Naval forces prepare for the Caribbean’s hurricane season
The Royal Navy’s Caribbean task group has joined forces in Montserrat for the first time as it prepares for the impending hurricane season
RFA Argus linked up with the Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the region, HMS Medway, to begin their combined disaster relief planning and preparations.
- RFA Argus heads to support the Caribbean
- British Forces in the Caribbean: Supporting our Overseas Territories
There are just six weeks till the storm season begins, and Almost every year for the past couple of decades, Royal Navy or Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships in the Caribbean have been called upon to assist island communities.
In addition, wherever Argus visits as part of her deployment to the region she’s sending her helicopters — three Merlin troop carriers from 845 Naval Air Squadron and one smaller Wildcat maritime patrol aircraft.
They take to the skies to provide the latest information on helicopter and beach landing sites to ensure the best possible support to those living in nature’s destructive path.
They’ve already scouted Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla but the ghostly ruins of Plymouth were a stark reminder of the planet’s power when unchecked.
If a disaster should occur during this hurricane season, the support helicopters can bring supplies and personnel from ship to remote locations ashore.
Together with a specialist Crisis Response Troop from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and her air group, Argus will remain on station with HMS Medway until the late autumn.
She will also be available to provide resilience to British citizens overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as their Royal Navy and Royal Marines comrades are doing supporting the UK Governments at home.
