RFA Lyme Bay: Royal Navy support ship is being readied for Cyprus deployment with HMS Dragon
A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship is being prepared for a Middle Eastern deployment.
RFA Lyme Bay has been in Gibraltar for about three months, including a three-week maintenance period.
Navy analysis website Navy Lookout this morning reported that she is being readied to sail for Cyprus, joining HMS Dragon - the Type 45 is still in Portsmouth Harbour, and this morning is again at the ammunition loading jetty in the middle of the harbour. She may sail on Wednesday - it will take about five days for Dragon to reach Cyprus.
Now the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Lyme Bay will head to the eastern Mediterranean amid the tensions in the region caused by the war between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other,
The RFA vessel has aviation and medical facilities allowing it to be used in support of humanitarian and disaster relief missions.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “As part of prudent planning, we have taken the decision to bring RFA Lyme Bay to heightened readiness as a precaution, should she be needed to assist in maritime tasks in the eastern Mediterranean.”
Dragon’s role in the eastern Mediterranean will be to protect Cyprus and the RAF bases there from further drone or missile attacks by Iran and its proxies.
On Monday, Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs the warship would sail from Portsmouth “in the next couple of days”.
There had been speculation that the HMS Prince of Wales was being readied for deployment, with the crew put on a advanced readiness. However, yesterday the government poured cold water on that idea, saying there was no plan to send the navy’s flagship to Cyprus or the Middle East,
Lyme Bay could be used to evacuate civilians. Navy Lookout said it has learned that medical personnel and supplies are travelling to Gibraltar to embark the ship, and that she will also take some Royal Marines and a helicopter. She has two cannon and other weaponry, which is operated by Royal Navy sailors. She is due to leave Gibraltar this weekend.
Lyme Bay is the only naval vessel in the Mediterranean. RFA Argus has likely reached the end of her lifespan and has been towed out of Portsmouth Harbour to Falmouth, while RFA Cardigan Bay and RFA Mounts Bay are both laid up in the UK.
The Royal Navy says that Lyme Bay’s role in general is to “deliver troops, vehicles, stores and ammunition on Fleet operations across the globe. This enormous ship helps the Royal Navy maintain the ongoing waves of an amphibious assault. From combat operations and international exercises to humanitarian aid missions, RFA Lyme Bay and her crew help make sure the Fleet is prepared for anything.”