Jan 20 - No Large Navy Vessel Based In Gibraltar Since 1984
In response to questions regarding the Royal Navy’s presence in Gibraltar, Andrew Murrison (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence) has revealed that the last time there was a large warship permanently based in the Rock was in 1984 when the Tribal class destroyer HMS Gurkha left.
Mr Murrison was replying to Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative) who also pressed him on whether there were plans to increase the Navy’s presence in Gibraltar in view of the increase in illegal incursions. Mr Murrison said that the Royal Navy had “sufficient assets to deliver its current tasking” and that the UK would continue to “focus on political engagement with the Spanish Government.”
Pic courtesy: Peter S. Smith
