(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, UK - August 6, 2009: Hundreds of sailors, marines and airmen who have made up the biggest Royal Navy deployment to the Far East in more than a decade have arrived home, six months after sailing from the UK. 
Summarising the success of TAURUS 09, Cdre Bennett paid tribute to the sailors, Royal Marines and aircrew of the Task Group, commenting:
“Everything that has been achieved in TAURUS 09 has been down to the impressive dedication, hard work and the talents of the men and women of the Task Group. For 6 months, away from family and friends, their flexibility and skill have been the deciding factors in the success of the deployment. They have been a privilege to command, have invariably performed extremely well and deserve the warm welcome and leave that awaits them”.
The TAURUS 09 Task Group left Devonport in February, originally comprising 10 ships, a nuclear powered submarine, an embarked Air Group and Royal Marines from 40 Commando Royal Marines. Its aim has been to maintain the Royal Navy’s fighting capability as well as develop the UK’s capacity to operate with key partners and allies from NATO countries and other nations, enhancing interoperability and demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia.
In exercising its ability to deploy globally, the Task Group has conducted a wide range of activities, including maritime security operations, anti-piracy patrols and exercising amphibious and anti-submarine warfare, culminating in a multi-national amphibious and jungle training exercise in the deployment’s most easterly point of Brunei. At its height, 3,300 personnel took part in the 20,400 mile round-trip deployment, interacting, training and building relations with 17 nations.
Commenting as the TAURUS 09 Task Group sailed back into the UK, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon Bill Rammell MP said:
“Maintenance of Operational Capability across all military disciplines is key for defence. The planning and execution of this deployment has honed essential skills not exercised in current operations. The diplomacy fostered with international partners through TAURUS 09 has ensured that the United Kingdom’s influence and ability to respond in circumstances that requires amphibious intervention, is maintained.”
The Task Group was commanded from amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark by Commander UK Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), Commodore Paul Bennett OBE who added:
“The TAURUS deployment has been a great success. It has been a substantial undertaking that has sent a clear message to friends and enemies alike that the Royal Navy continues to be a force with which to reckon. We have improved our military amphibious and underwater warfare capabilities, demonstrated the ability to deploy substantial military power around the globe, refreshed important military partnerships and supported UK Government’s efforts in a wide range of countries. The Amphibious Task Group is notable for the array of capability that it offers; large ships, Royal Marines, Landing Craft, Helicopters and a wide range of skills in its sailors. This flexibility has been essential to the success of the last 6 months”.
“The Royal Marines, who have been an integral part of the Task Group throughout, have operated in desert, riverine and jungle environments, have developed close links with local armed forces and have improved their own skills tremendously. All in all, it has been a powerful combination to deploy around the world. It is also the main capability that the UK would deploy for a contingent task and TAURUS has provided an excellent opportunity to make sure the RN is ready whenever called upon to respond”.
Key exercises conducted during the deployment include those alongside the armed forces of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh and Brunei.
During Exercise Red Alligator, a major amphibious exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, British troops landed ashore for the first time since the first Gulf War, marking a major step forward in relations between the two nations.
After conducting boarding training with the Yemeni coastguard, the Task Group split in two, with HMS Somerset, RFA Wave Ruler and submarine HMS Talent taking part in Exercise Blue Toreador, an anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean.
Following a visit to India and interaction with the Indian Navy, HMS Bulwark transited to Bangladesh for another landmark exercise, Shomodro Torongo. This was the first such interaction with the Bangladeshi armed forces and security services in a decade and crucially timed as Bangladesh tightens up the policing of its boarders, and increases its internal security and anti-terrorism measures. This multi-agency amphibious exercise provided the Royal Navy with extremely challenging environmental conditions in which to operate, offering superb training for both nations and firmly strengthening UK-Bangladesh relations.
The TAURUS ships then called in to Singapore where HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean took part in the international maritime defence show IMDEX Asia 2009, which offers trade and industry a one-stop opportunity to keep abreast of the latest maritime defence technologies, platform designs and technology developments.
Whilst HMS Bulwark headed for a visit to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, HMS Ocean, HMS Somerset and RFA Wave Ruler departed Singapore for the annual Five Powers Defence Arrangement exercise, Ex Bersama Shield, along with ships from Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia.
