Royal Navy planning to deploy marines to Gulf

The Telegraph reports that the Royal Navy is drawing up plans to deploy marines to the Persian Gulf to protect British ships after a series of alleged Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the region.

The plans reportedly involve sending marines from 42 Commando based near Plymouth to form a rapid reaction force called the Special Purpose Task Group 19

In the coming days, the Cobra security committee, the British Government’s highest body on security matters, is expected to meet to discuss the escalating situation and proposals to dispatch Royal marines.

Iran in the past days had summoned Britain’s ambassador in Tehran after Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary said it was “almost certainly” behind the attacks.

Britain has four Royal Navy Minehunters, a Type-23 Frigate and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary logistics vessel in Bahrain as part of a 33-nation Maritime Coalition Force.

Military sources said the Navy’s special task force will embark from the naval base in Bahrain on one a Royal Fleet auxiliary ship to protect navy  ships as well as British merchant vessels.

The Telegraph quotes two senior US officials said that the United States is discussing with its allies a variety of options on how to protect international shipping.

Via The Telegraph