Royal Navy Flagship, HMS Bulwark, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Lyme Bay will all sail into Gibraltar tomorrow as they set of on annual four-month deployment known as Cougar 14.

Cougar 14 is a major amphibious deployment that includes a series of demanding amphibious and maritime-based exercises with partner nations throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East region and ensures that the task group is ready to respond to any contingency the UK Government directs upon it. 

Captain Dean Bassett, the commanding officer of HMS Bulwark, noted, ‘Cougar 14 is a strategically important deployment for HMS Bulwark and marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work by my Ship’s Company over the past few months to ensure we are able to support Cougar 14 and be ready for contingent operations.’

He added, ‘the deployment not only demonstrates to our partners and allies just how flexible and versatile maritime forces can be - it also physically embodies how the Royal Navy protects the nation’s interests overseas.’

The deployment proves the capability of the UK’s high readiness Response Force Task Group, demonstrating the ability to project a highly effective UK maritime force anywhere in the world, providing direct support to the UK Government’s security and prosperity agenda and reassuring allies of the UK’s long term commitment to security in the Middle East.

In preparation for Cougar 14, HMS Bulwark loaded her decks with over 50 vehicles including a number of armoured amphibious Vikings as well as Land Rovers, trucks and logistic machinery. She is also ready to operate Sea King, Merlin and Chinook helicopters from her flight deck for extended periods.

HMS Bulwark is an assault command and control ships with a crew of 350, a quarter of whom are made up from 4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. In addition the ship can carry up to 225 Royal Marines in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 for short periods.

Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft with another four carried on the ship’s side.