HMS Albion Visits Valetta, Malta

HMS Albion, Flagship of the Royal Navy, visited Valetta, Malta, between 25 and 27 July 2011 for a short operational stand down following a period East of Suez. The 18,500 tonne assault ship has had a busy few months undertaking amphibious exercises in the Mediterranean in May, supporting NATO maritime operations off Libya in June and, most recently, strengthening the UK’s relationships in the Middle East.

HMS Albion is the lead ship of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group, a maritime quick reaction force designed to provide a range of capabilities at short notice in response to unforeseen events. These tasks could include evacuating civilians from trouble spots, providing disaster relief and humanitarian aid, and undertaking amphibious operations.

Captain James Morley Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, said: “HMS Albion is now the Flagship of the Royal Navy and is privileged to be the latest in a long line of famous naval vessels that have enjoyed the sanctuary and support of the George Cross Island”. “We are grateful to the people of Malta for their hospitality and the use of their facilities during our visit to their beautiful and historic country”.

“The Response Force Task Group is the UK’s maritime quick reaction force and has a range of capabilities that make it ideally suited to the fast pace and unpredictable nature of world events”. The Response Force Task Group also includes the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean which visited Malta earlier this month and has now resumed operations off Libya, where she is acting as floating airfield for Apache attack helicopters.

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Source: Maasmond Maritime, July 29, 2011;