All units were reunited for the culmination of the deployment, Exercise Commando Rajah, a multi-national amphibious exercise which saw the TAURUS 09 ships project their embarked Royal Marine Commando Unit, 40 Commando Royal Marines, into the riverine and primary jungles of Brunei. This provided the Royal Marines with essential jungle training at a time when they are more used to operating in very different environments, such as those provided by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. On its return, the Task Group attached to Coalition task Force 151 which conducts anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
Summarising the success of TAURUS 09, Cdre Bennett paid tribute to the sailors, Royal Marines and aircrew of the Task Group, commenting:
“Everything that has been achieved in TAURUS 09 has been down to the impressive dedication, hard work and the talents of the men and women of the Task Group. For 6 months, away from family and friends, their flexibility and skill have been the deciding factors in the success of the deployment. They have been a privilege to command, have invariably performed extremely well and deserve the warm welcome and leave that awaits them”.
The TAURUS 09 Task Group left Devonport in February, originally comprising 10 ships, a nuclear powered submarine, an embarked Air Group and Royal Marines from 40 Commando Royal Marines. Its aim has been to maintain the Royal Navy’s fighting capability as well as develop the UK’s capacity to operate with key partners and allies from NATO countries and other nations, enhancing interoperability and demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia.
In exercising its ability to deploy globally, the Task Group has conducted a wide range of activities, including maritime security operations, anti-piracy patrols and exercising amphibious and anti-submarine warfare, culminating in a multi-national amphibious and jungle training exercise in the deployment’s most easterly point of Brunei. At its height, 3,300 personnel took part in the 20,400 mile round-trip deployment, interacting, training and building relations with 17 nations.
Commenting as the TAURUS 09 Task Group sailed back into the UK, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon Bill Rammell MP said:
“Maintenance of Operational Capability across all military disciplines is key for defence. The planning and execution of this deployment has honed essential skills not exercised in current operations. The diplomacy fostered with international partners through TAURUS 09 has ensured that the United Kingdom’s influence and ability to respond in circumstances that requires amphibious intervention, is maintained.”
The Task Group was commanded from amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark by Commander UK Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), Commodore Paul Bennett OBE who added:
“The TAURUS deployment has been a great success. It has been a substantial undertaking that has sent a clear message to friends and enemies alike that the Royal Navy continues to be a force with which to reckon. We have improved our military amphibious and underwater warfare capabilities, demonstrated the ability to deploy substantial military power around the globe, refreshed important military partnerships and supported UK Government’s efforts in a wide range of countries. The Amphibious Task Group is notable for the array of capability that it offers; large ships, Royal Marines, Landing Craft, Helicopters and a wide range of skills in its sailors. This flexibility has been essential to the success of the last 6 months”.
“The Royal Marines, who have been an integral part of the Task Group throughout, have operated in desert, riverine and jungle environments, have developed close links with local armed forces and have improved their own skills tremendously. All in all, it has been a powerful combination to deploy around the world. It is also the main capability that the UK would deploy for a contingent task and TAURUS has provided an excellent opportunity to make sure the RN is ready whenever called upon to respond”.
Key exercises conducted during the deployment include those alongside the armed forces of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh and Brunei.
During Exercise Red Alligator, a major amphibious exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, British troops landed ashore for the first time since the first Gulf War, marking a major step forward in relations between the two nations.
After conducting boarding training with the Yemeni coastguard, the Task Group split in two, with HMS Somerset, RFA Wave Ruler and submarine HMS Talent taking part in Exercise Blue Toreador, an anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean.
Following a visit to India and interaction with the Indian Navy, HMS Bulwark transited to Bangladesh for another landmark exercise, Shomodro Torongo. This was the first such interaction with the Bangladeshi armed forces and security services in a decade and crucially timed as Bangladesh tightens up the policing of its boarders, and increases its internal security and anti-terrorism measures. This multi-agency amphibious exercise provided the Royal Navy with extremely challenging environmental conditions in which to operate, offering superb training for both nations and firmly strengthening UK-Bangladesh relations.
The TAURUS ships then called in to Singapore where HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean took part in the international maritime defence show IMDEX Asia 2009, which offers trade and industry a one-stop opportunity to keep abreast of the latest maritime defence technologies, platform designs and technology developments.
Whilst HMS Bulwark headed for a visit to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, HMS Ocean, HMS Somerset and RFA Wave Ruler departed Singapore for the annual Five Powers Defence Arrangement exercise, Ex Bersama Shield, along with ships from Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia.
All units were reunited for the culmination of the deployment, Exercise Commando Rajah, a multi-national amphibious exercise which saw the TAURUS 09 ships project their embarked Royal Marine Commando Unit, 40 Commando Royal Marines, into the riverine and primary jungles of Brunei. This provided the Royal Marines with essential jungle training at a time when they are more used to operating in very different environments, such as those provided by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. On its return, the Task Group attached to Coalition task Force 151 which conducts anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. 
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