Armilla patrol

The Royal Navy withdrew its forces from the Persian Gulf in 1971 (the former Flag Officer, Middle East, and Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf) in line with the United Kingdom's general retreat from "East of Suez".During the Falklands War, the Royal New Zealand Navy dispatched frigates to carry out the Armilla patrol duties, freeing the British ships on station for service with the Royal Navy task force tasked with freeing the Falkland Islands from the Argentine invasion.Typical Armilla patrol deployments lasted for six months or so, with the supporting RFA vessel sometimes spending an aggregate total of over a year in the area.The patrol was reinforced with an aircraft carrier or task group in times of high tension or British involvement in wartime operations or by frigates or destroyers transiting the area for other operations in the Far East or Pacific.The largest British presence in the Persian Gulf during the Armilla patrol was during the two operations against Iraq.
HMS Naiad (F39) in the Persian Gulf 1980.
HMS Scylla (F71) in the Persian Gulf, circa in 1988.
HMS Gloucester relieving HMS Nottingham circa March 1987
Ships Company at Defence Watches on HMS Nottingham January 1987
View from the bridge of HMS Nottingham during Defence Watches November 1986
United KingdomRoyal NavyNaval formationHMS Naiad (F39)HMS Scylla (F71)HMS GloucesterHMS NottinghamPersian GulfFlag Officer, Middle EastSenior Naval Officer, Persian GulfEast of Suezoutbreak of warHMS CoventryHMS NaiadHMS AlacrityRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryFalklands WarRoyal New Zealand NavyFalkland IslandsMargaret ThatcherfrigatesdestroyersFar EastPacificUnited StatesArabian SeaStanding Royal Navy deploymentsParliamentary Debates (Hansard)