Royal Navy Task Force heads for the Mediterranean, 

France Mediterranean  and Southern Albania, Himara Region

 

 A Royal Navy-led task force made up of warships, airpower and Royal Marine Commandos has now left UK waters and is heading for the Mediterranean for Exercise Cougar 12. The Response Force Task Group (RFTG), which is led by the Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark, is a rapid reaction force that can be deployed to deal with unexpected world events.

Cougar 12 is an ideal opportunity for the Lead Commando Group to practice its core role - early entry operations at short notice and in unfamiliar environments.

On the exercise are four warships, one amphibious support ship, a giant transport ship, three commando units and helicopters and personnel from eight Fleet Air Arm, RAF and Army Air Corps squadrons. 

Having taken part in amphibious exercises around the UK’s coastline for the last week, the 3,000 personnel have now left homeland waters to start training with French and Albanian maritime and land forces during exercises Corsican Lion, and Albanian Lion, Himara Region.

Corsican Lion will be the first major naval exercise that will test the maritime element of the recently formed Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF). Royal Navy units will be joined by the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the French amphibious assault ship, Mistral.  
The Lead Commando Group (LCG), made up of Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade, will work with French troops from the 9th Marine Brigade to exercise the land force element in an amphibious environment.

By combining carrier strike and amphibious operations the UK and France will maintain the flexibility to conduct military strike and intervention operations with the capability to project power into hostile land from the sea.