UK military planners are preparing plans to deploy the Royal Navy's (RN's) remaining Invincible-class aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious , to the Mediterranean Sea with a squadron of attack helicopters embarked to sustain strike operations against Libya into 2012. At least one of the RN's new Type 45 Daring-class destroyers is expected to be deployed on the type's first combat mission to accompany HMS Illustrious if the plans are approved by the UK National Security Council[.]
Now, the amphibious warfare ship Ocean is there with a dozen Apache helicopters.
We'll see if there is a war going on when "Lusty" gets there.
UPDATE: I can often count on the lads at Strategypage to cover events I notice. This is good background on the larger picture of British naval aviation.
