5th Fleet Focus: All the Right Tools

More than a few of my friends have told me I'm looking at shadows. I think I am simply observing events that are noteworthy.

A Royal Navy aircraft carrier is to be sent to the Gulf in early 2008, but the Ministry of Defence said Friday that its deployment is not linked to possible military action against Iran.

A ministry spokesman told AFP that HMS Illustrious will head for the Gulf accompanied by the Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh and the Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster.

Also involved in Operation Orion 08 will be two minesweepers and three support vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxilliary.

"There is going to be a deployment east of Suez," the spokesman told AFP by telephone. "It's routine. It was planned one or two years ago. It's absolutely not linked with Iran."

I'm sure deploying 2 minesweepers to an aircraft carrier strike group is routine, and has nothing to do with Iran. Is anyone aware of the Royal Navy deploying minesweepers to the Gulf with a carrier strike group during peacetime? I can't say I am.