UK’s Response Force Task Group Brings the Curtain Down on Cougar 12

The Navy’s key autumn deployment draws to a close with the man in charge delighted it has laid firm foundations for future task groups – and especially Anglo-French co-operation.

The two capital ships in the UK’s Response Force Task Group – flagship HMS Bulwark and helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious – sailed back to their respective home ports (Devonport and Portsmouth) on Friday, bringing the curtain down on the two-month Cougar 12 deployment to the Mediterranean.

They are just two elements of a 16-piece ‘amphibious orchestra’ of warships and auxiliaries, Fleet Air Arm, RAF and Army Air Corps squadrons, Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade and 45 Commando and their supporting Army commando units, more than 320 vehicles ranging from Land Rovers to armour, plus nearly 30 amphibious landing craft.

The deployment, which involved nearly 3,000 sailors, Royal Marines, soldiers and airmen spread across six ships and five squadrons, was split into two distinct phases: firstly working with the French, before moving to the Adriatic to work with the Albanians in two fortnight-long major amphibious exercises.

In particular, all eyes were on the outcome of Corsican Lion – the first attempt at testing the concept of a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force which will be formed by the two nations and navies come 2016, as desired by London and Paris.

Corsican Lion, says Cdre Paddy McAlpine, Commander UK Task Group, was “an important milestone” on the road to creating that combined expeditionary force; when ready, that force will be at 30 days’ notice to sail and be expected to deploy to short-term international crises – anything from humanitarian aid in the wake of a disaster to a total breakdown of peace and order.

“The French carrier strike group and our amphibious task group combined to provide a potent task force and the lessons we identified bode well for the future,” said Cdre McAlpine.

“French ships were welcomed into the amphibious group while HMS Northumberland worked closely with the French aircraft carrier.

“Our ability to work together is on a good footing and further opportunities to work with the Marine Nationale will only strengthen our combined and joint output.”

After the two-week work-out with the French, the Cougar force shifted to the Adriatic for the second major exercise with the Albanians.

The 13 days of training in Albania, which is the latest member of NATO, saw HMS Montrose and RFA Mounts Bay carried out recce missions around the southern port of Vlorë putting 30 Commando IX Group ashore to scout positions, before the bulk of 45 Commando went in.

For added spice, simulated small boat attacks were conducted against the task group ships by the Albanian Navy, playing the role of smugglers and insurgents.

It’s the second time in 18 months the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have worked with the Albanians.

“We were warmly welcomed by the Albanian Armed Forces, well supported by the Naval Base and well tested by their new patrol boats who ‘attacked’ our defences.

“We look forward to returning and working along side the Albanian Navy during future Cougar deployments.”

After downtime in Malta for much of the force – although HMS Northumberland broke off to sail east of Suez on counter-piracy operations and Montrose visited Algiers – the bulk of the task group headed for home.

Among its tangible achievements are:

• 600 Royal Marines fired 400,000 rounds of ammunition (an average of over 660 rounds apiece);
• The Junglie Sea Kings of the Commando Helicopter notched up 300 hours as the airborne steeds of 45 Commando;
• And the Merlins of the Flying Tigers – 814 Naval Air Squadron – were in the skies for 225 hours carrying out submarine-hunting exercises and ferrying troops and equipment (including 105mm guns) around;
• The Apache gunships flew 160 hours from the deck of HMS Illustrious, carrying out 225 deck landings;
• Seven Apache Hellfire missiles were loosed at (and hit) targets in the Med.

As far as the commodore is concerned, Cougar 12 has been the headline event for the task group during a busy 2012. He adds:

“The exercises undertaken in Corsica and Albania were excellent opportunities for us to develop partnerships with key allies, and to prove our ability to work together as part of coalitions of the willing.

“Our visits to Gibraltar, Toulon, Corfu, Algiers and Malta allowed the task group to engage as ‘uniformed diplomats’.”

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Naval Today Staff, December 03, 2012; Image: RN