation.
The Royal Navy remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance in the Mediterranean.
WhenTyphoon Haiyan struck thePhilippines in late 2013, the Royal Navy deployedHMSDaring andHMSIllustrious as part of the United Kingdom's humanitarian aid mission to the region (known as Operation Patwin).[53]
During the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami the Royal Navy responded by deployingRFADiligence and the frigateHMSChatham withWestland Lynx helicopters to provide assistance.[54]
In 2014, the Royal Navy deployedHMSEcho (a multi-role hydrographic survey ship) andHMSTireless (anuclear-powered fleet submarine) to search for the missingMalaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the Indian Ocean Region.[55]
In 2020, HMSEnterprise was ordered to sail from Crete to use her hydrographic survey expertise to help to re-open the port of Beirut following the massive explosion which devastated the port and surrounding area.[56] She also delivered humanitarian aid.
The Royal Navy provided assistance to Operation Sophia,[57] the EU led mission to counter illegal people trafficking from Libya.
Previously, before the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2020 ("Brexit,") the Royal Navy sent vessels toOperation Atalanta, a European Union multinational task force charged to combatSomali piracy off theHorn of Africa. For a period, the operation's headquarters was located in the United Kingdom atNorthwood Headquarters, London.[58] In November 2017 Major GeneralCharles Stickland Royal Marines was appointed as Operation Commander of Operation Atalanta.[59]
