12 Mar 09 ROYAL NAVY TASK GROUP FLEXES ITS MUSCLES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Under the clear blue skies of the Mediterranean, the eleven ships of the Royal Navys TAURUS 09 deployment line up, in a rare display of might. Flagship, the amphibious ship HMS Bulwark led the Task Group through the Med, towards the final stages of part one of this six month deployment, the biggest Royal Navy sea deployment of recent years. The Task Group sailed from the UK in February. It aims to maintain the Royal Navys fighting capability as well as develop the UKs capacity to operate with key partners and allies from NATO countries and other nations, enhancing interoperability and demonstrating the UKs commitment to the stability and security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia. In exercising its ability to deploy globally, the Task Group is conducting a wide range of activities, including maritime security operations, and exercising amphibious and anti-submarine warfare. Under the command of Commander UK Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) Commodore Peter Hudson CBE ADC, Royal Navy, the Task Group comprises 9 ships, including a US Navy destroyer, one nuclear powered submarines, Royal Marines from 40 Commando in Taunton, the Fleet Diving Unit, Assault Squadron Royal Marines from Plymouth, elements of 820 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) from RNAS Culdrose, 847 NAS and Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Sea Kings based in Yeovil and Support Helicopter Force Chinooks from 18 Squadron, RAF Odiham. French Navy ship Dupleix departed the Task Group today after a successful three week integration period. TAURUS 09 will be joined by ships, troops and aircraft from other nations as it transits towards South East Asia. At its height, 3,300 personnel will take part in the 20,400 mile round-trip deployment, interacting, training and building relations with 17 nations. TAURUS 09 is split into two phases: The current Phase One involves amphibious training with nations in the Medite
Britain’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid called on the Royal Navy Thursday to help control the hundreds of migrants crossing the English Channel as he faces increasing political pressure to deal with the migrant situation.
Javid, along with other British officials, asked the Ministry of Defence for assistance after migrants were increasingly reported to be crossing the channel from France to England on small boats in 2018.
The United Kingdom’s move sends a forceful message as the number of migrants attempting to cross into the U.K. illegally by boat was roughly 434 in the past three months alone, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Britain’s Home Office announced Wednesday that 539 migrants attempted to cross the border through the channel in 2018, according to TheWSJ.
“We need to send a very clear message to people that if they embark on this journey, they are taking their life into their own hands,” Javid said in a statement Wednesday.
Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson responded by dispatching the HMS Mersey, an offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy, to patrol the waters while the Royal Air Force will be responsible for patrolling the air space, reported the Financial Times.
Javid faced criticism for comments he made regarding the migrants, in which he asked if those making the journey across the English Channel were “genuine” refugees and questioned why they didn’t first seek asylum in France.
“Because France is not a country where anyone would argue it is not safe in any way whatsoever, and if you are genuine then why not seek asylum in your first safe country?” Javid said on a trip to Dover, England.
British police announced Wednesday the National Crime Agency arrested a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man “on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants across the English Channel into the UK.”
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